Home Main Category General Firearms

Guns that have made you shake your head and ask why?

24

Replies

  • GunNutGunNut Posts: 7,642 Senior Member
    Those folding Glocks that came out last year?  LGS has a couple they’ll probably end up giving away to highest bidder...


  • Jeff in TXJeff in TX Posts: 2,641 Senior Member
    One other gun.  I think it was 86 or so my buddy had a Thompson Contender and loved buying barrels for it.  JD Jones came out with what he said (at the time) was the most powerful handgun cartridge ever created, the .375 JD Jones.  Well my buddy just had to have one, he ordered the barrel, dies and loading information.  He loaded 20 rounds which was 17 too many!  We set it up on the bench with a tri-pod and we were going to sight it in.  HUH!  He pulled the trigger and look of horror on his face should have been warning to his brother and I.  I shot second, it recoiled back so fast and so hard I thought it was going to snap my wrists in half.  The tripod only served as a resting place before take off and a place for it land when it came down out of it's recoil orbit.  The vicious recoil was beyond describing!

    His brother shot it last, none of us wanted to shoot it again or ever, he put it up for sale the next day.   One of us said, why would you create a monster like that, other than you can!
    Distance is not an issue, but the wind can make it interesting!

    John 3: 1-21
  • JayhawkerJayhawker Posts: 18,360 Senior Member
    Another one comes to mind...the Remington 591 and 592 in 5mm Rimfire....another cartridge dead out of the gate...
    Sharps Model 1874 - "The rifle that made the west safe for Winchester"
  • Gene LGene L Posts: 12,817 Senior Member
    Aguilla makes it. A fine rifle in a fine RF and hadaeep for accuracy.  Ammo cost was what killed it back then.
    Concealed carry is for protection, open carry is for attention.
  • LinefinderLinefinder Posts: 7,856 Senior Member
    .30-378 Wby Mag.

    Mike
    "Walking away seems to be a lost art form."
    N454casull
  • Six-GunSix-Gun Posts: 8,155 Senior Member
    edited April 2020 #37
    That tactical 464 levergun that N454 referenced is a definite shoe-in for this category.  We both handled it.  Boy, what a headscratcher.
    Accuracy: because white space between bullet holes drives me insane.
  • HAWKENHAWKEN Posts: 1,720 Senior Member
    I had a Bauer .25 auto.  It was a pretty little stainless pistol with pearl grips.  It would eat the web of your hand with every shot...…..robin
    I don't often talk to people that voted for Obama, but when I do I order large fries!
    Life member of the American Legion, the VFW, the NRA and the Masonic Lodge, retired LEO
  • JerryBobCoJerryBobCo Posts: 8,227 Senior Member
    I'm still on the fence about this one. I can sort of see a use for it, but it also strikes me as somewhat of a gimmick gun.  It's the Henry U.S. Survival AR-7.

    https://www.henryusa.com/rifles/u-s-survival-ar-7/
    Jerry

    Gun control laws make about as much sense as taking ex-lax to cure a cough.
  • sakodudesakodude Posts: 4,882 Senior Member
    I'm still on the fence about this one. I can sort of see a use for it, but it also strikes me as somewhat of a gimmick gun.  It's the Henry U.S. Survival AR-7.

    https://www.henryusa.com/rifles/u-s-survival-ar-7/
    jerry, I actually have one of those that belonged to my dad who actually stowed it in his airplane just in case he ever went down and needed a firearm. fairly compact package, accurate enough for what it is. This one was made pre-henry, don't recall who the manufacturer was back then. 
  • JerryBobCoJerryBobCo Posts: 8,227 Senior Member
    sakodude said:
    I'm still on the fence about this one. I can sort of see a use for it, but it also strikes me as somewhat of a gimmick gun.  It's the Henry U.S. Survival AR-7.

    https://www.henryusa.com/rifles/u-s-survival-ar-7/
    jerry, I actually have one of those that belonged to my dad who actually stowed it in his airplane just in case he ever went down and needed a firearm. fairly compact package, accurate enough for what it is. This one was made pre-henry, don't recall who the manufacturer was back then. 
    Thanks for the feedback, Tom.  I doubt I will ever get one, but you never know.
    Jerry

    Gun control laws make about as much sense as taking ex-lax to cure a cough.
  • Gene LGene L Posts: 12,817 Senior Member
    I'm still on the fence about this one. I can sort of see a use for it, but it also strikes me as somewhat of a gimmick gun.  It's the Henry U.S. Survival AR-7.

    https://www.henryusa.com/rifles/u-s-survival-ar-7/
    I bought one last year, I believe.  It was cheesy and not accurate at all.  I put it for sale in my LGS, not really expecting it to sell.  Then shortly afterward, American Rifleman came out with a review on them and it sold within a week. Not sure if the article figured into it, though. 

    I read a book this year about the Soldier of Fortune killings, which I was involved in locally back in the 80s.  Anyway, in that book a hired gunman killed a man with an AR-7 which he assembled while following the victim in a truck.  Not a Henry, of course.  This was either in Texas or LA.
    Concealed carry is for protection, open carry is for attention.
  • JayhawkerJayhawker Posts: 18,360 Senior Member
    I'm still on the fence about this one. I can sort of see a use for it, but it also strikes me as somewhat of a gimmick gun.  It's the Henry U.S. Survival AR-7.

    https://www.henryusa.com/rifles/u-s-survival-ar-7/
    Had one during my last year in the Army....was using it to shoot vermin around the radar site...while I liked the idea of the firearm, practically, it just didn't do it....Then I loaded it with a mag of CCI Mini Mags and it ran FA...every time......sent it down the road shortly thereafter...

    A much better "survival rifle" IMHO IS the breakdown M-6 from Springfield Armory. A little .22 LR/.410 O/U....also came in .22 Hornet if you prefer...
    Sharps Model 1874 - "The rifle that made the west safe for Winchester"
  • Some_MookSome_Mook Posts: 624 Senior Member
    edited April 2020 #44
    sakodude said:
    I'm still on the fence about this one. I can sort of see a use for it, but it also strikes me as somewhat of a gimmick gun.  It's the Henry U.S. Survival AR-7.

    https://www.henryusa.com/rifles/u-s-survival-ar-7/
    jerry, I actually have one of those that belonged to my dad who actually stowed it in his airplane just in case he ever went down and needed a firearm. fairly compact package, accurate enough for what it is. This one was made pre-henry, don't recall who the manufacturer was back then

    Armalite designed the AR-5 originally, chambered in .22 Hornet in 1954 as the Air Force was seeking a survival rifle for air crew use. This led to the development of the AR-7 Explorer in 1959, designed by Eugene Stoner.  On another forum a member has stated that Charter Arms produced them as well and were much better quality internally than the Henry version.
    "If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace." - Thomas Paine
    "I know my place in the world and it ain’t standing next to Jerry Miculek" - Zee
  • Some_MookSome_Mook Posts: 624 Senior Member
    Jayhawker said:

    A much better "survival rifle" IMHO IS the breakdown M-6 from Springfield Armory. A little .22 LR/.410 O/U....also came in .22 Hornet if you prefer...

    My uncle had an M-6.  He asked me once if I'd ever shot a .410 before and when I told him that I had he said "Here, try this" 

    Same uncle who years earlier had asked me to hold the spark plug lead on a lawnmower while he pulled the starter cord...

    "If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace." - Thomas Paine
    "I know my place in the world and it ain’t standing next to Jerry Miculek" - Zee
  • GunNutGunNut Posts: 7,642 Senior Member
    Some_Mook said:
    Jayhawker said:

    A much better "survival rifle" IMHO IS the breakdown M-6 from Springfield Armory. A little .22 LR/.410 O/U....also came in .22 Hornet if you prefer...

    My uncle had an M-6.  He asked me once if I'd ever shot a .410 before and when I told him that I had he said "Here, try this" 

    Same uncle who years earlier had asked me to hold the spark plug lead on a lawnmower while he pulled the starter cord...

     :D 
  • Gene LGene L Posts: 12,817 Senior Member
    Speaking of minimalist rifles, Garcia had a single shot  skeleton-stock rifle back in the 70s.  I think you rotated the barrel to load it, but can't remember.  It didn't last that long, and I never saw the purpose of it.  Unlike the AR-7, it wouldn't break down and wouldn't float, so not an ideal survival rifle.
    Concealed carry is for protection, open carry is for attention.
  • JayhawkerJayhawker Posts: 18,360 Senior Member
    Gene L said:
    Speaking of minimalist rifles, Garcia had a single shot  skeleton-stock rifle back in the 70s.  I think you rotated the barrel to load it, but can't remember.  It didn't last that long, and I never saw the purpose of it.  Unlike the AR-7, it wouldn't break down and wouldn't float, so not an ideal survival rifle.
    I believe that was the "Bronco"...
    Sharps Model 1874 - "The rifle that made the west safe for Winchester"
  • zorbazorba Posts: 25,286 Senior Member
    Gene L said:
    ... I think you rotated the barrel to load it...
    You mean like this?
    Probably where they got the idea!


    -Zorba, "The Veiled Male"

    "If you get it and didn't work for it, someone else worked for it and didn't get it..."
    )O(
  • JayhawkerJayhawker Posts: 18,360 Senior Member
    No...not like that...the barrel twists to the side...


    Sharps Model 1874 - "The rifle that made the west safe for Winchester"
  • earlyagainearlyagain Posts: 7,928 Senior Member
    A couple of alterations, and it could have doubled as a coat hanger for closet concealment.
  • JayhawkerJayhawker Posts: 18,360 Senior Member
    A couple of alterations, and it could have doubled as a coat hanger for closet concealment.
    Yep...because the .410 is the ultimate self defense cartridge when loaded with copper washed shot...at least that's what I heard right here on the board...so it must be true...
    Sharps Model 1874 - "The rifle that made the west safe for Winchester"
  • Gene LGene L Posts: 12,817 Senior Member
    The Garcia I saw was a .22, although they also came in .410 and maybe a combo.
    Concealed carry is for protection, open carry is for attention.
  • AntonioAntonio Posts: 2,986 Senior Member
    edited April 2020 #54
    Those Henry AR-7s were imported here too; unless loaded with RN HV ammo they'll jam after every shot. Awful to shoulder and aim too due to the stock shape, but guess that for almost all everyday average use you have for a rifle nowadays is like having a parachute around the house: Absolutely useless unless you happen to be in a falling airplane.

    Years ago some Argentinian-made O/U pistol shotguns were imported. Shot one at a paper target at 10 yards and pellet pattern was horrendous, while kickback due to the grip angle and shape made it a wrist-breaker; still trying to figure what was the idea behind that gun other than using it to dispatch livestock at point-blank range with slugs.
  • 41magnut41magnut Posts: 1,306 Senior Member

    Not sure this needs any comment.
    Tried to copy the image but it was too large.

    https://stdgun.com/s333-thunderstruck/
    "The .30-06 is never a mistake." Townsend Whelen :iwo:
  • 10canyon5310canyon53 Posts: 2,122 Senior Member
    You are right, no words necessary.  I did notice that their website claims it is now "California Legal".  How is that possible?  My understanding is that any handgun designed (or even an existing design with a change) prior to several years ago must meet new standards that include the ability to micro-stamp the gun's serial number on the spent casings.....  Or does that law not apply to revolvers?
  • Uncle FesterUncle Fester Posts: 1,644 Senior Member
    41magnut said:

    Not sure this needs any comment.
    Tried to copy the image but it was too large.

    https://stdgun.com/s333-thunderstruck/
    They are a creative bunch.

    https://stdgun.com/dp-12-double-barrel-pump-shotgun-with-the-works-2/
  • LinefinderLinefinder Posts: 7,856 Senior Member
    Bolt action shotguns.

    Mike
    "Walking away seems to be a lost art form."
    N454casull
  • zorbazorba Posts: 25,286 Senior Member
    You are right, no words necessary.  I did notice that their website claims it is now "California Legal".  How is that possible?  My understanding is that any handgun designed (or even an existing design with a change) prior to several years ago must meet new standards that include the ability to micro-stamp the gun's serial number on the spent casings.....  Or does that law not apply to revolvers?

    Does not apply to revolvers.
    -Zorba, "The Veiled Male"

    "If you get it and didn't work for it, someone else worked for it and didn't get it..."
    )O(
  • JayhawkerJayhawker Posts: 18,360 Senior Member
    Bolt action shotguns.

    Mike
    Yep...except for a couple the dedicated slug guns they never appealed to me...in particular the Marlin Goose Gun...just silly stuff.....
    Sharps Model 1874 - "The rifle that made the west safe for Winchester"
  • Gene LGene L Posts: 12,817 Senior Member
    When I was young, I hunted squirrels with my BIL's 12 gauge bolt gun.  Detachable mag fed.  I don't recall the make, but I believe it started with a "K" and sounded vaguely German.  It didn't have a safety, or the safety didn't work.  I'd carry it hammer down on a live shell and bolt cock it when I wanted to shoot.  Killed quite a few squirrels with it.  I may have been 14 at the time.  Tried to research the brand, but no luck.
    Concealed carry is for protection, open carry is for attention.
Sign In or Register to comment.
Magazine Cover

GET THE MAGAZINE Subscribe & Save

Temporary Price Reduction

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Give a Gift   |   Subscriber Services

PREVIEW THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Get the top Guns & Ammo stories delivered right to your inbox every week.

Advertisement