Early 1980's AMT Backup in .380. You needed a prybar to pull the trigger, it was very prone to jamming, and if it would fire more than once, the slide bit you. Traded the AMT & a 4" Stainless Security Six for a 1970 Toyota Hi-Lux pickup truck. I sure wish I had the Ruger back, but the "beater with a heater" got me back & forth to work.
What is the worst gun you ever owned ?
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Photog
Member
A Ruger M77 RSM in .416 Rigby. At the time it was a very expensive rifle meant to be used on dangerous game. Problem was, it would not feed, always jammed on the second shell in the magazine. Ruger customer service was a joke back then. The "service" rep stated that I needed to switch to a factory magazine as 99% of feeding issues were due to aftermarket magazine use. Took a minute or so to explain there was no such thing as an aftermarket magazine for this rifle. She then asked if it had been modified in anyway. I told her I had cut the stock by about 1/2" and added a new recoil pad. She said that that was probably the problem as it was modified. She said I could send it in, but the first thing they would do is replace the stock at my cost. I said what if I sent in the barreled action only.....they would replace the stock and charge me for it. Found a gunsmith who got it to feed. I promptly sold it right after that, giving full disclosure as to what went on. He was going to Africa to hunt Cape Buffalo.
These two pistols. An RG 23 in 22LR top and a Clerk's First in 32 S&W bottom. Both are so poorly made I'm amazed they ever were made at all. I've shot the RG and it functions fine. Haven't shot the Clerk and probably never will!
KarmannGhia
Member
Smith & Wesson SW9M. Total dumpster fire. To Smith's credit, when I sent it to them for help, they gave me total credit for the purchase price towards a (then) brand new CS9D. Best trade ever.
Worst firearm I ever owned was a double-barreled 12 ga. that I found in a closet when we were preparing a house for sale. First I found the barrels. Then, the buttstock and receiver. Then ... happy happy! I found a paper sack of parts. The thing was a mess. Took it home. Bought some 44-40 Cold Blue, a few odds and ends and went to work. Got the bores clean enough to have hope it might be useable. Got the action to work. Alas... one of the hammers followed the other down. Had no idea what to do, so I set about getting it cleaned and polished up. Then I applied a master class quality cold blue to the barrels and receiver. Got all the screws to fit properly. Blued them and once assembled, it was a nice looking old thing. Got a Demi-Bart checkering tool and riffer and over the course of a couple of evenings, I did a good job of repairing what had once been checkering on the wrist and forearm. Test fired it a couple of times one Sunday behind the parsonage after the morning worship service. It was like getting hit with a dull hatchet. Never did find out much about the pattern. Decided I didn't care. Both barrels going off at the same time was just more fun than I wanted. Took it to a pawn shop where the fellow gave it a look at it. We swapped even. He said he could sell a shotgun easier than a high end holster. I eft with a brand new Safariland gun belt and holster for my 17-2. Sincerely. bruce.
I have owned hundreds of firearms and have only managed to actually break two. One was a Harrington and Richardson "Sportsman" that actually belonged to my mother, it did not hold up to a twelve year old's use and one day just quit functioning. The other was a Colt Trooper MK whatever, I broke the double action sear. I don't consider replacing parts that wear as breakage as long as it doesn't disable the firearm from usage.
Eddie Southgate
Member
The original Charter Arms Target Bulldog in .357 Magnum. Shot fine and was accurate for the first three rounds but by then the sleeve on the barrel that held the front sight would be walked half way off the barrel. Had to loosen the set screw, push it back on and tighten the screw every three shots. Not sure why they or I ever thought that system would work. Finally drilled a hole into the barrel for the screw to fit into and put some Loctite stud locker on the barrel , slipped the sleeve on , put a good dose of stud locker on the set screw and screwed it in tight as it would go and sold it .
My pap had one of the little RG's that was given to him when they first showed up over here. He took it out behind the shop and shot a couple of targets with it up fairly close . The third cylinder full was half fired when the barrel fell out on the ground. It was pinned but not threaded and the pin fell out on the third shot of the third cylinder .
They say " The Third Times The Charm" , I'm convinced.
My pap had one of the little RG's that was given to him when they first showed up over here. He took it out behind the shop and shot a couple of targets with it up fairly close . The third cylinder full was half fired when the barrel fell out on the ground. It was pinned but not threaded and the pin fell out on the third shot of the third cylinder .
They say " The Third Times The Charm" , I'm convinced.
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There's actually been a review of the Clerke 1st published. The author came to the same conclusion you did - it's never to be fired. See: GUNS Magazine Clerke First Revolver - GUNS Magazine
As bizarre as it may seem, the Rock Island Auction Company in fact once sold a trio of these: Three Clerke Technicorp Double Action Revolvers with Boxes | Rock Island Auction
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Seecamp .32. I had to have one and waited a long time to get one. I don't remember how long the wait was. It was a jamomatic. I only shot the prescribed .32 Silvertips through it. I sold it to quickly, telling the new owner what my thoughts were.
hemiram
Member
My worst revolver was my first gun, period. It was a Taurus, bought on the advice of a family friend who was a retired NYPD patrol cop. Timing was a mile off, and the barrel was messed up too, it ripped jackets off bullets, and leaded up to the point that you had to chisel the lead out with a brass rod after only six shots.
Off to FL it went, they fixed the timing, but they said the barrel was "Normal". Called them back, sent it to FL again, and they again denied there was a problem with the gun. When I got it back, the barrel was leaded to hell. I sold it to some goofball who basically was ok with it leading as long as it fired six times. Runners up in revolvers were my Ruger Security Six that seemed to have timing issues that were never fixed. My S&W 686 with the "cheese grater" grips was fine, but those grips had to dealt with. Sandpaper and varnish to the rescue!
In semiautos, the worst was my most expensive gun I ever bought until the last couple of years, a Colt Combat Commander, in SS. Junk. Never should have gone out the factory door. Chatter marks, rough everything. Like the Taurus, it went back twice, and as far as I could tell, the only thing they did to it was scratch it up. I had a local 1911 guy mess with it, and he got it to almost trustworthy status, as long as it was run soaking wet. Runners up include the AMT Harballer Longslide, and the AMT Back-up 45 DAO, which had a trigger that exceeded every pull gauge we put on it.Shoot a mag, your trigger finger was dead tired. Another **** was a Detonics 1911. Those guns and friend's 1911's that had problems but cost as much as a decent used car did back then turned me off them to the point I have never bought another one. My .45 ACP guns include a Sig P220, SAR K2 45, and an S&W 625-1.
Off to FL it went, they fixed the timing, but they said the barrel was "Normal". Called them back, sent it to FL again, and they again denied there was a problem with the gun. When I got it back, the barrel was leaded to hell. I sold it to some goofball who basically was ok with it leading as long as it fired six times. Runners up in revolvers were my Ruger Security Six that seemed to have timing issues that were never fixed. My S&W 686 with the "cheese grater" grips was fine, but those grips had to dealt with. Sandpaper and varnish to the rescue!
In semiautos, the worst was my most expensive gun I ever bought until the last couple of years, a Colt Combat Commander, in SS. Junk. Never should have gone out the factory door. Chatter marks, rough everything. Like the Taurus, it went back twice, and as far as I could tell, the only thing they did to it was scratch it up. I had a local 1911 guy mess with it, and he got it to almost trustworthy status, as long as it was run soaking wet. Runners up include the AMT Harballer Longslide, and the AMT Back-up 45 DAO, which had a trigger that exceeded every pull gauge we put on it.Shoot a mag, your trigger finger was dead tired. Another **** was a Detonics 1911. Those guns and friend's 1911's that had problems but cost as much as a decent used car did back then turned me off them to the point I have never bought another one. My .45 ACP guns include a Sig P220, SAR K2 45, and an S&W 625-1.
in high school, some friends invited me to go shotgunning, about 1964, so bought a siingle shot 12 gage, break action, from Monkey Wards. Every time I shot it, the action would open and flip the side lock lever down, giving me a bloody finger. I didn't keep it long, can't remember where it went.
But in late '69, after ROTC, posted to Schweinfurt, Germany, bought a gorgeous Rem 870 Wingmaster, back when they had beautiful blueing, nice wood, slick action. Later had screw-in Briley chokes put in it. Used it some for Kansas pheasant hunting. Still have it. Think I paid 60 bucks or so at the Post Rod and Gun Club. Plus a HP too, for $66.
All the best, SF VET
But in late '69, after ROTC, posted to Schweinfurt, Germany, bought a gorgeous Rem 870 Wingmaster, back when they had beautiful blueing, nice wood, slick action. Later had screw-in Briley chokes put in it. Used it some for Kansas pheasant hunting. Still have it. Think I paid 60 bucks or so at the Post Rod and Gun Club. Plus a HP too, for $66.
All the best, SF VET
I once owned a Norinco 213 with both 9mm and 7.62x25 barrels. This should have been reliable pistol as it's a proven design and China had been making copies of Russian arms for decades. The problem was the retro designed safety. Almost every time I fired the pistol the safety would engage.
Sig p320 compact 9mm after they shortened the barrel from a 3.9 to 3.6" length . That barrel had the same chamber lack of support issues as the new X5 pistols had with NOOOO support from sig at least short term . Be tween that and the soft recall aka "update " I sold the sig3.9" compact 40sw I was carrying at the time . Never will I own any firearm under the SIG name again .
Critch
Member
When the the Mossberg SSi-One came out I bought one...it was classier looking than a Handi-Rifle but not nearly as expensive as a Ruger No. 1. Boy was I fooled, mine was in 30-06; it would not eject spent cartridges, it wasn't very accurate, it was very heavy and clunky...I sent it back to Mossberg twice to fix the ejection issue, they never did fix it....Someone offered me what I paid for it and I took their offer.
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