92 Ford Taurus....what a lemon!

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Thirty characters. Exactly...

Thanks I was waiting for someone to realize this was an auto post. Duh. Mine was a '57 Willys Overland, first and worst but it did get me back and forth to College in Roanoke, VA. Originally 3 on the tree, converted to the floor. Maroon, what a maroon it was...

Sig Mosquito and the .22 unit on the 220. They would not feed any ammo reliably.
Saw one post mention the Walther P22. To fix feed problem with the P22 do not swap types of ammo without giving the chamber a good scrubbing with a wire brush.
Larry

WHAT!! Bad Smith and Wessons??
I thought only Glocks and Taurus' turned out lemons?

Honda CRX Si - Had to drive an hour one way to work and bought it for the gas mileage. While it was a fun car to drive - after an hour my back, hips, and legs hurt till lunch time. I used to dread the ride home

What?
Oh - Sorry.

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In dog years I'm dead.

The M-16 series has a design problem. They have tight tolerances, maybe tighter than they should be for a standard-issue service rifle, and because of the direct impingement gas system, they rapidly foul themselves. I had better luck with mine, but after a few magazines, that forward assist button at the back of the receiver was a necessity, not gingerbread. Also seemed not at all tolerant of sand or mud, which is kind of a drag when you have to get about by crawling. There's a lot of stuff to like about them. They're relatively lightweight. They're very accurate. They can be very easily stripped. Good firepower until they start crudding up. But not a perfect service rifle at all.

72 Plymouth Fury

Knowing that the OP's post dealt with guns I still felt I better hedge
my bets so I went back and edited my original post to fit the dual theme.

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Ogy

Kel Tec P40. Horrible recoil and would never feed reliably.

Two S&W 22A's. Bought several years apart from each other. Neither were reliable. Guess I'm a slow learner.

Out
West

Some of the complaints about jamming on the small autos is just that...learning how to shoot them. Now before anyone gets insulted I went through the learning curve myself! Plenty of complaints about the Smith PPK/S 380 and I own one. A little more lube than maybe some guns and firm support from the shooter and it performs very well...100% when I do my part. These little guys don't have the mass of the full size autos so I had to learn.

This is surely only a small part of the woes in this thread but I thought worth mentioning.

Sir, I've actually had very good luck with autos, including various different sorts of rifles, pistols and shotguns. I do tend to stick with known good designs from reputable companies, which is a big part of it.

The only true problem child was a Kimber 1911 (series 1) that was finicky about magazines. With mags it liked, it worked fine; with those it didn't, it would jam on the second-to-last round every time. Oddly, the mags it disliked were expensive Wilsons that worked perfectly in every other 1911 I tried them in, including Colts, Les Baers and even another Kimber. There was just something wrong with that particular gun. [shrug]

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.

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Wishin' don't make it so.

I sure wish it was as simple as that with my S&W PPK/s. I tried everything, grease in the rails, on the feed ramp, every type of ammo I could find and the only thing that worked, if you can call it that, was to only load 5 in the mag, rack one home then take out the mag and tap the remaining 4 rd's back down. If I did that it worked most of the time. If I only loaded 4 at the start and tapped the 3 remaining rd's back down it was pretty reliable......

I thought it was a mag issue at first so I bought 3 more new factory mag's to go with the 2 that came with the gun, still a no go. All did the same thing I mentioned above.

Personally I still think it was magazine related in some way. If you fully loaded the mag, inserted it, then racked a rd home and tried to remove the mag you usually had to wiggle it in order to get it to drop free. The 2nd rd had been pulled so far forward when the 1st rd fed that it was up against the feed ramp, which required the base of the mag to be wiggled forward to get clearance for the pulled forward 2nd rd to fit back down the mag well.

The majority of my fail to "fully" feed's were with the slide forward, to greater & lesser degrees depending on how many rd's were still in the mag, with the base of the rd "cocked up" at the base. I'm pretty sure this was due to the rd's hitting the feed ramp too soon which made the base of the feeding rd tilt upwards.

Mine had gone back to S&W early on for, to use S&W's technical term, "Field Strip Adjust," which meant I couldn't field strip it. I included the fail to feed issue on the note so they also polished the feed ramp while it was there. Still didn't help.

The day I got it back from S&W the 2nd time, which was for the safety recall, is the day I took it to a local gun shop and sold it.

I only post this to provide more information for those who might be considering one and think technique will do the trick. Like I said at the beggining, I wish it would have been that easy. I spent weeks dealing with my PPK/s and have a scar to prove it, not from the slide, but from the edge of the backstrap. If I could have got that sucker to function I was going to get it de-horned......

That PPK/s is the sole reason my range bag always has a ready supply of, good, heavy duty band-aid's in one of the side-pouches.

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Ogy

Sorry to hear your Smith PPK never did well for you. Mine is also an early model that wasn't perfect to start but has settled in. If I had as much trouble with mine as you had with yours I would probably have moved on, too. From what I have read (grain of salt) the early one's had some growing pains but the current production is trouble free.

At first I didn't know if this was about the worst car or the worst semiautomatic pistol. The worst semiautomatic pistol was a Colt Combat Commander, nickel plated, in 9mm. The most inaccurate gun I have ever owned. I could throw a rock more accurately than that gun could shoot.

The worst car was my 1986 Ford Escort. I even had a custom bumper sticker made that said "I WOULD RATHER CASTRATE MYSELF WITH A BROKEN BEER BOTTLE THAN BUT ANOTHER FORD".

Worst were saturday night specials I'd bought 30 years ago. I was just so AMAZED that someone could buy a brand new gun fo $40!!! It was like a MIRACLE!!!

Once upon a midnight dreary I bought a .25 cal. RAVEN.

My impression?: "NEVERMORE!"

I have a Star Ultrastar that shoots very low, even for a European sighted gun. Even so, it groups well and will swallow and fire any ammo. I have a Baby Desert Eagle that has a nasty DA pull, but it is very accurate SA.

My only reliability issues with semis have been with rifles. Once it was an underpowered ammo problem, and the other time it was because I picked up the one bad mag I had for that gun when I took it to the range. Nothing some gentle persuasion with pliers could not cure.

No doubt, it was a Llama based on the 1911 platform. The gun was bought new and never had anything going for it other than the price. Now why would a person of my gun savy buy such a piece of junk? I was young, stupid and financially embarrassed. This was back in the early 60's, I was in school, married with one child and the gun was $125. I had a lot to learn.

Spanish Dickson Detective .25 acp. When it did function it would eject metal shavings from the slide along with the spent case.

Kimber CDP 2 full melt down, night sights, was to be my carry gun, stovepiped a lot and when it did eject it was into my face, hot brass down the collar aint no fun. Sent it back twice and they couldn't "duplicate my problems". traded it for a S&W M4. My sigma is a better and more reliable pistol.

Kel Tec Sub 2000....JUNK FTF FTE FTF

TWO Colt Gold Cups, purchased in the early 70's.

Both would NOT feed anything, and had failure to eject more often than not. Many $$$ spent with gunsmiths, to make them work.

Couldn't. Sold them both, and didn't return to autos, until I purchased three Glock 19's. Ahhhh.........The blasted things would feed an EMPTY case. My go to self defense pistols, with +P+ 115 JHP.

Still have an early Taurus PT99 (no decocker) that is flawless, and I carry it with confidence. Go figure.

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NRA Instructor

I find the variety of answers very interesting. Seems like guns are like cars, everybody makes a couple of bad ones now and then. I have a Beretta 418 that is quite a stinker. It stovepipes usually, but when it doesn't, it ejects right in my face, or down my shirt. (I'm left handed) I had one hot case land on my collarbone and stick to me. Ouch.

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Wayne
Torn & Frayed

Well, I was going to talk about an '85 Dodge Ramcharger, but I'll say it was a Model 39 that had all kinds of ejector issues. Sold it...

SA 1911A1, the copy of the basic Gov't model. Functioned fine, accuracy was terrible, even after swaping out a lot of barrels and bushings. Glad to see it go. If I get another 1911 it will be a better grade and maybe a differnet make.

This really surprises me due to the fact that both companies have a great rep regarding 1911's, oh well, lemons aren't restricted to cars.

As you know, when it came to weapons in Vietnam, us grunts (0311's) only got what the Army rejected when they got new toys.

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Life Mbr:DAV-USMC-DAV-NRA-MOPH

Hands down my first: Walther PPK/S, the Jam-O-Matic.

Mine would have to be a butterscotch colored 1978 Ford Pinto. Bought it new in 1978....and in 1984 it litterally "fell apart".....just died in the middle of the road.....had it towed to my house......and gave it away to the first person that would take it.

What a total and complete ***! I must have been out of my mind when I bought it.

They didn't make them much worse than that.

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G.P. Charlie

My father in law had one and ,yep,he was hit from behind.It didn't explode,but he tore up his shoulder trying to force the door open.He replaced it with a k- car.I had my doubts about that guy...

Ruger P-89 DA pull approached 25 lbs. Worst trigger I have ever shot. After 600-700 rounds it smoothed down to around 18 lbs or so.

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Front sight and squeeze

I was a grunt radio operator in the late 70's...hand me down rifles, hand me down radios and hand me down jeeps! I swear it was all from WWII or Korea! They always said that if we got the call we would get new issue but I think that was just a little insurance to get us on the boat or the plane carrying our Dad's equipment.

Actually, it IS all steel. Oh, and it's a Ruger:

Ruger® SP101® Double-Action Revolver

Yeah, it should say SP01...but the point still stands that they make polymer CZ-75's. Lol.

1. 1978 Ford Thunderbird
2. AMT Backup .45 ACP

Worst one I have owned so far was a S&W 4566STW. Boy did I really want to like the gun, but it POI was always way below POA, and after trying 3 different grips on it and S&W replacing the front sight with a shorter one--my grouping still looked like I had been shooting buckshot. Sold it, and bought a S&W 1911. Complete night and day, first clip I was on center and grouping--well as good as I've ever shot.

Dito on the 4566 and the POI/POA, I didn't send it to S&W, after trying just about very type of ammo in the world, I traded it for a 686 4" and swore I would never have another big bore semi-auto..my wheel guns are 1000% more accurate..

If you look at the CZ site (CZ-USA -> Product Categories) the SP01 is listed as a "75" but in it's own section at the bottom of the page. I wonder if they're calling it a "75" as an advertising gimmick??

Oh, and my worst auto pistol was/is an OMC "Back-Up" .380 that the trigger fell out of. Luckily, I've never fired it and I'll probably never sell it. I wouldn't do that to my worst enemy!

In my defense, I took it as part of a very good deal on a Berreta 92SB!

Same here... AMT Hardballer in the mid-70's. Would only run with Colt magazines. Not impressed.

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A closed mouth gathers no foot

Colt "Stainless Steel Combat Commander" Jammed with hardball, tried different mags and cleaning, got rid of it!

AMT .380.....the single action type. But gosh, the gun magazines said they were so great?

AMT Hardballer......Well It looked cool. Like a stainless Gold Cup.

Auto Ordinance 1911......This one was good gun when I got rid of it. Lot's of $$$$ and work invested.

Not complaining. I've had great luck with guns in general and had fun with every single one.

Many moons ago I bought my first wife a Raven 25auto. I told her it wasn't worth a flip, but she wanted it because it was chrome and shiny and had pink grips. I think I paid $39 new. It is long gone and so is she. My new bride(20 years ago) has more sense and has a Ruger LCR with Crimson trace grips in her nightstand. We have one of the new S&W Bodyguard 38 revolvers, but she likes the Ruger better because she does not have to reach for the switch like on the S&W. I like the S&W because my hands are large and I have to alter my grip in an odd way to get the Lazer on with the Ruger, while she just grips it naturally. I guess I digressed. God Bless

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You need guns- buy more guns!

SIG Mosquito.
Early model, bad experience.

rayb

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"cumplo pero no obedezco"

I bought a S&W Model 39 in the 70's. I never could get it to shoot a decent group. I sold it a few months after buying it.

The next auto that I bought was an Argentine Modelo 1927. Someone had put a match barrel and bushing on it an it was one of the most accurate guns that I ever owned.

I did not buy another S&W auto until several years ago when I bought a Model 41 on the forum. I now have a M&P .45 ACP that I love to shoot.

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Corripe Cervisiam

Beretta 84F. Never would feed a full mag of ball ammo. Expensive junk.

HEHE
I almost made an entry until I realized you were not asking about CARS!!!!!!!!!
Or where you??

1980 Buick Century

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Buy American
Vote Responsibly

This is the main reason I still carry revolvers for serious business.

Cheers;
Lefty

Mine is a Sig Trailside, Parts of it keep breaking off.

Absolute worst was a Walther P22. Never fed more than four in a row. Put up with it for about 1200 rds, traded it off, at a loss. The P22 was followed closely by the only three Colt 1911's I've owned, a beautiful blue 70's era 45 ACP, a nickel Super 38 Combat Commander, & a 80's era Stainless Delta Elite. None of the three worked. By contrast I've had a few S&W 1911's that were accurate & reliable, & probably 15-20 Kimber's of all sizes that have been great, too. The redeeming feature of the Colt's was demand. They were easy to trade, without losing much on them.

Worst auto huh, '89 Ford Bronco in High School. Came out of coal country and the drivers side floorboard was rusted through, you could put your fist through either quarter panel, the only thing on it that didn't have rust on it was the fiberglass top. Had a 300 6 in it with a 3 speed auto, didn't like to go faster than about 65. Had the brake lines rust through and break on the way home one day with quite a bit of snow on the ground. I lost count of how many times it dropped the back left freeze plug, and it finally blew a head gasket after I had it about 6 months.

Autos, I've never really owned one that was that bad but the last M-16 I was issued in the Corps was a piece of work. The handguards were held on with electrical tape, I could see daylight between the upper and Lower recievers and it rattled like a box of rocks. I also had to have the sights about 27 clicks to the left to get it to hit on target if I remember right. But, it worked and I don't ever remember it jamming.