Current handgun trends

its what most american production is set for right now.

With the current trend of most States approving concealed carry, I wouldn't be surprised.

Based on a conversation at a LGS, the compact and smaller handguns are the big sellers for concealed carry. Folks going for open carry/hunting/target guns want the full size versions. But CC is the trend around here.

Jeff

At my local GS and range and with the small local group we have, guns that can be carried concealed are the top of the sales heap. Obviously that covers a wide range of guns but "pocket" sized and thinner guns generally are outselling everything else by a "substantial margin" according to the owners. I personally purchased 4 guns last year that I kept (we purchased a number of guns that were sold after we experienced them...) and all of them were subcompact guns.

VooDoo

This is what I see at shops and shows..

Concealable over not.
Auto over revolver.
Trends usually(but not always) change.

The contrarian should be on the lookout for quality revolvers on the cheap.

All you have to do to confirm that it's true is check the guns on display at your local retailer. I have found that there are more small frame, small (er) caliber handguns than ever before. And the number seems to be increasing.

Also, there is a larger variety of "defensive" ammunition than I have ever seen before.

Philoe; I am a contratian, but so far I have not found any "smoking deals" on revolvers, new or used. But I am still hopeful!

My last two new gun purchases were an LCR and a J-frame. My next purchase will be a Glock 30s and then a Ruger SR9c. I live in IL and we just got the go ahead on ccw. So yeah, I believe that trend to be true.

Where does it go after plastic? We got small, we got lightweight is this it till the pocket phaser? I think maybe a step back, Everything old is new again comes to mind.

Women are the fastest growing segment of the shooting community. Many of them are so because of the desire to protect themselves and their loved ones. Thus they are buying guns that fit them and fit them when carried concealed. CWC is the one area many long time gun owners did not/do not have covered. Not only because it may not have been legal before in their area, but because most did not see a need years ago. Trends do change....as has been said. When Hi-Cap handguns became the rage, all you saw on the handgun shelves were big, clumsy, double stackers. Tactical became the rage and all you saw was black, earth tone and duo-tone guns with light rails. When hunting with big bore revolvers became the talk of the internet, yep...big stainless revolvers with half-inch holes in the end of the barrel were the hot item. Now it's small and easily concealed guns for cwc. Funny thing is, even tho they are meant to be inconspicuous, and not seen, they still need to be pretty or cool, to catch the buyers eye.

The current craze nowdays would seem to be flyweight plastic pocket pistols. A joy to carry but require a lot more skill and work to hit with. Of course they don't tell their prospective customers about that. Everyone also seems to believe that they absolutely must carry the hottest +++P+++ ammo they can find. Good luck with that in a flyweight pocket pistol. I grew up with all steel S&W revolvers and 5 in. 1911s in a nice leather carry rig. I am too old to change now.

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The whole gun world is changing with the development of the self-defense culture. It used to be that the gun world was dominated by the sports/hunting paradigm. However, research has demonstrated that the self-def. paradigm is becoming more important.

Thus, it makes sense that practical to carry SD handguns would increase in sales. The development of lighter guns and better rounds in the 9mm and smaller calibers interacts.

The current craze nowdays would seem to be flyweight plastic pocket pistols

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If the only CC choices were metal snubbies or full size metal pistols there'd be no CC craze.

it makes sense that practical to carry SD handguns would increase in sales

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It's my belief that the plastic SD gun saved the gun industry, how long will the current CC craze go? Is it just a fad? If so then sooner or latter we'll see total market saturation.

Time for colt to re-release the Detective Special.

The most recent manufacturing data from 2011.

http://www.atf.gov/files/statistics...inal-firearms-manufacturing-export-report.pdf

I see more and more ads for slimmer and/or smaller semi-auto pistols for concealed carry.

I have had more FTF's and malfunctions with semi-autos than revolvers so I carry a Poly-Protector .357 revolver. If I can't hit my target in 5 shots 10 shots isn't going to help. The key to any concealed carry weapon is practice with drawing and aiming.

Btolle

Can't help but notice that my most recent handgun purchases have not been the big comforting Ruger revolvers that I enjoy shooting but smaller plastic guns that are not so much fun to shoot but fit in my pocket or just weigh less.

Philoe; I am a contratian, but so far I have not found any "smoking deals" on revolvers, new or used. But I am still hopeful!

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The real reason for this is that those that have older revolvers - big and little - seem to be holding on to them rather then selling. Of course they're exceptions, but I'm not finding them like I used to.

Pocket revolvers vs. Plastic pistols: At the manufacturing level the profit margin of pistols over revolvers is substantial, once the tooling for the polymer (or whatever plastic) is paid for. Because of they're basic construction revolvers are more expensive to make, but this may be changing if the marketplace will accept the same construction they see in pistols.

Currently most of the demand for full-size/9mm and larger pistols is coming from the law enforcement segment.

I typically buy duty sized guns. I like big, comfortable shooting, intimidating looking handguns. Most of them see range or HD use, but I carry them around often as lifestyle and dress allows.

That said, on vacation, I'll be packing a little LCP stuffed into my cargo shorts pocket. Too much crap to cart around for my wife and 4 year old to bother with another couple pounds of handgun on my hip. However, it's the only "compact" gun in my rotation. My SP101 is concealable, but it's a heavy brute. My full size FNH pistols are thinner than a Glock, but they aren't what I consider ideal for the IWB role. The same thing can be said about my Beretta and 1911s. They're robust.

I still think there is a very good use for a Mouse Gun like the LCP.

There is no doubt the buying public prefers these tiny monsters. You really have to commit to wearing 30-50oz of gun on your belt. It's way easier to drop a single stack micro in your pocket or purse and be done with it.

Fiv3r said:

I typically buy duty sized guns. I like big, comfortable shooting, intimidating looking handguns. Most of them see range or HD use, but I carry them around often as lifestyle and dress allows.



That said, on vacation, I'll be packing a little LCP stuffed into my cargo shorts pocket. Too much crap to cart around for my wife and 4 year old to bother with another couple pounds of handgun on my hip. However, it's the only "compact" gun in my rotation. My SP101 is concealable, but it's a heavy brute. My full size FNH pistols are thinner than a Glock, but they aren't what I consider ideal for the IWB role. The same thing can be said about my Beretta and 1911s. They're robust.



I still think there is a very good use for a Mouse Gun like the LCP.



There is no doubt the buying public prefers these tiny monsters. You really have to commit to wearing 30-50oz of gun on your belt. It's way easier to drop a single stack micro in your pocket or purse and be done with it.

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I agree wholeheartedly with what you wrote. I myself have been complacent recently and have taken to sticking a S&W 637 in my pocket and forgetting about it.

Recently my father and I were having a discussion about reaction times. He likes to pocket carry his LCP. We tested ourselves sitting in the drivers seat of our vehicles how long it took get the gun out of the pocket and into play. We also tested the time standing to get it into play versus from a quality holster.

The results were eye opening. While standing it was more than twice as fast from holster as pocket, sitting in the car there wasn't even a comparison.

Pocket carry was convenient but sure wasn't effective it seems. My other holster guns are full size do I am now looking to get a Glock 30s and possible a Ruger SR9c.

Pocket carry was convenient but sure wasn't effective it seems.

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To me the advantage of pocket carry is you can get you hand in the pocket and get a grip Before you need to draw, but then that means you need to be aware of the surroundings and situation.

huntsman said:

To me the advantage of pocket carry is you can get you hand in the pocket and get a grip Before you need to draw, but then that means you need to be aware of the surroundings and situation.

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Unfortunately sometimes that situation sneaks up on you , especially in a car, and that's where the worst implementation times were.

Agreed. I no longer wear tight jeans at age 60 but I also don't believe that I own one single pair of pants that will allow me to draw a gun from my pocket as easily or as fast as drawing it from a belt mounted holster.

I do think the lack of speed of pocket draw is skimmed over by some. We hear it 20 times a day on gun boards decrying that an unchambered carry weapon is "useless" or "might as well be a brick" etc.

But to be honest, unless I've got my hand in my pocket, gripping my gun, and angling it for fast draw, I can draw and chamber an aimed round from my covered owb hip holster much faster that I could a chambered subcompact/pocket pistol.

Now, I don't carry unchambered. I'm just making a point. Pocket pistols are great if you have big pockets and have enough time to get your hand on your gun to get it out. I'm just as guilty as anyone. I usually carry mine in my back pocket "just in case". It's not fast on the draw, but I would rather at least have it on my person than not. It's not the best for immediate presentation, but if I were found in a situation that degrades quickly, I would be glad to have that .380 even if I need to fumble a bit to get it out.

The irony of my pocket-friendly guns is that they seem to work best in large coat pockets. Coats which are dandy at concealing a hip holster making a pocket or subcompact a moot point. That said, even if I'm carrying a larger gun on my hip while wearing a coat, I'll have a .380 or .357 hiding away at the ready.

I'm getting off topic here
I think the compact market is here to stay for awhile. Personally, I don't mind WHAT people buy as long as they are buying something and learning to use it instead of keeping it as a crutch.