Some pistols feel perfect in the hand—comfortable, balanced, and easy to draw. But once you actually shoot them, the disappointment sets in. Whether it’s poor accuracy, weird recoil, or unreliable performance, these handguns prove that a good grip doesn’t always mean good results. If you’ve ever been lured in by a pistol that seemed promising at first, only to walk away unimpressed, you’re not alone. Here are thirteen handguns that feel great in the store, but don’t always deliver where it counts.
Taurus Curve
The Taurus Curve is shaped to follow the body’s contours, which sounds great in theory. It does feel nice when holstered, but once you pull the trigger, the flaws show up quick.
The sights are practically nonexistent, and accuracy is all over the place beyond five yards. Combine that with a snappy trigger and limited reliability, and it’s easy to see why the Curve never took off. It’s comfortable to carry, sure—but not exactly confidence-inspiring.
Glock 42
The Glock 42 is compact, lightweight, and has that familiar Glock ergonomics. It fits small hands really well and feels controllable. But accuracy can be underwhelming, especially for a Glock.
The short barrel and .380 chambering make it easy to carry but a little tricky to shoot well under pressure. Some users also report occasional cycling issues, especially with certain ammo. It’s not unusable, but it doesn’t always shoot as straight as it should.
Walther CCP M2
The Walther CCP M2 has a nice grip texture, solid ergonomics, and a soft-shooting recoil system. In the hand, it feels great—like it should be a natural shooter.
Unfortunately, it’s often plagued by inconsistent accuracy and reliability quirks. The gas-delayed blowback system can be finicky with ammo, and cleaning it isn’t fun. It’s one of those pistols that you want to like more than you actually do once rounds start going downrange.
Remington R51
This pistol was designed to be sleek, compact, and ergonomic—and it is. It sits well in the hand and points naturally. But when it comes to performance, it gets messy fast.
Early models were plagued by cycling issues, and even after the re-release, accuracy never quite lined up with expectations. It’s lightweight and easy to carry, but if it doesn’t shoot straight or run reliably, that comfort doesn’t mean much.
KelTec P11
The P11 is tiny and easy to carry, and its grip size makes it a decent fit for most hands. But the trigger is long, heavy, and makes precise shooting tough.
Accuracy suffers even at close distances, and follow-up shots are sluggish due to the mushy feel. It’s a budget carry gun that checks some boxes on paper, but if you’re counting on consistent hits, it’s probably not the right tool.
Smith & Wesson SD9 VE
The SD9 VE feels balanced in the hand and has a grip angle that works well for most shooters. It feels like it should shoot better than it does.
Unfortunately, the trigger is a letdown. It’s long, gritty, and not great for accurate shooting. Even experienced shooters tend to notice groups open up fast. It’s not unsafe or unusable—but it’s definitely not a precision instrument.
FN 503
The FN 503 has a slim profile and a well-contoured grip that makes it easy to conceal and handle. On first impression, it feels like a winner.
But the trigger is stiff and reset is long, which affects accuracy. Some shooters struggle with precision even at typical carry distances. FN’s reliability is there, but it just doesn’t shoot as well as its ergonomics suggest.
Ruger LC9s
The LC9s improves on the original LC9’s trigger, and it feels pretty good in the hand for a slim 9mm. It points well and has good texturing.
Still, it’s got a snappy recoil impulse and is hard to shoot accurately in rapid fire. The short grip also makes it tough for larger hands to stay consistent shot to shot. It’s not bad—but expectations often exceed what it can actually deliver.
Beretta Nano
Beretta’s Nano was designed for simplicity and concealment, and it handles well in the hand. The smooth exterior means it won’t snag, and it tucks away easily.
But it has a long, vague trigger pull and minimal sights, which drags down accuracy. It’s one of those pistols that seems like a solid option until you actually run it hard at the range—and then realize you’re struggling to keep groups tight.
Springfield 911
The Springfield 911 feels like a miniature 1911, and the controls feel natural if you’re used to that platform. It’s easy to handle and fits the hand nicely.
That said, accuracy is hit or miss, and it’s sensitive to ammo. Some users report stovepipes or light primer strikes, especially when dirty. It’s a nice idea, but it doesn’t always perform like the quality of the build suggests.
SCCY CPX-2
This pistol is comfortable to grip and easy to conceal, with a decent grip texture and size. It’s also priced to move, which grabs attention.
But the double-action trigger is heavy and long, and that affects accuracy. It’s not impossible to shoot well, but it takes more effort than it should. It feels fine in the hand, but once you start shooting, it doesn’t follow through.
Bersa Thunder .380
The Bersa Thunder looks sharp and fits well in most hands. It has a comfortable grip and controls that are easy to reach.
However, the sights are small, and accuracy isn’t anything to brag about. Some shooters find the recoil to be more noticeable than expected for a .380. It’s a decent budget option, but it doesn’t always deliver the results the fit and finish suggest it might.
Honor Defense Honor Guard
The Honor Guard pistol offers a comfortable grip and has decent modularity. In the hand, it feels very competitive with higher-end carry guns.
But the trigger is gritty and the accuracy just doesn’t quite match up. It’s capable, sure, but underwhelming once you’ve put a few magazines through it. You’ll be left wondering why something that feels so good just can’t quite perform the way it should.
*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.
