The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: pioneer on April 28, 2011, 10:05:54 AM
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I can not personally vouch for this story, but I came across it in a newsletter, "Page Nine", by Alan Korwin.
Southwick Associates has completed an extensive survey of the top brands in the shooting sports. It is part of a 238-page report that received so much coverage you have never even heard of it. Are you using the top brands? Here they are:
Top rifle brand: Remington (17.5% of all purchases)
Top shotgun brand: Remington & Mossberg (virtual tie with 21.5% of all purchases)
Top muzzleloader brand: Thompson Center (31.9% of all purchases)
Top handgun brand: Sturm Ruger (16.7% of all purchases)
Top scope for firearms: Bushnell (17.1% of all purchases)
Top rifle ammunition brand: Remington (25.3% of all purchases)
Top shotgun ammunition brand: Winchester (31.9% of all purchases)
Top handgun ammunition brand: Winchester (22.0% of all purchases)
Top blackpowder brand: Pyrodex (38.7% of all purchases)
Top balls, bullets, or shot brand: Hornady (28.4% of all purchases)
Top reloading bullet brand: Hornady (31.7% of all purchases)
Top reloading primer brand: CCI (38.2% of all purchases)
Top reloading powder brand: Hodgdon (37.8% of all purchases)
Top binocular brand: Bushnell (33.6% of all purchases)
Top holster brand: Uncle Mikes (19.0% of all purchases)
Top knife brand: Gerber (15.0% of all purchases)
For details; http://southwickassociates.com/node/10972
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No surprises on the list to my eye. I'm curious who would have come up as the top retail marketers on the survey.
To me it reads like a list of top advertisers in the newsstand publications or mainstream hunting shows. I see some differences from shows those of us that frequent this site follow on Wednesday night or in the publications we follow. But, it looks like a generic list formed by generic users. Or should I say marketing to the masses?
I am not saying that these are bad choices by purchasers. It just appears to be a list of affordable, recognized names with broad product lines.
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Top blackpowder brand: Pyrodex (38.7% of all purchases)
But it aint black powder! Its a BP substitute, its like saying a tofu is the same as meat!
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I participated in the survey. They have monthly surveys one for fishing and one for hunting and shooting.
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But it aint black powder! Its a BP substitute, its like saying a tofu is the same as meat!
Like I said, with apologies to our future President, it reads like a mainstream publicity list. Talk to muzzle loader hunters, and many don't know the difference between black powder and the replacements. In the general public's world, for those that follow anything firearms, there are black powder handguns and black powder rifles are cartridge guns. All the advertising and media focus on hunting is done with modern muzzle loaders and replacement powders.
The even sadder thing is that with the explosion of big box stores many salespeople do not understand the difference. If you go in asking for black powder you will be taken to the pellets, and the loose powder will be hidden on a lower shelf. The actual black powder will be hidden even lower.
This is just one more area of dumbing down. Can anyone say "clip"?
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Like I said, with apologies to our future President, it reads like a mainstream publicity list. Talk to muzzle loader hunters, and many don't know the difference between black powder and the replacements. In the general public's world, for those that follow anything firearms, there are black powder handguns and black powder rifles are cartridge guns. All the advertising and media focus on hunting is done with modern muzzle loaders and replacement powders.
The even sadder thing is that with the explosion of big box stores many salespeople do not understand the difference. If you go in asking for black powder you will be taken to the pellets, and the loose powder will be hidden on a lower shelf. The actual black powder will be hidden even lower.
This is just one more area of dumbing down. Can anyone say "clip"?
I like the way they do not define the meaning of top brands between meaning most sold or best quality. To me a top brand is a better quality item. This list is definately not a "best quality" list.
Just because more fools buy something thats cheap doesnt mean its a top brand in my books.
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I like the way they do not define the meaning of top brands between meaning most sold or best quality. To me a top brand is a better quality item. This list is definately not a "best quality" list.
Just because more fools buy something thats cheap doesnt mean its a top brand in my books.
With ya! The list means nothing about any of the products except who has the best marketing. Oh, wait. That's what our whole country and society has come to be all about. Marketing.
Quality, value, durability? That's just silly talk. :(
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I like the way they do not define the meaning of top brands between meaning most sold or best quality. To me a top brand is a better quality item. This list is definately not a "best quality" list.
Just because more fools buy something thats cheap doesnt mean its a top brand in my books.
With ya! The list means nothing about any of the products except who has the best marketing. Oh, wait. That's what our whole country and society has come to be all about. Marketing.
Quality, value, durability? That's just silly talk. :(
If you go back and read the OP you will notice that each entry is followed by PERCENTAGE OF PURCHASES.
It may be silly of me to assume, but that, coupled with the fact (granted it was not known to you ) that it is based on the question "What brand did you BUY" that they are referring to sales volume/market share. ::)
BM is right though, reading about half what is printed (or less ) is what our country has been reduced to.
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No surprises on the list to my eye. I'm curious who would have come up as the top retail marketers on the survey.
To me it reads like a list of top advertisers in the newsstand publications or mainstream hunting shows. I see some differences from shows those of us that frequent this site follow on Wednesday night or in the publications we follow. But, it looks like a generic list formed by generic users. Or should I say marketing to them asses?
I am not saying that these are bad choices by purchasers. It just appears to be a list of affordable, recognized names with broad product lines.
FIFY
Crusader
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I'm shocked ruger out sold S&W.
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I'm shocked ruger out sold S&W.
I'm not!
When I bought my snubby a few years ago, I looked at fifty different guns, mostly S&W and some also-rans like Charter and Taurus. I chose the Ruger because the same SS J-Frame from S&W was 300 bucks more. Would have bought the Charter as well for a third less than a Smith.
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TAB, all the taxes and fee's in Ca. may bring the prices closer together, but I know around here Ruger has 3 big advantages
They are a local company, their original factory and Pine Tree Castings are about 20 miles from here.
The greater strength of their designs, most people don't really care, but it matters to reloaders.
The significant price difference that Tim mentioned.
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TAB, all the taxes and fee's in Ca. may bring the prices closer together, but I know around here Ruger has 3 big advantages
They are a local company, their original factory and Pine Tree Castings are about 20 miles from here.
The greater strength of their designs, most people don't really care, but it matters to reloaders.
The significant price difference that Tim mentioned.
not that big of a diffrence here $150 ish, comparing simlar models. SW do have a better trigger pull. The extra strength really means nothing. besides the ruger only loads for 44 mag are do to the extra lenght of the cylinder, not the strength. The trigger pull on a smith is so much better then that of a ruger its not even funny.
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No one will deny that a Smith out of the box trigger is fine. However, I spent about 15 bucks on Wolfe springs and tweaked my Ruger to about half the original trigger weight while still getting good primer strikes. Getting rid of the machining burrs took most of my time and was well worth the effort. The guy or gal that bought that little gun last fall on consignment will be reaping the benefits of my tedious filing of that mechanism. I never touched the sear surfaces and still managed to make a decent improvement on the trigger.
I'll buy another Ruger in a heartbeat, already plan too!
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TAB, you overlook the fact that there ARE "Ruger only"loads, not just in 44Mag, but in 45 LC as well as probably other calibers I'm not aware of.
Your statement that it is due to longer rather than stronger cylinder is foolishness. A longer cylinder means the pressure builds even higher in the fraction of time before the bullet leaves the cylinder, that means that an otherwise equal strength metal would be more, not less, likely to give way.
If you think about it for a second you have to realize I'm right.
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There are lots of loads that are for Ruger or Contender only too. Like .45 Colt "Magnum".
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I will take my Ruger Redhawk over a S&W629 any day, just saying I like it more.
I have just brought a S&W460 and I really cant see any difference in the quality of the two side by side. I did however notice that the extraction rod of the S&W seemed incredibly small, I would have liked to see it a little more meaty. I also would have liked to have a non ported compensator made available for it, not every one wants to be cleaning out compensators or wearing double hearing protection.
BTW if anyone sees one of these non ported inserts about for one please grab it for me, PM me and I will send you $$ for it and for the postage!! I may even send you a jar of vegemite back for your kindness!
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TAB, you overlook the fact that there ARE "Ruger only"loads, not just in 44Mag, but in 45 LC as well as probably other calibers I'm not aware of.
Your statement that it is due to longer rather than stronger cylinder is foolishness. A longer cylinder means the pressure builds even higher in the fraction of time before the bullet leaves the cylinder, that means that an otherwise equal strength metal would be more, not less, likely to give way.
If you think about it for a second you have to realize I'm right.
not always. it does allow for greater over all length. could be for a heavier bullet/ bullet style, it also allows for less bullet seating, which could be for very light loads. the 44 mag "ruger only loads work in most lever guns as well.
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I did however notice that the extraction rod of the S&W seemed incredibly small, I would have liked to see it a little more meaty.
Just curious, why?