Let's try something different

schultz's honor · Post by **schultz's honor** » Tue Jun 19, 2007 11:01 am

We always see the posts for recommendations on different guns.
Comparing different manufacturers.
pro and cons of different guns.
Dollar value, bang for your buck.

How about the worst gun you have owned?

My first shotgun I purchased when I was 16. Don't even remember the manufacturer. All I can remember is that it was manufactured in a far off bizarre land like Bornio.
All I had to purchase this thing was $50.00 and absolutely no knowledge of shotguns except I new I was going to buy one to go hunting with the guys. Back then the Target stores still sold guns and you could actually buy a brand new shotgun for under 50 bucks.
This was a single shot 12 ga that weighed in at about 8 ounces, and was ugly as sin.
Once I bought the thing, I new that I needed some ammo to stuff in this thing so I picked up a box of high brass no. 4's
Need I say any more about how comfortable this gun was to shoot?
My buddy and I ended up cutting about half of the barrel off of that thing to use as a back up gun for barn hunting coons. (gun was then down to about 6 ounces)
Not sure what ever happened to that gun. Probably got used for a wheel chock or something.

Post by **Ayres** » Tue Jun 19, 2007 1:42 pm

Hmm... that's a tough one.

I've owned three guns myself. My first was a Mossberg 500 20 ga. It's not fancy, but it's inexpensive and very reliable. I don't use it much anymore for wingshooting, as I have guns that better suit my tastes for that, but I put the slug barrel on it and am gearing it up for deer season.

My second gun was a 1964 Browning A-5 Light Twelve. Very reliable gun as well. It's basically been relegated as my dove gun, though. If I did any waterfowl hunting I'd use it for that too.

My latest gun is my Franchi Veloce 20 ga. I really like that lightweight O/U.

Other than my dad's latest Walmart Special bb gun, which is a real piece of crap, I can't say as I've owned a "worst" gun. I think that's a good thing, eh?

ohiogsp · Post by **ohiogsp** » Tue Jun 19, 2007 2:52 pm

An AK-47 they are crap. They alwalys shoot (unless they jam witch happens alot) but you don't have to aim cause the patern is so big it won't matter anyway. They are made to just keep pulling the trigger but they are junk in my book. OH, if we are talking hunting guns only I have a 1950 era single shot excel 12 gauge that is my training gun and it is bad. I throw it down after the shot all the time to work the dog and it is beat up old junk.

nj gsp · Post by **nj gsp** » Tue Jun 19, 2007 8:08 pm

My dad's H&R "Gamester" bolt action 12 gauge with the adjustable choke. Even on the "extra full choke" setting that thing threw the same pattern as it did on Cylinder - huge and wide, with holes a turkey could fly through. It jammed all the time too.

Ever try to rack the bolt for a second shot at a flying bird? Ain't gonna happen...

kiddcline · Post by **kiddcline** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 10:00 am

I inherited a marlin 30-30 from my grandpa. I had heard stories that it couldn't hit the broadside of a barn. That wasn't much of an exageration. At 50 yards it would hit the top left corner of a target and the next the bottom right. He gave me a few guns so I didn't feel bad about getting rid of that one.

huntoverlabs · Post by **huntoverlabs** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 6:12 pm

I had a Savage OU. 22mag on top, 20ga. on the bottom. The mag was always dead on, but the 20 ga couldn't hit the broadside of a barn.

nj gsp · Post by **nj gsp** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 7:51 pm

kiddcline wrote:I inherited a marlin 30-30 from my grandpa. I had heard stories that it couldn't hit the broadside of a barn. That wasn't much of an exageration. At 50 yards it would hit the top left corner of a target and the next the bottom right. He gave me a few guns so I didn't feel bad about getting rid of that one.

I had one of those Marlins, it shot 3" groups at 100 yards. I sold it so I could buy a Ruger Single Six convertible. I also had a post '64 Winchester (1966) that shot acceptably well for a lever gun. I sold that one too, but now I wish I'd kept it.

huntoverlabs wrote:I had a Savage OU. 22mag on top, 20ga. on the bottom. The mag was always dead on, but the 20 ga couldn't hit the broadside of a barn.

I always wanted one of those - seemed like it would be a good bunny/bird gun back when I lived in Colorado.

huntoverlabs · Post by **huntoverlabs** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 6:52 am

I always wanted one of those - seemed like it would be a good bunny/bird gun back when I lived in Colorado.

It sure was, great for squirell too. I wish I still had it. Today they want an arm and a leg for those. Savage even started making them again.

Post by **Ayres** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 10:15 am

I've seen a couple .410 / .22 combos, and the comments are that the shotgun part works right but that you can't hit anything with the .22. I think I saw a Savage 20 ga / .22 combo at a gun show last March.

Post by **ezzy333** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 2:45 pm

The Savage combos were great little guns for several years back 30 years ago or so. Great squirrel guns, nice rabbit guns, and good for anything were you might want a rifle for a still shot and the shotgun for the second moving shot. They were made in several different combos..I think there was even a 222 and a 20 guage but am not sure of that. I had a 22/20 and it was sweet in the right circumstance and was a quality gun.

Ezzy

Scott · Post by **Scott** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 4:25 pm

I have the savage .222/20 ga. and it is great for packing in the truck as a spare. I also pack it horse back abit. I would say its pretty accurate too. I'm not, but thats another topic!

Danro · Post by **Danro** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 4:31 pm

The .222/20 is a great gun and is accurate as anything, provided you sight it in right. Tough as nails also. But good luck trying to find .222 ammo that won't cost you an arm and a leg. I don't like how it does eject the shells either.

nj gsp · Post by **nj gsp** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 7:26 pm

You know, come to think of it, I distinctly remember a friend in high school who had a O/U that (I think) was .44 mag/20 ga. Might have been .357 mag, it was a long time ago.

JakeDD · Post by **JakeDD** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 8:36 am

Good topic.

My worst gun ever: Rem 1100 Autoloader. My mom won it in a raffle when I was 11 - her uncle talked her into buying a $1 ticket, and viola! She offered to "sell" it to me for $1 and before she finished her sentence, I had the coins out of my pocket. My early days of grouse hunting were a workout carrying that 30" barrel, fixed full choke, jamming SOB through the thick stuff. If I didn't get 'em with the first shot, I was outta luck. It was guaranteed to jam shooting 7.5-8 shot in that baby. Knowing what I know now (and obviously didn't at age 11-15), that could've been a great waterfowl gun - I just didn't know what I was doing with it at the time.

I later traded it off for a 20ga 870 Express, which is #2 on my worst gun list. I've had ejector problems with thing since day 1 and should just trade it off for something else. My old DU Edition Mossberg 500 has been a gem, however. 11 years of terrible abuse and she works every time. Only issue I've had was the safety locked in Fire position out in ND one December - just kept my action open as a safety for the rest of the trip. She ain't gonna win no beauty contest, but she sure kills 'em dead.

I got bit by the O/U bug last year and picked up a Franchi Alcione for me and a Citori 20ga for the wife. Feels like I just discovered a whole new level of shooting enjoyment that I never knew existed - I LOVE IT!

Don · Post by **Don** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 9:37 am

I've had a fairly long list of guns and have not owned a bad shotgun that I remember. Well that's not true. I had a 12 SxS Habitch years ago that was a terrible recoiler. I've had two rifles I absolutely hated. a Ren mod 7 in 223 when they first came out, it's gone and good ridence. And a close second is a Rem 700 ADL I have now in 243. I should have got a barreled action and stocked it, would have been easier.

Danro · Post by **Danro** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 10:17 am

My father always said that you should never sell a gun unless you absolutely need the money. I wonder if he would have changed his opinion if he had ever shot this crappy little Marlin Model 60 .22 Semi. Talk about a gun for the scrap heap. Thing would jam after every other shot.

nj gsp · Post by **nj gsp** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 11:06 am

Danro wrote:My father always said that you should never sell a gun unless you absolutely need the money. I wonder if he would have changed his opinion if he had ever shot this crappy little Marlin Model 60 .22 Semi. Talk about a gun for the scrap heap. Thing would jam after every other shot.

I've got two of those, a Glenfield Mod 60 and a Marlin Mod 60SS. Other than the non-adjustable 9 pound trigger pull, they're not that bed if I keep them clean. And, they jam every other shot with truncated cone bullets like Remington Yellow Jackets. But, they jam in every .22 I own that isn't a single shot!

Don · Post by **Don** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 3:43 pm

Wow! I've had 4 of the model 60's and never had a problem with any. I like them a lot better than the Ruger 10/22. I wouldn't own one of those.

Danro · Post by **Danro** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 5:04 pm

Hmmm. That's interesting. The round capacity is about 15 or 16 I think and for me, you'd get at least a couple of jams in that span. The scope on this gun was funny too. It looks like it can straight from WWII; couldn't adjust anything at all, just crosshairs and a magnified image.

highcotton · Post by **highcotton** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 9:30 am

Don wrote:Wow! I've had 4 of the model 60's and never had a problem with any. I like them a lot better than the Ruger 10/22. I wouldn't own one of those.

I bought a 10/22 action at a gun show for $75.00. I got a heavy fluted bbl. a synthetic stock from hogue, and a Leopuld 2x7 22 scope. It will shoot 10 shots in a dime at 50 yds with Winchester T22 ammo. It won't do much with regular ammo.

I have one of the old remington 550-1's that is my favorite 22. It has the one piece stock and mag tube under the bbl. It will shood mixed shells (shorts, longs and long rifles) and never miss a lick.

Back to the topic. I bought one of the Benelli Nova's because I thought I need a gun to shoot 3 1/2" steel for dukc hunting. I used it one time. I shot the first duck that worked the decoys that morning and it knocked my glasses off and blurred my vision. The big green head was crippled and I could not get a follow up shot off. By the time I found my glasses he was long gone. I traded that sucker at the next show.

Post by **slistoe** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 10:34 am

Don wrote:I've had a fairly long list of guns and have not owned a bad shotgun that I remember.

You must not have ever owned one of these

I will second the 10/22 on the list of bad guns. Unreliable feeding and not too accurate.

Don · Post by **Don** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 4:06 pm

Actually I did. I had the 16ga. I was sure glad when I finally got my first quailty shotgun. Western Field 12ga from Opplinger's Western Auto in Independence, Ore about 1963! Talk about one smooth puppy, boy oh boy!

By the way, my Western field also had the poly choke. A guy needed to be ready!

Post by **slistoe** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 4:30 pm

I got broke into field shooting ducks with one of those. I still believe I took more of a beating than the ducks did.

Post by **ezzy333** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 5:07 pm

My boys all learned to hunt with that gun.

Ezzy

dudley · Post by **dudley** » Sun Aug 19, 2007 3:49 pm

i disagree about the 10/22 being a bad gun i find that as long as i don't use winchester wildcat ammo in the winter it doesn't jam and they can be pretty accurate

Post by **ezzy333** » Sun Aug 19, 2007 4:45 pm

I agree Dudley,

The 10/22 is one of the best 22's out there. This is the first time I have ever heard of anything negative about them.

Ezzy

nj gsp · Post by **nj gsp** » Sun Aug 19, 2007 6:15 pm

dudley wrote:i disagree about the 10/22 being a bad gun i find that as long as i don't use winchester wildcat ammo in the winter it doesn't jam and they can be pretty accurate

A 10/22 is capable of high accuracy if you upgrade the barrel, trigger group, and action. All of which will cost several hundred bucks, but the results are generally impressive.

That is the secret to the 10/22's popularity - it is very easy to tweak into anything you want, and there are LOTS of aftermarket parts available.

bird · Post by **bird** » Sun Aug 19, 2007 6:50 pm

nj gsp · Post by **nj gsp** » Sun Aug 19, 2007 8:27 pm

I have an 835. It has worked fine in all sorts of weather. It is what it is - an inexpensive waterfowling gun. Never had a problem with it. Maybe I'm just lucky!

dudley · Post by **dudley** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 7:24 am

your right the 10/22 is easy to tweak infact i remember reading that it has more add ons than any other 22 on the market

Post by **Ayres** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 8:57 am

NJ GSP wrote:
dudley wrote:i disagree about the 10/22 being a bad gun i find that as long as i don't use winchester wildcat ammo in the winter it doesn't jam and they can be pretty accurate
A 10/22 is capable of high accuracy if you upgrade the barrel, trigger group, and action. All of which will cost several hundred bucks, but the results are generally impressive.

That is the secret to the 10/22's popularity - it is very easy to tweak into anything you want, and there are LOTS of aftermarket parts available.

You're also able to get highly accurate 10/22's stock if you get the right model number. For more detailed commentary, check out RimfireCentral's forum subsection on the gun: http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/fo ... ay.php?f=9

And yes, they are HIGHLY customizable. I just don't like too many of the customizations. I borrow my dad's stock 10/22 carbine and it gets its fair share of squirrels with no problems.

tdhusker · Post by **tdhusker** » Sun Oct 07, 2007 8:40 am

Worst ever; Model 58 Remington Auto. Second worst, Ithaca 10 guage auto. third worst, Remington SP10 (yes, glutton for punishment).

GL · Post by GL » Thu Nov 01, 2007 9:55 am

I hate to even mention this because the company is as STAND UP as they come.

Years back I bought a browning B-80 shotgun and it simply would not pattern at all. Only gun I have ever owned that couldn't shoot straight.

Had it in for gunsmitthing check ups and even sent it back to Browning after the smith said he couldn't figure it out.

Got a phone call from the Browning Rep and he wanted to replace my gun because they could not fix it but the B-80 was already out of production.

They sent me a brand new A-5 that was better then the gun I sent them and I have been a complete Browning fan since.

I am pretty sure they could have fixed what ever was wrong except the parts were simply not available so they did me 150% right!

Gary

Neanderthal · Post by **Neanderthal** » Sat Dec 08, 2007 4:04 am

Worst-The Mossberg 20 ga. bolt action that I started hunting with. It did not fit me, so it kicked like a 12 ga., and I never could hit much with it. But, it did get me out in the field and started a lifelong addiction with shotguns. I don't even remember where that gun went, and don't care as long as I never have to pick one up again!

Ridgeviewer · Post by **Ridgeviewer** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 1:11 pm

I also started out with the old mossberg 20 ga bolt...
Unlike others though, I loved that gun, and still do! It was the gun my dad had started with. It was the gun I day dreamed of shooting for years, untill I was old enough.
Then the time came,,, It was now the gun in my hands, hunting with dad.
I remember cleaning that gun to perfection after each hunt with dad.
Way too many good memories to ever knock that gun!
I've shot and owned many high quality guns, but not one has made the lasting impression of that Mossberg 20ga bolt.
Ridge

danish21 · Post by **danish21** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 2:40 am

Worst gun i ever used was Westley Richards .300 sherwood single shot under lever. This was my first rifle and the most ugliest i ever had. Thank God i get rid of this scrap recently.

mikeyair · Post by **mikeyair** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 4:17 pm

the worst gun i ever had, i ended up with 2 of the same model the mossberg model 88 mavrick, the bigest pos ive ever shot. that gun would jam all of the time you hardly could get a second shot then i had part of the action for the pump get bent when i was pumping it. so i got rid of it and got an 835 and that i was happy with it was a verry good gun to me. the other mavrick jamed quite a bit but not as often as the 1st then the spring broke in the magazine and that was enoght for me i sent that one down the road as well oh and the fireing pin broke once. now i hunt with a stoger m200 and i love it