The Down Range Forum

Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: warhawke on February 07, 2008, 02:41:37 AM

Title: Why can't American's make new guns?
Post by: warhawke on February 07, 2008, 02:41:37 AM

On January 20 this year, Michael's blog had the new STI GP6 pistol. I thought it looked familiar;

http://world.guns.ru/handguns/hg123-e.htm (http://world.guns.ru/handguns/hg123-e.htm) 

The K-100 (Mk. 6) pistol from Slovakia

What are the top contenders for the next .45acp service pistol?
H&K          HK45
SIG           P220c
FN            FNP45
Taurus      OSS
Glock        21SF
Springfield XD45 (AKA the HS2000 from Croatia)
Beretta     PX4

I mean for the love of pete, are you kidding me? America has to go overseas? For a .45?

Can't we do better than this? I mean the last pistols I can recall being designed in the US were the Ruger P-series and the Colt 2000, I don't mean American copies of Euro-trash like the Sigma, I mean real American weapons. This is the land of John Moses Browning! We used to design the worlds best weapons and now we buy cheap AK's from the ass-end of Europe. Did Hiram Maxim die in vain?
I believe that there are Americans out there with new ideas, but American companies only worry about passing off weapons with the highest profit margins. I think we need to get the people with the ideas in contact with the companies that can turn them into reality. The next JMB needs a new Colt to make his (or her) ideas into the next 1911.

So how about it?

Title: Re: Why can't American's make new guns?
Post by: TAB on February 07, 2008, 02:47:42 AM

sigs are made in the usa

so is the M and P.

Title: Re: Why can't American's make new guns?
Post by: jnevis on February 07, 2008, 08:22:10 AM

While FN and Beretta are foriegn companies the factory that makes the M9 (92FS) and FN's M-16/249/240s are in the US.  Beretta is just up the road here and I've been on the floor and seen the STACKS of 90 series pistols and their pocket pistols, most actually for the civilian market.  FN is in South Carolina and makes the M-16, M-249, M-240 and the FNP there.  The SW M&P was also part of the Joint Service Pistol bid that died a couple years back.

If they want the contract for the US military the pistol has to be produced here, part of the contract.

And oh by the way, Browning designed weapons for FN, most notably the Hi-Power.

Title: Re: Why can't American's make new guns?
Post by: god45644 on February 07, 2008, 05:57:17 PM

Hi-point makes a great gun.  They're based right here in Ohio.  They are cheap but not cheaply made (sorry, no 1911).  They have a lifetime warranty (go fire 10,000 rounds through it, if it breaks just send it back and they will fix/replace for free, NO QUESTIONS ASKED).  I've got the 9mm compact, its a blowback action and only cost $99.  The only thing I hate about it is the cheap plastic sites but it comes with an optional peep site (currently on my gun). There is not much out there in advertising (this may be how they keep their prices down) except a really good article in Shoot magazine. I think they come in 9mm and .45acp. They also have an ugly as hell carbine but they have a decent looking stock that you can buy and replace.

Title: Re: Why can't American's make new guns?
Post by: pioneer on February 07, 2008, 06:01:26 PM

If we could just get the Brass Hats to come down from their "newer is better" thinking, they may realize that the tried and true, better-than-ever, John Browning designed 1911a1 is a great military pistol.  Smith & Sesson also makes several pistol models that would be great military arms.  Function and reliability, plus raw .45 caliber power.  What's not to like?  Who says it has to be a new design?

(http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb294/pioneer461/Pistols/Pistols08008-1.jpg)