Some guns get trashed online and at the range—and honestly, it’s deserved. There are pistols out there with poor reliability, awkward designs, or downright frustrating quirks. While no gun is perfect, some seem to have way more problems than they should. Whether it’s constant malfunctions, terrible ergonomics, or build quality issues, a few pistols have earned every bit of their bad reputation. If you’ve been burned by any of these, you’re not alone. Here are thirteen pistols that really do deserve the hate.
Taurus PT-22
The Taurus PT-22 promises a compact .22 pistol but delivers more headaches than fun. It’s notorious for feeding issues, light primer strikes, and uncomfortable triggers. Many shooters experience constant jams, especially with bulk ammo. Cleaning doesn’t seem to help much, and the break-in period feels never-ending. It’s marketed as a simple carry piece, but most people ditch it after a few frustrating range trips. There are much better rimfire options that actually run reliably without constant fiddling.
Jennings J-22
The Jennings J-22 is one of those guns you regret the minute you shoot it. It’s cheaply made, prone to jamming, and has terrible triggers. Even when cleaned and oiled, malfunctions happen frequently. The safety feels flimsy, and accuracy is practically a guessing game. These pistols have long been considered “junk guns” for a reason. Most shooters quickly figure out it’s not even worth using for practice, let alone trusting for anything serious.
Hi-Point C9
Hi-Point C9s are known for being cheap, but their clunky feel and constant malfunctions make them hard to enjoy. The slide feels like a brick, and the trigger isn’t winning any awards either. Yes, it’s affordable, but it comes with frustrating reliability issues and awkward handling. Plenty of people buy one thinking it’s a good budget option, then realize they’d rather save a little more for something that actually shoots comfortably and cycles properly.
Remington R51
The Remington R51 showed up with a lot of hype and quickly flopped. The early batches were plagued with jamming issues, failures to extract, and weird trigger problems. Even after a redesign, many shooters still report inconsistent reliability. It feels awkward in the hand, and the odd action doesn’t exactly inspire confidence. Most people agree it looked cool on paper but fell flat in execution. If you see one at a good price, there’s usually a reason for it.
Desert Eagle .50 AE
The Desert Eagle draws attention for its size and power, but it’s not much fun to shoot. It’s ridiculously heavy, has sharp recoil, and malfunctions more often than you’d expect for the price. Most folks who buy one realize it’s impractical for anything besides showing off. Ammo costs are sky-high, and carrying it is out of the question. It looks awesome, but the shooting experience leaves a lot to be desired, especially when reliability gets spotty.
Kimber Micro 9
The Kimber Micro 9 looks great in the case but has earned plenty of complaints at the range. Many shooters experience feeding issues, stiff recoil for its size, and inconsistent triggers. Ammo sensitivity is a common complaint, and smaller grips make recoil more uncomfortable than it should be. While Kimber is known for sharp-looking guns, the Micro 9 tends to disappoint in real-world performance. Most folks eventually trade it out for something more reliable and easier to shoot.
SCCY CPX-2
The SCCY CPX-2 sells well because of its low price, but it’s known for awkward ergonomics and spotty reliability. The long, heavy trigger makes accurate shooting a chore, and malfunctions aren’t uncommon. Slide bite is a regular complaint, especially for shooters with larger hands. While it’s an entry-level pistol, many users quickly upgrade after getting frustrated with the shooting experience. It might work on a budget, but it rarely leaves people satisfied.
Beretta Pico
The Beretta Pico is about as awkward as it gets in a pocket pistol. The slide is notoriously hard to rack, the trigger feels stiff, and reliability can be hit or miss. For such a small gun, it’s surprisingly uncomfortable to shoot, with sharp recoil and a grip that doesn’t do you any favors. Many shooters end up regretting the purchase after a few range sessions. For pocket carry, there are simply smoother, easier-to-use options.
Kahr CW380
The Kahr CW380 looks like a good deep carry gun, but the reliability problems show up quickly. Feeding issues, failures to eject, and light strikes happen often, especially during the break-in period. The trigger is long and gritty, and the recoil feels snappy for such a small caliber. Many owners report constant tinkering just to get it to run halfway decent. Plenty of people give up on the CW380 and move on to something more dependable.
KelTec PF-9
The KelTec PF-9 tries to be a budget-friendly slim 9mm, but most folks find it painful to shoot. The recoil feels sharp, the trigger is rough, and reliability issues pop up often. Many shooters report uncomfortable slide bite and feeding problems. It’s one of those guns that sounds good on paper but quickly shows its flaws at the range. Even for deep concealment, there are much better choices that won’t beat up your hands.
Jimenez JA-380
Jimenez pistols have a reputation for being cheap and unreliable, and the JA-380 keeps that trend alive. Jamming is common, and the overall build quality feels like an afterthought. Accuracy is poor, the trigger is heavy, and parts tend to wear down quickly. For a defensive pistol, it’s one of the last things you’d want to trust. Even as a range toy, it gets old fast when you spend more time clearing malfunctions than shooting.
FN Five-SeveN
The FN Five-SeveN gets attention for its unique caliber, but it also gets a fair bit of hate—and some of it’s deserved. It’s overpriced, ammo is expensive, and it handles strangely with its lightweight frame. The recoil feels sharp despite the low caliber, and many shooters don’t like the grip feel. People go in expecting something special and come out feeling underwhelmed. For the price, most shooters agree there are better, more practical options out there.
Sig Sauer Mosquito
The Sig Sauer Mosquito might be one of the most disappointing .22 pistols out there. It’s known for being picky with ammo, prone to constant jams, and having a rough trigger pull. Even after careful cleaning, many owners report it still struggles to run reliably. It looks nice and feels good in the hand, but the shooting experience turns most people off. Plenty of folks buy it expecting a fun plinker and end up swearing it off after a few range trips.
*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.
