Surprise Success!?

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lizziedog1

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In your lifetime, what firearm development has surprised you as far as it being successful?

It could be a particular gun model, some sort of cartridge, or any gun related gear. This is something that when you first heard of it you were scratching your head in disbelief. You were convinced it was dumb and it was bound to fail. Next thing you know, everyone and their grandma wants one. You might even have taken the plunge and purchased the item.

One of these surprise successes for me is the 17HMR cartridge. When I first caught wind of this, I did think it had a bit of neatness factor to it. But for nearly a century our rimfire choices have been limited to 22's. Other rimfire attempts in my lifetime had not been exactly welcomed with open arms. I really thought that the 17HMR and the guns for it would flop.

I admit that I am surprised. I just recently purchased my first gun in this caliber. I am happy it succeeded.

I think no other gun starts a thread headed into lock-up mode faster then the Taurus Judge. I am surprised that this concept is still with us and even more surprised at how well it sells. To be honest, I do have one and I do not plan on getting one. I have yet to even shoot one. But I know several folks around here that do own them and like them. This success is surprising to me.

I am also surprised by the cammo craze that has befallen the shooting community. They even have cammo colored shotgun shells! I understand that in certain hunting situations a hunter needs to be as stealth as possible. But when I see cammo underwear I have to shake my head. I am still waiting for cammo toilet paper:eek:

So, what gun stuff's success has surprised you?
 
Yeah, I'm surprised about the popularity of camo too. I just can't understand why anyone would want a camo gun. I mean... if I was walking in the woods or something and I accidentally dropped it, it'd be gone because I wouldn't be able to find it.:uhoh:

A camo'ed jeep would be worse. If I parked it in the woods, and walked away from it, how would I ever get home?
 
Been thinking the same thing about camo pocket knives for years, but I feel like I'm straying us from the main topic lol, one thing that kinda suproses me is custom anodizing. It's kinda up there with camo guns except I'm not sure who needs a red gun or a blue gun with a logo of some sort on it, don't get me wrong it's neat but seems a bit unessesary
 
lizziedog1 said:
In your lifetime, what firearm development has surprised you as far as it being successful?

It could be a particular gun model, some sort of cartridge, or any gun related gear. This is something that when you first heard of it you were scratching your head in disbelief. You were convinced it was dumb and it was bound to fail. Next thing you know, everyone and their grandma wants one. You might even have taken the plunge and purchased the item.

One of these surprise successes for me is the 17HMR cartridge. When I first caught wind of this, I did think it had a bit of neatness factor to it. But for nearly a century our rimfire choices have been limited to 22's. Other rimfire attempts in my lifetime had not been exactly welcomed with open arms. I really thought that the 17HMR and the guns for it would flop.

I admit that I am surprised. I just recently purchased my first gun in this caliber. I am happy it succeeded.

I think no other gun starts a thread headed into lock-up mode faster then the Taurus Judge. I am surprised that this concept is still with us and even more surprised at how well it sells. To be honest, I do have one and I do not plan on getting one. I have yet to even shoot one. But I know several folks around here that do own them and like them. This success is surprising to me.

I am also surprised by the cammo craze that has befallen the shooting community. They even have cammo colored shotgun shells! I understand that in certain hunting situations a hunter needs to be as stealth as possible. But when I see cammo underwear I have to shake my head. I am still waiting for cammo toilet paper:eek:

So, what gun stuff's success has surprised you?
Click to expand...
The Taurus Judge, such an ugly gun, two expensive ammo choices, terrible to conceal, yet hailed as the 'perfect self defense gun'.

And as far as camo toilet paper, they do make it, it's green, and when you use it, you make the camo pattern :p

camo-toilet.jpg
 
lizziedog1 said:
In your lifetime, what firearm development has surprised you as far as it being successful?
Click to expand...

Gas operated Desert Eagle.....first magnum semi-auto that has dominated the market with a proven design that worked.
 
In your lifetime, what firearm development has surprised you as far as it being successful?
Click to expand...
The .17 HMR and the Taurus Judge.

In the first case, I figurered the cost of ammo would greatly restrict the popularity of what is clearly a very specialized cartridge.

In the second case, I couldn't see (and still can't see) any real use for a gun that fires both .410 and .45 Colt ammo especially given the heavy, bulky cylinder needed.
 
Handguns for self-defense that cost $1,000 and up.
Rifles for hunting that cost $1,000 and up.
Rifle scopes that cost $2,000 and up.
 
ammo that costs over 60 bucks a box aka all the weatherby mags...i just dont see the point...my 270 can do just about anything a 257 WM can do with less blast and a heavier bullet to boot
 
Yep, I have to agree with two here. I'd have expected the .17 HMR to go the way of the 5mm Remington Rimfire.

And I wouldn't expect anyone who has read the Box O' Truth test of the Taurus Judge and its poor penetration in .410 (no surprise, given the barrel length) to buy one of those monstrosities. But it's so popular that S&W copied it. Isn't that a hoot? S&W copying Taurus! :rolleyes:

Guns in dull colors, so they don't throw reflections in the woods -- yeah that makes sense. But I'll admit, the camo fad has really gone too far. I'm not opposed to camouflage, but we're getting carried away.

Heck, I was surprised by the .40 S&W, not to mention the .357 SIG. I understood what Col. Cooper wanted to do with the 10mm cartridge (heck, I applauded the first .40 G&A built on a customized High Power), was disappointed when the Bren Ten died of poor quality control and mismanagement, but I never understood the popularity of the .40 Short & Weak. Yeah, we want bigger stopping power in a 9mm sized package, but the .45 ACP is already there, a single stack 1911 is already pretty slim, and grip circumference can be reduced 10%.

Smith putting full length underlugs on a bunch of their barrels, to look like Pythons, surprised me. But they sold a lot of them.

I'm surprised at the success of Kydex holsters, but I must admit they work for many.

The Chiappa Arms Rhino does not surprise me; the lowered bore center is logical. I am surprised they have not yet offered one with a laser built into the logical location, immediately above the bore and just below the front sight.

I'm surprised at the popularity of NAA revolver models that are too big to be considered "tiny," but still sell well.

I'm surprised and gratified by the number of companies making AR variants as hunting guns. I'm hopeful that we may yet achieve the American Ideal of "a battle rifle in every home."

I'm sure there are more surprises to come.
 
Guns in dull colors, so they don't throw reflections in the woods -- yeah that makes sense. But I'll admit, the camo fad has really gone too far. I'm not opposed to camouflage, but we're getting carried away.
Click to expand...
The reason behind camouflaged guns is so if you put your gun down in the woods (for example, to have lunch) you won't be able to find it when you're finished.;)
 
The Judge is a legal sawed-off which can also shoot .45 to some accuracy. It is a great snake/small varmint gun, does some neat stuff with buckshot up close, and has a pistol bullet option too. Why wouldn't you want a pistol that does all that?

Now, the Circuit Judge, which I handled today, I am not sure I would buy. There's better ways, in a long gun, to magazine rounds.

But, with the Judge, like most things, one should try it before one decides to dislike it.
 
Two things come to mind...

1.) The number of wildcats put into production by the major manufacturers; that process used to take a very long time to come to fruition. I.E. 17/223, 22-250, 25-06, 7mm-06, 338-06, 35 Whelen, etc, and the list goes on and on. Send us a napkin with a sketch and we'll have out next week for you.

2.) The explosion of the 1911s'.
How many manufacturers today are making a sub-compact 1911? Not so long ago, you had to spend a great deal of money, and have a very long wait, to have one custom built. Same with the target guns, and the duty type weapons; custom built, wait, and put off buying a new car for a year. Think of how many articles in the American Rifleman, and other "gun magazines" dealt with accurizing a G.I. forty-five. Or, you could go out and buy a Colt Gold Cup, beyond which was a great dark void.
 
Plastic guns
That those plastic guns must be so cheap to manufacture yet they charge so much when they sell them. You notice some manufacturers don't however-------------- Hi Point for example.:D
 
I am surprised by the success of the DE in 50EA just saying insanely big gun in a expansive cartridge. I am also surprised by the success of calico odd things that are kind of ugly in my opinion but more power to the people who shoot them.
Kliegl do mean that the Judge can shoot 45acp as well as 45 long cult?
 
Axel, I didn't mean to imply that, though, theoretically, with moon clips, it might be possible.
 
How popular plastic has become for making guns. Although, modern palstic has become a lot tougher than the old formulas.

Also the ridiculously high mark up for AR15 rifles and their accessories especially considering many parts are made of plastic. AR15 parts that could hold up to a nuclear explosion when all they are used for is the range and status symbols. Having said that, I do own 2 AR15 rifles but not the most exspensive and indestructable ones.

The tacticool trend also tends to get into the ridiculous levels. Who came up with the flash hider for the Swedish Mauser?
 
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Aimpoints. The original, fiber optic style was a simple, innovative idea that didn't cost much, but didn't work well in execution. Then came the lit versions you could look through. They were clunky and the batteries kept running low. Now look at them! Little itty bitty micros that are tough as nails with batteries that will need to be replaced by our grandkids! What amazes me even more is that I will get one to install on my carbine when it's built!
 
AR15 rifles for hunting.Never had a use for a 30 round mag chambered in a under powered cartridge. Broke my arm and dislocated my shoulder. bought a bushmaster and a five round mag and have filled my tags in Kentucky two years in row and now almost dread dragging out my old 30/06 or 300.
 
I've been surprised by the wave of illuminated reticle optics.

I have a cheap Simmons red dot (1x) on a MN M44 that was bubba'd when I got it and it is a surprisingly quick setup for target acquisition, so I guess I've "bought in" to an extent.

There are many scopes I feel initially interested in until I find it only offered in illuminated reticle.
 
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