Handgun: Biggest Disappointment?

The Helwan was my biggest disappointment.I thought I could have a cool "Beretta" for less than $200.00.....my mistake.:cool:
 
I have yet to have a gun I bought or own disappoint me. A friend of mine got 2 small striker fired pistols over 20 years ago - 32 caliber guns - two of the same gun. I don't remember the maker, but one of them tore his hand up the first time he shot it because he had his hand up too high in back. That gun works perfectly to this day. His other gun had all kinds of problems and it would cost more for a gunsmith to work on it than the gun is worth.

But I am happy with all of my own guns.
 
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Taurus PT111 Millennium Pro 9mm: From the factory the rear sight was nearly hanging off the side of the slide and required a LOT of adjusting to get it to shoot close to where you were aiming. Then I discovered that there was no way for me to use a two-handed grip on it without accidentally hitting the magazine release, causing failures to feed from the mag dropping down. I sold it to a friend at a big loss since he had smaller hands and was able to shoot it without problems.

CZ-82: This was one of the first guns I ever bought with my FFL03 license. The gun felt great in my hand and the trigger wasn't bad. My disappointment in it came from my first range session with it. Shooting it felt similar to having someone slap you in the palm with a 2x4. I let several friends shoot it and everyone unanimously disliked it. I have no idea what it was about the ergonomics of that gun that made it so uncomfortable to shoot but it was downright unpleasant. I didn't see any reason in keeping a gun I didn't like to shoot so I sold it to make room for something I did.

I'm sure there are others but I have to run to work now so maybe I'll update later tonight after I've had time to think about it.
 
Beretta Tomcat 3032. Two of them, in fact.

I first bought the black matte version, only to discover after 200rds or so that it developed a crack in the frame. Found out that it was a known defect for the gun. Gee, never heard of a recall Beretta?

Luckily it was still under warranty, so I shipped it back and they sent me a Tomcat Inox replacement. After 300rds or so, no crack, but often no boom either. The sucker is a standard jam-o-matic. Stovepipes on occation too. It averages about 1 jam every other magazine or so. Last time I shot it (and probably the last time I ever will) it jammed once per mag. Not a reliable life saver, that POS.

I won't blast Beretta because of one poorly designed gun, but I'm not in a hurry to buy anything Beretta right now either.
 
David the Gnome,

Really suprised that the 82 treated you so badly while firing. Our are pleasant to shoot.

Another one that really disappointed me was the Taurus Raging bull as a new shooter. It just looked too cool....then the cylinder locked up.

Beentown
 
Bond Texas Defender derringer in 9mm ... It looked cool, had to have it ... but it turned out to be an inaccurate toy, useless for self-defense since it has to be cocked for both shots against a really stiff spring, takes forever to reload and wasn't all that accurate at 7 yds. Traded it in two years ago, it's still in my dealer's used showcase ...
 
I have had two disappointments, both this year. The first was a CZ 75B in 9mm. I bought this pistol because of it's illustrious reputation. I had major problems from the day I first shot it. It was returned twice to CZ but the problems were never resolved. Finally, I had to sell it. Second, was a Taurus 24/7 in 9mm. The trigger work on this was absolutely an abomination. I called Taurus and was told that nothing could be done to lighten it. So this was also sold. These were two expensive learning experiences.
 
Many years ago I bought a Colt Mustang II .380. Couldn't hit a thing with it. Wish I wouldn't have sold it only because it is worth more today than yesterday.
 
A custom gun based around an STI 2011 Frame. It randomly fails to fire, dropping the hammer to half-cock when you pull the trigger. I've tried adjusting the trigger - nothing. I've tried replacing the sear - didn't help. Something's wrong and I can't figure it out - It'll cost me at least $100 to even get a gunsmith to look at it. BIG Dissapointment.:mad:
 
624 smith and wesson, most inaccuarate hand gun i ever laid eyes on. to add salt to the wound i traded a 6inch 19 that was the best i ever owned. go figure. bobn
 
SIG P250 in 40. A jammamatic. I bought it from Gun Gallery in Jacksonville, Florida. It jammed one time in three on average with about 400 rounds through it. I sent it back to SIG, it didn't get fixed. I stated my case to two hot shot "managers" at Gun Gallery, one offered me half what I paid them. The other didn't return my calls but when I called him claimed to have called SIG and there was "nothing they would do." I was about to file lawsuit papers naming both parties as defendants but decided to give SIG one more try. This time I got someone who was interested in solving my problem and I got full credit for the P250 applied to a P229. I forgave SIG thinking my case had "fallen through the cracks" but I don't have much use for Gun Gallery anymore. Funny thing, these folks fancy themselves the ne plus ultra of gunshops. Not in my learned opinion. Huge waste of time and ammo. As I told both parties: "I don't have to pay you folks to aggravate me. I can get all of that I want for free."

For you non-wordsmiths:
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ne+plus+ultra
 
I bought a CZ in 458 Winchester Magnum. Couldn't sight it in. At 50 yards with the M8 4X Leupold cranked up as far as it would go the rifle hit 8 inches low. Sent it back. They returned it saying they couldn't find anything wrong. Different scope, same thing. Sent it back again, again at their expense. Same story, nothing wrong. Sent it back a third time again at their expense. Got a new rifle. Third different scope, same problem. Now I'm getting suspicious. I get to looking really closely at the Millett mounts. The front mount is not clamping the dovetail and you can push the scope and mount down about 1/16 inch! Send the mounts back to Millett. A month and two phone calls later they finally get around to replacing the mounts. Problem solved. I don't think they followed up on my suggestion that they compensate CZ for the six times they paid for shipping, lost time and lost money trading a used rifle for a new rifle. Kudos to CZ. Brickbats to Millett. I know, it ain't a handgun.
 
It was that small 1911 in .45 gap.
As things turned out with all things considered, I made out by it never getting to market.
 
I actually DID have a similar experience with the CZ-82, except I attributed it to the pistol being a poor fit for my hand. The Makarov I have is smaller and lighter, but is much, much more comfortable to shoot. Biggest disappointment would be an unreliable Iver Johnson TP-22 that broke, and how! I read awesome things about them, and got one at a good price. I'd still be willing to try out another one though.
 
i had a sig 229r DAK, the DAK trigger was heavy and long and the gun was heavy. i couldn't conceal it, and it felt bulky and top heavy. it shot well but i could never get used to the trigger.
 
Playboypenguin

"The biggest disappointment for me had to be the Walther PPS. I waited and waited for this gun and snatched up the first one I came across. I was so anxious to get to the range with it I could not stand it. When I finally got it and made it to the range it became clear the gun did not fit my hand well and that I had very little control over it. I seemed to do worse and worse with it the more I shot it."
Click to expand...

Bummer! I thought that the one I shot performed above what I expected.

The only handgun that never fit well was the Ruger LCP, and I've shot around a hundred different guns before, I even like my CZ52.

I will get one someday, but it's on my lonnnggg list. But I really like that gun.
 
A Dan Wesson Model 15-2 that I bought in the late 1970s. Nice gun, but the cylinder locked up after only about 200 rounds. I opened the gun up and determined that the (very flimsy) spring that operates the hand had either come lose or was bent (I don't remember now), so I worked with it until I could at least rotate the cylinder and cock it.
Needless to say, I was disappointed with it and traded it soon after.
 
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