Any massive market with a passionate user base is bound to have overrated options, and the gun industry is no exception. People tend to get attached to certain guns, which can often create a blinder effect on end users. Today, we’re tackling five of the most overrated guns on the market.
When I say “overrated” I’m not saying the firearm is a bad gun that that it isn’t viable for serious duty use, home defense, or competition. What I do mean is that the gun gets more love than it deserves.It’s often put on a pedestal, even when better options are available. Many of these overrated guns might even be outdated, yet they still hold a high place in the minds of the greater firearms community.
As the saying goes, sacred cows make the best burgers, so let’s dig into the most overrated guns on the modern market.
1. Walther PPK in .380 ACP
Without James Bond, the Walther PPK would have faded away like the Mauser HSC, the Astra Constable, and dozens of similar firearms. However, once James Bond chose the PPK, it became an iconic part of the character and a near-immortal firearm. Dating back to 1929, Walther still produces the gun today.
The Walther PPK series were solid firearms for their time, but by modern standards, they feel outdated. The straight blowback design doesn’t do the gun any favors, and for a .380 ACP, the PPK has surprisingly harsh recoil while only holding seven rounds. The double-action trigger is notoriously bad, a hallmark of its 1920s origins.
The .32 ACP variant still gets a nod from me because it has almost no recoil, but it still suffers from the same weight and trigger issues. While the PPK earns style points and remains a fun collectible, it’s far from the best option for concealed carry in today’s market. There are so many better choices that the PPK would be outside my top 10 for concealed carry.
2. The M1911
Mentioning the M1911 in this list feels like disrespecting both John Browning and Uncle Sam. The back-to-back World War champion served its country for over 70 years and was the first semi-auto pistol adopted by the United States military. The .45 ACP pistol was high-tech in 1911, but today there are far better options. In fact, it might be the most overrated gun on this list. Its old-world design doesn’t adapt well to modern manufacturing.
A good M1911 costs much more than a good modern pistol and ultimately delivers less. You get seven to eight rounds of 45 AARP. Oops, I mean ACP.
Today’s duty handguns can hold anywhere from 15 to 21 rounds, so the M1911 lags in magazine capacity by a large margin. The gun is heavy, and the recoil feels stiff compared to modern .45 ACP pistols.
Features like the grip safety feel silly in the modern era, and if you want to carry the gun, you have to make sure it uses a Series 80 design to be drop-safe. The M1911 is also high-maintenance and doesn’t offer any substantial benefits to outweigh its downsides. While it’s fun and historic, there are better guns that do more for less.
3. Benelli M4
In 1999, the United States Marine Corps sought a new Joint Service Shotgun and chose the gas-operated, semi-auto Benelli M4, which was designated the M1014. The Benelli M4 went on to serve throughout the entire Global War on Terror and changed the shooting community’s perception of the reliability of semi-automatic shotguns. At the time, it was unmatched due to the limited evolution of semi-auto shotguns.
Unfortunately, the M4 hasn’t kept up with modern advancements. While I love the M4 and it pains me to call it overrated, we can’t overlook newer options like the Beretta 1301 and Mossberg 940 Pro Tactical. These are reliable semi-auto shotguns that are lighter, have faster firing, and are more modular than the M4. When compared to the 1301, the M4 starts to show its age.
The controls are tiny and difficult to use quickly. The adjustable stock offers three positions, but only two are useable, and in one of those positions, you can barely use the iron sights. The shotgun also wasn’t built for modern accessories, so it requires a handful of upgrades. Oh, and it costs around two grand. While it’s still very reliable and well-proven, it’s overrated compared to modern options.
4. The Hi-Power
Browning was working on the Hi-Power but passed away before it was completed. When it premiered in 1935, the Hi-Power rocked the world with a 13-round magazine chock full of 9mm at a time when eight rounds was a lot. It spread far and wide and has recently seen a major comeback on the American civilian market. However, the modern comeback is carefully devoid of the features that make the Hi-Power overrated.
The Hi-Power has lots of quirks. Despite being a single-action gun, its trigger isn’t particularly impressive, largely due to the magazine safety that prevents it from firing without a magazine inserted. To make matters worse, the magazines don’t drop free — you have to pull them out manually. Don’t get me started on the hammer bite you suffer from Hi-Powers.
The world of combat pistols has moved on, and we no longer have to tolerate these quirks. The modern incarnations of the Hi-Power from FN and Springfield have fixed those a fair bit and even increased their capacity, but they still fall short. We can’t toss an optic or light on one, and they still cost more than modern pistols that come optics and light-ready out of the box.
5. The HK MP5
The HK MP5 set the standard for submachine guns in 1964. Its closed bolt, roller-delayed design was impressive, and it quickly became the SMG of choice for close-quarters fighting with the police and counterterrorism forces. The gun most certainly blazed its way into the hands of Western police and military forces. Even now in 2024, the gun is still oddly revered and incredibly expensive for what it offers.
In the modern market, the MP5 suffers. It has awkward ergonomics with an oddly placed fire selector switch. It’s difficult to add optics to and generally tough to accessorize. It lacks basic features like a last-round bolt hold-open, and the price point just seems absurd compared to modern SMGs and pistol-caliber carbines.
Newer guns like the SIG MPX feature a short-stroke gas piston system, have extremely modern layouts, and cost less than an HK MP5 clone. The MP5’s stamped steel design and roller-delayed action can’t be that expensive to produce, but the gun seems to be happily coasting on its past successes.
Overrated Guns or Just Out of Date?
Are these guns truly overrated or simply out of date? That’s the real question. Most of these guns were once innovators and trendsetters, and while they remain beloved today, they fall behind due to their lack of modern features. Plenty of outdated guns were groundbreaking in their time, but the line between being outdated and overrated is thin—and often shaped by the community’s perception.
The firearm community doesn’t just view these guns as viable; many consider them superior. However, in reality, they’re obsolescent. There are much better options available that outperform these classic firearms. While these guns are often beloved, we should be realistic about their features, age, and downsides. We’ve evolved and continue to evolve, and we should expect the same from our firearms.
