I’ve mentioned here that I’m not a big fan of plinkin’ or shooting for fun. If I have to shoot it’s because lives depend on it. However, two recent finds forced me to hit the range for some fun firing.
My favorite gun shop in the world is Scottsboro Gun & Pawn, in Scottsboro, Alabama about thirty minutes from home. Recently they had a used Tec 9 come in. It immediately took me back to the mid 80s and the price was right so I had to take it home. Then, just a few weeks later, there was a Tec 22. (It’s funny how you won’t see something, and then it shows up in multiples.) The results were the same; I took it home.
Interdynamic - American company owned by a Swedish firearms manufacturer - became Intratec, which went out of business in 2001 – and was known for producing inexpensive “pistols.” Think small European sub-machine pistol, like you see in the movies.
The “TEC-9” – what most people call all Inter/Intra’s 9mms – is made of stamped steel and plastic with a few milled/hardened pieces. All are semi-autos, but the original design fired from an open bolt, and was considered too easy to convert to full auto. ATF forced the company to convert it to a closed bolt design, which was harder to convert to full auto. Remember Miami Vice? It was a favorite pistol of the drug dealers on the show. I’ve always wondered which was the greater influence - was art imitating life, or was the art influencing what people bought.
The Tec 9 was produced from 1985 to 2001, but saw a lot of legal trouble. It was “popular” with criminals and used in several larger shootings – one of the Columbine shooters had one. Lawsuits and bans followed. But, if you were young and into firearms back in the mid 80s it was the firearm to have.
The Tec .22 - and Scorpion and Sport 22 - were a different design, but followed the same principles – produce a decent firearm at a cheap price. It has an ambi safety, and uses Ruger 10-22 style magazines and was produced from 1988 to 2000. The .22 Tec’s were never really popular around my circles, but every once in a while you’d see one.
Since those times there’s been a cult following developed for the Tec’s. There are numerous accessories available – magazines, muzzle breaks, fake suppressors and updated parts. Several forums on the ‘net are devoted to the Tec pistols, full of tips on modifying and improving the weapons.
So now I have two firearms that are really kind of useless. They are pistols that are too big to shoot one handed, and while you can hold onto the magazine, they’re really not set up to shoot with two hands. However, let me say this about that: If memory serves me right, they are fun to shoot. So, I’m heading to the range to play. That will likely lead to getting some upgraded parts. And who knows, this might be a perfect candidate for one of the new arm braces, which weren’t available back in the day. I see some plinkin’ in my future.
Tiger McKee is director of Shootrite Firearms Academy, located in northern Alabama. He is the author of The Book of Two Guns, AR-15 Skills and Drills, featured on GunTalk’s DVD, “Fighting With The 1911 and has regular columns in Gun Digest and American Handgunner.
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