Popularity of pistols over rifles in the current generation?

I'm 23 and I've always liked rifles more than pistols. They're just more versatile.

I've been getting into a revolver kick though, because magnum revolvers combine much of the longer range ability of a rifle with the portability of a handgun. Still no replacement for a rifle, though.

I believe the rifle/pistol thing has more to do with a shift in priorities of gun owners, many of us younger guys are not hunters first. We are shooters first.

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50 years ago hunting was much more prevalent, and so a rifle was a given. If you were of age a rifle meant you were helping put food on the table. Once that stopped, and the primary reason for owning a gun became self defense, that's just better served for the average person with a single weapon by a pistol. If you get more into guns, you then tend to purchase fill in weapons. I owned 3 pistols before my first long gun.

again, to those unexposed to firearms, all guns are equal. They have no way of knowing a rifle has 10 times the power, 10 times the range and 10 times the ease of use over a handgun.

Rifles aren't cool, so says the media.

Look at how often the people in TV shows (lost for example) grab handguns when going off rather than rifles?

I remember watching a TV show in college with a bunch of guys. It seems to me it was 'sliders' Good Guy has a snub-nose revolver, and they somehow trick some M-16 toting badguys into a trap and sleeping gas them or something. They then walk past and I am saying "those morons should grab up those rifles" and another watcher says 'why? they already have a gun!" like I was telling the heros to switch cloths with the defeaded badguys or something.

It never even occured to them that the rifle was better. Rifles are carried by the rank-and-file minions, heros and officers carry handguns, obviously because they are so much better, the minions cannot handle handguns, so they get stuck with crappy rifles

In these postings the the media is one of the most frequently covered.
Let me give you my point of view why you should not use a pistol as a first line of defence.

Whenever I deployed in the U.S. Army I felt sorry for the leadership who carried pistols because they are almost useless. Granted the situations are different but the lessons are the same.
In the Army and in peace time you will still carry small arms during training and in the field. The personnel who had the priviledge to carry pistols "enjoyed" the light weight vs the heavier M16 platform. I say this because when You add all of the other gear the weight adds up very quickly.
When someone wants to kill you I will still feel naked with a pistol. I would much, much rather have a rifle to take care of business. Rifles take care of business much quicker. You will send out a "BOOM".

Pistols will make a "POP".

Speaking with authority tells armed people who want what you have that the fear of god is at hand.

Accurate and controlled fire comes from a rifle. It keeps people at a distance.
Accurate and controlled fire from a pistol could possible mean an exchange of fire.
Accurate and controlled fire from a pistol is difficult to achieve under severe duress.
Accurate and controlled fire from a rifle is easier under duress.

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I agree with you handsdown. Unfortunately I always run into the "handguns are the greatest for self-defense" folks of course none of them had any experience with a rifle.

As a wise man once said "a pistol is what you use to get to your rifle that you should have had in the first place."

Years ago, most folks owned guns for hunting, but now hunting is viewed as somehow evil and people need something for self-defense. How sad.

When I bought my first gun (not the first I owned, just the first I bought) I really wanted a pistol so that is what I bought. It is a semi auto .40S&W. Now, I don't want it anymore. The only two guns I have bought since have been rifles, one rimfire and one center. The only pistols I am now interested in are revolvers and a 1911. I think it is just something that attracts new shooters and, at least in my case, gets old fast.

I believe the rifle/pistol thing has more to do with a shift in priorities of gun owners, many of us younger guys are not hunters first. We are shooters first.

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Exactly. Currently, about 1 in 5 gun owners is a licensed hunter, and falling. That has caused a sharp drop in sales of Mauser-pattern hunting rifles and other traditional designs used primarily for hunting.

In my (perhaps limited) experience, the pendulum may be swinging back toward rifles a little. When I was getting into guns in the late 1980's/early 1990's, it seemed to be all handguns, all the time. The covers of G&A were seemingly always raceguns, 1911's, Glocks, revolvers, this pistol vs. that pistol, etc.

I think the "black rifle revolution" that resulted from the "assault weapon" hysteria has pushed the pendulum back the other way a little. A lot of nonhunters who would have only owned handguns in the 1980's/early 1990's now have an AR/AK/FAL in the safe as well (if not more than one). And a lot of traditional bolt actions have remarketed to nonhunters as tactical precision rifles, with Picatinny rails and more modern style stocks.

I dare say there are a lot more IPSC/IDPA style carbine matches and 3-gun matches in 2007 than there were in 1987 or 1997. I think that is a reflection of this trend.

The number of hunters nationwide has decreased over the last two decades. Long guns are (primarily) hunting weapons. When you are have no intention of going out hunting (a trip to Safeway is much less time consuming), these people see less need for long guns.

Combine that with a growing urban/suburban population who gets more of their info from the TV and internet (bad ideas and all). After they have seen (insert the name of the most popular movie/tv action hero/heroine here) take on (insert generic badee du jour name here) with their (insert popular handgun name here), they figure that they can handle what ever comes along with their pistol (and be able to keep it close by at all times, ala 50 cent, P-Diddy and all their other favorite gangsta rapper heroes).

I own 2 pistols, 4 long guns. My primary HD weapon is a 12ga pump. My background has shown me that a pistol is a back up. If you are going to get into the fur ball, have the right tool for the task. There are only a few situations where a long gun is undesireable, there are plenty of situations where a pistol isn't up to the task.

I agree a lot of people get ideas from TV and the movies as to what gun they want, but so what, this has been the case since TV and the movies came along. Why the craze for single action revolvers and Winchesters in the 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s? What about S&W 44mags in the 70s and 80s? I will even bet that people in the 1800s bought certain types of guns because of the pulp novels they read at the time.

I can just hear a bunch of old men talking about this new generation wearing those new canvas pants Levi was making and all going out and buying those metallic cartridge fed guns because that’s what the army was going too.

I say thank God the younger generations are buying handguns; at least they are buying something to keep the sport and traditions alive. Also just because you do not hunt does not mean that you are not a sportsman.

I also feel that the change from long guns to handguns relates to less hunters and more shooters or would be shooters. And this is explainable because more people live in cities and it is becoming more difficult to hunt without a substantial investment.

All that aside, my last four firearms that I purchased were 22 rifles. I don't have much use for shotguns.

I prefer revolvers to pistols overall. But I buy and shoot both. Revolvers are like a smooth running locomotive. They just keep chugging away as long as you stoke-em with ammo.

I can think of a few reasons, most have I think already been stated. I am an urbanite (I didn't choose it) and so I carry an urban weapon -- a pistol.

The pistol is more versatile in an "civilized" environment because it can be carried anywhere. So if you can only get one gun (or two or three) it makes sense they are pistols.

It is also true it is hard to find a place to shoot a rifle if you don't live in the boonies. Where I'm from the few rifle ranges require membership and a waiting list.

And let's not forget rifles are expensive as hell. Unless you are getting military surplus, you have to fork over thousands of dollars for a single gun; one that you can hardly ever carry or shoot.

And let's not forget rifles are expensive as hell. Unless you are getting military surplus, you have to fork over thousands of dollars for a single gun; one that you can hardly ever carry or shoot.

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Not really. Maybe if you're buying something that's designed for shooting at 1000 yards or some of the more expensive semi-autos, but most rifles aren't that expensive.

In fact, my rifle cost less than most pistols. I purchased my Remington 700 SPS rifle for $484. There are MANY pistols that cost far, far more than that. Particularly high end M1911's.

Remington 700's also aren't really considered all that great of a value; you can get a Savage or a Stevens rifle that shoots just as well for $200-$400. Marlin has their XL7, which is $300 and their lever guns go for around $400-500 brand spanking new. Mosin Nagants can be had for under $100, if you know where to look. If you buy used, you can get even better deals.

For semi-autos, Ruger Mini-14's can be had for around $500-600, and AK47's can be had for $300-500. SKS's can be had for $200-300, easily.

So yeah, pistols are not necessarily more expensive than long guns.

I suspect a lot has to do with most people arent really "into" guns like us, and if they dont have them for hunting (which the majority will not, as pointed out by others already), they are getting 1 or 2 just for SD/HD, and a hangun is easy to carry, or put in a nightstand, and are usually cheaper,lighter and higher capacity than rifles and shotguns, so thats another big reason for going to handguns.

Also, think about all the discussions here on overpenetration worries with rifles in an urban environment (which is where most people live, especially those with little to no prior gun experiance due to lack of places to shoot, and overall "city culture").Maybe many are going to gun shops to get thier 1st HD gun, and shop owners and workers are steering them away from rifles and towards handguns due to the overpenetration fears (wether true or not, most hear seem to feel it is a serious and legit concern with rifle unless you live WAY out in the boonies).

just a thought...

I'm 20 and own 3 rifles. I can't buy handguns yet but I only see myself getting maybe 1 or 2. I love rifles and like they say "bigger is better"

I am 37 and I have seen the big shift. Growing up every boy could not wait to turn 10 when dad would take him out and teach him the art of the rifle. Then at Christmas or Birthday you would get your very own Marlin Mod 60!
You had space to take a fishing pole and a .22lr in case you ran into a snake, or if you didn't catch anything an old soup can you put worms in the night before.
People want to be in town for a cheaper commute, and less want to be out in the country. The big push to be able to afford a descent life style as wages stagnated but inflation grew, not to mention, the need for both mom and dad to work now-a-days to put food on the table and a roof over our heads. Yup that NAFTA sure did us a favor!
I think the lack of leadership from the top down is what has done us in.

It's a real trend. Probably due mostly to CCW laws, as mentioned.

Just 4 years ago, Bass Pro Shops had only a few handguns- maybe 5-10 on display. Now, 1/2 of their glass case at the gun counter is devoted to handguns, with dozens upon dozens of models, and they're planning to expand handguns even more.

Me, I like rifles a lot more than handguns, and consequently, have almost 2.5 times as many rifles as handguns.

There are two gun cultures in the USA with some overlap.

For the scholarly -

Wyant, B.R., & Taylor, R. B. (2007). Size of household firearm collections: implication for subcultures and gender. Criminology, 45, 519-546.

I don't get to shoot very often since ammo is so expensive. I have far more rifles than I do pistols. I also enjoy shooting rifles more than pistols. But since all the rifle ranges now are private, I don't think shooting at a 25 yard indoor range is all that fun with rifles. Top that off with the fact that many private ranges have limited memberships, $200+ membership fees, and required work one weekend a month or more for events. As a full time student, I have neither the time to volunteer or the money for the ammo for membership to be worthwhile.

So, when I go to the range I usually just have my pistols and my shotgun.

When I first went gun shopping, a rifle was out of the question for me.

After obtaining a couple of pistols ang learning about their limitations in SHTF scenerios, that's when I invested in my AR.

Well I am almost 22, and I have far more pistols than anything else. I have one .22 rifle, a CZ 452, and one .223/5.56 rifle, a CMMG M4gery, which I bought partly because I wanted a rifle but also because I don't feel that I get enough range time in the Guard. I am partly allaying that by participating in the marksmanship program, starting last weekend. I also have one shotgun, a Mossberg 500A Persuader, bought because I wanted a shotgun and also because of its incredible versatility, and now I can participate in some shotgun sports like clays.

But the big problem is, my shooting area is only about 50-75 yards at best. Also, I have very few friends who are willing to spend ANY money at all on shooting, though they like to shoot occasionally. They seem to want to shoot just to shoot, not really caring much if they hit anything or even have anything to hit. I have only been able to get someone to go clay-throwing with me once so far (and it was so much fun, I am hooked on moving targets!) sice I bought my shotgun on Independence Day, and I was the one who put the money down on all the shells, the clays, and the manual thrower. It gets really old shooting with people who don't wanna pay to play, or won't, or can't. So my pistols are my best friends, because I can take them out, set up by myself, shoot by myself, clean by myself, do everything on my own, and still gain some skill while I am doing it. Shooting at stationary clays with a shotgun sucks.

Well I'm part of the "MTV generation" (Although I never had cable growing up, and didn't watch MTV even if it was an option) But needless to say I'm in that Age range.

I'm also guilty of being a "Counterstrike Commando", video games ARE the reason I got into guns.

My Folks don't like guns, my dad is dismissive, and my mother is scared of them. Airsoft, BB, Paintball guns, all banned from my home.

When I was 18 and got my own place my curiosity turned into desire. I went out and bought an HK-91 clone (CAI Sporter S).

Yeah I know, wierd first buy. Had never shot a gun, held a gun, or cleaned a gun before this moment.

Fact of the matter is I had NO ONE to turn to for advice, or support. The only true influence on my purchase were games like Rainbow Six, Ghost Recon etc etc......

So I self-educated (More research than actuall shooting) And quickly realised that a Pistol was the tool for "Me"(for the same reasons previously listed). I now own 6 Pistols, 1 shotgun, and 2 rifles, I would consider myself a pistol fanatic. (probably shot 9k pistol rounds vs 500 Rifle, maybe 50 shotgun rounds.)

I can't help think I'm not alone in my course of firearms experience. So I felt my story was worth sharing.

P.S. I still have never shot at a clay in the air (w/ a shotgun), didn't know what a "choke" was untill I had a Saiga .410 instruction manual in my hands, have never fired a rifle w/ a scope, or shot a rifle any further than 100 yards. My folks have 3 Acres, but seeing as how I don't live with them (and live across the entire country), and am not allowed to even bring a gun to their property, chances stand I will continue to spend my time at indoor urban ranges w/ my handgun(s).

P.P.S. believe it or not there are "real" gunnies who like Counterstrike

I've been shoot'in since the late 60's- early 70's; mostly as a handgun person
myself, but I think the trend is due to the increase in the violence within our
society. No city (or rural area) is really "SAFE" anymore; crime can and does
happen, even in the most afluent neighborhoods. Case in point, the Jon Benoit
Ramsey unsolved murder case in Boulder, CO. The case remains open, but I
kind'a doubt her killer will ever be found; unless the "Cold Case Detectives"
get a solid lead~!

I would consider myself a new shooter (about 2 years now, starting at age 21) and the reason I started with the guns I did is pretty simple:

First, I bought a S&W revolver because of Indiana Jones and Humphrey Bogart.

Second, I bought a bolt-action .22 because of "Saving Private Ryan".

I currently want an M14 pattern rifle because of "Black Hawk Down".

if you have zero real life exposure to firearms then your first choice will be influenced by movies and video games. As long as you are a responsible shooter and gun owner I don't see that it matters.

P.P.S. believe it or not there are "real" gunnies who like Counterstrike

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haha, played it last night..

Call of Duty 1 and 2 games got me interested in the Mosin Nagant (my first gun).

Its a lot easier to find a pistol range than a rifle range.