I love my ruger rifles with a passion but will be the first to say my old ruger P95-DC 9mm was the worst firearm I've ever owned. FTF/FTE approximately 20% of the time. Absolutely unacceptable results despite switching magazines and regardless of ammo. Took a beating on it to trade for a G26 that hasn't let me down in the six years since the swap.
Which gun was the LEAST reliable?
- Thread starter lambertsteeth
- Start date
passintime
New member
The lesson to take away from this thread, is that regardless of a particular gun maker/model's reputation, there are always outliers. Putting the statistics aside, I'm shocked to hear of some of the problems people experience with typically excellent firearm models. Such is the way of mass produced items, though!
Stevie-Ray
New member
AMT Govt. model. Never a full mag without a jam. Even after 700 rounds of hot UZI .45 ACP ball that was reputed to "break in" anything of .45 ACP persuasion. Sent it back to AMT and when I got it back it was a "little better."
Finally got tired of the fight and bought a Colt while taking a bath on the AMT with full disclosure. FWIW, I wish I'd had the disposable income to have kept that gun, and tossed it in the back of the closet til now, when I have the time to put in to make it perfect. It'd be a nice project now. They're beautiful guns when they're perfect.
Finally got tired of the fight and bought a Colt while taking a bath on the AMT with full disclosure. FWIW, I wish I'd had the disposable income to have kept that gun, and tossed it in the back of the closet til now, when I have the time to put in to make it perfect. It'd be a nice project now. They're beautiful guns when they're perfect.hexidismal
New member
No contest. Jennings J-22 . Pie plate groups at about 8 feet, and only one or two jams per 6rd mag IF you're REALLY lucky.
I fully expected this when I got it though, and bought it just for a gas.
I fully expected this when I got it though, and bought it just for a gas.
Without a doubt my Seecamp LWS32.
It pains me to say it, as I like the little bugger, but it has never been 100% and today it suffered a catastrophic failure.
As I messed about with different lubes and ammunition I eventually got the failure-to-feed rate down to about 2% with Winchester Q4255 and Ezox. With other ammunition it is worthless, it had a failure-to-something rate of about 50% with Gold-Dots. Silvertips fed, fired, extracted and ejected about as well as Q4255, but it is no longer available for sale.
Today I was popping away with Q4255 and something in the trigger mechanism broke. The hammer was stuck in a cocked position (didn't even figure that to be possible), and although I was able to un-stick it, now when the trigger is pulled the hammer draws back and sticks there. There is something broken in the guts, you can hear bits shaking around in there. It is now a beautifully-made stainless steel paperweight. Wonderful.
I'll send it back to Seecamp and get it fixed, but I'm not sure I will ever fully trust it.
I was a fool to sell my 100% reliable P32 to buy it.
It pains me to say it, as I like the little bugger, but it has never been 100% and today it suffered a catastrophic failure.
As I messed about with different lubes and ammunition I eventually got the failure-to-feed rate down to about 2% with Winchester Q4255 and Ezox. With other ammunition it is worthless, it had a failure-to-something rate of about 50% with Gold-Dots. Silvertips fed, fired, extracted and ejected about as well as Q4255, but it is no longer available for sale.
Today I was popping away with Q4255 and something in the trigger mechanism broke. The hammer was stuck in a cocked position (didn't even figure that to be possible), and although I was able to un-stick it, now when the trigger is pulled the hammer draws back and sticks there. There is something broken in the guts, you can hear bits shaking around in there. It is now a beautifully-made stainless steel paperweight. Wonderful.
I'll send it back to Seecamp and get it fixed, but I'm not sure I will ever fully trust it.
I was a fool to sell my 100% reliable P32 to buy it.
I have a Beretta Tomcat that is unreliable. Perhaps one day I'll see if Beretta can fix it, though I'm long out of warranty. It's very loose and just basically not a reliable weapon. However, I keep it because it was given to me as a gift by my wife about 10 years ago. So I HAVE to keep it! <sigh>
I had a Ruger Single Six convertible (.22lr and .22 magnum). The gun just wouldn't produce a decent group in .22lr. It grouped ok with magnum rounds, but with .22 lr, a 3 or 4" group at 10 yards was the best I could do regardless of the ammo I put through it. Mechanically, the gun worked fine, it just wouldn't group. I sold it to finance part of the purchase price of a S & W 617. I had convinced myself that I was just a lousy shot, but the 617 cured me of that conviction when, right off the bat I started getting 1" groups at 10yards.
Wildalaska
Moderator
Larry Seecamp doesnt allow flaws to remain uncorrected. Send it to him with a letter, bet you get taken care of immediately
WildnowsleepinpeaceknowingihavehelpedyouAlaska TM
After two trips back for warranty work it still had issues. Replaced it with a Kimber and and have not looked back.Myself, I've never had a trouble firearm, every one that I have purchased so far has been very reliable, of course those have consisted of Glocks, Sigs, and a DW and a FNP. My father however had 2 Kimbers that were utterly worthless, even after the supposed "500 round break in". One was an Eclipse and I can't recall the other. He just could not get those 2 to function correctly at all and Kimber's CS was of no help, they simply offered the break in period suggestion and after that proceeded to ask him a series of questions as if it were his fault, and him being the most knowledgable firearms person I know. I've never seen him more disappointed in a firearm as he had high expectations and hopes for those 2.
Just talked to him, seemed like I was bothering him.
"We don't pay for shipping or we would have to charge more for the guns"
-Larry Seecamp
I guess this sort of problem must be pretty common if it would bankrupt them to pay shipping when their already fiendishly expensive popguns break during normal use.
Wildalaska
Moderator
You ACTUALLY got to talk to him? Yikes, thats like talking to god. Ive tried to talk to him and failed.
Ground it. $20. Very few places pay for shipping anyway.
WildorsendittomeAlaska TM
aarondhgraham
New member
That would be my Phoenix .22 semi
No matter what ammo I feed it,,,
Even after a trip to California and back,,,
I have never gotten a complete magazine without a failure to fire.
It's a real drag as I have three friends who own the same handgun,,,
And their pistols are super reliable and totally fun to shoot,,,
They were the reason I bought mine in the first place.
I understand sometimes getting a lemon,,,
It's their customer service I'm disappointed with,,,
They tell me they fixed the problem and will not take it back again.
Good thing that it only cost me $100.00 bucks,,,
I use it as a paperweight on my desk.
No matter what ammo I feed it,,,
Even after a trip to California and back,,,
I have never gotten a complete magazine without a failure to fire.
It's a real drag as I have three friends who own the same handgun,,,
And their pistols are super reliable and totally fun to shoot,,,
They were the reason I bought mine in the first place.
I understand sometimes getting a lemon,,,
It's their customer service I'm disappointed with,,,
They tell me they fixed the problem and will not take it back again.
Good thing that it only cost me $100.00 bucks,,,
I use it as a paperweight on my desk.
lambertsteeth
New member
Lots of good replies.
Thanks folks. I usually start these kinds of threads because I'm starting to get an itch for a new toy. Some replies were surprising to me. I was surprised to see negative feedback about Sig, Kimber, and several on Ruger and Beretta.
Some names I was not surprised about. More importantly was the names I did not see in this thread. I hope to see more replies.
I count myself lucky in that I haven't gotten any duds yet. It's probably just a matter of time. Even high end manufacturers can lay an egg on occaision.
Thanks folks. I usually start these kinds of threads because I'm starting to get an itch for a new toy. Some replies were surprising to me. I was surprised to see negative feedback about Sig, Kimber, and several on Ruger and Beretta.
Some names I was not surprised about. More importantly was the names I did not see in this thread. I hope to see more replies.
I count myself lucky in that I haven't gotten any duds yet. It's probably just a matter of time. Even high end manufacturers can lay an egg on occaision.
Interesting Post
I'm sure this will come as a surprise, but I haven't had any reliability problems with any of my handguns. I'm fairly cheap, so along with my S&W, Beretta, etc., I have a Tarus PT-92 with over 5000 rounds through it without a single issue (gun related), a Hi-Point 9mm that has never jammed with about 1000 rounds through (including 100 HPs), and a Heritage arms revolver that has gone bang every time.
I think regardless of the brand, there are always good and bad results. With the expensive ones, you don't expect it. With the el-cheapos you are surprised when they work.
I'm sure this will come as a surprise, but I haven't had any reliability problems with any of my handguns. I'm fairly cheap, so along with my S&W, Beretta, etc., I have a Tarus PT-92 with over 5000 rounds through it without a single issue (gun related), a Hi-Point 9mm that has never jammed with about 1000 rounds through (including 100 HPs), and a Heritage arms revolver that has gone bang every time.
I think regardless of the brand, there are always good and bad results. With the expensive ones, you don't expect it. With the el-cheapos you are surprised when they work.
Kreyzhorse
New member
I own a Glock, a couple of Rugers, several Smith & Wessons and a Springfield 1911. All of them have been virtually 100% reliable.
The only handgun I owned that wasn't? A Taurus NIB M85. Seized up solid after less than 250 rounds. It was my first, and last, Taurus and the only handgun I've ever sold.
The only handgun I owned that wasn't? A Taurus NIB M85. Seized up solid after less than 250 rounds. It was my first, and last, Taurus and the only handgun I've ever sold.
AutoMag
I have an original AMT(Irwindale manufacture) Automag II in 22 WMR.
It is fun to shoot and I'd never use it for SD or HD,but very unreliable.The only ammo it isn't totally unreliable with is Winchester Super X.The JHP's work the best.The box is stamped with a recommendation to use Winchester Super X.All my other 22 WMR gets shot in my Single Six Convertibel
It is however,a pleasantly accurate weapon.Nice grip angle.LOUD.
I have an original AMT(Irwindale manufacture) Automag II in 22 WMR.
It is fun to shoot and I'd never use it for SD or HD,but very unreliable.The only ammo it isn't totally unreliable with is Winchester Super X.The JHP's work the best.The box is stamped with a recommendation to use Winchester Super X.All my other 22 WMR gets shot in my Single Six Convertibel
It is however,a pleasantly accurate weapon.Nice grip angle.LOUD.