Disappointing Airgun Products-Let’s hear it !!

[PasadenaMike]

FULL DISCLAIMER: these are my own personal experiences. The same products I’m sure have worked perfect for others. I’m not putting anything down just saying what the experience was and how I dealt with it I’m not the guy to re engineer anything so anything I get I expect it to work.

Everyone has had their share of products that have been disappointing, here is my list and I’ll explain why on each and the fate of the product. Here we go:

1. Diana 34 (first premium airgun)- after a week the cocking mechanism felt like sand paper. Since it was within the return window it went right back. Never got another 34

2. Hatsan in general- Hatsans have been mostly a miss more than a hit. I’ve owned a few and all have been returned or sold. Main issues are leaks that just don’t get fixed from crude machining so no matter how many o rings I replaced still leaked. Actions are sand paper feeling. They’re accurate at at least. Never again Hatsan . Hatsan hand pump is solid

3. Hill Hand Pump- brand new pump wouldn’t pull up after a week. Returned to dealer

4. Av g9 hand pump- Solid unit but for some reason only did half pumps. Gave it away

5. Seneca Aspen .22- leaked out the first night - went right back to dealer

6. Benjamin Akela- this one was a nightmare. First one had an air tank not parallel with barrel. I got an exchange. Second one learned about descending shot string, sent in for warranty, Benjamin just sent me another gun. The third one had the same issue as the first and again descending shot string. Benjamin wanting me to pay for return shipping on their garbage. I kept it and the trigger stopped working (I don’t tune or mess with things just fyi I just shoot). That was it, I just sold it as a parts gun. Never another Craftsman Line.

7. Nomad 2- after 2 years the piston burned out even after following manufacturer guidelines. I attempted repair but broke something lol straight into the garbage lol. The compressor is too expensive no more Nomad for me.

8. Air Marksman Compressor- This was the replacement for the nomad wow what a pile. After a year and a half it smelled like burning. Sold super cheap with full disclosure.

9. Vevor compressor- stopped working within warranty period (Walmart warranty) sent back for refund.

10. AEA semi autos- first one didn’t cycle in .22 kept jamming exchanged for a .30. The triggers were horrible and the shot cycle sounded like a rattle can. I sold it. There’s no substitute for a good semi.


I’ll list more as I remember I don’t want to make this long

 

[Spinach]

Everyone has had their share of products that have been disappointing, here is my list and I’ll explain why on each and the fate of the product. Here we go:

1. Diana 34 (first premium airgun)- after a week the cocking mechanism felt like sand paper. Since it was within the return window it went right back. Never got another 34

2. Hatsan in general- Hatsans have been mostly a miss more than a hit. I’ve owned a few and all have been returned or sold. Main issues are leaks that just don’t get fixed from crude machining so no matter how many o rings I replaced still leaked. Actions are sand paper feeling. They’re accurate at at least. Never again Hatsan . Hatsan hand pump is solid

3. Hill Hand Pump- brand new pump wouldn’t pull up after a week. Returned to dealer

4. Av g9 hand pump- Solid unit but for some reason only did half pumps. Gave it away

5. Seneca Aspen .22- leaked out the first night - went right back to dealer

6. Benjamin Akela- this one was a nightmare. First one had an air tank not parallel with barrel. I got an exchange. Second one learned about descending shot string, sent in for warranty, Benjamin just sent me another gun. The third one had the same issue as the first and again descending shot string. Benjamin wanting me to pay for return shipping on their garbage. I kept it and the trigger stopped working (I don’t tune or mess with things just fyi I just shoot). That was it, I just sold it as a parts gun. Never another Craftsman Line.

7. Nomad 2- after 2 years the piston burned out even after following manufacturer guidelines. I attempted repair but broke something lol straight into the garbage lol. The compressor is too expensive no more Nomad for me.

8. Air Marksman Compressor- This was the replacement for the nomad wow what a pile. After a year and a half it smelled like burning. Sold super cheap with full disclosure.

9. Vevor compressor- stopped working within warranty period (Walmart warranty) sent back for refund.

10. AEA semi autos- first one didn’t cycle in .22 kept jamming exchanged for a .30. The triggers were horrible and the shot cycle sounded like a rattle can. I sold it. There’s no substitute for a good semi.


I’ll list more as I remember I don’t want to make this long

Crikey, that's some list.

Most things in my opinion can be improved.

One exception, slugs. When they are bad. Melt them down. Don't waste your time.
Zan, are top of my melt down list.

 

[PasadenaMike]

Crikey, that's some list.

Most things in my opinion can be improved.

One exception, slugs. When they are bad. Melt them down. Don't waste your time.
Zan, are top of my melt down list.

lol I don’t improve I’m not an engineer I return, sell, give away or toss it out. Things better work when received that’s how I feel.

 

[Pumacarl]

I understand your point for this thread, and you obviously have your reasons, but I have found that they are not that popular. People get negative about the negativity, instead of informed and enlightened on your experience. They mostly turn into a back and forth with differing opinions, where nothing is learned and people get upset. That's been my experience anyway. I will say this, I have been far less dissappointed with products since I started being handier and just just screwed the warranty and fixed things myself. I have just come to accept the fact that economies of scale and mass production, leads to crap, and I will probably have to do some work, on anything but a top tier product. jmo

 

[PasadenaMike]

I understand your point for this thread, and you obviously have your reasons, but I have found that they are not that popular. People get negative about the negativity, instead of informed and enlightened on your experience. They mostly turn into a back and forth with differing opinions, where nothing is learned and people get upset. That's been my experience anyway. I will say this, I have been far less dissappointed with products since I started being handier and just just screwed the warranty and fixed things myself. I have just come to accept the fact that economies of scale and mass production, leads to crap, and I will probably have to do some work, on anything but a top tier product. jmo

Agreed. These were just my personal experiences that’s all. I know people with the same products with excellent results.

 

[pan60]

given canned dog food some would say oh thats some okay Pâté maybe not french but ok.
other say no thank you ill take the ficken steak.

i am over cheap junk myself.

 

[PasadenaMike]

given canned dog food some would say oh thats some okay Pâté maybe not french but ok.
other say no thank you ill take the ficken steak.

i am over cheap junk myself.

I guess that sums it up live and learn , buy once cry once , don’t re engineer what should’ve been built correctly from the beginning. Why does a leak test cost $10? If we don’t return junk manufactures will keep making junk.

 

[Danman]

I would 100% agree on most of what's said here! I am a diesel mechanic who specializes in high pressure fuel/air/oil systems on heavy equipment and my dad is a machist. (makes us a bit dangerous) Obviously I am tempted to fix most things I own lol. However a junk product that you fix yourself and keep to yourself helps nobody. I had same issue with my hill pump, bloomin thing lasted 3 months (used once a week for 10 mins each time) Guess what it needed....An o-ring that cost about $1. Minimum order was like 30 o-rings so I got 30. The crimp on the short hose leaked so I got a proper replacement. Yes it is a quality pump but sheeeeesh put a few o-rings in with or at least list the size in manual. The manufacturer should still be notified so they can fix obvious flaws.

 

[Danman]

Oh....and wanna sell me a 3k pcp??? INCLUDE SOME O-RINGS WITH IT!!!. Small gripe

 

[PasadenaMike]

Keep em coming hopefully manufacturers are listening

 

[MountainSportAirguns]

How about $2000 guns that come with cheap plastic magazines and long, harmonically friendly barrels. Oh, and include a moderator with nothing inside it.

 

[Danman]

Oh they are, as we as customers make or break them and I see alot of them on these forums. Which btw shows good faith, and an interest in what their customers have to say, I think that's really cool actually! Obviously we all know things break, o-rings leak but when a design is flawed from the get go or there is almost no qc I say we speak up! Oh and I'm an expert of the hill hand pump now, ps don't get the overpriced kits get o-rings locally for pocket change. Pic of the culprit that usually goes first.

 

[PasadenaMike]

How about $2000 guns that come with cheap plastic magazines and long, harmonically friendly barrels. Oh, and include a moderator with nothing inside it.

knew you would come along .

 

[pan60]

How about $2000 guns that come with cheap plastic magazines and long, harmonically friendly barrels. Oh, and include a moderator with nothing inside it.

i have passed on guns because of the plastic magazines i am not a fan of plastic.

 

[PasadenaMike]

i have passed on guns because of the plastic magazines i am not a fan of plastic.

Only descent ones are probably Brocock , Daystate and AAA

 

[PasadenaMike]

At least the big names offer parts, service and info when needed. The problem is with the cheaper stuff. I’ve sold and gave away a lot of cheap stuff because of lack of parts and service availability or just being able to call and speak with tech support

 

[pan60]

i use to write a few review ( another world ) and one things i would always say is that the best product with pis poor custimer service is as bad as the chepest junk you can buy.
and i truley feel that way.
sometime that service is set up through a dealer net work and sometimes it through the manufacturer. in any case, as long as it there it good.

 

[PasadenaMike]

I love manufacturers that stand behind their product with lifetime warranty. Those are rare. I hold on to my Air Force Airguns for that reason. They’re ugly but hey they’re covered and the cs is awesome and of course they shoot good nuff for me

 

[Pumacarl]

One of the problems is good stuff costs good money, at amounts, that some can't afford. Sure, they should be made and sold in good working order but there is a reason that some airguns cost $300 and not $3000. I have found that the cheap stuff usually does need work but if you do the work, they can shoot as accurately as anything. I'm not making excuses for anybody just stating the facts as I have seen them. It's good that somebody makes cheaper stuff to let people get a foot in the door. Look at the Avenger, an awesome shooting cheap gun with some issues, now pretty much addressed, which now cost more. There's no getting something for nothing, but you should at least get what you paid for, which is a product that works. Any better than that costs time or money, it seems. I like my AAA, and it is what I expected, which I love; but I love my cheap guns that I got to shoot great for next to nothing, because I had no expectations for them. It is good to have the option of not starting at the top too. Everything built to survive the end of the world, costs a world of cash. For me the only really disappointing thing is when I buy the best of something, to avoid the problems and the work, and it doesn't meet expectations; that's maddening! Luckily, or perhaps not luck but by design, that hasn't ever happened to me with airgun equipment.

 

[PasadenaMike]

One of the problems is good stuff costs good money, at amounts, that some can't afford. Sure, they should be made and sold in good working order but there is a reason that some airguns cost $300 and not $3000. I have found that the cheap stuff usually does need work but if you do the work, they can shoot as accurately as anything. I'm not making excuses for anybody just stating the facts as I have seen them. It's good that somebody makes cheaper stuff to let people get a foot in the door. Look at the Avenger, an awesome shooting cheap gun with some issues, now pretty much addressed, which now cost more. There's no getting something for nothing, but you should at least get what you paid for, which is a product that works. Any better than that costs time or money, it seems. I like my AAA, and it is what I expected, which I love; but I love my cheap guns that I got to shoot great for next to nothing, because I had no expectations for them. It is good to have the option of not starting at the top too. Everything built to survive the end of the world, costs a world of cash. For me the only really disappointing thing is when I buy the best of something, to avoid the problems and the work, and it doesn't meet expectations; that's maddening! Luckily, or perhaps not luck but by design, that hasn't ever happened to me with airgun equipment.

The least cheap equipment manufacturers can do is make sure they don’t leak. That don’t cost money. My biggest issue has been leaks from cheaper manufacturers