Gun Bashing (My gun's better than yours!)

[G. Glock]

Does anybody else ever grow weary of all the gun bashing that tends to pop up all over the place on gun forums? In the interest of full disclosure, I might have taken a few shots myself over the years.

Granted, there are some cheap guns that we might hate to see people buy and stake their lives on, but generally, if a person maintains a gun, practices with it, and makes sure it works with the magazines and/or ammo they'll be using in it, they're probably okay.

Maybe it's because I've had long-term, equally steamy love affairs with single action revolvers, the Glock, the 1911, and double action revolvers that makes me more aware of the battles. They are ALL good!

I've seen people who can't shoot ANY of them well, and I've seen people who can shoot all of them well. I know you have, too. I also see folks who think the more expensive gun or the prettier gun just has to be better for the task. If this were the case, Glocks would never leave the display case, of course.

Don't get me wrong; I do love a pretty gun. Thinking seriously about an Ed Brown Kobra Carry as I write this.

Anyway, just some random, redundant thoughts on the subject.

 

[garyhan]

I couldn't agree more. Reading gun forums I've learned that there is nothing worse than a Ruger, Smith and Wesson, Winchester, Tikka, Remington, Bushmaster, Glock, ad infinitum. We, who read these forums, supposedly like guns. Its perfectly ok to say you don't like a product because you think it is ugly, has a plastic or mim part, or is too shiny is ridiculous. If you"ve actually known guns to repeatedly fail for these reasons is another matter, but I keep seeing opinion and folklore passed on as solemn fact. And for God's sake, could we please remember that Bill Ruger is dead, and his elitism no longer affects company policy. It is in our interest for these companies to prosper and not be damaged by ill considered word of mouth.

gary

 

[61chalk]

I concur also...but there will always be those that believe that this or that is the greatest an beats everything hands down......an then there are those that take shots at the other guy's gun just out of fun....If I see someone with what I think is tooooo high of an opinion of a certain gun, then I too am sometimes guilty of the Drama too.

 

[SCKimberFan]

They are ALL good!

Except Glocks!

 

[whatnickname]

I agree but...

Granted consumers are willing to bash a manufacturer the minute they have a problem with a product. Any consumer product is subject to breakage. The more moving parts the greater the chance of a malfunction. Remington 1100 shotguns get the crap beat out of them here because they won't stand up to a bird hunt in Argentina where thousands of rounds a day are spent. Is there any one on the planet that doesn't understand that the gas piston and o-ring in these guns are subject to breakage? Any fool that goes into the field without spare gas rings and pistons deserves what they get. Day in and day out the 1100 works just fine here because we don't put these guns to this type of usage here. Said another way, is there any mechanical device that can be driven beyond the limits for which it was designed to be used? Of course not! Any manufacturer is going to experience some rate of failure with their product. Failure rates are designed into products and can be statistically calculated to an extremely fine degree. The key to me, and I think the measure of a product's quality, is the rate of failure and the service provided by the manufacturer to remedy the problem. The truth, as the old saying goes, is out there "somewhere in between the lines". To me it's a matter of degree. When I see a disproportionate number of bashes directed toward a particular manufacturer I take note. When I see multiple first-hand accounts of poor customer service I tend to believe what I see. Added all up there are some manufacturers I avoid because of the volume of poor comments I read. There are some volumes of comments I disregard because it's apparent that people have no understanding of the product or it's intended use. A Remington 1100 is not a Benelli...it was never intended to be. Is Benelli a better design? Sure seems that way. So buy one if that is what you want. When Benellis were selling for $1100 and Remington 1100 for $650, I went with the 1100 and bought myself a handful of gas pistons and o-rings because I understood the limitations of my shotgun. Inconvenient? Sometimes. But then you get what you pay for. If I was going into the $1000+ range I figured I would buy what I really wanted. I love my Beretta Silver Pigeon III!

 

[fedlaw]

I have had my hands on a fair number of guns. Some I've shot better than others and some have been more reliable than others. I have also trained and competed with quite a few folks over the years. This I've learned: No make or model has the corner on reliability or accuracy; there are unreliable Glocks and Sigs and Baers and Wilsons that shoot MOA of barn door; it is always how a gun functions for you with your ammo. As my buddy ChuckB says: YMMV.

 

[au2183]

Agreed! While I do enjoy a good spirited discussion about why someone may feel a certain gun is superior for their purpose, when it turns negative I am immediately turned off. It's my belief that people who resort to those tactics are usually not intelligent enough to present their view in a positive manner, or have no real facts to back them up, so they sling BS instead. There area few forums I stopped reading because of this, and most all forums have a few individuals who show their true colors in a post or two.
If you can separate the wheat from the chaff, there is much to be learned on the internet, regardless of the subject matter.

 

[jad0110]

I agree as well, and I admit to being guilty of some "bashing" on my part. Not that it rises to the level of bashing necessarily - it usually involves my experience (and that of many others on THR) with Taurus 94 revolvers. I usually tell people that like any gun, there are great 94s and lemon 94s. But I usually caution that the percentage of lemon 94s seems to be greater than other makes of 22 double action revolvers.

It's a fine line I try to walk on THR that I figure I've probably crossed from time-to-time.

If you are going to bash a particular, individual gun for being a lemon - that is understandable. Everyone's gotta vent a little. But what myself (admittidly) and others must be aware of is to try to avoid consigning an entire brand or model line to the rubbish heap when many of the guns in that heap may be just fine.

Another example: I don't shoot Glocks or XDs well at all. I guess my knuckles don't articulate in the right places to get an ideal purchase on them, and I personally don't care for the triggers. But other people may not have these issues; I fully understand that they are excellent guns, so I won't bash anyone for carrying one as long as they know how to use them and understand the responsibility that goes along with owning a gun.

Just my thoughts.

 

[chihuahuatn]

I'm sick and tired of the gun bashing too. I honestly think that the majority of the people are bashing guns they themselves have never shot. My personal favorites are the P3ATvsLCP, I don't know what all the fuss is about both are great pocket guns. I think people take their brand of guns a little to personally. Good gun advice is appreciated greatly, negative bashing turns me off...and I think sometimes were all guilty of that.
Mike

 

[Rembrandt]

If everyone had a Rolls Royce....human nature dictates they would argue which color is better.

 

[cbrgator]

But what if my guns really ARE better?

I'm kidding, it certainly has become quite annoying, but I suspect it is unavoidable.

 

[Tirod]

Most of the gunbashing seems to be a lot less about actual defects and a lot more about chest thumping. Truth is, most any gun will do if we just get used to it and shoot it.

What we really see is someone identifying with the mythology of ownership - 1911, Glock, AR15, Garand. They all have tradeoffs and problem areas, even the best made and perfectly engineered ones - like HK.

Once the perspective owner buys into who that owner group is and can get not only comfortable with it, but actually starts receiving adulation and praise for his choice, they wind up as one of the enlightened - or a tool of the dark side. Their personality comes out.

Unfortunately, some times the tools pick our favorite gun. Even worse, they sometimes post on forums - and it seems the more lethality is reduced, the more chest beating you get. There are far more makers and guns resembling a nearly 100 year old military design that was best just decorating an officer's belt - but name it and how the designer had to improve it, then abandoned the concept and went to double stack double action, oh my! All those new owners couldn't be wrong, could they?

Well, at least it shoots. There are worse things to carry, just ask around.

 

[wvshooter]

Gun bashing doesn't bother me. I like a free exchange of ideas as long as there is no hate involved.

 

[Old Fuff]

Well of course my gun(s) is/are better then anyone else's...

Knowing this I simply go on when I run into a "mine's better then your's" thread. Usually the arguments aren't worth the bandwidth.

 

[federalfarmer]

I agree with wvshooter - have a discussion just keep it civil and remember its your opinion.

And by the way guns that I shoot well are the best one's! There seems to be relatively few of them however!

 

[DasFriek]

Not only gun bashing can bother me,but also people choice if they want a manual saftey is just as bad.Id even go as far to say people do the same when it comes to carry conditions choices.At least gun bashing can be fact based,and the others opinion based seems to be the rule.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

I guess I have been blessed every thing I have bought from the cheap to the $$$$ has served it purpose and not let me down. Buy what works for you and let the rough side drag.

 

[jakemccoy]

I don't have a problem with gun bashing. I'll admit that your gun is probably better than mine. I have simple, reliable, utilitarian guns (e.g., Glock 27, Rem 870). All my guns are basically stock, and they're nothing to brag about. Anyway, I don't get impressed by people bragging about their guns. Shooting skill impresses me. I find the showing off to be entertaining and educational.

 

[moewadle]

And perhaps none of us should take ourselves

or others (or our firearms) too seriously.

 

[JR47]

There are far more makers and guns resembling a nearly 100 year old military design that was best just decorating an officer's belt - but name it and how the designer had to improve it, then abandoned the concept and went to double stack double action, oh my! All those new owners couldn't be wrong, could they?

Gosh, and here I thought you were talking about John Browning, until you got to the double-action part. Were you discussing Walther? No, they went to double-action, single-stack, too.

Hmmmmm?

 

[rogertc1]

I always get a chuckle how somebody states that a friend of their uncles brother who live in Texas says that the local Constable said his wifes brother thinks a certain gun is trash because of what the wifes brothers 17 year old son says he heard at the gun store........

 

[twofifty]

John Browning could rightly be proud of the first 1911 - he designed it and iirc designed the tooling as well. The buyer of that first 1911 had nothing to be proud of, except perhaps for being an 'early adopter'. The rest of us are copycats.

If, instead of paying $ for our guns, we designed, forged and machined them with our own hands in our own shop, then we'd have reason to be proud.

Anyone with $300-$1,500 credit remaining on their Visa can own a fine gun - nothing there to be proud of. But not everyone takes the time and effort to become proficient and therefore rightly proud of their skill with that gun.

 

[unspellable]

bashing

Most irritating single case for me occurred in a gun shop not on a forum. At the time I lived in Iowa and center fire rifle was not allowed there for deer. I was visiting my home state of Michigan and while in the local gun shop happened to mention that I ought to get a Michigan license so I could use my double rifle. Where upon this clown (On the customer side of the counter.) pops up with he wouldn't use a double for deer because a bolt action is so much more accurate. Doubles just aren't accurate enough. Well the double didn't become the queen of rifles because it wasn't accurate enough. I felt like asking him if he hunted deer with a 36 lb bench rest rifle.

BTW: I've seen a 7/8 inch group at 100 yards from a double. Never mind the rifle, just wish I could shoot that good. I wonder if the clown above could hit the side of a barn from inside. Any bets?

 

[w_houle]

Yeah... I like my guns just fine! Now, I know they aren't the greatest; but every one of them taught me something... Yes, even that stupid Clerke did. Oh, BTW: I have a new found empathy for southpaws who love revolvers
You know, it's funny... Nothing teaches you how to get through adversity like adversity... Ahh, who am I kidding, flame away!

 

[sm]

...don't forget that SIGs rust, 1911's jam, USP's break firing pins, Delta Elites crack their frames, and Berettas break their locking blocks right before putting the back half of the slide through your bridgework.

The faster most folks realize that all guns suck, the happier they'll be.

-Tamara