What's the worst "money pit" gun?

[Ks5shooter]

I chose something else.

Cheap junk firearms that offer lifetime warranty. After you send it back four or five times to get fixed without being reimbursed for shipping you could of bought something decent.

 

[jhb]

I chose something else.

Cheap junk firearms that offer lifetime warranty. After you send it back four or five times to get fixed without being reimbursed for shipping you could of bought something decent.

^yep this.

 

[stoky]

I would agree with the AR.............except for the proliferation of multiple manufacturer's HBARs, obstensively sold for competition. They can be had for well under $1k. It would be difficult to find one that wasn't sub MOA and they really don't need to be accessorized.

 

[tarosean]

ARs don't even come close to bolt guns either.

+1


Yet to see a six figure AR.

 

[Ryanxia]

I went AR15 because he said 'platform' in the question. If we're talking a single gun I would think about it some more but by far the AR15 platform is my money pit. I think I have 2 factory AR's, 5 custom builds and 4 stripped receivers waiting to be built up. It is by far for me the most fun to assemble, customize for different purposes and shoot.

 

[Elkins45]

Not an individual gun, but a category: "bear gun"

Someday when I have a spare hour I will tell the story of how a bear sighting cost me somewhere between 2-3K in my (ongoing) quest for a backpacking/hiking handgun.

 

[WestKentucky]

Thanks for including the T/C Contender on the list, WestKentucky. Not many here on THR own one I suspect.

I have firsthand experience with nearly everything on the list. When I set up the poll I was wondering how many more contender barrels I could have with the money I have burned on some of the guns I have poured money into.

Stag model 2, Anderson AM15, 10/22 carbon fiber and volquartsen, Arsenal 223 ak, contender, delta elite, long range build is still on the short list. Sheesh.

 

[WestKentucky]

I voted AR15 since someone else convinced me would be possible to buy a lower and build a complete rifle for less than it would cost to purchase one already assembled.

I'm still searching for a way to do that

Not that I'm complaining, since I expect assembling my own will be an interesting project (link to the sticky).

Ummm....I may have been that guy. Sorry. I built a complete rifle for 500, but in that 500 I bought some used parts, and ended up with some high dollar extras for my next upper. I am intentionally making my rifles have very few attachment points this time around. I learned the hard way on my Stag.

 

[Ranger Roberts]

My mac-11 (full auto). I can't tell you how many uppers I have for that stupid thing.

 

[Teachu2]

For me, it is a 700ADL package gun with the cheap 4-12 scope, stamped rings, and flexomatic stock. That $400 gun needed a $200 stock, $200 trigger, and $400 scope and rings to reach it's basic potential. Now it shoots very well, but cost right at $1200....and the action and barrel are untouched.

 

[v35]

Ummm....I may have been that guy.

Nah, wasn't you but a coworker whose name I don't recall. Since then I purchased a lower (several, actually, in anticipation that they might not be as inexpensive in the future - see what I mean) and have been casually looking for parts that will eventually total somewhat near the ~ $500 you spent.

I suppose used will be the way to go. Still, looking forward to it.

 

[joem1945]

My money pit for a while was ne of my R15's. I bought a upper off a guy at the club. 1" SS 24" varmint upper. I spent over 3 years trying to get it to shoot under 6" at 100 yds. The cost comes from different primers, powders and bullets. Almost decided to saw it in pieces or bend it around a tree. Finely took a rotary file in my cordless drill and touched the muzzle. It grabbed the right side of the barrel and I thought "That's it! Trashed barrel". Tried it once more and groups were under 1" with 77 grain bullets. I guess I got lucky.

 

[WardenWolf]

Ruger 10/22, the rifle which can be entirely built from non-Ruger parts. To make it accurate, you have to replace the barrel. To replace the barrel, you have to replace the stock. Then there's the awful trigger. The list goes on. There's so many things the rifle needs in order to actually be good that it's the very definition of a money pit.

If you're crazy enough, you can have a 10/22 without a single Ruger component in it. Even the receiver can be replaced. It's absurd.

 

[theotherwaldo]

ARs for me. I never planned to have one of these "Barbie guns". Now I'm well into build #3.

 

[njl]

Crosman 1377. Seems like there's an upgraded and/or aftermarket part for nearly every part, and stock, I can't even properly adjust the sights for elevation (not enough adjustment possible with the PoS stock rear sight). I saw a video stating its the most expensive pellet gun you'll ever buy, that went on to explain how there's upgraded/aftermarket everything for it...and like a dummy, I bought one anyway.

I could replace the rear sight with a proper adjustable rear...but doing so requires also upgrading the breech, and together, that's more $ than the gun cost. It's kind of like buying a PoS used up old car and replacing the engine, transmission, etc. In the end, for the cost of a much nicer/newer car, you've got an ugly PoS...but at least it runs good.

In relative terms of cost of [necessary] upgrades vs cost to buy the gun in the first place, I don't see how this can lose.

 

[Candyman87]

I've only changed anything on two guns besides buying extra magazines or glass for a rifle.

My Ruger 10/22 got Tech Sights and a Volquartsen automatic bolt release.

My Windham AR-15 was bought in a Jersey legal configuration (fixed stock, pinned/welded compensator, and no bayonet lug) so I put a collapsible stock on it and have a Magpul fixed stock that I can swap out quickly. Also bought a Knight's Armament quad rail for it.

Other than that, I haven't accessorized a single gun. I shoot them as is or sell them for something else.

 

[Panzerschwein]

Something else: any HK long gun.

Original HK parts and accessories are often tremendously expensive.

 

[herrwalther]

By far the Ar-15. You can find an extractor roll pin in your safe and determine that since you have THAT part you might as well build a new AR. In my case I had 10 magazines for an AR, so that means I must build one now. 90% done now.

 

[MICHAEL T]

I not sure where the 1911 parts never fit ,comes from Ive bought several Wilson parts and they all dropped right in My Colts . Perfect Might be Colt still builds to proper specs where these other company's . Like Taurus and others use what they think best.

 

[WestKentucky]

I not sure where the 1911 parts never fit ,comes from Ive bought several Wilson parts and they all dropped right in My Colts . Perfect Might be Colt still builds to proper specs where these other company's . Like Taurus and others use what they think best.

There's a difference between working and fitting... diehard 1911 guys seem to love fit and loathe function.

 

[Twiki357]

Smith & Wesson revolvers.. [plural] they seem to keep multiplying like rabbits.

 

[Devilfrog]

I've spent more on my AR15 building habit than any other gun though my 10/22s are in definite second place. I wouldn't consider them money pits, just they seem to grab more of my so-called "gun budget"

 

[another pake]

As far as ways to easily spend money while sitting in a chair and ordering bolt on parts over the net? Probably the AR platform, but as has already been said, you still have a box full of parts left when you're done to sell, build another, or return the first one back to "stock" when you're done.

If you want to talk $, get into true customs. Machine shop time, labor, one of a kind pieces that may include wood work or engraving etc. You don't recapture your "investment" there very often. You do it because it brings you some satisfaction.

Of course if you want to spend $ on a hobby there are lots of ways to do that.
Try custom autos. No wait, custom motorcycles. No, antique steam tractors. No, yachts. No, horses...

Tried most of those. Guns are really not that bad...

 

[VoodooMountain]

I think the mosin rifle is right up there simply because people buy them cheap and then stick more than the cost of the initial purchase trying to make it something it isn't.

 

[Jackal]

10/22 all day long. With the AR, it's easier to get your money back out of it upon sale. With the 10/22, your $1100 .22 rifle is worth $500 on the used market.