Being old fashioned (through no fault of my own I maintain), I feel that new guns are coming out too fast on a regular bases. For some context for those asking what the hell am I talking about, back in the day (think 70/80s and maybe before), new guns weren't being produced for the civillian market at any kind of rate that they are today. Naturally a lot of this is a response to the incredible growth in CC permitting across the states, the fast growth in the various shooting sports, women coming on board the shooting ranks for some time now, and whatever else that doesn't come to mind and I'm not aware of. And the other reason of course being the incredible advancements in manufacturing design to build technologies that are light years ahead of what they were back then. Oh yea, and the stupid idea of using production rollouts for beta testing (and not just guns), that really pisses me off.

So given all that, here's my beef: I can't keep up with it all. Back then you would sit down with a gun rag and read 25 articles over the course of a year about one new gun from a reputable manufacturer. But today to keep up with all the new guns coming out, you have to read oodles articles about 200 new and generally very good guns from the majors over the course of a year. And I'm guessing 200 is prob conservative since gunmakers these days offer so many variants on size factor and configurations of the same new platform. I would go so far to say that some gunmakers are worse than others - like Ruger for example. Over the last few years they've come out with the LC this and the LC that, and the new models don't look or function that much differently than the previous verson/models from what I can tell.

I don't know why this sort of pisses me off. Maybe it's because I actaully do enjoy keeping up with it but because of the sheer volume of guns coming to market, it's not as fun anymore. I don't shoot all types of guns like most of us on this board, but I do like reading about them. But damn it's wearing me out.

Is this an old age perception disease paralleling my physical trajectory, or do any of you younger shooters feel this way too ?

Any marketing or sociological analysis welcomed. Just put an end to the pain.

IMO guns are being developed too quickly when the new guns don't function properly. Essentially these are design and/or manufacturing defects.

I am not bothered that I don't keep up with the total gun market -- never have and never will. Sure, I'll try to reasonably keep up to speed with developments that might affect the products I use, or intend to use in the near future.

I do try to train and compete in firearms matches as much as possible, and to read articles that will help me shoot better.

I don't read celebrity or tabloid magazines. I really don't care what the Kardashians do.

I hear you, and I agree with you.

I have a few 1911s, Hi Powers, classic Sigs, pre-lock S&Ws, and the odd Kahr, Glock or Beretta. I just lost interest in keeping up with any of the new stuff. I'm sure there are some very good guns coming out, and although I enjoy reading about them, I don't need them, so I don't really care about keeping up.

The new guns may be ggod, but they are not better than what I have.

quote:

New guns from major manufacturers are coming out way too fast

That's because they've hooked people into thinking they need the 'latest and greatest'.

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Originally posted by RHINOWSO:

quote:

New guns from major manufacturers are coming out way too fast

That's because they've hooked people into thinking they need the 'latest and greatest'.

Hey, I'm already bored with this model that just came out last week. Gimme something new, man.

They can put a new one out every week afaiac. I see the new models and say meh.

The manufacturers keep coming out with new ones to sell to the same people. They’ve got x, y, and z already so let’s make a new one to get another hook in their mouths.

Either way, more choice is good. I wouldn’t let it bother you. If it does, you may be a crack addict.

The greater variety of guns and interest in the shooting sports, the more mainstream they will become - and less vulnerable to those parts of society who want to condemn all guns and gun owners.

Yes, there are a lot of changes, but most are positive. I've found a few of the new ones are significant improvements, but by the time I get around to trying one...the P250 is a great example. I bought one used about a year after they came out. It was a great bargain, but I threw it in the safe and ignored it for several years. By the time I tried it, I figured out it was a superb carry piece, it had been replaced by the P320 (but I did find several.) Now the rage is the P365.....

The good part about it is, when I sort through the safe, I find all kinds of rare, old guns I never thought of as rare and old.

My wife says I am rare and old-rarely does one with my attitude actually get old, she says.

It’s almost like the government was subsidizing gun manufacturers, except the prices aren’t skyrocketing! Demand is high and there are enough innovations to make it interesting. I say the more the merrier. I’ve found a few new guns that I shoot better than previous models. Maybe it’s the fact I’ve been practicing for a longer period of time? Either way, I only keep up with the models that I find interesting. That makes it manageable.

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Originally posted by 12131:

quote:

Originally posted by RHINOWSO:

quote:

New guns from major manufacturers are coming out way too fast

That's because they've hooked people into thinking they need the 'latest and greatest'.

Hey, I'm already bored with this model that just came out last week. Gimme something new, man.

Yeah, I shot 50 ‘flawless’ rounds through it, deadly accurate at 5 yards, but it just isn’ for me. So I’m selling it off at $50 more than what I bought it for, until I need rent money or child support payments. Then I’ll payday loan for the ‘new hotness’.

Wash, rinse, repeat.

I miss the days of a single handgun,

as in ,

a Smith 686 or a Sig P220,

the revolvers were always available in several barrel lengths , and round or square butt, but it was still a 686 or mod 10 etc,


now you can buy, using SIG or Kimber as an example, eleventy seven different variations of the same gun, most of which are cosmetic (look at the 380 colt clone segment)

I miss the simple days ,,,,

quote:

Originally posted by RHINOWSO:

quote:

New guns from major manufacturers are coming out way too fast

That's because they've hooked people into thinking they need the 'latest and greatest'.

AMEN ... not just guns ... but across many, if not all, products. Electronics, automobiles, etc., etc.

You mean 90+ different 10/22s in Ruger's current lineup is too much? Not to overlook all of the previous ones that have since been 'retired'.

I do think that gun makers 'refresh' their lineups way too often. SIG is among the most notorious in doing this. They seem to love making unannounced, limited run versions as well. A recent example: a customer transferred in a braced 8" MPX bought online, thinking that he would be getting the usual alloy KeyMod handguard, similar to the one I bought a couple of years ago. Instead what arrives is one with a carbon fiber KeyMod part, which turned out to be a total surprise to the customer.

Presumably it's the usually aftermarket Lancer-made handguard that arrived with this gun. Because we have the alloy version in inventory, I noticed that the SIG part number for the firearm was different than the usual identifier sticker on the box for the alloy handguard version (though by now I've forgotten what the exact difference was...maybe a 'CF' in the SKU...can't recall for certain). That change indicates that it was factory-installed and not a dealer mod.

Looking at SIG's website it appears that all 8" barrel versions have since been 'retired', replaced by pistols with 4.5" barrels. Even the stocked 8" SBR variant is no longer present on the factory MPX webpage. Yes, change is a constant thing for SIG. And difficult to keep up with, especially for dealers faced with all sorts of out-of-left-field requests.

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Originally posted by RHINOWSO:

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Originally posted by 12131:
Hey, I'm already bored with this model that just came out last week. Gimme something new, man.

Yeah, I shot 50 ‘flawless’ rounds through it, deadly accurate at 5 yards, but it just isn’ for me. So I’m selling it off......Then I’ll payday loan for the ‘new hotness’.

At one time I thought this was millennial trait, but I suspect it's infected much of our society. It's about me...me...me, and I'm entitled to being happy, entertained, and engaged without any effort on my part.

Everyone's 15 minutes of fame is so yesterday. Now it's 140 characters of which bagel and latte I just ordered, along with a selfie.

From a firearms standpoint, we'd be better shooters if we concentrated on improving our skills instead of rotating through endless gun purchases. If we trained in challenging situations with qualified instructors, practiced these skills realistically, and entered a competition here and there -- we wouldn't get bored. We wouldn't get the boredom that people think will be cured by purchasing another gun. A cure that lasts only 50 or 100 'flawless' rounds, before the disease returns.

wrightd -- I recommend spending more time shooting what you have. Let the Kardashians be the Kardashians.

these manufactures don't even need to print a catalog any longer. I recall in the 80's and 90's. I'd look forward to the annual Smith, and Colt catalogs to see what was new.

Now, changing a catalog for these guys is just a matter of changing a file and posting it.

I may have a bit of interest in a new gun, but I'm not a buyer until it's been out a year or so with no bugs.

I guess I just don't watch it too closely.

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:

quote:

Originally posted by RHINOWSO:

quote:

New guns from major manufacturers are coming out way too fast

That's because they've hooked people into thinking they need the 'latest and greatest'.

Hey, I'm already bored with this model that just came out last week. Gimme something new, man.

And this from the guy who has the amazing collection of obsolete P228.

I don't mind the companies coming out with all the new guns so often. What I do mind is using the public for quality control instead of spending more time testing them themselves.

Meh.

We have more options than ever before, for more people to buy more guns in every facet of the shooting hobby (save for absolutely horrible firearms laws/bans,but that has nothing to do with this) .

That's a good thing. If you don't want to keep up with certain things and stick with standbys, awesome.
If you want to examine and keep up with every new gun and accessory, awesome.
If you want to try some new type of gun because it looks intriguing or useful, awesome.

If you want to occasionally be surprised by some new gun at a store or online and otherwise not keep up, awesome.

Choice and variety are great.
We live in a great time for guns. Less is not more!

I believe it to be a simple matter of supply & demand combined with technology. People want all of the different styled guns. If they didn't, they wouldn't sell.

With technology being what it is, manufacturers can draw up designs on computer & mill out parts on CNC, so retooling is cheap & easy compared to what was required in the past.