Picking up the right firearm can be one of the most crucial decisions for any prepper considering this is going to be a matter of life and death. While there are a lot of great firearms out there today, there is just as much crap out there-things that are badly designed or don’t work very well, guns that only get in the way of you keeping yourself safe. Following are some of the worst guns ever manufactured, which the preppers should avoid at all costs.
Manufactured in the United Kingdom in 1940, the Sten Gun MK II was made during a period when the invasion was imminent. Despite its range of 230 feet and a 32-round capacity, this sub-machine gun is infamous for misfiring. Its bullets are said to commonly bounce off targets, making it an undependable prepper choice.
The bazooka, introduced by the US in 1942, can reach as far as 500 feet. However, this single-shot rocket launcher produces a very large flare upon firing which may reveal its shooter’s position. It also throws debris, dust, and flames in the direction of the operator, greatly endangering him in return.
The 2mm Kolibri was the smallest centerfire cartridge pistol ever designed, planned for personal defense in 1914. Whereas easily hidden and having low recoil, it is almost impossible to reload or handle with efficacy due to its small size. The short barrel also limits rifling, reducing the gun’s accuracy.
While this caliber class of handguns can be seen as classy and a source of fun, the drawbacks that come with them are huge. The enormous recoil can easily be bad for first-time shooters as they might flinch and accidentally injure themselves in the process. The ammunition is also very expensive to a level where learners would not have a chance to develop good shooting habits.
The LeMat Grapeshot Revolver was an American design from 1856, meant for cavalry use in the Civil War. It held nine pistol rounds and one shotgun round. However, switching between them, since the firing pin was movable, made it cumbersome and pretty impractical to use.
The Krummlauf was designed by the Germans in 1943 as a highly imaginative way of shooting around corners. Because of its curving nature, more often than not, it resulted in the bullets shattering and cracking the barrel. Additions were incorporated into the design in the form of vent holes to cut down on recoil and pressure, but this weapon was generally unreliable.
Introduced in 1860, the Apache Revolver integrated a six-shot revolver with a knife and brass knuckles. The folding triangular blade required removing the gun barrel, which made shots imprecise. All of the cartridge cylinders had to be removed to reload the gun, and it did not have either a trigger guard or safety features.
The Chauchat Light Machine Gun was made by the French in World War I, in 1915, and was plagued by a jamming mechanism. It held a mere 20 rounds; which were never enough, even if it worked right.
Introduced in the US in 1965, the Gyrojet Pistol had a very unique approach to rocket propulsion. Unfortunately, this pistol did not work accurately enough to serve any practical combat purpose.
In the early 20th century, some bright British minds invented the Mars Pistol self-loading pistol. It was sadly just completely overcomplicated and tended to shoot used cartridges right back into the owner’s face, so it was never heard from again.
Colt 1885 Revolving Rifle came into being based on the modern revolver invention of Samuel Colt in the 19th century. Also unlike its predecessor, this rifle was of low quality and produced a loud noise. It was based upon an open revolver-cylinder system that possessed greater risks for the user than earlier firearms.
The Colt 2000 was made to replace the Austrian Glock pistol. This was one of the worst guns that the company had come up with. Though the design was beautiful and the features were great, it wasn’t reliable or secure as it often jammed and gave only low accuracy. It could only last four years in the market.
Choosing the appropriate firearm is very difficult because there are so many options in the market. However, with quite a lot of research and consideration as to the features of a gun, preppers could very well be able to avoid guns that are poorly designed and unreliable. The guns listed above are perfect examples of what a prepper should avoid to ensure safety and effectiveness in situations where lives are at stake.