List of handgun models that are "Lemons"

[Hypnogator]

Kel-Tec P-40 has a distinguished place on the list. Some may work (as stated by other members) but my conversion never did, and I have had it "fixed" at the factory three times. The last time it still wouldn't feed 1/3 of the time, and after only half a box of factory Sellier & Belloit solids, it broke the frame.

Kel-Tec has stopped making them. The bottom line is, if they worked reliably, they'd still be making them.

And for the K-T 40 apologists who insist that it's a great gun that won't shoot for the limp-wristed, I would point out that a weapon that isn't reliable under all conditions, when shot by a wounded, exhausted firer, isn't a reliable weapon, period. :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

 

[Westy]

I'm REALLY curious why Para Ordnance is on the list. I have a P13 SS and a P14, and both have been great shooters. I prefer them over my Springfield Armory 1911 !

 

[Gerald McDonald]

Hypnogator, that leaves out my brother inlaw's Glock 17. Shoots great for me, he cant get 3 rounds out in a row.
Gerald

 

[firestar]

The Para P-13 and P14 are there because I have heard lots of people claim they had lemons. I don't have any experience with them but a guy at my leauge has one (not sure which model but it is SA double stack) and it is a sweet shooter, he does impressive work with it.

This list does not mean that all the guns on it are junk, it is just a list of guns that seem to have more than their share of problems. My sources are sometimes 2nd hand because anyone can get a bad apple. I can't trust that just because I got a lemon or two that all of the guns of that make are junk but when many other people agree on the same gun then it will make the list. None of the guns on the list are there because of one instance, many people have had to agree that the gun was sub par to make the list.

 

[CZ-100]

Hey great if your a Steeler Fan!!!

 

[p35]

Just to be contrary, I have a Ram-Line .22 that's reliable and highly accurate. Only problem is that it's so light that it's hard to keep on target. Big for a gun that light. too.

 

[Meowhead]

I have a Helwan 9mm that was perfect until a gunsmith worked on it.

The original owner decided to have it refinished, have new sights and springs installed. I bought the gun the day he got it back from the smith, expecting something as reliable as the worn-out-looking automatic it started out as...well, the gunsmith made it into a beautiful-looking gun that can't go through a magazine. Broken trigger pin and something else I haven't figured out yet.

 

[Ruger Redhawk]

Top of the list "All Ruger's". Only kidding of course.
Years ago the FIE line of guns.The Titians, Arminius,Texas Ranger.Titian II(semi autos).

Ruger Redhawk

 

[txgolfer45]

Gerald McDonald,

<Add Glock to the list, prone to limp wrist>

You are kidding right??? You may be prone to limp wristing, but the Glock isn't. Glocks definitely do not belong on the list of "lemons"!!!

Scott

 

[Westy]

Who buys plastic guns ?

 

[Edward429451]

FIE line of guns.The Titians,

I used to have a Titan 25 acp and never really had a problem with it. True enough I didn't shoot it 'a lot', only occasionally b/c of the price of ammo for it. I think its best feature was the exposed hammer. I had that gun for years, carried it alot and liked it, just not the cartridge. Did you have problems with yours? What type of problems?

 

[Ruger Redhawk]

Edward429451

FIE line of guns

. I've never owned one of the FIE's. Years ago I lived in south Florida and worked at a gunshop part time for awhile. Right down the street was FIE.I met the owner a few times. He knew his line wasn't much but he was selling them . Not much after that he sold out to a companyQFI(Quality Firearms Corp) in Opa Locka FL.Not sure if they are still in business now or not. Unversal Firearms (M-1's) were located in the Hialeah area not far from FIE.That's another company that's no more. RG Industries was 20 minutes away.South Florida had it's share of cheaply made firearms.Taurus is now in that area, At least there is some fairly decent guns being made in South Florida. Or should I say being assembled in S.F.

Ruger Redhawk

 

[firestar]

South FL sounds like how CA. was a few years ago, Jennings, Bryco, etc. were all made there, now the junk is made in S. FL. Kel-Tec, Taurus, etc.

 

[Gerald McDonald]

txgolfer, read hypnogators post. Last thing he types is unless a firearm will fire in any and all conditions, regardless of grip, it is not reliable. Then read my post, I have no problem with the Glock, it shoots great for me, just not my bro inlaw. So if we use hypnogators comments then the glock is not reliable, thats not my deduction its hypnogators.

 

[chetrogers]

Jennings nine...If you see this gun run away from it.............

 

[Dr.Rob]

I too wish to add the FIE Titan to the list but only becuase it's the only lemon I ever owned.

Who thought that a manual safety that must be moved 180 degrees on a pocket pistol was a good idea?


This masterwork of Miami engineering also features a zinc alloy frame and front sight that wow.. somehow got bent? the rifling is almost visible, which is more than I can say for the finish. the lower was painted black and is now flaking and the upper is (was?) blued but now spotted. At least the high impact grips are still intact.

The asking price for this thing new was $35-50 in the 80's. Glad I didn't pay a dime for this one.

No matter how bad a gun is from the factory you CAN always make it worse.

 

[tatters]

I have to disagree with the SW.Sigma .380. Mine worked fine. The only problem was with the take-down pin walking out after a lot of rounds. Great little carry gun IMHO. Also the Phoenix Arms HP-22 I own has been great. It was my very first gun. I had some early problems, but now it's flawless if I use Stingers.

I haven't owned a lot of guns in my life, I started shooting at 35.

I don't have much experience with lemons. I did have a used High Standard Sentinel Deluxe .22 that spit lead.

Funny, I have never owned a gun I payed more than 365.00 for, and most of my guns are well under 300.00.

 

[firestar]

I didn't put the Phoenix Arms HP-22 on the list and it is not going on the list because I have heard more good than bad about this gun.

There is nothing wrong with owning guns that don't cost thousands of dollars. I find that I like some of the $200-300 as much or more than the more expensive guns. It depends on the gun but it is not rare to find a nice used $200-300 gun that will outshoot and be more reliable than guns costing 2-3 times as much. Unfortunatly, it is also not rare to spend $200-300 on a gun that isn't worth half that.

I love good inexpenve guns but I hate any "cheap" gun. Cheap crappy guns are not worth having around IMHO. Take Jennings for example, no matter what you pay for them, they are not worth it. They are worthless for what they are designed for, i.e., self defense. They are not reliable and that is all that REALLY matters in a self defense weapon.

 

[NeuTom72]

Just a comment about Grendel pistols. I have owned a Grendel P-12 .380 now for about 8 years. With a risk of jinxing myself, I have to say that my Grendel has been VERY reliable. Granted I've only put around 400 rounds through it, but I feel very comfortable carrying this gun for CCW. I don't recall ever having a failure to feed. The Grendel line was discontinued years ago, but if you compare the Grendel to the Kel-Tec pistols, I think you'll see that both pistols are very similar. Not just in looks, but in function also. If you're in the market for an inexpensive CCW pistol I would highly recommend that you look for a good used model. Ten in the magazine, and one in the chamber.

Yes the Grendel pistols are inexpensive, but they aren't "cheap".