When you first rack the slide or swing the lever on a brand-new rifle, everything feels locked down. Tolerances are crisp, actions feel snug, and the whole thing gives off the impression that it’s built to last. But some guns don’t hold that feel for long. They start tight and precise, but after a few hundred rounds—or a few hard seasons—they loosen up in ways that matter. Slides start to slop, triggers wobble, screws back out, and accuracy slips. You’re left chasing zero and wondering what happened. Some of it’s wear, sure. But some of it is the gun giving up quicker than it should.
Ruger American Rifle (First Gen)
Out of the box, the original Ruger American bolt gun felt like a winner. Light, affordable, and accurate enough for most hunts. But after a few seasons of real use, many of them started to show wear in the bolt raceways and magwell fit.
The synthetic stock flexes more than it should, and that starts to impact consistency, especially under sling tension. You might notice the bolt getting sloppy or the trigger guard getting a little loose in the action. It’s not that it won’t still work—but that tight, confident feel it had on the rack won’t last forever if you’re hunting hard.
Remington 597
The Remington 597 looked like it was going to give the Ruger 10/22 a run for its money. And early on, it did feel tight. The receiver, bolt, and rail system seemed well thought out, and it shot fairly straight for a semi-auto .22.
But as round counts grew, things started to shift. The bolt wore unevenly, magazines stopped feeding right, and the once-solid stock started to rattle at the rear lug. It’s not unusual to see one that needs parts fitted or screws Loctited after a few bricks of ammo. It’s a .22, sure—but some 10/22s are still running tight after decades. The 597? Not so much.
Smith & Wesson SD9 VE
This pistol enters most folks’ collection as a budget alternative to a Glock. It’s got that factory-new stiffness at first—slide rails tight, trigger heavy but crisp enough. It looks like it’ll settle into a reliable rhythm. But give it time.
The takedown pin can loosen. The trigger doesn’t really wear in—it wears out. After a few hundred rounds, many SD9s start to feel gritty and loose in the slide-to-frame fit. Accuracy drops off if you’re stretching it past 15 yards, and the spring feel loses snap. It doesn’t fall apart, but it loses that initial promise it had when new.
AK Pattern Rifles (WASR-10, PSAK-47)
Most AKs aren’t known for tight tolerances to begin with, but some of the newer imports and American builds start out snug and well-machined. It’s not uncommon to pick up a WASR-10 or PSAK-47 and find the safety tight, the dust cover locked in place, and no wobble in the front end.
But after a few thousand rounds—or even a couple range-heavy weekends—you’ll likely start to see some rattle creep in. Handguards shift. Triggers develop slap. Mags don’t seat as tight. Some of that’s just how AKs wear, but for guns that begin locked up tight, they often finish loose and buzzy without any real abuse.
Springfield XD-S
When the XD-S hit the market, it was touted as a slim, controllable carry gun. And early on, the slide felt tight and the controls responsive. It gave off a sense of quality above its price point. But the more you shoot it, the more it shows wear.
The grip safety starts to feel spongy, and the recoil spring loses tension faster than you’d like. The slide-to-frame fit gets a little lazy, and some shooters start to notice light primer strikes or sluggish returns. It doesn’t take long before that once-tight little carry pistol starts to feel worn well beyond its round count.
Marlin Model 60
The old Marlin 60 is a nostalgic favorite, and when it’s fresh, that action is buttery smooth. The micro-groove barrel prints nice groups, and the tube mag feeds with satisfying clicks. But after a few thousand rounds and a little dust, things shift.
The feed ramp gums up easily, the bolt starts to ride loose in the grooves, and you’ll often hear more spring noise than you’d like. It’s not a lost cause, but you’ll be chasing function with regular cleaning and maintenance. That tight .22 you trusted for squirrel duty turns into something you fiddle with more than you shoot.
Sig Sauer P250
The P250 was supposed to be Sig’s answer to modular design, and it did launch the chassis idea that led to the P320. But the P250 itself started out with a tight double-action system and a frame that felt dialed-in. Unfortunately, it didn’t stay that way.
The DAO trigger never really smoothed out—it just got longer and looser. The slide fit starts to slop, and repeated takedowns loosen the fire control unit inside the shell. You might still shoot it okay, but it won’t feel like the same gun a year in. It’s one of those pistols you end up trading off before you start swearing at it.
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Calibers That Shouldn’t Even Be On the Shelf Anymore
Rifles That Shouldn’t Be Trusted Past 100 Yards
*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.
