Reloader
Member
AMT Hardballer, new! Locked up on 35th round. over a year later , no warranty repair. Wal-mart let me trade for a S&W 629 4". much better.
What was the WORST handgun you bought?
- Thread starter Bell Charter Oak Holsters
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Stophel
Member
I try not to buy junk guns to begin with! 
Now, I have gotten some S&W's with problems, but I can fix those
My grandfather one day brought home a cheap nickel .22 revolver from a flea market. I think it was a Clerke. The thing didn't even have a cylinder stop.... you just had to hope that the cylinder stopped turning when the chamber was aligned with the barrel. I wasn't brave enough to shoot it!
Now, I have gotten some S&W's with problems, but I can fix those
My grandfather one day brought home a cheap nickel .22 revolver from a flea market. I think it was a Clerke. The thing didn't even have a cylinder stop.... you just had to hope that the cylinder stopped turning when the chamber was aligned with the barrel. I wasn't brave enough to shoot it!
I had a couple of stovepipes the first time out with my .380 PPK (new era, S&W owned), but that got straightened out to my satisfaction so I can't consider it a candidate for worst gun.
In a different sense of "worst," the most pointless gun I ever laid down good money for turned out to be one of the best investments I ever made. It was an absolutely ordinary .38 S&W safety hammerless from about 1905; the gun had been renickeled, and not with any great skill. I paid about twice what it was worth because I had expressed interest in it and didn't want to look like I was backing out of a gun that had a lot of talk in it by that time. I felt like an idiot, but told myself I had bought an education rather than a gun.
But then over the next several months the guy I bought it from gave me deal after deal on good, even uncommon guns at advantageous prices. The seller told me he'd rather let the guns go to somebody who really appreciated them rather than squeeze them for top dollar from his ordinary clientele. At this point I am both dollars and collectibles ahead because I made that one "ill-considered" purchase.
I have more often had good consequences come from seemingly bad decisions than the other way around. I don't go out of my way to make bad decisions, but in circumstances where things look a little iffy, I may proceed just to see what will happen.
In a different sense of "worst," the most pointless gun I ever laid down good money for turned out to be one of the best investments I ever made. It was an absolutely ordinary .38 S&W safety hammerless from about 1905; the gun had been renickeled, and not with any great skill. I paid about twice what it was worth because I had expressed interest in it and didn't want to look like I was backing out of a gun that had a lot of talk in it by that time. I felt like an idiot, but told myself I had bought an education rather than a gun.
But then over the next several months the guy I bought it from gave me deal after deal on good, even uncommon guns at advantageous prices. The seller told me he'd rather let the guns go to somebody who really appreciated them rather than squeeze them for top dollar from his ordinary clientele. At this point I am both dollars and collectibles ahead because I made that one "ill-considered" purchase.
I have more often had good consequences come from seemingly bad decisions than the other way around. I don't go out of my way to make bad decisions, but in circumstances where things look a little iffy, I may proceed just to see what will happen.
bloo
Member
AMT hardballer. Rear sight left on the 5th shot and stovepiped 3 rounds per clip.
bigolddave
Member
At least mine was cheap! First handgun I ever owned, an Iver Johnson top break in .32 S&W. Paid six bucks, and got about ten rounds with it. Very first shot it came unhinged. Brought it back in a bag, and got my money back.
The only bad revolver I have ever owned, although a Govt .45 that had been "accurized" by squeezing the slide was a big disappointment. How old do you have to be to know that the "squeeze fit" was not an unusual practice?
The only bad revolver I have ever owned, although a Govt .45 that had been "accurized" by squeezing the slide was a big disappointment. How old do you have to be to know that the "squeeze fit" was not an unusual practice?
mwtdvm
Member
Been lucky
Have some with a really crappy trigger pull but the one that gave me fits was an AMT Automag II. I got it because I really liked my AMT Automag III but the II was a jam-o-matic would not go through a magazine without a jam. As a last ditch effort I went to the gun show and bought one box of every brand of 22 mag I could find. It has not jammed again with ANYTHING! I think from the previous posts that there was something about the investment casting and all SS construction that predisposed these guns to gall. After a suitable "break in" period, in my case. about 200 rounds, things stated working.
I really like my PA 10-45 but it only likes PMC Starfire. go figure. the price of the ammo relegates it to a safe queen.
Have some with a really crappy trigger pull but the one that gave me fits was an AMT Automag II. I got it because I really liked my AMT Automag III but the II was a jam-o-matic would not go through a magazine without a jam. As a last ditch effort I went to the gun show and bought one box of every brand of 22 mag I could find. It has not jammed again with ANYTHING! I think from the previous posts that there was something about the investment casting and all SS construction that predisposed these guns to gall. After a suitable "break in" period, in my case. about 200 rounds, things stated working.
I really like my PA 10-45 but it only likes PMC Starfire. go figure. the price of the ammo relegates it to a safe queen.
HOUSTON RICK
Member
All my handguns are Smiths, so they are all good.
Purchased a Nickeled S&W B/T .38. At the range on the second shot could not find the front sight for the third shot. Discovered the top strap and barrel had departed the immediate area leaving behind the grip, cylinder, and part of the frame. never could locate the parts that had departed.
Hungarian R9, a P35 wannabe. Internals all different, only part interchangeable was the mag. 30 lb. single action trigger jammomatic. Traded it for a 2" 10-5 which I still have. Joe
sps282
Member
Worst pistol I've owned was a Sig .22 skeeter.....not what I consider a cheap gun. Problem was it would only shoot CCI mini mags and even those were not reliable. Had it worked on several times and still had too many failure to feed and stove pipes...traded it for an old well worn Ruger which would shoot any thing you stuffed in it!
CAJUNLAWYER
Member
In all honesty-although I've likes some more than others-I've never bought a "bad" one. My dad had an old P-38 that was a jam o matic but in all honesty I realy don't ever remember buying a lemon.
Colt Detective spl. .38spl. (mfg. 1976 according to ser.#) Lovely finish about 99%, perfect lockup & timeing, smooooth trigger pull DA, crisp SA.
Problem was, it shot about 6" left of POA at 7yds. Hope none of you guys bought it. It sold on AA about a month ago.
Problem was, it shot about 6" left of POA at 7yds. Hope none of you guys bought it. It sold on AA about a month ago.
I had a couple that weren't satisfactory but not really bad. I'm sure they could have been great guns with a more patient owner who was willing to spend some money on them. One was a 70's vintage Browning Hi Power that wouldn't cycle anything but 124 grain hardball and even they wouldn't set any reliability records. And a custom shop Colt SAA 44 Special with a Royal Blue finish. It didn't hit anywhere near point of aim and the cylinder pin would pop loose with every shot. But it sure was pretty.
RIDE-RED 350r
Member
Sounds like that Ruger was in bad need of a good cleaning
NAA 32 ACP. The trigger pull was as heavy as you've heard. Take-down
for my carpal hands was almost impossible. Way too heavy.
Traded for a Marlin 30-30, which accounted for a deer, first time in the field. TACC1
for my carpal hands was almost impossible. Way too heavy.
Traded for a Marlin 30-30, which accounted for a deer, first time in the field. TACC1
OP
Bell Charter Oak Holsters
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Looks like there are quite a few stinkers in circulation. The responses to this thread form a consensus, that being, nearly every maker from the lowest end to the highest quality manages to produce a dog that won't hunt from time to time. Some more often than others. With the cheap guns (you know which ones) I think we have lowered expectations and feel less disappointed when they fail, fall apart or just don't go bang, because they are afterall, cheap. But it's infuriating when it's a premium brand (=$$$$$) whose reputation is excellent and it doesn't work properly. I suppose as long as humans make them, mistakes will be made. A $1500 gun is no better than a $20 saturday night special if it doesn't work. Caveat Emptor!
Cheers;
Lefty
Cheers;
Lefty
Colt stainless Combat Commander, wouldn't even function with hard ball, tried 4 different mags, Wilson, included, jammed with hardball! Took the Crimson trace grips off and sold it!
I had an issue Browning High Power that wouldn't feed anything but FMJ.
Changed magazines to "Ram Line" magazines and then the weapon would feed anything 9mm.
Stainz
Member
The only S&W I've ever bought that I was dissatisfied with was my last one - a 2" 632-2. The revolver works fine, but they never checked the sights - it shoots 2.5" to 3.5" low at 7yd! The front Night Sight can't be much shorter - the rear NS needs to be taller. Yeah, they e-mailed me a FEDEX return label - but they don't have a taller rear NS available. I tried stacking the front 'orb' above the rear two - and the target at 6 o'clock - and it's pretty close. I know - it's not a target piece. Still - my only aggravation after two dozen S&W's!
Rugers - another matter all together - I expected to work on them - and got to - every one. My Marlins, from a bolt action .22 to 1897CB levergun - thought they were Rugers! AMT DAO Backups were fine - until I polished the feedramps (Don't fix what isn't broken!!). Kahr/Auto Ordnance 1927A1 Thompson - sent the extractor flying with every other round as new - went home for ~2 months - came back loose as a goose - quickly sold.
The absolute worst QC delivered? A specially ordered new SS 5.5" .45 Colt Ruger Redhawk. Horrid trigger, rough edged trigger & hammer - drew blood, cylinder had surfaced casting flaws between the bore exits, and just generally nasty/careless construction. Ruger had it picked up - replaced the hammer, trigger, cylinder, lockwork, etc, and did an 'action job' for my troubles. A friend ordered one as well - his had a warped frame - he sold the replacement revolver Ruger sent him unshot. Mine was sold soon as well (My 625MG was a hard act to follow!).
Stainz
Rugers - another matter all together - I expected to work on them - and got to - every one. My Marlins, from a bolt action .22 to 1897CB levergun - thought they were Rugers! AMT DAO Backups were fine - until I polished the feedramps (Don't fix what isn't broken!!). Kahr/Auto Ordnance 1927A1 Thompson - sent the extractor flying with every other round as new - went home for ~2 months - came back loose as a goose - quickly sold.
The absolute worst QC delivered? A specially ordered new SS 5.5" .45 Colt Ruger Redhawk. Horrid trigger, rough edged trigger & hammer - drew blood, cylinder had surfaced casting flaws between the bore exits, and just generally nasty/careless construction. Ruger had it picked up - replaced the hammer, trigger, cylinder, lockwork, etc, and did an 'action job' for my troubles. A friend ordered one as well - his had a warped frame - he sold the replacement revolver Ruger sent him unshot. Mine was sold soon as well (My 625MG was a hard act to follow!).
Stainz
Worst... COLT Trooper in .22 LR that would not reliably fire regardless of the brand of ammunition used. It was without doubt the worst handgun I've ever owned.
geoff40
Member
Two in particular for me:
1. Phoenix Arms .22 pistol, a pocket sized 10 shot .22LR. It refused to feed everything I tried, fiddled with the magazine lips, polished the ramp, etc. but that gun just would not fire more than 2 or maybe 3 rounds without jamming.
2. I got the first Walther P22 around, with a 3 digit serial number. That pistol sucked, and it too was one of those jam-o-matics. I hear they had a lot of problems with the early guns and worked the issues out of them, but the 1 was enough for me.
The Walther is long gone. If I had a doberman I'd teach it to play fetch with the Phoenix, or maybe it would make a good sinker for ocean fishing, or if car/truck grills were metal it'd be fun to weld it in to the center of one, or make a nice hood ornament out of it.
1. Phoenix Arms .22 pistol, a pocket sized 10 shot .22LR. It refused to feed everything I tried, fiddled with the magazine lips, polished the ramp, etc. but that gun just would not fire more than 2 or maybe 3 rounds without jamming.
2. I got the first Walther P22 around, with a 3 digit serial number. That pistol sucked, and it too was one of those jam-o-matics. I hear they had a lot of problems with the early guns and worked the issues out of them, but the 1 was enough for me.
The Walther is long gone. If I had a doberman I'd teach it to play fetch with the Phoenix, or maybe it would make a good sinker for ocean fishing, or if car/truck grills were metal it'd be fun to weld it in to the center of one, or make a nice hood ornament out of it.
A P-38 that called out to me from under the glass, and the price was pretty good. Feeds everything without a hitch, but I can't hit anything with it. Wait a minute, maybe it's not the gun...
springfield milspec, jam city for the first 200rds. it eventually started to function well after the break in period and still does. never had to do that with any of my other auto's. @ the 800rd mark, the titanium firing pin chipped or something after i tested some federal +p's. failure to fire syndrome. sent it to SA, replaced the fp, got it back in 13days wrks good now. i keep a spare fp in the gun case. makes me wonder whats gonna happen next. for now the milspec is no longer used as my home protection gun till i can trust it. the ILS is stupid too, i want to swap it out to a non ILS, but i can't get myself to waste more money on it. in retrospect i should of got the remington R1 or saved up a few hundred more and gotten a colt.
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safearm
US Veteran
Sterling .380. After I bought it, I carried to the range which was located at the rear of the gun shop. Accuracy was fair and it functioned, but the slide never stayed back when the magazine was empty. When I got home and began to field strip it by removing the slide ala Walther, the slide stop fell out in pieces (cheap pot metal). I returned it to the gun shop. They didn't want to take it back and replaced the slide stop with with one from another gun they had in stock. Next trip to the range, same thing happened. Traded it, along with cash, for a Browning Hi-Power.
Years ago I had an almost new Colt light-weight Commander that had nothing but problems. The main problem was a fail to feed any type of ammo. Local gunsmith was unable to cure the problem and several trips to the Colt service department, got it to run ball ammo only. I finally did a real fire sale deal with a co-worker who thought he could fix it. I never found out if he did though.
I had a Mark III, ex police gun after approx 50 shots the trigger broke at the pivot point.I replaced the trigger and traded it for a model19
hannstv
Member
The only gun I ever got rid of the first day I owned it was a S&W 59. Bought it, went to gun range, could not hit anything. Took it back and traded for a new Browning Hi-Power that is still in the box unfired. This was in late 70's, just haven't had time to shoot, I guess. Have an older Hi-Power that gets shot a bit.
OP
Bell Charter Oak Holsters
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Bruce;
That just jogged my memory. I bought one in the late 70's or early 80's. It came with 2 cylinders, .22LR and .22 Mag. It had the same trouble as yours. Light hits, misfires were the only thing you could count upon. Very disappointing revolver.
Cheers;
Lefty
P-22, no doubt. I thought my 310NG was going to be a dog, but after $38 worth of C&S firing pin and JM spring kit it's a real winner. Most Jennings could out perform the P-22 though.
Oh yea, I forgot the Sigma 40 cal. Junk. FTF, FTE, rear sight fell off.
Oh yea, I forgot the Sigma 40 cal. Junk. FTF, FTE, rear sight fell off.
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