Some handguns are fine at first glance—well-balanced, reliable, and easy to handle—until you actually start pulling the trigger. Then reality sets in. A rough, heavy, or awkward trigger can turn even the most promising pistol into a hand-cramping chore. Whether it’s excessive pull weight, poor reset, or gritty stacking, these guns test your patience one round at a time. Some of them can shoot well in the right hands, but most shooters walk away shaking out their trigger fingers and wondering why anyone thought that was acceptable.
KelTec P11
The KelTec P11 has plenty going for it on paper: lightweight, compact, and chambered in 9mm. But the trigger ruins nearly everything else. It’s long, heavy, and feels more like dragging a rusty nail through gravel than pulling a smooth stroke. Every pull stacks tension until the break surprises you—never in a good way.
At roughly nine pounds of pull, it’s one of the stiffest triggers you’ll find in a polymer pistol. The gun is reliable enough, but accuracy suffers because it’s almost impossible to hold steady through that grind. After a few magazines, your trigger finger feels like it’s done a workout.
Ruger LC9
Ruger’s LC9 is easy to carry and dependable, but its trigger leaves a lasting impression—and not the good kind. The double-action-only pull feels endless, with heavy travel and a vague break that makes precision work nearly impossible. Shooters quickly learn that smooth follow-ups are wishful thinking.
Ruger later fixed much of this with the LC9s, but the original model’s trigger was enough to drive people away. The reset is long and sluggish, forcing you to nearly release the trigger entirely before it’s ready again. For a small pistol, it’s a handful not because of recoil—but because every shot feels like a tug-of-war.
KelTec PF9
The PF9 is one of the lightest and thinnest 9mm pistols ever made, but that comes at a price—your trigger finger. The pull is long, rough, and breaks inconsistently. The reset is nearly nonexistent, making rapid or accurate shooting a challenge even for seasoned hands.
After a few boxes of ammo, the combination of recoil and trigger fatigue can wear down anyone. The PF9 deserves credit for its concealability and reliability, but if you’ve ever tried to keep tight groups with it, you know exactly why it has such a reputation.
Smith & Wesson Sigma
Before the M&P line, Smith & Wesson tried to compete with Glock through the Sigma series—and while the idea was solid, the trigger wasn’t. With a pull often measuring over ten pounds, it feels more like a heavy-duty staple gun than a sidearm. Gritty, stiff, and unpredictable, it turns accurate shooting into a guessing game.
S&W faced lawsuits for borrowing too much from Glock’s design, but they should’ve borrowed more from its trigger. The Sigma could run reliably all day, but every pull reminded shooters that it was a duty pistol with no sense of finesse. Many owners simply gave up and moved to something easier on the hand.
Double-Action Makarov Variants
The Makarov itself is a solid design, but several of its surplus double-action clones—especially the Hungarian PA-63—earned a reputation for punishing triggers. Double-action pulls often exceed twelve pounds, stacking badly before breaking abruptly. It’s like trying to crush a walnut with your fingertip.
In single-action, the pull lightens but never feels crisp. The aluminum frames add snappy recoil, compounding the discomfort. These pistols can be reliable and accurate in skilled hands, but they’re exhausting to run for long sessions. You end up respecting them for their history, not their shooting comfort.
Taurus PT111 Millennium (Original)
The early Taurus PT111 Millennium pistols were compact, affordable, and surprisingly accurate—when you could get past the trigger. Long, gritty, and with a vague break, it made consistent shooting difficult. Many shooters found themselves anticipating the shot just to get it over with.
Later versions improved dramatically, but the original’s pull weight and reset kept it off many carry lists. It was reliable enough for defense, but not enjoyable for range time. If you owned one back then, you remember how sore your finger felt after a box of ammo.
Walther PPK/S
The Walther PPK/S is a classic, elegant pistol that looks like it should shoot like a dream. But that first double-action pull can hit twelve pounds or more, and it feels every bit of it. It’s long, heavy, and uneven before the break finally arrives. The single-action pull afterward feels fine, but the first shot always sets the tone.
Collectors love the history and style, but the PPK/S can be a rude surprise at the range. The trigger isn’t unsafe—it’s simply exhausting. Many shooters love to own them, but few enjoy shooting them often.
Polish Radom P-64
The P-64 is a Cold War carry piece chambered in 9×18 Makarov, and it’s infamous for one thing: the double-action trigger. At roughly twenty pounds of pull, it’s one of the heaviest ever fitted to a service pistol. It’s so bad that most owners immediately install lighter springs.
Even after that, it’s far from pleasant. The gun itself is small and kicks hard, compounding the punishment. It’s a tough little sidearm built for duty, not comfort, and it feels every bit of that when you start shooting.
AMT Backup
The AMT Backup was designed for deep concealment, but its trigger feels like an afterthought. The pull is extremely long, heavy, and mushy—somewhere north of twelve pounds. There’s no clean break, just a slow roll that makes you fight for every shot.
Accuracy isn’t terrible if you’ve got patience, but most shooters run out of that fast. Combined with sharp recoil and a harsh grip, it’s a pistol that’s better admired than fired. Many owners say they carry it often but shoot it rarely—and that says plenty.
Beretta Tomcat
The Beretta Tomcat’s tip-up barrel and compact design make it attractive for concealed carry, but the trigger can be punishing. In double-action, it’s long and heavy, and in single-action, it’s still far from crisp. The little pistol also snaps hard for its size, so finger fatigue sets in quickly.
Its charm lies in its size and mechanical quirks, not its shootability. Many folks buy it for nostalgia or simplicity but quickly shelve it after a few range trips. The Tomcat is proof that not every small gun needs a big trigger pull.
Charter Arms Off Duty
Charter Arms revolvers are rugged and affordable, but the double-action pull on many of their early Off Duty models feels like pulling a stubborn wrench through mud. The heavy spring tension and long travel make extended shooting sessions a grind.
They’ll go bang every time, but comfort wasn’t part of the design brief. Shooters who grew up with Smith & Wesson or Colt revolvers quickly notice the difference. The Off Duty carries well, but after a day at the range, your finger will be ready for a rest.
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Calibers That Shouldn’t Even Be On the Shelf Anymore
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*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.
