HSC mauser compared to other 380's
- Thread starter waltfraz
- Start date
Winchester_73
New member
My uncle bought one for my aunt some time ago. He said that she quit carring it because she thought it was too heavy for carry. Other than that, my uncle liked it. Thats all I know.....
I have 0 personal experience other than seeing pictures.
I have 0 personal experience other than seeing pictures.Dfariswheel
New member
There's no comparison between the Mauser and the Bersa as far as quality goes.
The Mauser was one of the "big three" pre-war German pocket autos that set the standard for the next 60 years.
The Walther PP series has been the most successful, the Sauer 38h never survived WWII, and the Mauser HSc had some success after the war.
It was once described as an Art Deco pistol for the attractive design.
Personally, I think the Walther grip feels better.
The Mauser has a rather odd slide stop design. When the slide is pulled back with an empty magazine or NO magazine it locks open.
It can only be closed by inserting a loaded or UNLOADED magazine, which causes the slide to automatically close.
The safety is a good one in which the firing pin is lifted entirely out of the hammers path, but the hammer doesn't de-cock like the Walther.
There's some question as to whether the post-war Mauser was actually made in German, or in Spain.
The Walther PP series were almost all produced in France, shipped to Germany, proof fired and stamped "Made In Germany".
In Europe, the country in which a gun is officially proof tested is considered to be the country of manufacture.
There's some discussion as to whether Mauser had the guns made in Spain and proofed in Germany in the same way.
Later, Mauser either sold or licensed the design to the Spanish Gamba company who first made exact copies of the HSc, then modified it to a long gripped, double stack magazine design that ruined the original concept of a pocket sized auto.
For what it's worth, one famous gunsmith once said the Mauser HSc was a "2000 round gun". He said that after about that many rounds, the frame would develop cracks in front of the slide rails.
There may be something to this, because I'd seen several war time and one high round count post-war version with frame cracks in that area.
Whatever, the Mauser HSc was a fine quality pistol with some excellent features.
The Mauser was one of the "big three" pre-war German pocket autos that set the standard for the next 60 years.
The Walther PP series has been the most successful, the Sauer 38h never survived WWII, and the Mauser HSc had some success after the war.
It was once described as an Art Deco pistol for the attractive design.
Personally, I think the Walther grip feels better.
The Mauser has a rather odd slide stop design. When the slide is pulled back with an empty magazine or NO magazine it locks open.
It can only be closed by inserting a loaded or UNLOADED magazine, which causes the slide to automatically close.
The safety is a good one in which the firing pin is lifted entirely out of the hammers path, but the hammer doesn't de-cock like the Walther.
There's some question as to whether the post-war Mauser was actually made in German, or in Spain.
The Walther PP series were almost all produced in France, shipped to Germany, proof fired and stamped "Made In Germany".
In Europe, the country in which a gun is officially proof tested is considered to be the country of manufacture.
There's some discussion as to whether Mauser had the guns made in Spain and proofed in Germany in the same way.
Later, Mauser either sold or licensed the design to the Spanish Gamba company who first made exact copies of the HSc, then modified it to a long gripped, double stack magazine design that ruined the original concept of a pocket sized auto.
For what it's worth, one famous gunsmith once said the Mauser HSc was a "2000 round gun". He said that after about that many rounds, the frame would develop cracks in front of the slide rails.
There may be something to this, because I'd seen several war time and one high round count post-war version with frame cracks in that area.
Whatever, the Mauser HSc was a fine quality pistol with some excellent features.
Gary L. Griffiths
New member
I have had two of them over the years, in .32 ACP. IMHO, they are among the finest pistols of the type ever made. Although eclipsed nowadays by the truly tiny .32s and .380s from Kel-Tec, Ruger, et al, the design is one of the safest and most reliable made. The safety blocks the firing pin, rotates it up out of reach of the hammer, and inserts a steel block between the hammer and firing pin! It is one of the few safety designs that is truly safe when engaged.
As noted previously, engaging the safety doesn't drop the hammer, but you can do so in complete safety by merely pulling the trigger -- something that takes a bit of getting used to!
Or, you can leave the weapon "cocked and locked" and have the light single-action trigger-pull by disengaging the safety.
For carry nowadays, I have my Kel-Tec PF-9, which is actually a bit smaller than the HSc, and is a full-power 9mm, but I wouldn't turn down the opportunity to own another one in either .32 or .380, if one were to present itself to me at the right price!
As noted previously, engaging the safety doesn't drop the hammer, but you can do so in complete safety by merely pulling the trigger -- something that takes a bit of getting used to!
Or, you can leave the weapon "cocked and locked" and have the light single-action trigger-pull by disengaging the safety.For carry nowadays, I have my Kel-Tec PF-9, which is actually a bit smaller than the HSc, and is a full-power 9mm, but I wouldn't turn down the opportunity to own another one in either .32 or .380, if one were to present itself to me at the right price!
My HSc (hammer, self-cocking) Mauser pistol was a jammamatic, even with ball ammunition. But my experience is limited to only the one speciman. I really wanted to like it in terms of its fine workmanship and good handling properties but its unreliable nature precluded it from self-defense duties-the very reason I acquired it in the first place.
The nicest 380 I've had is the Remington M51 unfortunately I no longer have it ! It' has the lightest recoil of all of them due to the delayed blowback action. It's also very slim and fits the hand of most shooters very well. Since Remington is back in the pistol business maybe they should make the M51 again.
Dfariswheel
New member
They were available in blued or nickel.
More correctly, the question would be Germany or Italy, not Spain. Renato Gamba, the manufacturer of the HSc Super pistols, is an Italian company founded in 1625.
In addition, many of the features of the HSc pistol were carried over to the Heckler & Koch HK4 pistol, with many of the same faults.
I know I am late to add my experience. But Thanks to the guys before me writing in detail. I have a DS and a Hogue 1 piece wood grip. After exam the DS grip pin carefully. It is NOT casted. So, I took a small gunsmith hammer and drift to pound it out. Took about 20-30 hits. Just wrap your DS with some hides or towel. DS now with wood grip. But, the screw was too short!
Like the Walther PP and others, the HSc was designed around the .32 ACP, since that was the standard German military and police pocket pistol cartridge, the .380 ACP (9mm Kurz) not being in their supply system. As often happens, the conversion to .380 made the pistol (IMHO) less reliable, though the .380 with its rimless straight case should be more reliable than the .32.
Jim
Jim
Ignition Override
New member
gyvel mentioned the compact HK4 handgun.
It resembles the HSc or Sauer 38H? I'm fairly sure that this is what I handled (first time) yesterday inside "Guns And Ammo", on Summer Ave. in Memphis.
It seemed like an interesting gun, but I did not care for the increasing pressure needed for the long DA trigger pull.
The pull wasn't as heavy as the Polish P-64, but did not Begin to compare with the lighter pull/smoothness of my WW2 Sauer 38H.
If you live in west TN and contact MSSA near Memphis, somebody might know the name of an old gent (he's 90!-served in the Pacific) who has a nickle-plated HSc in .32 Auto For Sale.
Whether plated in Deutschland or Amerika, have no idea, but he let me handle it at the recent gun club 'swap'.
He wants $350 for it, but won't give out his home phone #, because his wife dislikes and is afraid of guns.
It resembles the HSc or Sauer 38H? I'm fairly sure that this is what I handled (first time) yesterday inside "Guns And Ammo", on Summer Ave. in Memphis.
It seemed like an interesting gun, but I did not care for the increasing pressure needed for the long DA trigger pull.
The pull wasn't as heavy as the Polish P-64, but did not Begin to compare with the lighter pull/smoothness of my WW2 Sauer 38H.
If you live in west TN and contact MSSA near Memphis, somebody might know the name of an old gent (he's 90!-served in the Pacific) who has a nickle-plated HSc in .32 Auto For Sale.
Whether plated in Deutschland or Amerika, have no idea, but he let me handle it at the recent gun club 'swap'.
He wants $350 for it, but won't give out his home phone #, because his wife dislikes and is afraid of guns.
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I didn't have an HSc when this thread was "alive" but now the zombie walks, and I do have one, I'll add this.
MY HSc doesn't work like that. IT does lock open on an empty magazine, but you CANNOT lock it open without an empty magazine in place. And removing the magazine causes the slide to shut.
I don't know if this is normal or not for the HSc, I've only had one. My gun is Nazi proofed, so it must be either pre war or wartime production.
So far, I am still looking for a spare magazine that works. I'm on the third strike in that regard. First one (aftermarket) wouldn't even seat in my gun. It went back, its replacement fit, but would not feed. It went back, and I got my money back. Third one fits fine, locks the slide open empty, but I cannot pull the slide back far enough to chamber a loaded round. I may be able to fix this, but I haven't tried yet.
There is, apparently minor differences in the magazines of the guns produced in different eras, so there is no "automatic" fit. Mags that look identical to my original so far, have not worked. Maybe I've got an oddball gun, I don't know.
A friend of mine says the features of the HSc were done the way they are, to get around Walther's patents.
The HSc is a piece of history, bigger and heavier than the latest pocket pistols, and if that matters, its not for you. I kind of like the fact that if the .32 rounds don't make enough of an impression, the steel HSc will when I hit them with it.
because, bottom line, if all fails, your pistol IS an impact weapon. And that might be what makes the difference. Think about that while you enjoy the lightness of modern combat Tupperware.
MY HSc doesn't work like that. IT does lock open on an empty magazine, but you CANNOT lock it open without an empty magazine in place. And removing the magazine causes the slide to shut.
I don't know if this is normal or not for the HSc, I've only had one. My gun is Nazi proofed, so it must be either pre war or wartime production.
So far, I am still looking for a spare magazine that works. I'm on the third strike in that regard. First one (aftermarket) wouldn't even seat in my gun. It went back, its replacement fit, but would not feed. It went back, and I got my money back. Third one fits fine, locks the slide open empty, but I cannot pull the slide back far enough to chamber a loaded round. I may be able to fix this, but I haven't tried yet.
There is, apparently minor differences in the magazines of the guns produced in different eras, so there is no "automatic" fit. Mags that look identical to my original so far, have not worked. Maybe I've got an oddball gun, I don't know.
A friend of mine says the features of the HSc were done the way they are, to get around Walther's patents.
The HSc is a piece of history, bigger and heavier than the latest pocket pistols, and if that matters, its not for you. I kind of like the fact that if the .32 rounds don't make enough of an impression, the steel HSc will when I hit them with it.
because, bottom line, if all fails, your pistol IS an impact weapon. And that might be what makes the difference. Think about that while you enjoy the lightness of modern combat Tupperware.
Austin TX, Sometimes these old threads appear by magic but never fail to just pick up and go on. The OP probably fired (or attempted to) the HSC and found that many of them would not feed anything, even ball but I'm sure others functioned ok. Most post war HSC pistols suffered finish wise, had sharp corners, heavy as beans and had feed issues, it is a complex pistol with it's own "mystique" the original design was for the 7.65 cartridge.
Maybe the next post will be four years from now and keep the topic moving
Maybe the next post will be four years from now and keep the topic moving