Anybody know if sales acrss the industry are down?

If you know of any new products share them here!!

For the most part, all firearms design is a mix of been there done that designs with a twist here or there. Until some sort of space age no fixed ammo system becomes mainstream, we have reached apex of design for metallic cartridge guns.
Oddly enough, most companies are experiencing a big slump in sales since the trump reelection. Sad as it is to say from the industries perspective democrats elected surges sales.
There is so little that can be improved upon, then the inherent risks and cost of R&D and possible market not receptive so no innovation would be the sensible move right now

Some if not quite a bit of R&D is driven by the government for filling contracts.

Theres the Glock, now theres a million polymer frames and striker fired handguns out there.

More than a few 2011’s on the market now.

We figured the 10mm was enough and really didn’t need an 11mm.
It’s also the socket most commonly lost, and you’d be really pissed if you lost an 11mm handgun.
So the whole “this is gonna be the best caliber ever!” Is pretty much between the 9mm & .45…

We haven’t figured out the whole “laser” or “plasma” thing yet, and when we do, I want one in the 20 Watt range.

I can’t really think of what else would be out there.
Then again, looking at the market, no one else can either.

Better energy storage than smokeless powder or a very efficient way to convert electrical energy into kinetic are needed to improve on what we have now.

And 20 watts isn’t enough to kill a hamster.

SHOT is just around the corner. New products will be presented.

Sig did some innovative stuff a while back and look where that got them...a gun that wouldn't sell, and then another one that got them sued a whole bunch and the whole community turned on them. Why would any company want that, especially in this market?

The firearms market is weird. You make something new and nobody trusts it or at the very least "can't see why anybody would ever need/want that." But if you stick with your reliable, proven product you get accused of not innovating. And meanwhile people are on waiting lists to buy new copies of old levergun designs and special releases of Smith revolvers without the lock.

quote:

Originally posted by CPD SIG:
We figured the 10mm was enough and really didn’t need an 11mm.

I get your point, but my .45's just laughed at this statement.

^^ That's 'Nervous Laughter'...Just sayin'

Had a friend in the gun business a while back say that nothing really new has happened in guns since 1898. He may not have hit the nail precisely, but closer than we like to think.

All of the things that make firearms run were worked out by the early 20th century, the latest being the Walther double-action-first-shot trigger in the 1930s. Smokeless powder, invented c. 1884, made semi- and full-auto firearms workable. Everything you see today is just refinements on those.

What hasn't been done? When someone comes out with something new, half the shooting world cries... "That's something no one asked for." "There's a solution in search of a problem."


I don't want case-less ammo, electronic firing or rocket bullets. (you know, 25-65 year old ideas) I just want $20-1K primers again.

Because guns that are revolutionary like the Laugo Alien cost a lot of money and don't take Glock mags.

Now that the P320 is sucking donkey balls, Glock has its hands full just trying to keep up with LE demand for current models. They would be crazy to release something new.

quote:

Originally posted by Ronin101:
Anybody know if sales across the industry are down?

I talked to a large internet and brick and mortar owner, and he said business is slow. With Trump in that doesn't surprise me. Alot of big collections are hitting the market in December.

There has been a ton of new stuff / “innovation” or updates to old platforms over the past few years. It’s just been with smaller companies and innovation/R&D etc. costs money.

I’m not saying “quit your bitchin’ ya poors” as I certainly can’t afford most of it but I can totally understand the reason behind several thousand dollar price tags on most of this stuff given what goes into it.

As far as “mainstream” updates what do you really want? I mean Glock is likely making some trigger geometry and back plate changes and people are having kittens.

As far as mainstream firearms innovation what do we want to see?
I’d like to see….
-A common optics mounting footprint of some kind
-Some small optics made by western nations that actually compete.
-A reliable mass market 12-15 round mag for the G43X/48 ala MecGar

I mean other than that I can’t think of much I would really want as a normal consumer. I’d like an updated HK P7, and it exists I just cannot afford it at this point (no shade on P7Pro’s pricing as understand what goes into it.)

Now that I think of it I, personally, would like to see some modern DA/SA carry guns designed from the ground up around stack and half mags and optics. I realize the DA/SA mechanism limits footprint a bit but something like a thin HK P2000sk or P30sk designed around an optic and 12ish round mags would be great. Problem is there are only about 11 other guys out there who want this and 3 of them can’t afford it right now. . Hey I’m a realist.

quote:

Originally posted by cslinger:
Now that I think of it I, personally, would like to see some modern DA/SA carry guns designed from the ground up around stack and half mags and optics. I realize the DA/SA mechanism limits footprint a bit but something like a thin HK P2000sk or P30sk designed around an optic and 12ish round mags would be great. Problem is there are only about 11 other guys out there who want this and 3 of them can’t afford it right now. . Hey I’m a realist.

I'm one of the 11, and one of the 3 !

quote:

Originally posted by cas:
What hasn't been done? When someone comes out with something new, half the shooting world cries... "That's something no one asked for." "There's a solution in search of a problem."


I don't want case-less ammo, electronic firing or rocket bullets. (you know, 25-65 year old ideas) I just want $20-1K primers again.

I’m interested in caseless and the plastic cased ammo.
Keeps the weight down, and being a former Grunt, keeping the weight down is important.

Outside of that, it goes back to your question:
“What hasn’t been done?”

DA/SA, striker fired, polymer, fiberglass, plastics…
How can someone improve on the accuracy coming out of a solid bolt action, floated barrel? Is it “something new” or just an improvement upon an existing platform?
Direct Impingement / Piston? Unless someone comes up with a different system, Stoner and Kalshinakov pretty much got it nailed down. Delayed blowback from H&K seems to work well.

The Apps for long range shooting are incredible!
Plug in the variables: barrel length, bullet weight… the app automatically grabs the temperature, humidity, altitude…. And gives you a mathematically correct answer.


Im not saying we’ve reached the end, but given current technology, I think the Firearms industry is in a stall.

So until we get the "Phased plasma rifle in the 40-watt range”, it’s going to be “Just what you see on the shelf, buddy.”

(And the $20 for 1000 primers, yeah, I feel ya! I’d love for the days of $ .25 5.56 rounds to return as well! )