Gunsmith's Top 5: Overrated Guns
Many customers value my opinion on what gun they should buy or what should be their conceal carry gun. Today, I’m sharing my Top 5 Overrated Guns and what you should’ve bought instead. Share if you agree or comment if you disagree.
#5 - AR-10
By Le-boulanger - File:AR10_Armalite_vue_d'ensemble.jpg, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=85634654
Eugene Stoner created the AR-10 in 1955. The design made it much easier (compared to other rifles of the time) to maintain accuracy during automatic or burst fire. The AR-10’s gas system was innovative for its time. Unlike other rifles of the time with a conventional impinging gas system, the AR-10 has true expanding gas system where gas exits a port in the barrel through a steel tube and enters a chamber inside the bolt carrier. The bolt contains piston rings which contains the gases, and when the bolt carrier moves, extra gas exits through the side holes.
While the AR-10 is lighter than other rifles of the time and used a forged aluminum receiver, it’s much heavier compared to the AR-15. Though the AR-15 gained popularity among the world’s militaries, civilians, and sportsmen, none of the AR-10 variants gained the same momentum.
There’s just really not point to an AR-10. It’s just an older and heavier version of the AR-15. Even the ammo weighs a lot. In fact, .556 weighs one third of the weight of .308. While some might say that AR-10s are great at long distances (over 600 yards), there are better bolt action rifles for that particular accuracy need. And under 600 yards, the AR-15 out performs. You would’ve been better off with a PWS MK116, LWRC, or even just a bolt action rifle.
#4 - CZ Scorpion
By Nowork114 - Test, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=29552586
The CZ Scorpion is plastic. All of the structure including the receiver is plastic.
And this gun has a lot of blowback which means that the only thing holding the round in the chamber is the bolt. This could result in out-of-battery detonation or early brass ejection causing case blowouts.
Yet people still buy them. Mostly because they are relatively cheap—especially when compared to other sub-guns. But then they pay for all sorts of upgrades like putting a stock on it and installing a better trigger. They add a new grip because the factory-designed angle sucks. Sometimes they might also replace the plastic handguard. But now, this originally inexpensive gun, costs just as much as GHM9 or MP5 clone. And it still has a plastic receiver.
By the time you spend all that money, you should’ve just ponied up for a GHM9.
#3 - Mark IV
The Mark IV isn’t a bad gun. While it might be accurate, it’s overrated-ness comes from its lack of reliability. It jams after only 200 rounds of suppressed fire and just a few more unsuppressed. They necessitate constant cleaning. And on top of that, the upper is the receiver which makes it less customizable or you have to pass a background check to install a new barrel.
Sometimes it feels like people just own these because it’s what’s available.
For quality, accuracy, and great reliability, you should’ve bought a Browning Buckmark or a Smith & Wesson 22 Compact. Even the Taurus TX22 is more reliable. And that’s sad.
#2 - Daniel Defense AR-15
By Marty Daniel - DanielDefense.com, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=71506198
All I have to say is that this is a good rifle, but you could’ve gotten one in similar quality for half the price. Or, for the same price, you could bought a significantly higher-quality rifle.
Instead of buying a Daniel Defense AR-15, you should’ve bought a LWRC or PWS. Or literally any other AR.
#1 - Remington 870
The Remington 870 was the fourth in a series of pump action shotguns produced by Remington. Its predecessor the Remington Model 31 couldn’t compete against the Winchester Model 12. To compete, Remington produced the 870 which was more modern. And it had widespread success. At one point, it held the record for the best-selling shotgun in history.
But it’s the top overrated gun on my list.
This is not a gun you want. It’s underrated because it’s extremely inferior to the Mossberg 500.
By Burnyburnout - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=70389956
Everyone says you should by an 870 because it has a steel receiver. But the only thing this means is that it’s heavy and that it’s going to rust. The factory bluing is terrible. I’ve literally seen them come out of the box from Remington with rust on them. The only 870 I’ve seen without rust was a factory Cerakoted shotgun—and even that finish was garbage.
The Mossberg 500 has an aluminum receiver which lighter, just as durable, and doesn’t rust.
This gun is not user serviceable at all. The ejector on the 870 is riveted through the receiver to the outside and then ground smooth. These are prone to breaking. And when it breaks, you’ll have to come see me. And you’ll pay $300 to replace a $14 part and an $8 rivet because I have to completely refinish the receiver and smooth the rivet. At least then your bluing will prevent rusting.
When the ejector breaks on the Mossberg 500, you remove one screw and replace the part. If you can use Google and can order parts with a credit card, you can replace the ejector on a Mossberg 500. Now that’s user serviceable.
And I can’t stand the location of the safety but that’s just personal preference.
You should’ve bought a Mossberg 500.
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