Most Overrated Firearm

[osprey]

Lot's of nonsensical logic and personal bias floating around this thread. Bottom line is if some of these platforms or cartridges have survived this long they must be useful and fill enough of a niche to be still selling. Without the 308 the 243, 7mm-08 and 260 would not even exist, so it is hard for me to think of it as overrated. Venerable would be more like it.

 

[slimmer13]

Lot's of nonsensical logic and personal bias floating around this thread. Bottom line is if some of these platforms or cartridges have survived this long they must be useful and fill enough of a niche to be still selling. Without the 308 the 243, 7mm-08 and 260 would not even exist, so it is hard for me to think of it as overrated. Venerable would be more like it.

The word overrated is all about opinion and bias. It simply means having you have the opinion that others have a higher opinion of something than it deserves. It doesnt mean that the item doesn't deserve to be recognized, or that it isn't good or useful, just that you dispute its place.

 

[osprey]

The word overrated is all about opinion and bias. It simply means having you have the opinion that others have a higher opinion of something than it deserves. It doesnt mean that the item doesn't deserve to be recognized, or that it isn't good or useful, just that you dispute its place.

Well that is a good point. But many of you are just so wrong lol.

 

[Dwesson]

The word overrated is all about opinion and bias. It simply means having you have the opinion that others have a higher opinion of something than it deserves. It doesnt mean that the item doesn't deserve to be recognized, or that it isn't good or useful, just that you dispute its place.

I think that's his point, ignoring for a minute that the thread derailed from firearm to caliber, calling the 308 overrated ignores it's the basis for ballistically superior calibers.

It's kind of like saying the Browning tilting action is overrated because you don't like 1911s. Okay, but the vast majority of all the combat handguns sold are based on it even if some are superior to the 1911 in certain ways.

 

[zenbreath]

In the report I read, the US military compared it to the M1 Carbine which weighed well under 6 pounds, loaded. They noted that construction quality of the Stg-44 was so poor, it was speculated that it was intended to be a throwaway weapon.

A few, related excerpts:

"Because it is largely constructed of cheap stampings, it dents easily and therefore is subject to jamming. Although provision is made for both full automatic and semiautomatic fire, the piece is incapable of sustained firing and official German directives have ordered troops to use it only as a semiautomatic weapon. In emergencies, however, soldiers are permitted full automatic fire in two- to three-round bursts. The possibilities of cannibalization appear to have been overlooked and its general construction is such that it may have been intended to be an expendable weapon and to be thrown aside in combat if the individual finds himself unable to maintain it properly."

"The incorporation of the full automatic feature is responsible for a substantial portion of the weight of the weapon, which is 12 pounds with a full magazine. Since this feature is ineffectual for all practical purposes, the additional weight only serves to place the Sturmgewehr at a disadvantage in comparison to the U.S. carbine which is almost 50 percent lighter."

The full report can be found here:

Machine Carbine Promoted: MP43 Is Now Assault Rifle StG44, WWII Tactical and Technical Trends, No. 57, April 1945 (Lone Sentry)

To be fair.....some of the production failings that the Germans suffered were caused by the US Army Air Corps.

 

[zenbreath]

Ill have the ghost of Stoner beat his sorry commie azz back to Siberia

The Stoner platform is superior to the AK.....for the first 500 rounds. Any commies that you didn't get, will sneak up to 75 yards(AK accuracy limit), and plug you during your MANDATORY cleaning cycle.

 

[BrandonQuixote]

Lot's of nonsensical logic and personal bias floating around this thread....

The first line in the thread from the OP; "I thought it was a fun topic. What is in y'alls opinion the most overrated firearm ever, and why?"

The whole thread is bias, my man. Though lots of people can't seem to stick to the rules- hes states FIREARM, but it always devolves to a caliber debate.

 

[xuout1]

And there are people in parts of the world that still drive Trabants which proves it's a pretty great car.

The stg-44 was never overrated or known for being a reliable gun but is praised for being the first of it's kind . And for a gun being rushed into development and produced at the same time the factory's and supply chains are being bombed it actually worked pretty decent. Definitely not AK reliability but more closer to a keltec gun. HA !

 

[SavageGerbil]

Most overrated:

1. any gun in your safe that you think you can shoot, but by an objective observer's standard, you are lucky to hit paper at 20 yards.
2. Sig P365.

Interesting. I bought a ATI Government model 1911 from @SavageGerbil for $300. Easily 500 rounds into it without a single jam. Some ammo in it is cruddy, some is a ragged hole. Haven't developed a load for it yet, and look forward to doing so.
Bought a Ruger SR1911 in 10mm, and it is a consistent cloverleaf pistol at 25 yards.

Those little Philippines guns are no joke, man. Fantastic guns for the money


As for the topic, overrated guns? Anything that used to be very cheap. Huge following develops, and what everyone loved at $50-100 has been loved to the $500+ range... Previous "Man this is good as gold!" stuff remains, but they're just not worth it anymore. Can apply this to anything in 7.62x25, too. Once the cheap ammo went kaput after 2008 or so, no longer worth it.

 

[Oohrah]

Most over-rated is the Glock. In almost every endeavor, from skiing, to fly fishing, to hunting, to mountain climbing there is a common belief among those new to the sport that if they simply go out and buy whatever the "pro's" use they will immediately be experts. I see people in Maupin with $3000 fly rods and $1200 waders beating the water to a froth because they don't know how to fly fish. I see people on the ski slopes doing the "snow plow" while wearing $20K worth of equipment. It's no different with guns. That's not to say that nobody has any use for a Glock. Police and military probably need a pistol without extra features that might break and disable the weapon. They probably need a light weight polymer pistol if they carry one 24/7. But every novice thinks that a Glock is the ultimate weapon and wants one.

I'm not a novice but been around long enough to have used all of them as a duty Weapon except for the 38 Colt that my grandfather used as a deputy. Mostly there wasn't a choice of weapons they were either assigned to you or they had to be within a certain perimeters. Starting with USMC, the 45 ACP was the first required. Deputy and Armed Security were armed revolvers were the requirement of the day. However, due to an extremely isolated environment, the 1911A1 was still a back up. As the years went on most LEOs became carriers of semi autos, gradual working toward higher capacity coming into favor. Hard to give up a life of the 1911 A1s. The reality is there may be a very good chance that multiple targets may be faced. The tie breaker finally was running tactial shoots with a 40 Glock that was an issue. Biggest dangers you can face when you have a number of targets is a reload of any kind, either wounded or even being on the move. The more times to have to do it, or even clear a malfunction, the more time you are out of service, and subject to being out of service for good. The 1911, you have to reload twice as much, and seldom do you see more than two extra mags. With the Glocks you have more than double, and almost a full box with the same amount of magazines. The 40 S&W isn't quite the power range, but it's good. No one would volunteer to be a living target. When the wheel gun and 45 ACP was king, bullet development was very different then now. In fact I look for a swing to go back to 9mm again. LOL maybe not during my life time? Only hits in vital areas count no matter what you use. Glocks as a whole, I think are fine pistols with only a few negative comments. Their barrels that are not target quality but acceptable. Chambers could be better supported. Triggers are a tad on the heavy side, but not so for every one. Seldom does one jam during range time, in fact, simulated jams and clearing are done just so it isn't a surprise if it ever should happen in the field. It does have fewer parts, so chances of failure go down. I have seen photos of 1000s of rounds put through one without cleaning or added lubrication! Hard to say however as my Python, Highway Patrol M.28, and 1911 Colt will always remain top favorites. Prejudice I guess!

 

[oli700]

The Stoner platform is superior to the AK.....for the first 500 rounds. Any commies that you didn't get, will sneak up to 75 yards(AK accuracy limit), and plug you during your MANDATORY cleaning cycle.

500? damn dude I would be thrilled to live through 500 rounds of fighting .......seeing as how they are packing 74's these days we better increase our stand off to 95 yards

 

[Camelfilter]

Ruger Mini-14's, because some shoot pie plate at 100y.

 

[ZigZagZeke]

I'm not a novice but been around long enough to have used all of them as a duty Weapon except for the 38 Colt that my grandfather used as a deputy. Mostly there wasn't a choice of weapons they were either assigned to you or they had to be within a certain perimeters. Starting with USMC, the 45 ACP was the first required. Deputy and Armed Security were armed revolvers were the requirement of the day. However, due to an extremely isolated environment, the 1911A1 was still a back up. As the years went on most LEOs became carriers of semi autos, gradual working toward higher capacity coming into favor. Hard to give up a life of the 1911 A1s. The reality is there may be a very good chance that multiple targets may be faced. The tie breaker finally was running tactial shoots with a 40 Glock that was an issue. Biggest dangers you can face when you have a number of targets is a reload of any kind, either wounded or even being on the move. The more times to have to do it, or even clear a malfunction, the more time you are out of service, and subject to being out of service for good. The 1911, you have to reload twice as much, and seldom do you see more than two extra mags. With the Glocks you have more than double, and almost a full box with the same amount of magazines. The 40 S&W isn't quite the power range, but it's good. No one would volunteer to be a living target. When the wheel gun and 45 ACP was king, bullet development was very different then now. In fact I look for a swing to go back to 9mm again. LOL maybe not during my life time? Only hits in vital areas count no matter what you use. Glocks as a whole, I think are fine pistols with only a few negative comments. Their barrels that are not target quality but acceptable. Chambers could be better supported. Triggers are a tad on the heavy side, but not so for every one. Seldom does one jam during range time, in fact, simulated jams and clearing are done just so it isn't a surprise if it ever should happen in the field. It does have fewer parts, so chances of failure go down. I have seen photos of 1000s of rounds put through one without cleaning or added lubrication! Hard to say however as my Python, Highway Patrol M.28, and 1911 Colt will always remain top favorites. Prejudice I guess!

It's great to hear the truth from someone who's lived it. Thank you, sir.

 

[Dwesson]

Ruger Mini-14's, because some shoot pie plate at 100y.

The rest, minute of broad side of barn

 

[JedB]

The Spring fired Daisy Red Ryder BB Gun.

Heretic!
That is all.

 

[JedB]

Ruger Mini-14's, because some shoot pie plate at 100y.

MOPP is a good metric...

 

[nehalemguy]

Walther PPK
Cool looking James Bond pistol. Terrible to shoot. Sharp edges snappy painful recoil.

Again this is another one that has me shaking my head as being classed as "overrated".

1.) The PP/PPK was in service for 20+ years and a World War before Ian Flemming wrote "Casino Royal".

2.) It was the first commercially successful DA/SA pistol.

3.) It incorporated a innovative hammer de-cocking safety, loaded chamber indicator, and hammer block which are still being used on a crap ton of other firearms today.

4.) Copied by how many countries?

E

 

[BrandonQuixote]

Again this is another one that has me shaking my head as bring classed as "overrated".

1.) The PP/PPK was in service for 20+ years and a World War before Ian Flemming wrote "Casino Royal".

2.) It was the first commercially successful DA/SA pistol.

3.) It incorporated a innovative hammer de-cocking safety, loaded chamber indicator, and hammer block which are still being used on a crap ton of other firearms today.

4.) Copied by how many countries?

E

Something historically significant can still be overrated, like The Beatles.

 

[nehalemguy]

Something historically significant can still be overrated, like The Beatles.

Adding to my own list.......

The Springfield "Saint".
The Franklin Armory "Reformation".

I suppose you could place both of them in the broader AR category, but those two really stand out IMO.

 

[Boboclown]

The G3 and its clones. I kid I kid.