JC Higgins Model 80

More Value …

Our particular specimen featured a 6.5″ barrel, fixed sights and a brown one-piece synthetic grip with a thumb-rest. With a reasonably forgivable amount of sales hyperbole, the preamble of the original Sears manual reads as follows:

“The J.C. Higgins Model 80 gives you more handgun value for your money than any other autoloading pistol you can buy. From its sleek comfort-contour grip to the muzzle of its gracefully tapered barrel, this is truly a quality handgun that will delight every sportsman, plinker and target shooter.”

Turns out those long-ago Sears Roebuck copywriters weren’t altogether off the mark. We used CCI Pistol Match ammo to dope out the possibilities of our pistola and were pleasantly surprised, thanks in no small part to the broad, easy to acquire sights and reasonably crisp 3-lb. trigger. Actually, considering the brand-heritage of the gun, we really weren’t that surprised. Nor should we have been. Basically, at 50 feet we got close to big “single hole” groups slightly above and left of our point of aim. Functioning was flawless, although we didn’t have any hollow point ammo on hand, which can sometimes be problematic in autos.