The gun that surprised you the most

[finesse_r]

My most pleasant surprise was a Taurus TCP in .380, as I never expected such quality and reliably from any thing with Taurus on it. My S&W guns, did not surprise me as I fully expected quality from them.

My worst surprise was a New Colt Combat Commander in .45 ACP. I have never seen such a piece of junk in my life as the one I ended up with. I understand most are fine guns, but the one I got was the worst case of a total lack of quality control that I have ever seen, much less had the misfortune to own.

I will never ever, buy another Colt as long as I live.

 

[raljr1]

one that surprised me was a 32 HE that shot so well it made my K32 look like a scatter gun.

 

[patrick james]

Just bought my 2nd CZ pistol, I've owned a CZ 75B 9mm for years and it shot great so I bought a CZ P01. Can not believe how accurate this pistol is. Just shot with it at local gun club match and came in first place over many other very expensive hand guns. If you never tried a CZ handgun I think you will be pleasantly surprised

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

In a bad way, this Contender .223:

... I expected it to be loud. But they need another word for loud when describing this thing ....

You think that's bad, I've got the exact same gun, stainless 1st gen Contender, and .223 barrel, but with Thompson/Center's propitiatory Muzzle Tammer muzzle break. OH, MY GOD!!! I sincerely believe it may be the loudest man made device in the history of all creation.

 

[Farmer17]

I bought a simple Remington 700 BDL 30-06 from Walmart on a Black Friday sale recently. I wasn't even looking for one but saw the price tag for $377 and thought I would resell it for a profit. This rifle has beautiful wood and nice "old world" looks, and is also very accurate accurate and nice handling. It's a little heavier than the synthetic stock pencil barrel rifles, but seems to have near perfect balance and when I aim it standing, the iron sights just seem to "hang" on the target. I may never sell it.

 

[GunarSailors]

My first Performance Center gun (#132 of 258 model 27-8). Never thought that it would be one of my favorites. I changed out the stocks for an older set and also changed the .160 W/O rear sight blade for a shorter .146 W/O blade, because I don't care much for Six O'clock hold.

 

[curtmini14]

i got a firestar m43 cheap around 100 bucks turned out i could not miss with this gun its heavy but very well built and has really nice features for a enexpensive gun since then i got another one great carry piece for ccw.

 

[TucsonMTB]

My first 1911 . . .

This was purchased lightly used from a member of our local gunboard (ArizonaShooting-dot-com) who drove half way from Phoenix to meet me along the side of the Interstate at 6:00 am on a winter morning because we both had tough work schedules. It came complete in the original box. Brad even gave me a quick demo of how to field strip it before we both faded into the morning darkness.

Yeah, it is "only" a Kimber. But, with a Briley Spherical Bushing fitted and a narrow strip of grip tape on the smooth front strap it always finds the bulls-eye. Those slim profile cocobolo grips replaced the original rubber grips, partly because they fit my wife's smaller hands well.

Best of all, it has never failed to reliably handle any .45 ACP ammo, including the stunningly accurate, Federal Classic 185 gr JHP's that are on the Wilson Combat list of ammunition to avoid.

Life is good . . .

 

[bigchuck83]

I have had a few guns that really surprised me. Beretta 92fs will always be my favorite full sized 9mm pistol and i will own another someday, S&W model 28-2 Accuracy well beyond my skills. S&W M&P9c purchased as a carry gun and has been great so far, i always hear complaints about the triggers but mine seems ok to me. The only thing i can't warm up to is Glocks currently have a second gen G19 and while feeling good in the hands i just can't shoot them well.

 

[BigBoy99]

CZ75

CZ75, it is all steel and heavy when loaded with 17 rounds but It has a great feel and great ergonomics so it handles like a lighter gun. It is very accurate and I can clear the plate rack with it faster than any gun I have ever owned, and I have owned over a 100 guns.

I got a 9mm CZ75 as part of a trade deal. When the number sorted out, I had about $75-$100 invested in it. I figured such a cheap gun would be a piece of junk and threw in the back of the safe. It sat there many, many years, totally ignored. One day, on a whim, I decided to dig it out and take it to the range for a test fire. Boy was I ever wrong. It was the most accurate handgun I have ever shot and its feel was outstanding. The 17 rounds were really a big plus in my estimation. I like is so well that I went out and bought another one.

 

[Ranger17]

a couple yrs ago my inlaws handed down to me their dad's (was originally their grandpa's) Colt Challenger which was my first gun. Was well used over the years (dates to 1951), though towards the end was mostly brought out just on occasion and then was stuck in storage for some years after my father in law passed.
What surprised me the most (though i've heard similar stories from other Colt owners) was how well it shoots after all these years. It's accurate and fun as all heck to shoot.

Or, maybe i shouldn't be that surprised...

 

[DeadAye]

When I was a kid I had two guns - A single shot .22 and a single shot 16 ga shotgun. It had a very straight stock and seriously *KICKED*. I was afraid to even try to shoot a 12 after that.
Then one fine afternoon I shot a Winchester Model 10 12ga

 

[SteedGun]

Good surprise:

S&W Shield 9mm. I was stunned at how easy this gun is to run and how accurate it is shooting. When I go with a smaller conceal this is my gun. I ride my bike (not motorcycle) with this gun in the back center pouch of my riding jersey in a soft holster. This is a good fightin gun for sure.

Bad surprise:

Kimber Solo 9mm. Expensive, jammed, and nasty to shoot. It made two tours back to the factory to no avail. This gun was sold at a significant loss.

 

[Jim1392]

I've been a revolver guy all my life. There is something about a stainless steel revolver. So, I went and bought my first plastic gun a Shield 9. Well I've been really impressed with the gun. I have 150 rounds through it without a hiccup. Very accurate, easy to conceal, and with the extra magazine enough fire power. I've actually left my 640 Pro home a few times and carried it.

 

[wbraswell]

Positive- Browning HP, the gun was covered with rust, but the inside looked good and the slide worked smooth. About 25 yrs ago, I gave a guy $150 for it. I needed a car/truck gun. It has never failed to feed or fire, period. No matter what magazine. Even a mag that was loaded and carried in the gun for nearly 10 years.
Negative- My Python and my friend's Ruger 10-22 target, with the spiral faceted stainless heavy barrel. I've heard these were very accurate. Well these two are not even in the ballpark. Also, a Colt OP .22 that I have. I've shot an RG snub .22 that was more accurate.

 

[3dots]

Mine is probably my Ruger SR40. I had heard that they shoot really "soft" for a 40cal. No joke there, the low bore axis and heavy top end makes it shoot like a 9.

 

[brucev]

Gun that surprised me? Winchester Model 1917 dated 1918 w/ original barrel ... bore was sewer pipe quality. It sprayed any 150 gr. loads I tried. Back then I normally expected about 1.7 inch groups from my 2-21 dated 1903 Springfield. However, one day I whomped up some handloads for the Winchester... 180 gr. RN Hornady's over some now forgotten powder charge. Viola! That old warhorse started producing nice, round five shot groups that ran about 1.5 inches... nicely centered! Who'd have thought it!

Another one... a Korean era M-1 Garand that had a loose gas cylinder, a loose stock fit and a worn barrel. I did a bit of fidlding w/ the gas cylinder so that it ended up fitting "snug." I shimmed the receiver in the stock w/ some business cards cut to fit. I loaded it up w/ PMC 150 gr. soft-point ammo. It went from minute of can accuracy at 100 yds. to producing right at 2.0 inch five shot groups. Later that year I used it to kill a nice doe. She was standing over on the other side of a open bit of water down in the woods. I was standing on the other side. I compared her to the other two does using the front sight to figure which one was the largest ... then I shot her headon in the chest. She dropped like a stone. Distance was a little over a football field. Ended up having to leave my rifle and gear while I swam over and got her as the water turned out to be deeper than I first thought.

Got a Springfield 1903... high number made about 1918. Had been through a arsenal rebuild (RA-P) where it got a new Sedley 1944 barrel, a scant stock and mixed milled/stamped parts. All in all, a nice rifle. Unfortunately, the bore was... "tarnished." Cleaned it with everything known to man... no better. Took it to the range not expecting much. Had a sack of 95 rounds of .30-06 hunting ammo... Federal, Winchester, Remington, given to me by a church member. I had sorted the ammo out the night before. Shot carefully from sandbags off the top of my car firing at a SR-1 at 100 yds. Using the apeature rear sight... that thing shot like a death ray. Best group of the day was a perfect one inch five shot group using Winchester Silver Tips. Fired all 95 rounds over about 2 1/2 hours. All groups were under 2 inches.

Last one... Remington 1903 that came through the CMP. The stock looked rough. The exterior metal looked excellent. The barrel... a High Standard 1944 replacement... bore was mirror bright. After cleaning and degreasing the stock, etc., put it back together. Had to shim the rear sight as it was a bit loose. Result is it is now my vintage military match rifle. Because of the stock... I call it "Crackbaby!" Sincerely. brucev.

 

[shell627]

The gun that surprised me the most..Was a Bulgy makarov.It came from a police auction ,finish on one side all scratched up,like it had been thrown down the street.First time I shot it had my hkp7 along and I swear it shot just as well

 

[walkin jack]

Many years ago (seems like it was back in the '70s) I bought a new H&R 9shot .22lr revolver single action (cowboy gut) with a 6" barrel. I think I only paid 50 or 60 bux for it. I just bought it to plink with and didn't expect a great deal of quality.

Imagine my delight and surprise when it turned out to be a terrific little shooter. A very smooth tight trigger and amazingly accurate. It did for a number of turtles, rabbits and squirrels and countless bulls eyes for about 10 o2 12 years. I'd sure love to have that one back too. I'd get a new one but I'm pretty sure it would not be as good as the old one was. RE the Ruger 10/22 I bought in 2007 as compared to the one I bought in 1973 or 4. Just not the same gun. I now have a Heritage Rough Rider and it's only a six-shooter but other wise just about at good.

 

[TucsonMTB]

Earlier, I posted the first 1911 we purchased a long time ago. I imagine everyone is surprised by their first 1911.

However, this is a revolver forum.

Our first revolver entered the scene much more recently. After reading how difficult snubbies can be to shoot accurately, the 642-1 which is now my constant pocket companion surprised me a great deal.

Over the last decade or so, our pocket guns have evolved from a too small Kel-Tec P-3AT to a too large Kahr PM-40 and finally to the just right 642-1 pictured above.

I am very surprised at how easy to carry and shoot this little guy is. Life is good!