RAP-440

TMB2

New member
Republic Arms of South Africa apparently planned to do business in the U.S. because they introduced the RAP-440 all steel pistol chambered for .40 S&W at the 1998 SHOT show. Apparently they decided they didn't want to be in this market. I haven't heard anything about this company or pistol in the last two years and can find nothing on the internet except for an apparently abandoned web site (www.RAP440.com). Recently I saw an ad in CDNN Investments' Fall catalog for this pistol at what appears to be a clearance price (price is $229.99, former retail was $525.00). Does anyone know of this company and this pistol? If so, can you recommend this pistol. Any info would be very much appreciated.
 
The RAP is a compact design based on the tried and true CZ75. You can either carry it DA (lower the hammer manually) or cocked and locked. It's a popular pistol with SA undercover police, or so I've heard. It's all steel and quite stout, although of course heavy for its size. Why the RAP didn't do well here is anybody's guess. The price looks good but remember you'll be getting an orphan, e.g. no factory support in case something wrong.

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So many pistols, so little money.
 
The R.A.P.440 is actually just a South African copy of the Astra A-75. The A-75
is no longer being imported so I was pleased
to see the R.A.P. become available. I used
to have an A-75 and it was totally reliable,
compact and an all around good little gun.
Regrettably, in a moment of restlessness I
sold it. Well today I bought a new R.A.P.
440 for $240. Haven't had a chance to shoot
it yet but hopefully it works as well as it's
Spanish twin.
 
Commygun -
I bought a RAP-440 recently and finally had a chance to take it to the range last weekend. I put 150 rounds through it with 4 failures to chamber the last round. All 4 were CCI Blazer 165 gr. FMJ rounds and the aluminum cases of these cartridges may have had something to do with it since I had no failures with 50 rounds of 180 gr. Remington FMJ or with 50 rounds of 180 gr. Winchester FMJ (both types having brass cases). I really don't consider a pistol to be "broken in" until at least 200 rounds have been put though it so I'd say the RAP-440 has performed well so far. I hope it turns out to be as good a pistol as Astra A75 fans say the Astra is.
 
I bought my 440 about 1 month ago from CDNN.Well built gun I haven't shot it much yet,but with 180 gr. reloads I have had no problems as of yet,when it gets broke in I believe it will be a decent "using" gun,in other words the kind that just works all of the time....
 
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