What's the basis for making a recommendation?

[Legionnaire]

I've been reading lots of threads that one way or another ask the question, "What gun do you recommend for [fill in the blank]?" I'm interested in the various responses to same, especially when the OP asks for a comparison between two or more specific makes or models.

I'll confess, I'm guilty (occasionally) of making some pretty assertive recommendations in favor of a gun I own, even when I've never handled the alternative asked about. I think this is fair, as long as one is sharing personal experience with the one particular model. It's okay to say: "Here's my experience with "X" and it has been very positive."

However, I don't get the "I've never shot the Remchester, but the Winington wins hands down" type of comments. I appreciate brand loyalty and all that, but doesn't integrity preclude recommending one option over another unless one has some knowledge, first hand or otherwise, of BOTH guns? And isn't it often just a matter of preference, as there is actually comparatively little difference between the quality of guns in the same price range?

(Of course, we all know that the 710 was Remington's version of the PC Jr ... )

Thoughts?

 

[Sistema1927]

Internet advice from strangers is worth exactly what you pay for it.

 

[hso]

The only thing I do any more is advise people to get what fits them so that it naturally comes up to an accurate firing position and that they buy the best they can afford.

Specific make and model advice over the net is iffy at best.

 

[redneck2]

Yeah....

"I owned a ________ (Winchester, Rem, Savage, Kimber, Dillon, Hornady) and it is (a) great, or (b) stinks. Owning one of something is not close to a representative sample but is typical of many replies.

I think most posters here do not have enough experience to give a definitive answer of brand vs brand. Probably the best person to do this would be a dealer that sees a lot of each brand. For example, I worked in a gun store for a while. After seeing their experience with Tasco scopes, I was far less than impressed. As the price of the scope went up, the number of problems went down. Go figure. Now I'm a scope snob, but I don't have problems with scopes.

 

[SoCalShooter]

I try not to generalize usually, I have usually tested any firearm I have recommended or said something about or I have read extensively about it but I also know when to say I HAVE NO CLUE!

 

[M2 Carbine]

Most of my posts start off like, "I have/had one/or several of those and this is what happened".

I try to personally not recommend any gun or equipment. I just tell my experience with it, good and bad and people can make up their own mind.

 

[Thefabulousfink]

If I have had personal experience with a product, I will give my opinion of it. It's only my opinion and some one else might have a different take.

When I am looking for recommendations on the web I generally take a mental poll of people's responses. If one person posts a very damning review of Remchester I might keep it in mind, but unless other posters list the same problems I am not likely to take any one person's recommendation.

 

[El Tejon]

It stems from something called KIRK'S THIRD LAW OF THE INTERNET: in the gun culture the subjective is objective.

It manifests itself in many ways: "I love my gun so much, everyone else should." "I like the looks of this particular weapon therefore it is robust and rugged (we actually had one of these threads in the rifle § last week)." "My uncle did research on guns, so, I know what I am talking about as we are related."

People have no idea what they are talking about as they lack experience and education. However since everyone here is a Warrior Prince and knows something about guns, they then know everything.

Jeff Cooper, may he rest in peace, said once that they way to become a firearms expert was to start with 50 years of experience and then marry money. No one wants to take the time and spend the effort to study and to expend the money. They want instant expertise. As a kung fu brother of mine says, "No one wants to kung fu anymore."

People don't want to work. By putting forth a meaningless opinion and holding dear to it, one has become an expert.

 

[Legionnaire]

El T, what you just said could be said of politics as well!

Anyway, I like hearing the "this is my experience" comments. Enough of those and you begin to get sufficient data to hint at a conclusion or two. Just wish more people could make a distinction between objective data and personal preference, which might, in fact, be contradictory. For example, the fact that I like the SmithnRuger says only that: I like it (which probably tells others more about me than about the gun in question).

I've learned a lot on this forum. Thanks to all of you who have shared objective experience with your various firearms. I appreciate reading, "I've had this gun for six years and have 12K rounds down the pipe. It is minute-of-Coke-can accurate, which is sufficient to my needs. It is reliable, with every type of ammo I've ever fed it. It's heavy. It has a creepy trigger. I like it."