Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Most overrated guns

When I was around 20 years old, I was still hunting deer in densely-wooded southern Ohio, came up over a little rise and had a doe looking at me broadside from maybe 50'. My shot cut the only sapling between us in half. The deer, unfazed, continued to stare at me. I proceeded to short shuck my 870, locking it tighter than a drum.

Ended up unscrewing the barrel nut, disassembling the gun, reassembling it, and reloading it. During all of this, the deer would walk a ways, stop and stare, and walk a ways. By the time I finished, she was just cresting the big hill 100 yards away.

Just assumed that was endemic to all pumps after that. Didn't know that it was more common in 870's. Never happened to me since though.

I was gonna say Weatherby Mark V, but then I realized there ain't enough idiots that own one to make it overrated.

M1918 B.A.R. is an odd weapon.

These are 2 opinions I would take to the bank. Of the weapons mentioned I have only shot the AK47. That was one day at the range with no body shooting back at me. Real life experience with what the weapon was made for, in extreme conditions is the only way to to get a clear and honest evaluation of weapon performance. Test firing at a range without the human effects of actual combat stress and emotions is not equal by any means.

My Dad was in G-2-1 on Guadalcanal. He went in the Corps in 1938 and was a Gunny when they came ashore. He said he had a Reising and it was the biggest POS he had ever seen. Said he threw in in the Lunga River and got a Thompson. He also said there were a few Johnsons and that the Marines regarded them highly. Mostly they had '03 Springfields.

I own two of them but don't get how the 700 got to be as popular as it has become.

I gave my oldest son one of them. 700 Classic in 250 Savage. Only made in 1984. The year that the Gipper crushed Mondale. Well, it did quite fine because he killed his first deer with it last year. A nice 6 point.

Both those bowling ball finish models with white line spacers? I don't get it.

Because Winchester stopped production of the pre-64s .

They were Accurate and the glossy bling was the order of the day.

Another vote for the pre 64.

what? what about all them lugs, mo has gotta be mo betta eh?



most over rated imo,


having an expensive or bunch of firearms be they stock or custom and thinking that somehow gives you an edge.


by and large it ain't the arrow it's the Indian and how often and well he flings them arrows.

The Savage 99. . . I just don't get it. To me it's just a really heavy lever action rifle.

Now I've got to go find a helmet and female condoms...

I had a Lorcin 9mm in college that fell apart the first time I shot it.

Think it was $95 dollars. Traded and upgraded to a Ruger P89 that is still functioning fine 24 years later.

Agreed. Amazing that folks are paying 4x the price of a Model 27 for these things, and 5x the price of a Model 19. Are they nice??? Sure, but they were never a robust carry gun, and the whole "mystique" just seems overblown (and overpriced).

Ithaca 37?? Really, the greatest upland pump, ever. Light (the old 12 gauges carry like a 20, until the forends got too big in the 60's). Drop the empties right at your feet. Oh, and the actions are slick. Model 12's are nice, but I don't want to carry that kind of weight around if I can carry an Ithaca, instead.

Count me in as another person who has nothing bad to say about the M-14. The ones I have shot were all accurate and functioned well. If they were considered heavy the Garand felt heavier yet to me. Plus, you didn't get an M-1 thumb with the M-14.

I also like my Winchester 12 "Heavy Duck" shotgun. The weight feels good when you touch off those 3" mags.

I agree the Python is over rated but I sure like mine. It cost me about $400.00 used and is my favorite revolver.

The Pre 64 Winchester 70 is probably overrated now with the prices they bring, but when they were still being made I felt they were reasonably priced. While I agree they were not a lightweight all I had were accurate and functioned flawlessly.

^^^^^^This^^^^^^^^ Some of you guys think the pre 64 model 70 is overrated, but when was the last time you had to replace an extractor or the bolt handle or trigger break off?

Anything made in the last 30 years with C-O-L-T stamped on their sides.

I had the pleasure of selling one of those to the late Col. Cooper not too long before he passed. I was SHOCKED that Steyer did not give him one!!!

My vote for most overrated gun goes to the POS AK-47 ! You couldn't give me one!


And of the dozens of 870's I've owned over the years, I've NEVER had one jam or lock up.

Overated...Whatever I am trying to trade 4. Underrated what ever I have 2 trade.

I see the big prices for the Python.....I don't know if they are selling for those big$$$$$$$.
Don't think asking price makes them overrated.
However, the Colt "I" frame wheel guns including the Officers Model Match and the Python are hard to beat.

I just had a couple Smiths ( 27& 17- 8 3/8 bbls. each) tuned and smoothed by Smith Armourer in Rochester Indiana. The 17 went from 12 + lbs. DA to 10 lbs.
and the 27 about the same . SA From 4+ lbs. to 3lbs.

Love the Smiths, but, but, but nothing like the "I" frame Colts, I don't think Colt could ever produce those pistols again.
Overrated by shooters that can only covet them.
Same thing goes for the Model 21 scatterguns.

Whenever you see an 'overrated' thread (on anything) people seem to thnk the objects listed are being called worthless POS--especially if they are fond of an item on the list.

Overrated is just that....overrated. And while overrated can lead to overpriced, overpriced doesn't necessarily equal overrated.

As to the topic....the Pre-64 70's have to top the list. A good, solid gun that's been waay overhyped by (mostly) nostalgic baby boomers....