Mistakes - Guns you wish you had not bought ...
- Thread starter Bekeart
- Start date
Bought a S&W Sigma SW 380 brand new when they came out in the mid-90s. The fit and finish didn't seem all that great and I couldn't hit much with it either. I am also not a big fan of square shaped pistols. Disassembly was also kind of a pain.
Sold it off and never regretted it.
Sold it off and never regretted it.
Ruger MK II 22lr pistol. It was inaccurate and kind of boring.
Got a S&W 41 (made 1958) with 7&3/8" barrel, muzzle brake, weights.... Sold the Ruger!
Got a S&W 41 (made 1958) with 7&3/8" barrel, muzzle brake, weights.... Sold the Ruger!
GyMac
US Veteran
A Series 80 Gold Cup. It was no better than a standard Colt. Traded it for a used S&W 14 and a 10. Still have those.
Mentioned this one before. S&W Bodyguard 38spl, the new one. Timing issues after about 20 rds, all Spl, no +p. Sent it back to S&W, trouble returned after 5rds. Couldn't get rid of that piece of dreck fast enough.
Cardboard_killer
Member
Ruger MkIII 22/45--crappy trigger, sharp edges cut my finger disassembling it, plastic lower. Brand new gun, my first, sold it and bought a m41. Talk about an upgrade!
Ruger 10/22--magazine fell out often while firing.
stevens visible loader--neat guns but they never work.
Ruger 10/22--magazine fell out often while firing.
stevens visible loader--neat guns but they never work.
Loved the feel of a Model 39........ but the 2nd gen 469 felt like a 2x4 in my hand ....it only lasted long enough to be....... saved by the 3rd Gen 6906/56xx's and 3913 w/ Hogue grips!!!!!
bmcgilvray
Member
Outside of a new Virginian Dragoon I purchased many years ago that proved to be a turkey, I've dodged making gun purchases that I regretted. Outside of very, very few purchases, I've diligently stuck to buying only guns designed or actually produced prior to World War II.
This has made for much happiness and contentment in my gun and shooting sports hobby.
This has made for much happiness and contentment in my gun and shooting sports hobby.
DocB
Member
Colt Combat Commander I bought back in the 1980's. What a piece of garbage. Kept it two weeks and sold it at a loss. Actually the Colt Diamondback in 22 was junk too, but I sold it decades later at a huge profit.
Also, every Ruger handgun I've ever owned, and I've owned most of them at one time or another.
Also, every Ruger handgun I've ever owned, and I've owned most of them at one time or another.
The first gun I ever bought, even used my own money, was a Winchester 190 .22 semi-auto. It turned out to be, I thought at the time, a huge mistake. It had jamming problems left and right. I sold it as quick as I could and bought one of the old Stevens clip fed .22 bolt actions. I absolutely loved that Stevens. Just recently I was digging up info on the Winchester 190 and found a Youtube vid of someone explaining how the majority of issues on the 190 were from a loose barrel nut. Just wish I had someone to let me know that 40 years ago.
Wee Hooker
Member
Three Taurus revolvers. ...
admittedly I'm a slow learner.
admittedly I'm a slow learner.
PTR-91.
Nicely made, accurate, but ate brass--I reload .308, but every shot was like throwing the brass in the toilet and flushing.
Installed an ejection buffer, jammed like crazy and still mangled half the brass.
Too bad as I really liked it, couldn't afford to shoot it much.
Nicely made, accurate, but ate brass--I reload .308, but every shot was like throwing the brass in the toilet and flushing.
Installed an ejection buffer, jammed like crazy and still mangled half the brass.
Too bad as I really liked it, couldn't afford to shoot it much.
MCorps0311
US Veteran
A Jenning .32 auto,had it for years and didn't really shoot that many rounds through it,maybe a box at the most.Now it's broke, a spring broke and I cant get the magazine all the way in it now.
625-7
Member
22 automag, fun to shoot, needs constant cleaning, still havit,
brand new Ruger p89, pull trigger FTE, sent back to factory and never saw again, traded mid repair at lgs for a Colt enhanced Govt.
38 derringer, bought for novelty but would not bet my life on it
brand new Ruger p89, pull trigger FTE, sent back to factory and never saw again, traded mid repair at lgs for a Colt enhanced Govt.
38 derringer, bought for novelty but would not bet my life on it
Universal M-1 Carbine. Genuine 100% junk.
That was many moons ago and I have learned my lesson.
That was many moons ago and I have learned my lesson.
I purchased a Massachusetts State Police commemorative because when I was younger I had friends that went the state cop route. I went the teacher route. The 386 was too pretty to shoot, and did not have a lot of collertor interest.
A few years back I bought the FN 57 Pistol. thought it was the end it all gun. In reality the 40 grain at 1900 fps was probably just a little more than a 22 magnum. I reloaded for it, it was a little pain in the #$$. I kept it a while cause my son thought he wanted it until he fell in love with my 686-3 2 1/2" . I did sell it a year ago for a profit. So all in all it worked out pretty good. That 57 was an itch I just had to scratch.
Danbgt
Member
Taurus PT145 Millennium Pro.
Haven't shot it much. I can't hit the broad side of a barn with it. Never had it to mis-feed or not fire. I just don't care for it. Now, with the recall, I can't get rid of it.
Haven't shot it much. I can't hit the broad side of a barn with it. Never had it to mis-feed or not fire. I just don't care for it. Now, with the recall, I can't get rid of it.
cbore
Member
My worst a Springfield 1911. Great gun no complaints. After a 2 years of adding to the weapon to trick it out like I wanted. Competition leather, souped up mags and several 1000 rounds. Then classes and several ISPCA matches I sold everything and went back to my S&W revolvers.
Stick with is best for you. Me a model 19 4 inch
Stick with is best for you. Me a model 19 4 inch
indie_rocker
US Veteran
EAA Witness poly compact. Bought it from a friend to help him out and it never ran right. Rarely had a magazine empty without some sort of malfunction. EAA could have cared less when I called.
Sold it for a small loss at Cabelas. They have a 30 day warranty on used pistols. Yes I feel bad for the guy that bought it after me but Cabelas would take it back.
Sold it for a small loss at Cabelas. They have a 30 day warranty on used pistols. Yes I feel bad for the guy that bought it after me but Cabelas would take it back.
Springfield Compact Range Officer. Just didn't like the thing.....
Almost my experience exactly....but mine was a Ruger stainless steel Redhawk in .44 magnum with a 7½-inch barrel. No doubt about it...the thing was built like a brick shipyard! A great gun...that is if you need something to tear out telephone poles!
I shot it a few times and realized it just wasn't the gun for me. My oldest son, on the other hand, loved it and gave me the same amount that I paid for it. Heck! I would've given it to him! He still loves it. In fact, his wife even shoots the thing. To paraphrase Rudyard Kipling, "[She's] a better man than I am, Gunga Din."
Last edited:
Named User
Member
I've regretted more than a few I've sold, but only regret buying was a FEG GGK .45. It was a good shooter, but disassembly was a nightmare. No matter what I did I couldn't get that darn take down pin out without sacrificing my first born. I came close to replacing it with a bolt, and finally ended up selling it for a song.
Default Mistakes - Guns you wish you had not bought ...
Here's mine!
It is an Iver Johnson 7 shot 22lr. Shoots Only low velocity 22lr rounds. Originally nickel plate...now no plating left. That's not the problem. It locks up tight and timing is spot on. However...the trigger pull seems like about 100 lbs! Somehow..I've got to get this trigger action loosened up! And...I am not quite ready to resort to giving it to my gunsmith for the job! So...guess I don't really want to get rid of it..just make it useable. Maybe not really a mistake...just a cautionary tale. LOL! I love the old S&W break tops as well as these old Iver Johnsons!
Just something about breaking open the action and automatically ejecting spent rounds. Kind of want a Taylors & Company 3 1/2 inch Schoefield someday!
Cheers,
Unkei
Here's mine!
It is an Iver Johnson 7 shot 22lr. Shoots Only low velocity 22lr rounds. Originally nickel plate...now no plating left. That's not the problem. It locks up tight and timing is spot on. However...the trigger pull seems like about 100 lbs! Somehow..I've got to get this trigger action loosened up! And...I am not quite ready to resort to giving it to my gunsmith for the job! So...guess I don't really want to get rid of it..just make it useable. Maybe not really a mistake...just a cautionary tale. LOL! I love the old S&W break tops as well as these old Iver Johnsons!
Just something about breaking open the action and automatically ejecting spent rounds. Kind of want a Taylors & Company 3 1/2 inch Schoefield someday!
Cheers,
Unkei
Attachments
Last edited:
DocB and I must have traveled in the same circle. The blued steel Combat Commander I owned was a disaster. No one could make it work and, since I purchased it used, Colt wanted to charge me a handsome sum for a new slide. I suspect the original slide had improperly cut locking lugs or something? I was thrilled to be rid of that mess.
The last Ruger I owned was a decent gun - a convertible model in SS that could fire either 45 Colt or 45 ACP. As soon as it was mine, it no longer had any appeal. Don't know why I bought it? My fault, not the gun's.
As to S&Ws I regret, there is only one. I bought it as a project gun and it was one "bridge too far". I am done with project guns and it would be hard to sell it in its present condition so it will live out its days as a paperweight.
Some "honorable mentions" in the minor regret department:
-An older Mini 30. Not even a minute of pie plate gun.
-A couple of too-expensive shotguns. I won't mention the brand. Perfectly nice guns, a pleasure to own and use, but just too much money. Not worth it, to me. Just not worth 5-10 times more than a Browning Citori target gun that does the same job and that I can shoot just as well.
Last edited:
I think those new model IJs had coil mainsprings. If you take off the grips, you can see. Be careful; those grips are brittle. Perhaps a couple of coils off the mainspring wouldn't hurt. Parts are plentiful it you take off too much. However, first I'd squirt some gun cleaning stuff in the mechanism, perhaps it's just dried oil and gunk that's mking it hard to work the mechanism.
As you value your sanity, don't take off the trigger guard; a lot of stuff comes off with it, and is very hard to replace.
============================
Hi Cyrano,
Thanks for the info! Yeah..think I'll try some good gun cleaning spray first. However, have you ever heard of using carberator cleaner for that purpose? If so...any opinions? As to the spring..it is a coil spring but if it comes to that...I think a trip to my gunsmith may be in order! I'm all thumbs, but then I still don't text well! LOL!
Cheers,
Unkei (Bigfoot)
Attachments
DelawareDave
Member
After the military, my "First and Worst" was a Bersa Thunder 380. Lots of people love them and recommended it, but it was problem-prone from the start. It couldn't make it through a magazine without a hang up.
I traded it for a worn, but cared for pre-model 10, and the rest is history.
I traded it for a worn, but cared for pre-model 10, and the rest is history.
You have to clean it out, and replace the old buffer.
Every time I buy one, there's a pound of crud built up
on the internals. Google has directions for a field strip.
Brownells has buffers for @9$, IIRC.
I was on a bit of a milsurp kick when I first started collecting
guns. Got a few which are none too accurate. Just don't have
time for them any more. Bought a rifle with a really nice Black
Maple stock once. I was afraid I would mar the finish, so I
couldn't enjoy it. Sold it, and got the same model with a
dinged up stock. Use it all the time, never been happier.
guns. Got a few which are none too accurate. Just don't have
time for them any more. Bought a rifle with a really nice Black
Maple stock once. I was afraid I would mar the finish, so I
couldn't enjoy it. Sold it, and got the same model with a
dinged up stock. Use it all the time, never been happier.
Last edited:
Similar threads
