I have been around guns most of my life and started carrying over three decades ago. During that time, I have varied my carry gun based on relationships, state laws, and perceived risk. Further, throughout my tenure as a gun owner, I’ve found a few handguns that I’d never again carry. Some were uncomfortable, some were unreliable, and some just didn’t work well for me.
As such, I’ve compiled a list of my top 5 least favorite carry handguns. Some might disagree with this list, but to each their own, right?
Walther PPKs
Though not my first gun, this is the first gun I carried concealed. I was looking for a smaller concealable gun in the early 1990s and there were substantially fewer options at the time. Add to this a lifelong love of the James Bond books and movies, and the Walther PPKs in .380 ACP was a complete no-brainer.
At the time, I also almost always wore a jacket or heavier shirt over a lighter shirt. Thus, a shoulder holster seemed to be the right choice. Both the holster and my dress style were likely somewhat inspired by Miami Vice (1984-1989), and I carried the PPKs for the better part of a decade and then sporadically into the 2000s.
The gun is small and easily concealed and, though less powerful than 9mm, the .380 ACP round is an acceptable caliber. It also has a very classic look and carries the mystique of James Bond 007 and a long history of use in Germany.
However, the Walther PPK was never an enjoyable gun for me to shoot with and practice. Though its heavier metal frame and lower powered round should result in a ‘softer’ shooting experience, the Walther PPKs bucked like a mule for its size in my hands and the recoil was unpleasant. When I first shot a Glock 26 (similar sized, more rounds, and chambered in 9mm), the shooting experience was much better and spelled the doom of my carrying the Walther PPKs.
The Walther PPKs is just an unpleasant shooter by modern expectations. Cool gun; not a great carry option.
Colt 1911
The first pistol I ever shot was a Colt 1911. Later, the Colt 1911 would become the first gun I’d purchase. I love the 1911 platform and likely have more 1911s than any other style of gun. I mean, what’s not to love? Clean styling, a hefty round (.45 ACP or 10mm), and adequate capacity. I honestly enjoy shooting the 1911 and can run magazine after magazine through them with an ever-growing smile on my face.
It should be noted, however, that I rarely let a 1911 go beyond 300 rounds without a good cleaning, while I have horribly abused some Glocks well past 5,000 rounds without cleaning them once. Some people love to refer to the 1911s as jam-ridden, but I have never found this to be an issue with good fundamentals and regular cleaning. But that’s just it. I want something that’s going to run, even if it’s been through hell and back. Unlike most modern handgun options, the 1911 just doesn’t run well when it’s dirty.
The 1911 will always be a favorite of mine, but it’s just not as reliable as some of the more modern options out there. And it’s just plain heavy.
Ruger LCR
Business casual dress and consulting sometimes make other methods of carrying difficult (especially with less than gun-friendly clients). My answer was an ankle holster carrying a Ruger LCR. I will save my thoughts on ankle holsters for another article, but on paper, the Ruger LCR looks like the perfect ankle carry revolver. The internal hammer and its ultra-slim profile made it perfect for drawing from deeper concealment.
However, much like some other guns on this list, its long and hard DAO trigger system, lightweight feel, and powerful .357 Magnum chambering made it rather unpleasant to shoot. Additionally, though a revolver is mechanically very simple, the need for a cylinder still limits its ease of concealment. I still believe there is a place for pocket-carry revolvers for some people, but I am not one of them. Also, like other firearms on this list, better options became available resulting in this gun being dropped from my list of carry guns. In fact, I’d opt for a Glock 43 before ever carrying my Ruger LCR again. The G43 is a bit larger, but it’s easier to control and more comfortable to shoot.
The Ruger LCR is a great gun, don’t get me wrong. It’s just not for me.
NAA Sidewinder
I started carrying the NAA Sidewinder when I started working out at a 24-hour gym in a not-so-nice part of town. I was looking for a very small option that would be easy to pocket-carry, even in lightweight gym shorts when working out. Thus, I bought, practiced with, and carried this little 5-shot single-action Sidewinder chambered in .22 Magnum with a leather pocket holster.
Though this gun was a perfect fit for the gym, I started to wonder if a potential threat would even recognize it as a gun. I often say any gun is better than no gun, but this mainly refers to the psychological impact of seeing a determined target that is armed. Further, I was unable to fire the gun accurately beyond extremely close ranges. After a short rotation as a gym gun, it was replaced with a fanny pack holster and a more easily identifiable micro-compact 9mm — my Kimber Micro 9.
The Sidewinder is very easy to conceal, but its limited accuracy, capacity, and power were enough to force it out of my concealed carry rotation.
IMI Desert Eagle
Though I am presently convinced that larger-bore handguns are unlikely choices for everyday carry, there was a period when I tried to marry my love of large-bore handguns with my self-defense options. This was further supported by living in an open carry state and a Cajun restaurant in my area that offered a discount on food to anyone open carrying after a sequence of robberies. I figured if there was ever a chance to carry a Desert Eagle, this was it.
I got a solid leather OWB holster and carried it everywhere I went. But it was heavy and cumbersome, and I’m not a huge fan of open carry. Following a very similar theme to many of the other guns on this list, I quickly shifted to a Glock 20 in 10mm. The G20 is similar in that it’s still a big bore gun, but it’s a better fit for my needs.
The Desert Eagle is a sweet heat piece, but its size and weight were hard to justify for the added power.
Conclusion
None of these five ‘worst’ carried guns are bad guns in any way. I like to think that a truly bad gun would never make it into my carry rotation in the first place. They’re all legitimate carry options that I’ve decided to remove from my carry rotation for one reason or another. What are some of the guns you have carried in the past that you would no longer consider carrying?
