Please don't laugh but the most underrated gun I own is my jennings j-22. I paid around $90 for it new in the late 80's and everyone who shoots it tries to buy it from me.

I've never sold a handgun and I hope that's a policy I can continue to afford.

Over rated... any semi auto handgun. Especially the 9mms.

Under rated... revolvers! And those chambered in 38 Special are most under appreaciated.

I like to keep things simple.

John

I don't know whether I'm up to date, but I have always felt that "the awkward Broomhandle" Mauser pistol, preferably in .30 Mauser, was highly underrated. First off, it is NOT awkward. Add a grip adapter (from Tyler) and it is great! The bore is a bit high, but the recoil is so low that it doesn't really matter. The .30 Mauser is a real penetrator, a good thing in a military pistol. I believe that it was king until the .357 Mag came along.

With the grip adaptor removed, it can be VERY easily carried in its holster stock with a lanyard connection between the lanyard ring on the butt and, if I remember correctly, the neck of the stock. Thus carried under the shoulder hanging from the lanyard, it was very easy to remove the pistol from the stock, snap it onto the stock with the lanyard already in place as a sling to aid in using the pistol as SBR.

Ordinarily a little large for concealed carry, although I did do it once. But as an open-carry gun or a military piece for non-infantry, it is really great. Very light ammo, easily loaded by means of stripper clips. Easy to shoot accurately as pistol or SBR, either one.

I have one too

Over rated hand gun: any Colt snake revolver, Glock - not to say they're not a good weapon, just way over rated. I like my G30.
Over rated rifle: any AR or Mini 14.

Under rated hand gun: Any well made .380

Kinda hard to rate the .327 Sp101 at all. Last I checked Ruger wasn't making them and the few I've seen in the wild are $$$.

The single most overrated handgun of all time is Glock, any of 'em.

The most overrated attribute of all time is that a certain brand of guns are "built-like-a-tank." What a tired ol' cliché that is.

The now discontinued Astra line featured some really nice models down through the years. Shame they faded away.

Over rated: Colt Python

Why? Because as good of a gun as it is, it is simply not worth the price it commands. You can get two outstanding 27-2s for the cost of one Python, or 4 568's for the cost of one Python. And the Smith Offerings are just as good.

Under rated? The Smith and Wesson 686

Why?
It may be the best revolver ever made, when all is said and done, especially when you figutpre in stock barrel length options, 7 round capability, and the ability to safely handle almost all stout factory .357 loads, and be able to shoot mild 38s. It's a gun that can do it all.

I take exception to rating a Glock as under-rated. I know people that only own Glocks, and won't own anything else. I mean, when there has been a term created specifically to refer to a particular gun and the people who love them, (Glock Fanboy) come on now.

I don't profess to be a Glock fanboy, but I do respect their reputation and singleminded purpose, which forsakes all else in the name of reliability.

Now that I've gotten that out, here's my picks;

Most overated: (please don't flame me too hard) anything with "Colt" written on it. I've shot several of their 1911's and I find their accuracy and reliability to simply be on par with everything else out their in their price range. Their revolvers are mechanically complicated and delicate. Way too many moving parts that have to operate in percect harmony with each other to work.

Most underated: the humble Smith and Wesson Model 10. This piece is the firearm equivilent of a Ford F250 4x4 with a straight six and a three speed with creeper gear. Its a work horse that will run dirty or clean, rusty or not, that can be bought for a song and will run forever.

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Matthew 5:9

Over rated? Well, since this is an opinion post, here goes.
The 1980's Colt officers model .45ACP. The bugs must not have been worked out at that time, ie, it had some quality and functional problems. Even if it had functioned perfectly, mine was all steel so it wasn't that light, yet the short grip and barrel made it kick like a mule and made follow up shots really slow. Keep in mind, at that time, I was shooting a LOT of .45ACP every week from my gov't model, and was no stranger to the recoil of the 45.

Under rated?
I am glad that I am not the first to list the Ruger GP100. It's not a Smith, but it's a great gun that few people recognize anymore. I regret selling mine.
Second, the Browning HiPower. Never had any malfunction with mine.

Overated? I can think of two:
1. Glock - Any Glock. "Perfection"? Hardly. The huge aftermarket supply of strengthened, fully supported barrels and myriad grip modifications for starters tells you something. Blocky, ugly and ridiculous take-down design.

2. Colt Python - Not a hater, not piling on. They're great guns, but at the price point they sit at, even when new, what can they do that a S&W m28 Highway Patrolman can't do in a gunfight?


Underrated? Again, two:
1. Smith and Wesson 3rd Gen pistols - You can't break these things, they're the Abrams tank of handguns. A 4506 will be functioning flawlessly somewhere, after all the atomic holocausts, asteroid impacts and nuclear winters have come and gone.

2. Sig Sauer SigPro Series - A Sig with a nice trigger that's match accurate and has changeable grip sizes for less than $500 brand new. Can't beat that with a hockey stick.

I believe the Colt Python is highly over rated. A friend of mine has one. It's OK. I don't like the backwards rotation of the cylinder as related to S&W and Ruger revolvers, and I don't like the backwards cylinder release. I hate the vented barrel and the grips look too round. Trigger was OK, I guess, but nothing better than a K frame Smith. And the prices are outrageous. Yeah, they don't make them anymore. They don't make a lot of guns anymore. Are Model 19's going to go for 3 grand, too? If I was given a Colt I might hold onto it for a bit longer to see if they kept going up, but at the first sign of a level off or drop I'd dump it in two seconds and not miss it a bit. Can't say the same about some classic S&W revolvers I have let go.

I believe a large part of the draw is the Walking Dead. Tex Shomaker is making an exact replica of Rick Grime's duty rig from the show. You can even get it with an open bottom so your 6" barrel can stick out like Rick's does on the show! The full rig is almost $300. And they are selling like hotcakes!

Glock is HUGELY over rated! Yeah, they work. So what? What modern semi auto doesn't? How many design changes have they had now? So i guess the 1st generation wasn't the "perfection" it was at the time? And isn't there something about not being able to shoot reloads due to the polyganal barrel? I wasn't into reloading when I had my Glocks, but I am now, so they're no longer an option.

Under rated? I agree with the "lowly" 38 revolver. Whatever the model or make, too many people think a .38 will bounce off a person and 6 rounds is not enough. These people have no idea what a +P round can do, if they have ever even heard of them.

Overrated; Glock (although the model 17/19 deliver just fine)


Underrated; S&W 3913 (outside of this forum a lot of folks are clueless)

Might as well jump in here....................

While I think,like many, both the Python and Glock are highly overrated....when I hear someone calls the Diamondback a mini-Python I just shake my head!!!

Most rate guns by what they see on TV and in the Movies.......

Underrated .......I'd have to go with the 3913/14s followed closely by the 6906........both have served me well for 25 years.

I have a Steyr L9-A1. It fits my hand like the adjoining piece in a jigsaw puzzle. With a heritage tracing back to Glock I don't understand why the brand is such an unknown.

And the Germans no less, so well known for "Form Follows Function", "to honor functionality with beauty, to please the eye and capture the mind."

OVER: Glock
Under: Steyr A1 series.

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~ From the Land of Lobstah ~

Overated: Glock
Underated: Rock Island .22 TCM/9mm Interchangeable barrels

You've got that backasswards friend. Smith had to change the cylinder rotation because of Colt patents a long, long time ago...

I'm just gonna ramble around. I never understood, and still don't understand, the Python allure. I'd take a 19 or a 28 over the Python without skipping a beat. I am disillusioned with Kimber, and don't understand the continued affinity. I think any .223 AR platform other than the original Colt is over valued.

I think .380 ACP is undervalued as a defensive caliber, and I think Glock as a whole faces an underserved bad rap. I think the IL revolvers are generally undervalued. They are what they are, which is very nice firearms.

All in all, there's a lid for every pot.

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

BASED ON THE MANY POSTS REPORTING PROBLEMS, I WOULD SAY THAT THE S&W PERFORMANCE CENTER OFFERINGS ARE OVERRATED. THEY DO NOT APPEAR TO BE SUBJECTED TO QUALITY CONTROL THAT IS ANY MORE STRINGENT THAN THE RUN OF THE MILL S&Ws---WHICH IS CURRENTLY NOT GOOD. THIS IS JUST BASED ON WHAT I READ. I DON'T OWN ANY PCs MYSELF, AND JUST ONE CURRENT PRODUCTION WEAPON-- A 617, WHICH DID HAVE TO BE RETURNED TO S&W FOR WARRANTY WORK……

I WOULD HAVE HOPED THAT THEY WOULD BE BUILT TO EXACTING STANDARDS, LIKE THE 686 CS-1s THAT WERE BUILT FOR THE US CUSTOMS SERVICE. THEIR QUALITY CONTROL WAS STRINGENT…...

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'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

I think the more recent guns are not up to the early years (1990-late 90s) when PC guns were "small lot" custom built from parts.........supplied by the factory or made in/for the PC.

Overrated: gas-piston AR's

Underrated: direct-impingment AR's

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WWSSD?
What would Skeeter do?

Agree with your #2 underrated. I have an SP2022 .40, and it is a really sweet shooter. Sig quality and shootibility straight out of the box for pistol that can be had for around the $400 mark.

Didn't know that and it's irrelevant. How long ago did that happen? 80-90 years? Long before I was around. I came up around s&w revolvers. Rugers too a bit further down the road. Clockwise rotation is just not something I am used to. And even if that wasn't an issue, the pull back cylinder release is not as intuitive as a s&w. Truth be told, the ruger push button release is better than both. And the goofy ribbed barrel and overly elongated hammer and grips on a Colt? Bleh!


And just where is the colt revolver today? Out of business. S&w, Ruger, he'll even TAurus, Rossi, and Charter Arms, still make revolvers. I know peoe are gonna say the Python was too expensive to make. So what happened to the Official Police, the Trooper, the Anaconda? There's a market for revolvers. Colt dropped out of it long ago.

Just picked up a RI TCM for my dad but didn't get a chance to shoot it. I didn't have the TCM ammo. Could have shot it as a 9mm but the TCM round it the reason it was bought...very impressive balistics! I'm sure he'll give me a report soon.

Yes a .22 TCM is on my list. Hope to get one soon

Overrated The Desert Eagle

Underrated "Braztech" and earlier Rossi revolvers.... They had GREAT triggers!

I AM PRO PYTHON, AND ANTI GLOCK, BUT I MUST MAKE TWO STATEMENTS. I DO NOT LIKE THE FACT THAT YOU MUST PULL BACK TO RELEASE THE CYLINDER ON A COLT. IN FACT, SINCE I ONLY HAVE ONE HAND THAT WORKS, AND YOU NEED TWO IN ORDER TO OPEN UP A COLT, I NO LONGER SHOOT MY COLTS. I CAN STILL MANIPULATE MY S&Ws WITH ONE HAND, EVEN MY 8 3/8" BARRELS, SO THAT'S ALL I SHOOT NOWADAYS….

AND MY FRIEND, WHO OWNS A .40 GLOCK (MODEL 23, I BELIEVE) SHOOTS LSWC RELOADS BREWED UP BY THE LGS FROM WHICH WE PURCHASE .38SPL, 357 MAG, .44 SPL, .45 COLT AND .45 ACP. HIS HEXAGONAL BARREL HANDLES THE LEAD BULLETS WITH NO ISSUES….

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'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

Underrated

I am predominantly a shooter and find the S&W M14 to be still underrated. They were underrated when I picked mine up used in 1985.

Overrated

Any revolver costing more than an M14 and that is used for the same purpose of shooting it accurately (unless it is some PPC gun).

Overrated-Kimber because of costs and hype. Although the gifted one I have has been perfect so far.

Underrated-S&W Airweight J frames. They handle and shoot well, are cost effective and can handle +p ammo.

I'm jumping on the bandwagon too: the colt python is absolutely hands down the most overrated handgun. Period. The trigger isn't exceptional and the stocks are ugly and fat (gripping it feels like holding a beer bottle). I don't know what the lock time is on the python but when you pull the trigger it's like mailing a package parcel post, it takes 5-7 business days for the hammer to reach its destination. Personally I think the vented rib barrel is unattractive, the cylinder release moves in the wrong direction and the trigger is thin with some very sharp edges. The only good thing I can say about the gun is the finish is done better than any other stock gun. It's obvious that they spent A LOT of time polishing the gun. I'd rather pay a premium for more time spent on the action and overall shootability though.

As far as underrated, small frame five shot revolvers. They are a great option for self defense and allow you to carry some very powerful loads in a small package. It seems that a lot of people are thinking that capacity is the most important factor in a self defense pistol.

I agree with the prior statement.
over- Glock
under- Anything made by Star. Everyone of them I have had my hands on have been excellent weapons.

I'm certainly no expert by any means but to me the to me the most under rated handgun are Ruger revolvers and for that matter their rifles too. I have owned several and they are solid shooters and very well built. That said I own lots of S&W revolvers and I agree the Model 10 is an under rated revolver because of fixed sights and being a 38 special caliber.

The most over rated are the Glock pistols because they are good shooters and reliable but I never liked the little bar safety in the trigger and they are ugly. I much Prefer Sig P series Pistols for their design, ease of take down, accuracy and reliability.

Sig makes a great gun, no doubt. But in the auto world, I'd put Sig up there with H&K as far as over rated. Sure, they're high quality guns, but they nothing better than other hammer fired auto pistols, the Berett 92 and the S&W 3rd gens in particular. They are WAY overpriced.

Not to mention backwards controls for me. I owned a SIG 226. Every time I went to decock, I pressed down on the slide lock, and every time I went to lock the slide open, I hit the decocker. Every time.

Overated - s&w m&p pistols. Lousy triggers are their hallmark. Pay $450 to $550 and then spend another couple of hundred on aftermarket parts to give it what it should have come from the factory with.

Underated - Ruger revolvers. Very nice wheel guns. Featuring everything you need in a revolver and nothing you don't.

Regards 18DAI

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7 +1 Rounds of hope & change

OVER RATED: SIG & H&K guns...they "are" good but not worth the $100-$200 premium (depending on where your live) they cost over many other reliable brands.

UNDER RATED: Too numerous to mention. If a gun is 100% reliable, accurate, fits you hand and does the job it was designed to do who cares what the moniker is or what it cost?

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NULLI SECUNDUS

Most Overrated: Anything with Wiley Clapp's name on it.

Reason: Except for appearance, they're no different than any other "specialty" or so-called "custom" handgun...and here I'm referring to revolvers and semi-autos, no matter which company makes them.

Most Underrated: Virtually any full size Government or Commander-size 1911 from Colt.

Reason: There are apparently thousands (millions?) of handgunners who have fallen for this thing about how if you buy a Colt, you immediately have to have a gunsmith rework it to make it "work right". It's almost a hate campaign with some shooters, most of whom have no idea of the 1911's original design concept and/or how it was made. They've forgotten or ignore the reason the pistol was manufactured to begin with. This'll probably make some folks mad, but a whole lot of shooters can't even shoot as good as the gun will.

I was sooooo sure that if I said the M1911 was overrated I'd get booed and hissed out of town....but NO - I am not alone!

As a combat handgun I will not argue with the 1911 as a superior piece of armament. Proper training, proper handling, great caliber, even if it is hard to shoot well for some people - in the field of combat I will not gainsay the M1911.

In the realm of personal, defensive handguns, it is WILDLY overrated. It was overrated when its main competition on the street was the Model 10 (very underrated!).

Why?

Because despite all the braggadocio, most people are unqualified to handle a 1911. If you carry it in condition 3 (unless you've been trained by the IDF, because they do this) it takes too long to get into action. Even assuming it's safe to carry in Condition 2, cocking the hammer under self defense pressure is problematic. When carried in Condition 3 it's an accident waiting to happen in the hands of far too many people. It is simply not a safe choice for a HUGE number of its fans.

1911 guys hate it when I say that so feel free to flame away at me - I can take the heat.

***GRJ***

In condition 1, 2, or 3, a 1911 is much safer than a glop.
"Safe Trigger" my buttocks.

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Georgia On My Mind

but based on ownership of many Colt Pythons over the years I would have to say it's the most overrated handgun I've ever owned....nice cosmetically but only good for someone with large hands, hands wear out quickly and have to be hand-fitted....not especially accurate...Colt's own standard was 3.5 inch group at 15 yards.....

Most underrated.....S&W model 10....the basic cop gun of the 50s and 60s...extremely reliable, accurate and easy to work on. Millions of them made, mostly probably still in use.

My Glock 42 in .380 is one of my favorite guns, what does that say about my past decisions, like bell bottom pants and leisure suits? Polyester and polymer are related like West Virginia cousins.

No offense to anyone from West Virginia.

Agreed. I almost bought. P-97DC when they were in production. Nice size, super tough. Personally I think that Ruger goofed with their striker guns. They should have updated their DA/SA lines with the sexy features that everyone else has. The triggers on the SR series are horrible & they are strangely shaped with hardly anything made for them.

Over: HK's. Fine weapons to be sure, but no more "To Hell and Back" than many other firearms. Not immune to defects either.

Under: One of the most underrated pistols out there is the Sig SP2022.