There’s a big difference between something that looks good on paper and something that holds up over time. A lot of folks get pulled in by big names, sleek finishes, or tactical buzzwords—and then realize too late the gun’s either a headache to run or a pain to unload. Whether it’s unreliable performance, hard-to-find parts, or just not living up to expectations, these are the firearms many owners eventually regret sinking money into. Not because they were cheap—but because they weren’t worth it.
Remington R51
The R51 came back with a lot of hype and flopped hard. Early buyers were dealing with constant feeding issues, stiff triggers, and a disassembly process that felt more like punishment than maintenance. Even after the Gen 2 release, trust never really recovered.
If you tried to resell one, you found out quick that nobody wanted it. The value dropped fast, and even fans of unique platforms found themselves stuck with a gun that didn’t shoot well and couldn’t be supported easily. Most owners call it a lesson learned.
Kimber Solo Carry
The Solo Carry looked good and felt premium, but it turned out to be extremely picky with ammo. It wouldn’t run reliably with most standard-pressure 9mm, and it needed specific loads to cycle correctly. That’s not ideal in a carry gun.
On top of that, early models had break-in issues and inconsistent performance. When owners tried to sell or trade them, they found demand was low. Between limited aftermarket support and trust issues, this pistol became one a lot of folks wish they’d passed on.
Taurus PT738 TCP
The PT738 seemed like a good budget pocket pistol, but owners quickly ran into issues with durability and reliability. Light strikes, feeding problems, and internal wear showed up sooner than expected, especially with regular carry or practice use.
Even though it was priced low, resale was worse. Many buyers ended up retiring it to the back of a safe or trading it in at a loss. It’s the kind of gun people bought hoping for a deal—and ended up learning the hard way.
Desert Eagle .50 AE
There’s no denying the Desert Eagle turns heads, but it’s not exactly practical. The ammo is expensive, the recoil is intense, and the size makes it awkward to shoot or transport. Many owners admit they fired it a few times and then parked it.
Trying to sell one isn’t always easy either. Unless you find a collector or someone chasing novelty, the resale can take a hit. For what you pay upfront, a lot of shooters say it ended up being more of a conversation piece than a firearm they actually used.
FN Five-seveN
The Five-seveN is reliable and fun to shoot, but ammo availability and cost make it hard to justify for many owners. The 5.7x28mm cartridge isn’t something you find on every shelf, and when you do, it’s far from cheap.
Add in the high initial cost and a narrow aftermarket, and a lot of buyers feel like they locked themselves into a niche platform. It shoots flat and holds a lot of rounds, but for training or everyday carry, it ends up being overkill with limited return.
SIG Sauer P250
The P250 was built around the modular chassis idea, but it never really took off. The double-action-only trigger wasn’t everyone’s favorite, and the reset was long and vague. That alone made it hard to shoot fast or accurately under stress.
Even though the modularity was interesting, parts and grip modules became hard to find. When SIG moved on to the P320, the P250 was quietly left behind. Plenty of buyers felt like they bought into an idea that never really got the support it needed to succeed.
Heckler & Koch USC
The USC is based on the UMP platform, but its civilian configuration came neutered with a weird thumbhole stock and limited mag options. Modifying it into something more usable took time, money, and patience—not exactly what most buyers expected.
If you tried to resell it, you ran into a niche market with limited interest. The price tag didn’t match the capability, and owners often found themselves wishing they’d gone with a more versatile .45 carbine or just stuck with a traditional rifle.
KelTec Sub-2000 Gen 1
The folding design of the Sub-2000 was clever, but early Gen 1 models had serious accuracy and durability issues. The stock sights were rough, the trigger was spongy, and the overall feel was more “toy” than “tool.”
It filled a niche in theory, but many owners found themselves frustrated by its limited range potential and inconsistent performance. Once they upgraded to something more reliable, the Sub-2000 got shelved or sold off—often for less than they’d hoped to recover.
Bushmaster Carbon 15
The Carbon 15 sounded appealing with its lightweight build, but real-world use revealed problems. The polymer upper and lower didn’t hold up well under heat or hard use, and the fitment between parts was often sloppy.
Users reported reliability issues, cracked receivers, and compatibility headaches. Over time, the resale value tanked. Once more durable lightweight ARs hit the market, this one faded fast. A lot of folks who bought early ended up regretting the gamble on polymer construction at that level.
S&W Sigma Series
The Sigma series tried to bring affordable striker-fired options to the market, but it came with a trigger pull that felt more like a punishment. Accuracy suffered, and malfunctions weren’t uncommon with certain loads or mags.
Despite the low price, the resale wasn’t encouraging. Most buyers either upgraded quickly or retired it from carry use altogether. It’s one of those pistols people often mention when asked what they wouldn’t buy again—even if it looked like a deal at the time.
*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.
