Most idiot gun purchase

[Dukeisok]

Wow! That is the largest number of firearm "disasters" that I've ever heard of owned by one person. I would think statistically that can't go on forever? Your luck has to change as you've had way more problem guns than you should have ever had.

Hope springs eternal...

 

[Newboomer]

I bought a Federal Interarms .380 semi auto pistol back in the '90s. It wouldn't feed hollow points reliably even after ramp polishing by a gunsmith. That isn't acceptable for a back up. But, this seems to be a common theme mentioned here, when you don't have much money at the time, one compromises on quality and ends up paying for it later? Not always, but enough times to make the news, so to speak. Down the highway to hell my .380 went.

I take all my semi pistols to my smith before I put many rounds through them for ramp polishing and feeding. Hollowpoints are notorious for feeding problems and I don't take chances for a malfunction.

 

[CoElkHunter]

I take all my semi pistols to my smith before I put many rounds through them for ramp polishing and feeding. Hollowpoints are notorious for feeding problems and I don't take chances for a malfunction.

That's why ever since my experience with that pistol, I only buy Glocks. Yeah, I know "plastic fantastic" with no "soul", but they function reliably 99.9% of the time. After MANY thousands of rounds shot through my 20+ year old Glock 22, the left rear slide tab broke off. I was qualifying at the range and didn't know that had happened as it functioned normally at the time. It wasn't until I removed the slide for cleaning and the tab fell onto my cleaning table. I sent it back to Glock and they replaced most everything including a new Gen 3 frame and except for the barrel and slide for FREE. I wasn't expecting that level of customer service, but I don't know of any other firearm manufacturer that would do that for a 20yoa firearm.

 

[Martin77]

My biggest bonehead purchase was a Blaser R8 I should have shot someone's first before buying it....beautiful rifle with a 375H&H and 300 Win Mag barrel. I just couldn't get used to the action. I sold it to a gentleman on this forum. I hope he enjoyed it! I used the money from it and bought a Heym bolt action in 404 Jeffrey. I love my Heym!!

 

[fourfive8]

That's why ever since my experience with that pistol, I only buy Glocks. Yeah, I know "plastic fantastic" with no "soul", but they function reliably 99.9% of the time. After MANY thousands of rounds shot through my 20+ year old Glock 22, the left rear slide tab broke off. I was qualifying at the range and didn't know that had happened as it functioned normally at the time. It wasn't until I removed the slide for cleaning and the tab fell onto my cleaning table. I sent it back to Glock and they replaced most everything including a new Gen 3 frame and except for the barrel and slide for FREE. I wasn't expecting that level of customer service, but I don't know of any other firearm manufacturer that would do that for a 20yoa firearm.

Astute observation and squares with my experience with the Glock. After transitioning from wheelguns to autoloaders in the 80s, we retained the ability to choose our duty sidearm within strict parameters. If approved and within the parameters we could private purchase. First go around I chose a paid-for issue duty auto loader S&W in 40SW. It was a POS! Sent it back twice to local S&W armorers for fix. All no go. Third time sent it direct to S&W. They indicated unfixable. They reimbursed the agency and I private purchased a Glock. 22 years after retirement it remains by personal defense firearm having never once jammed or hiccuped for an unknown number of practice and qualification rounds fired- maybe thousands. Conversely, nearly every other iteration seen on the line over those years occasionally jammed/malfunctioned- Colt 1911s, Sigs, Berettas, S&Ws, Springfields, etc. Several Glocks on the line at all shoots and I'm aware of zero malfunctions with the Glocks. All factory ammo with absolutely no reloads allowed for training, qualifications or duty carry.

That's the reality of what specific job may be expected of a firearm. Malfunction or sticky case or hiccup for a firearm shooting paper targets... eh, no big deal. But if for hunting or most seriously self defense... huge deal! For shooting target bulls with a handgun nothing like a crisp trigger on a tuned up 1911 45 ACP. But for serious, no time to think yank it out ready to shoot... I'll take a Glock.

An anecdote for sure but I'll go with it!

 

[CoElkHunter]

Astute observation and squares with my experience with the Glock. After transitioning from wheelguns to autoloaders in the 80s, we retained the ability to choose our duty sidearm within strict parameters. If approved and within the parameters we could private purchase. First go around I chose a paid-for issue duty auto loader S&W in 40SW. It was a POS! Sent it back twice to local S&W armorers for fix. All no go. Third time sent it direct to S&W. They indicated unfixable. They reimbursed the agency and I private purchased a Glock. 22 years after retirement it remains by personal defense firearm having never once jammed or hiccuped for an unknown number of practice and qualification rounds fired- maybe thousands. Conversely, nearly every other iteration seen on the line over those years occasionally jammed/malfunctioned- Colt 1911s, Sigs, Berettas, S&Ws, Springfields, etc. Several Glocks on the line at all shoots and I'm aware of zero malfunctions with the Glocks. All factory ammo with absolutely no reloads allowed for training, qualifications or duty carry.

That's the reality of what specific job may be expected of a firearm. Malfunction or sticky case or hiccup for a firearm shooting paper targets... eh, no big deal. But if for hunting or most seriously self defense... huge deal! For shooting target bulls with a handgun nothing like a crisp trigger on a tuned up 1911 45 ACP. But for serious, no time to think yank it out ready to shoot... I'll take a Glock.

An anecdote for sure but I'll go with it!

The only .01% reliability failure I have seen with a Glock is if the shooter "limp wrists" when shooting and has a stoppage. It's a VERY rare occurrence, but does occasionally occur. It happened to me ONCE when I was bored on the range and shooting a non challenging course of fire. The stoppage is cleared within a fraction of a second though without issue.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

I’m sorry guys but I hate Glocks, the grip is all wrong for me.
As far as idiot gun purchases, my worst was a Remington SP-10. I thought I needed a 10 gauge to hunt geese, but the shells were to expensive to practice with. So I missed all the time and switched back to my 870 12 gauge and started killing geese again.
The SP-10 was sold as soon as it was convenient.

 

[fourfive8]

^ Yes, the fat, square grip is problematic to some. More recently there are Glock models that solve that issue. I overcame that odd feel through sheer will power, because at that time there was no alternative. I also had to struggle with with the difference in wrist cock angle between a revolver and a semi auto. Unlearning that instinctive wrist angle was hard for me after years of muscle memory with the revolver. Overcame both with effort. Right now, if starting over, I'd still select a Glock model with the thinner, more elongated grip. Most single stack guns automatically achieve that thinner profile.

 

[CoElkHunter]

I’m sorry guys but I hate Glocks, the grip is all wrong for me.
As far as idiot gun purchases, my worst was a Remington SP-10. I thought I needed a 10 gauge to hunt geese, but the shells were to expensive to practice with. So I missed all the time and switched back to my 870 12 gauge and started killing geese again.
The SP-10 was sold as soon as it was convenient.

I firmly believe that owning/shooting a particular brand and design of a firearm is a very personal matter and has a profound psychological aspect to that end with respect for a positive outcome. If one does not like the way a firearm performs, handles or fits them, DO NOT buy it because no matter what anyone else's experience is/was with that particular weapon, YOU will never be happy with it and most likely it won't perform in the manner it should for you because your mind continually reminds you that you hate it. I've seen that happen to really good pistol shooters who were "forced" to carry a duty Glock instead of their beloved steel handgun and they struggled to adapt to it. It makes no good sense whatsoever except for the military and their weapons. Just my 2 centavos.

 

[CoElkHunter]

^ Yes, the fat, square grip is problematic to some. More recently there are Glock models that solve that issue. I overcame that odd feel through sheer will power, because at that time there was no alternative. I also had to struggle with with the difference in wrist cock angle between a revolver and a semi auto. Unlearning that instinctive wrist angle was hard for me after years of muscle memory with the revolver. Overcame both with effort. Right now, if starting over, I'd still select a Glock model with the thinner, more elongated grip. Most single stack guns automatically achieve that thinner profile.

My exact experience too when transitioning from a S&W Model 66 to the Glock. It was quite a learning/training process. I had carried a Colt Government Series 70 .45 OD, but it too had quite a different "feel" than the Glock 21 I first carried and then the Glock 22.

 

[Rob404]

I once had a very nice Zastava MK X 375HH that would shoot tennis ball size groups at 200 meters but when Winchester introduced their new Portuguese model I just had to have one. I sold the Zastava to fund the Winchester. For a season I could not get the Winchester to group any where near as good as the Zastava ( I re-load) so when a Whitworth/Zastava 375 became available to me I immediately dumped the Winchester and bought the Zastava and have been happy ever since

 

[Newboomer]

I shot Glocks for some years but couldn't get used to the grip angle and the big size didn't work well with my short fingers. I had to kind of twist my hand to reach the trigger which caused me to shoot off center. After all, I am a 1911 guy since Uncle Sam introduced me to them in 1960. Just a natural fit and even with the junkers we had I qualified expert. Many other brands have crossed my palm but I always have 1911s to fall back on.

 

[Daveboone]

The only firearm I ever bought that I truly regreted, was a Henry .308 break top they came out with a few years ago. I have long wanted a well built classy .308, and when Henry came out with their new line at a great price, I thought I was in heaven. The one I bought had by far the prettiest stock rifle walnut I had ever seen. Unfortunately, it shot like crap. I had an incredibly high failure to fire rate, the trigger pull was atrocious...just a total let down. I did a lot of research on line to find that the problems were integral to the single spring design they used. A number of fixes were attempted, and none worked. Of course I could have sent it back, but I had many references stating they all came back the same way. I traded it off for a Ruger bolt that shot...well. Shortly after Henry did a recall on the design.
I think my only other "idiotic" purchases, were the guns I didnt buy and should have. Back in the eighties, the import market had a flood of Mauser Broomhandles from China in the 4-500 dollar range. In the nineties of course, we had surplus 30 cal. carbines, SKSs AKs, etc. all going for incredible low prices. I had an SKS, which was a fine little rifle, but always craved a .30 cal. carbine.

 

[Doug3006]

My dumbest gun purchase was a Ruger American Ranch Rifle in 450 Bushmaster. I recall thinking it would be a fun hog gun. It is not fun. It is the most obnoxiously loud, hardest recoiling rifle I own. Maybe not in pure foot pounds, but the combination of light weight, stock design and muzzle blast make it exceedingly unpleasant to shoot. I much prefer shooting my 458 Lott. If anyone is considering buying one to use in States that require straight walled cartridges please don’t think it’s a kids gun. It is NOT.

 

[CoElkHunter]

My dumbest gun purchase was a Ruger American Ranch Rifle in 450 Bushmaster. I recall thinking it would be a fun hog gun. It is not fun. It is the most obnoxiously loud, hardest recoiling rifle I own. Maybe not in pure foot pounds, but the combination of light weight, stock design and muzzle blast make it exceedingly unpleasant to shoot. I much prefer shooting my 458 Lott. If anyone is considering buying one to use in States that require straight walled cartridges please don’t think it’s a kids gun. It is NOT.

Shoot a 18.5" barreled Marlin .45-70 with 325gr. LEVERevolution cartridges. You'll again be begging to shoot your Lott! Been there, done that with my buddies. He won't even shoot it much anymore.

 

[Hogpatrol]

Worst firearm I ever owned was a Remington 11-87 20 gauge slug gun. Had some funky disconned soldered part in the receiver that must have broke so many times, it was listed on Midway. Sent it back to Remington for repair and then promptly sold it. Total POS.

 

[rdog]

I once had a very nice Zastava MK X 375HH that would shoot tennis ball size groups at 200 meters but when Winchester introduced their new Portuguese model I just had to have one. I sold the Zastava to fund the Winchester. For a season I could not get the Winchester to group any where near as good as the Zastava ( I re-load) so when a Whitworth/Zastava 375 became available to me I immediately dumped the Winchester and bought the Zastava and have been happy ever since

Tennis ball groups at 200 meters out of a 375 is not bad in my opinion

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Ruger Precision in 6.5 Creedmoor.

I know some of you don’t even need an explanation past that LOL!!!

It was a pleasure to shoot off of the bench, but I didn’t personally get a lot of joy of ownership out of it. I rushed into the purchase and realized a little too late that it wasn’t what I was looking for in a range toy! Learned a valuable lesson about first nailing down what I wanted in a gun before jumping in with both feet LOL!

@Justin.
Buy in haste repent in leisure.
My worst bought a cheap 22, 5 bucks off a school mate years ago. Used to blow the head of a case about every 10 to 20 shots. Traded it a gunshop for parts ( got 10 bucks for it) on a new wide view scope. The on that looked like a TV screen when you looked thru it.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I have bought two winchester model 70s. Both brand new circa 2016 or so.
One was a supergrade maple stock in 270. Beautiful gun. I put Talley mounts and a leupold scope on it and despite 70 moa of windage adjustment in the scope, the gun was 20 feet to the left of the target at 50 yards. Took everything back apart. Looking at the receiver mounting holes, the rear hole was more than 1/4 inch off midline. Too far to upsize and try to straighten. Returned to winchester. They had it for about 4 months then returned a gun with an entirely different serial number and unfortunately, plainer wood stock.

Second model 70 was safari in 375 h&h. Went to mount weaver bases and Warne qd rings only to find that the rear hole had never been tapped. Drilled but not tapped. Not wanting to wait 4 months for winchester to get a second shot at tapping their receiver, I bought the appropriate sized tap and set to work, promptly breaking the tap off in the receiver. Come to find out it was drilled but not to the size required to tap for a 6x32 thread. I had to take it to a gunsmith and drop $75 to get the tap extracted and the receiver appropriately tapped. Probably won't buy another winchester.

Perhaps though I just have bad luck. I bought a ruger gp100 brand new that was so out of time that the cylinder was locked up out of the box. It wouldn't even open to load it before I had to send it back to ruger.

I also have a Savage muzzleloader that was incorrectly headspaced to the breech plug and the bolt would not close from the factory.

I had a Browning Bar Safari in 338 that would never feed correctly.

I bought a new bergara stalker that extracted 50% of the time.

I also had a Ford truck that had to have $4500 of warranty work for cam phasers that tried to hammer themselves apart.

I truly believe that we live in a disposable world and they don't make things like they used to. My son recently inherited an lc Smith side by side 20 gauge made in 1919 and used by his great great grandfather. Other than trigger springs that had lightened over time, it is flawless. I no longer buy cheap guns but even so, I doubt much that I have will still be going to the 5th generation of my offspring. My last gun purchases have all been used (savage 99, marlin 37, kimber talkeetna)

@Dukeisok
Sounds like you had the Midas touch in reverse for a while there. Everything you brought turned to shit. All that glitters ain't gold. That's why I like older guns they were built to last.
My 85 lowall was built in 1891 and my son will be able to hand it down to his grandchildren.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

"I'm out 2700EUR". Wow, that's 19,420.89 Chinese Yuan! That really sucks!

@CoElkHunter
Or 46,275 rand/Namibian dollars.