Essex Quality?

The old hardball guns built up on an Essex frame - are they any good? I've heard mixed reviews on the Essex parts but not any info from bullseye shooters.

Essex frames do have their flaws, but a good BE smith can build a nice competitive pistol on one.
Jon

I had a hardball pistol built with an Essex frame, national match slide, and Kart barrel in 2001 after borrowing ball guns for a few years and never doing well enough to get points.  Legged out in 03.  I had no issues at all with mine and my smith didn't have any issues with it's creation.
Al

What kind of issues were known of or had even if the issue is rare?

just cheap built, pin holes not exact and other issues from being built cheap and not to exacting tolerances.

I just gave a cursory look at a new (OLDER) unused Essex frame yesterday. Rails are undersized and the casting marks are very visible. Typical pin hole alignments aren't parallel and definitely require more work to perform fitting/trigger job. The newer ones are of higher quality. If you get a good deal on one and are on a budget they can be made into quality pistol. I've whooped some butt with an Essex framed pistol in the past. It's not the frame )
Jon

My hardball gun is built on an Essex.  I bought it new from Champion's Choice in the late 80's.  No problems and I legged out with it.

The biggest problem I've found with Essex is the QC is all over the map.  One frame is fine the next is junk.  Rails not the same or even, hole placement and spacing, feed ramp.  I had to destroy a frame for a customer because the magazine release was located so far off you had to cut the release into the spring channel to get a magazine in the gun.