We’ve all been there—watching the reviews, reading the forums, and finally pulling the trigger on a gun that everyone swears is the “must-have.” And then reality sets in. Sometimes it’s reliability, sometimes it’s feel, and sometimes it’s just not what it was cracked up to be. These are the ones I picked up chasing the hype… and let go after learning the hard truth.
Kimber Micro 9
This one looked great on paper—1911-style controls in a pocketable 9mm. But after a few hundred rounds, I was clearing more malfunctions than I care to admit. It just never ran as smoothly as it should.
The trigger was fine, and the fit was nice, but for the price, I expected a lot more consistency. Eventually, I got tired of wondering if it was going to run right every time I carried it.
Remington R51
Man, I really wanted to like this gun. It had that unique look and promised low recoil with the Pedersen action. What I got instead was a headache. Constant issues, from feeding problems to parts fitment.
The design felt half-baked, and the controls were awkward. I gave it more chances than I should’ve, but once it started doubling, I was done.
Taurus Spectrum
The color options were fun, and the price was low enough that I took a chance. Should’ve known better. It was unreliable from day one. Light strikes, jams, and a mushy trigger made shooting it more of a chore than anything.
Even as a range toy, it didn’t hold up. I ended up trading it off just to get it out of the safe.
Springfield Hellcat
I know some folks swear by it, but for me, it was just too snappy for the size. Follow-up shots were slower than I liked, and I never really got comfortable with the trigger.
It wasn’t a bad gun, but it didn’t live up to the “Glock killer” hype I kept hearing. After a few months, I switched to something that actually fit my hand better.
FN Five-seveN
Cool factor? Off the charts. But after the excitement wore off, I realized it was more gimmick than go-to. The ammo cost alone was enough to keep it shelved most of the time.
And while the recoil was light, it didn’t feel like it had much practical edge for what I actually needed in a sidearm. Sold it and never missed it.
KelTec Sub2000
Folding carbine in 9mm? Seemed like the perfect backpack gun. But the ergos were rough, and the cheek weld was like getting slapped with a rake.
Accuracy wasn’t terrible, but the plasticky feel and awkward controls wore on me fast. I tried to like it, but in the end, it just didn’t bring much to the table.
Sig Sauer P238
It’s a good-looking little .380, no doubt. But after carrying it for a few months, I realized it wasn’t giving me the confidence I wanted. The manual safety slowed me down, and the slide was finicky with some loads.
Sure, it was accurate and soft-shooting, but it sat in the safe more than it rode on my hip. Eventually, I moved on.
Desert Eagle .50 AE
I bought this purely for the “cool” factor. And it was fun—for about two range trips. After that, it just sat. It’s heavy, bulky, and wildly impractical for anything beyond impressing your buddies.
The recoil wasn’t unmanageable, but ammo prices made it painful to keep feeding. Once the novelty wore off, it was easy to let go.
Ruger American Pistol
I picked one up thinking it might be a sleeper hit. It had decent reviews and came from a brand I trust. But the grip never felt right, and the trigger was just okay. Nothing about it stood out.
I didn’t hate it—but I couldn’t get excited about it either. That’s not a gun you want to keep long-term.
Mossberg MC1sc
Clear magazine and slick marketing caught my eye, and I gave it a shot. But after a few outings, I kept reaching for my Glock 43 instead. The trigger felt off, and I had a couple issues with slide lock failures.
It wasn’t a total flop, but it just never earned its keep. Eventually sold it and didn’t look back.
CZ P-10 C (Early Model)
I’m a fan of CZ, so I figured the P-10 C would be an easy win. But that early trigger was gritty, and the mag release was stiff to the point of pain. I know later models got better, but mine was frustrating from the start.
I tried to tough it out, but it never felt as intuitive as I wanted. I ended up replacing it with a P-01 and never regretted it.
Walther CCP M1
Soft-shooting? Yes. Reliable? Not so much. The gas-delayed system sounded interesting, but it got dirty fast, and disassembly was a pain until they updated the design. Mine constantly gave me issues with extraction.
I could never shake the feeling that it just wasn’t built to go the distance. Once I realized I didn’t trust it, it had to go.
Beretta APX
Modular frame, cool styling, decent price—I bit. But the trigger felt weird, and the grip angle threw me off. I gave it time, but I never got fully comfortable with it.
It functioned fine, but something about the overall handling didn’t click with me. Eventually, I traded it toward something I’d actually carry.
*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.
