There was a time when these pistols were on every forum, range table, and gun store counter. Folks swore by them—until they didn’t. Some were overhyped by marketing. Some showed their flaws with use. And some were simply outpaced by newer designs. That’s not to say they’re total junk, but if you’ve carried or shot any of these long enough, chances are you’ve noticed the shine wearing off. This isn’t about bashing brands—it’s about calling it like it is. If you’ve owned one of these, you already know. And if you haven’t, well, maybe it’s better you keep it that way.
Springfield XD(M)
The XD(M) had its moment when striker-fired guns were still catching on in the U.S. It felt like a good alternative to Glock with more contours and a match-grade barrel. But once the grip safety started collecting lint and the reset felt mushy compared to its competition, people moved on. The trigger wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t great either. And while it’s not unreliable, it’s bulky for what you get. Plenty of folks have quietly traded theirs in for slimmer, lighter carry guns that don’t feel like bricks inside the waistband.
Sig P250
When the P250 hit the market, the idea sounded great—a modular, hammer-fired DAO pistol with swappable parts. But in practice, it ended up with a long, squishy trigger that felt more at home on a revolver than a 9mm semi-auto. The modularity never took off like SIG hoped, and when the P320 came out with a much better striker system, the P250 vanished from shelves fast. These days, they mostly show up used and cheap, and even then, buyers hesitate. If you’ve ever tried one, you probably didn’t try it twice.
Smith & Wesson Sigma
This one was supposed to be Smith & Wesson’s answer to Glock, but instead, it felt more like a punishment. The trigger was long, gritty, and heavy—so much so that shooters used to joke you needed both hands to pull it. Reliability wasn’t awful, but everything else felt rough. Even Smith & Wesson seemed to give up on it quietly, later pushing the M&P line hard instead. If someone says they still have a Sigma in the safe, it’s probably because nobody wants to buy it.
KelTec PF9
For a long time, the PF9 was one of the thinnest and lightest 9mm carry guns on the market. It looked good on paper and even better in a pocket holster. The problem? Shooting it. The recoil was snappy, the trigger felt spongy, and malfunctions weren’t rare. It did fill a niche back when options were limited, but the arrival of the P365, Hellcat, and others exposed the PF9’s shortcomings fast. It’s not that people stopped liking the idea—it’s that they found better ways to do it.
Taurus PT111 Millennium G2
For a budget gun, the PT111 G2 wasn’t a terrible value. You got a decent capacity, manual safety, and a surprisingly usable trigger for the price. But long-term use told a different story. The finish wore fast, the magazines weren’t always consistent, and the accuracy never impressed. Taurus has improved since then—especially with the G3 and GX4—but the PT111 G2 is one of those pistols that folks bought, used for a bit, then upgraded as soon as they could justify it. It filled a gap but didn’t stay long-term.
Beretta Nano
Beretta built the Nano with concealed carry in mind, but it felt like they forgot to make it comfortable to shoot. It had a high bore axis for such a small gun, and the recoil impulse was sharper than expected. The trigger felt like it belonged on a budget striker gun, and the sights were notoriously hard to adjust. Some early models had reliability issues too. Beretta eventually moved on to the APX Carry, leaving the Nano behind. And most shooters did the same, once they tried it.
Walther CCP
The CCP had potential with its gas-delayed blowback system, promising softer recoil in a small pistol. But the execution left a lot of folks frustrated. Takedown was a pain, and reliability was hit or miss. The trigger was passable, but the overall feel of the gun didn’t match Walther’s usual quality. Early versions were plagued by recalls, and even later models didn’t shake off the reputation. It might’ve looked good in a catalog, but in real hands, it felt like more trouble than it was worth.
Ruger LC9
The LC9 looked like a natural progression from the LCP, giving you 9mm in a tiny, concealable package. But that long double-action trigger made accuracy a chore. The manual safety and magazine disconnect added more annoyance than security. It was slim, sure, but a lot of folks ended up trading it for something with a better trigger and easier controls. Ruger eventually released the LC9s to fix some of these issues, but by then, many shooters had already moved on. It didn’t age well in the pocket-carry world.
FN FNS-9
The FNS-9 came in with solid specs—striker-fired, good sights, solid capacity—but somehow, it never built a loyal base. The trigger was okay, but not great. The grip texture was aggressive, and not always in a good way. Then there were the safety concerns with unintentional discharges when dropped, which didn’t help its reputation. FN quietly replaced it with the 509, and the FNS-9 kind of faded away. If you ask around, you’ll hear the same story: it worked fine, but no one really loved it.
Honor Defense Honor Guard
This one came in hot, trying to compete with the Shield and similar carry guns. It looked promising with its modular chassis and American-made branding. But it didn’t take long for problems to show up—specifically with drop safety, which caused enough concern to sink any momentum it had. Honor Defense responded, but the damage was done. It never gained real traction, and now it’s rarely seen outside of used gun cases. Most shooters either never heard of it—or tried it once and left it there.
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*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.
