Every gunsmith can tell you the repeat offenders—the firearms that show up again and again with the same problems. Some guns look good on the counter, but once they hit the range, it’s a steady cycle of broken parts, feeding issues, and mystery malfunctions. You can oil them, baby them, and even swap parts, but they still find a way to end up back on the bench.
These aren’t rare lemons—they’re models with long histories of design flaws or poor execution. If you’ve owned one of these, chances are your gunsmith knows it better than you do.
Remington 742 Woodsmaster
The 742 was popular with deer hunters, but it’s notorious among gunsmiths for its soft bolt rails and chronic extraction issues. Once those rails start to wear, the bolt begins to seize, and no amount of cleaning will fix it. Many end up as single-shots after a few seasons.
Even worse, the chamber tends to pit over time, making stuck cases a regular occurrence. Gunsmiths often refuse to work on heavily used ones because replacement parts are scarce and expensive. It’s a rifle that aged poorly, and while it might hold sentimental value, it’s more at home in a display case than a deer stand these days.
Kimber Solo Carry
The Kimber Solo Carry was supposed to be a premium micro-compact, but it became a headache for owners and gunsmiths alike. It’s extremely picky with ammunition and rarely runs reliably outside of specific high-pressure 124-grain loads. Anything lighter or lower quality leads to feeding issues and stovepipes.
The tight tolerances make it feel great in hand, but they also make it sensitive to dirt, lubrication, and even shooter grip. Many owners have cycled through multiple trips to Kimber’s service department trying to get one that runs. Some do—eventually—but most shooters learn it’s easier to sell it than keep sending it back.
Remington R51
The R51 will go down as one of the most problematic handguns of the modern era. Its redesigned Pedersen action was interesting in theory but turned into a nightmare in production. Early versions suffered from out-of-battery firing, feed ramp issues, and frame misalignment that caused constant malfunctions.
Even after Remington reintroduced a “fixed” version, reliability stayed questionable. Gunsmiths see them come in for light primer strikes, feeding problems, and damaged slides. It’s one of those guns that sounds better in marketing than it ever worked in reality. Most end up sitting in safes or getting traded off after the second repair ticket.
Taurus PT-140 Millennium Pro
The PT-140 Millennium Pro offered affordability and compact size, but it came with reliability issues that made it infamous. Cracked frames, weak strikers, and failure-to-feed problems were common enough that Taurus eventually faced recalls. Gunsmiths still see them come in for replacement parts that don’t fit quite right.
Even when repaired, these pistols never build confidence. The triggers vary from one gun to another, and tolerance stacking leads to inconsistent performance. Some run fine for years, while others never make it through a full magazine. For many shooters, the PT-140 is more of a project than a pistol.
Colt Double Eagle
Colt’s attempt at a double-action 1911 turned into one of its most problematic designs. The Double Eagle was clunky, overcomplicated, and prone to small part failures. The decocking mechanism, in particular, was known for breaking or sticking, leaving the gun half-cocked and unsafe to carry.
Many owners brought them in for timing issues, hammer follow, or trigger problems caused by weak springs. Parts availability today makes repair even harder. For something that carried the Colt name, it earned a reputation for being unreliable and frustrating to maintain. Even gunsmiths groan when one walks through the door.
Desert Eagle .50 AE
The Desert Eagle is impressive to look at but finicky to own. Its gas system requires hot loads to cycle properly, and if you use anything underpowered, it jams instantly. Add in how sensitive it is to fouling, and you’ve got a gun that needs constant cleaning and occasional professional attention.
When it’s dirty—or when the owner neglects lubrication—it starts misfeeding and stovepiping regularly. The size and recoil also wear on internal parts faster than expected. Gunsmiths frequently see them for extractor and gas piston replacements. It’s more of a range novelty than a reliable sidearm, and maintenance is an ongoing commitment.
Remington 597
The 597 was Remington’s answer to the Ruger 10/22, but it came with too many flaws to ever compete. Early versions had feeding issues caused by bad magazine design, and even the later ones never fully solved the extraction problem. The bolt and guide rods often come out of alignment, causing failure after failure.
Most 597s that hit a gunsmith’s bench need new springs, ejectors, or magazine tuning to run halfway right. The rifle shoots accurately when it works, but reliability kills it. It’s one of those guns that tempts you with potential but keeps dragging you back for repairs.
SIG Sauer Mosquito
The SIG Mosquito looked like a miniature P226, but that’s where the similarities ended. It’s one of the most unreliable .22 pistols ever released, plagued by constant stovepipes, misfeeds, and light primer strikes. The gun is extremely picky with ammo and only functions reliably with high-velocity CCI Mini-Mags.
Even then, the performance isn’t consistent. Gunsmiths see Mosquitos come in for everything from broken extractors to slide issues caused by weak recoil springs. Most owners eventually give up and move to a Ruger or Browning instead. For a pistol that carried the SIG name, it left a stain that still lingers.
Winchester Model 100
The Model 100 is a beautiful rifle, but its reliability and safety record make it a gunsmith regular. The biggest issue lies in the firing pin, which was recalled after reports of slam-fires and runaway discharges. Even after replacement, the action remains finicky, and many suffer from sluggish cycling or extraction failures.
Because parts are scarce and labor-intensive to replace, fixing one often costs more than the gun’s worth. Many hunters hang on to them for nostalgia, but if you actually take one afield, expect it to visit the bench sooner than later. It’s one of those rifles that never quite lived up to its looks.
Charter Arms Explorer II
The Explorer II pistol, based on the AR-7 platform, is famous for coming back broken. The lightweight aluminum construction and cheap internal parts make it prone to cracking and misalignment. Magazines are notoriously unreliable, and feeding .22 LR smoothly through one is a gamble.
Even when new, these guns had trouble cycling properly. Gunsmiths constantly deal with misfeeds, broken extractors, and misfires from worn firing pins. It’s more of a collector’s curiosity than a practical shooter. Anyone who’s owned one knows—if it goes bang more than twice in a row, it’s a good day.
*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.
