My wife's brother passed away and she brought home one of his pistols. It is a Model 302 22 LR made by Sterling Arms. I test fired it and it fucntions well.

Anyone have any info on this pistol like reliability and when it may have been made???

PRoably made in the middle to late 1970's. Is a copy of an Europeain design..does have it's faults, but noting major and it can be reliable if you (1) keep it clean (2) find the right ammo (3) keep the magazine in good order.

HAd a blued one that I put Colt 1911 sights on...soldiered on a front ranp and dovetailed it for the rear sight. On a bet (1985 on the Amite, Louisiana police range) dinged a 100yard man sized steel target five for five.

Do not dry fire that striker...it will break the tip sooner or later...keep it clean and well lubed....order a repalcement magazine while you still can find one....and carry it magazine loaded, chamber empty.

IMHO they're good paper weights only. I don't what good a carry gun is that you have to rack one into the chamber before you shoot.

I had one in the early 80's and the firing pin broke after a few rounds. At the time I lived in an apartment that had a water leak. Fortunately the gun was soaked and I got enough from an insurance settlement to buy a good pistol.

If you want a small dependable pocket pistol I'd recommend a Kel Tec 380. dao.

Believe it or not, there are reasons to have a handgun besides self defence. IF all handguns were only good for people-shooting, then the anti-gunners would actually gain strength.

As example using the same one-use logic:
What good is that dinky .380 , 9mm, 40SW, or .454acp...they ain't no good at killing moose.

Believe it or not, there are reasons to have a handgun besides self defence. IF all handguns were only good for people-shooting, then the anti-gunners would actually gain strength.

As example using the same one-use logic:
What good is that dinky .380 , 9mm, 40SW, or .454acp...they ain't no good at killing moose.


I agree...in that I actually have guns I've used for other purposes than people shooting.

Seriously...why would someone even consider carrying a gun w/ a round in the chamber unless it was for defensive purposes? You wisely cautioned against that w/ the Sterling. But why would the warning be necessary unless they might be carrying for defense?

If people have fun shooting it, that's great. Just don't count on it for defense.

The 302 is a pretty well executed striker fired pocket pistol. Takedown is by the button on the left side of the frame. Don't loose the firing pin spring guide, you will be guaranteed to break the firing pin and likely damage the frame. As posted above, I would NEVER trust a striker fired pistol like this one for carry with a round in the chamber. Mine functions fine with most RN .22 LR ammo, but it is sensitive to dirt. Keep it clean, and it will work. What niche does it fall in? Maybe not a serious defense gun, but it is better than throwing rocks. Short range plinker? Not terribly accurate, but will stay minute of beercan at 15 yards or so. The 302, because it is stainless, makes a decent "tacklebox" handgun, or pocket pistol while fishing.

I'm not going to carry a Sterling and get rid of my Para-Ordnance, but every handgun can have a positive role and use.

The only dead guy I've come across in the last 25years was becasue of a striker fired .22 semi-auto pocket gun. Coming out of range in the "way back" was a car blocking the road, but no driver. Saw I probably could follow the path around his car, but wasn't 100% sure I'd make it and I didn't have a winch.

Waited a bit...honked a bit...then went looking. By then there were two other cars wating behind me. We fanned out.

Found him dead just off the road and out of sight, face down.

This was before cell-phones were common (and the only one on the market was commonly called "the brick"), so I had to drive around his parked car...get to a phone...call him in...wait around...lead the police back. The two other cars had grown into three, one of which was stuck off road trying to get around the dead guy's car without 4WD.

So I was there when they finnaly fliped him over. Had a .22 hole about dead center chest, vfery little bleeding, and a very surprised/painful look on his face. Proably was dead for an hours before I got jammed behind his car.

Best guess of the police looking at the evidence, is that he had a .22 Mini-auto (striker fired) in his top shirt pocket...leaned over...it fell out and hit a rather large rock...fired...right through the heart. Was gun poowder and oil residue inside his shirt pocket and a nice ding in the back of the gun, along with the mark on the rock where it had struck.

I do not remember if the safety was on of off or if the gun had a stove pipe jam (which would be common if not being held wile fired)...wisely didn't touch a thing after being sure he didn't have a pulse and was about ambiant temperture.

He could have gotten PO'ed and tossed the thing down, hitting the rock by accident...but more logical is that it fell out (when you DOP throw a gun in disgust, it's usally as far as you can heave, not stright down at your feet).

Maybe he tossed it in his pocket for critter defence during a "pit stop" (which is most likely)...did his bussiness, and when he leaned over to hitch up his pants, out it fell.

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So...no...only one one striker fired semi-auto (and that was a gift)...do not care to own any...but if I did, would certainly NOT carry it chamber loaded and trust the safety.

I have a copy of a PPK made by sterling....
The worlds best jammo-matic paper weight.