American or Foreign Firearms

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Vector

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I've typically bought American guns for a variety of reasons, but at least to some extent with the buy American credo in the back of my mind. Some items you don't have a choice, and must buy foreign, but with firearms we have many great choices.
I've been tempted to buy a shotgun for many years now and was ready to get either a Rem 870 or Moss 500 as they are quality weapons and reasonably priced. However a buddy has a Benelli semi auto (I think a M3) which is very nice. Of course it comes with a heftier price tag, but if I can find a lightly used one it might take the sting out of it.
So I has wondering what everyones overall views were on buying American firearms vs. foreign, and also if anyone had an opinion on whether the Benelli was worth the money compared with the others I mentioned?
 
Benelli makes a very good, light shotgun. No doubts there. Whether it's worth a grand or more is up to you.
 
Americans make good guns. So do companies in other countries. I don't limit myself.
 
In specialty goods I have no compunction to buy American. Let's face it, some places have great traditions (yes, even outside the US) in producing great stuff.
Daily use disposables I do buy not only American, but also local. But to be honest ... when I really care about something ... I'll buy whatever does it the best. And in this case a Beretta gun is hard to beat ... or a Russian vodka .... or an American Bourbon ... or French cheese.
Go with what you feel is truly the best. Because it's nice to be patriotic, but it's not nice to shun a proud tradition.
 
Luckily most of the guns I like are american made. I wouldn't mind buying a foreign made firearm though it depends what it is.

Benelli makes a nice shotgun. I would go for one of the pumps you mentioned myself, but that's just because I like a pump shotgun. If I wanted a benelli it would be the Nova since it's a pump.
 
I too like em all. If I was presented with a choice between two equally capable guns of comparable price... one foreign, the other domestic... I would pick the one that is made here. However, it is rare to have such equalities.
For example, American revolvers from S&W, Colt or Ruger beat virtually any imported wheel gun in quality hands down. Yet, it is hard to say the same for auto's... foreign-designed auto's from Sig, Glock, Beretta, XD, CZ, HK, etc... offer some undeniable quality that I would not shun on a basis of their country of origin.
 
For me, it isn't American -vs- foreign. It's whatever provides the best bang for the buck in terms of performance & value. I love Smiths & Colts but I also spend money on H&R/NEF, Taurus, and Russian/former commie surplus.
 
Benelli makes a nice shotgun. I would go for one of the pumps you mentioned myself, but that's just because I like a pump shotgun. If I wanted a benelli it would be the Nova since it's a pump.
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My friends Benelli has both semi auto or pump. He can switch by the flick of a switch. If I have to pay over $1k, I'm probably going with one of the others. However I was hoping to find a lightly used one for less. How much less would be the question. I wonder what the lowest price I could expect to find one for?
 
I don't care who makes the guns I own. If I had a favorite it would be Geman/Swiss manufacted firearms though.
 
Nushif said:
In specialty goods I have no compunction to buy American. Let's face it, some places have great traditions (yes, even outside the US) in producing great stuff.
Daily use disposables I do buy not only American, but also local. But to be honest ... when I really care about something ... I'll buy whatever does it the best. And in this case a Beretta gun is hard to beat ... or a Russian vodka .... or an American Bourbon ... or French cheese.
Go with what you feel is truly the best. Because it's nice to be patriotic, but it's not nice to shun a proud tradition.
Click to expand...
I tend to agree. However for things like tools, I try to keep it American. Lets face it, one of the reasons so many American industries no longer exist is because of the Wal Mart mentality of buying so cheap, no American company could possibly compete from a price standpoint. I am not some union member or have that type of mentality, but there is something to be said about trying to buy quality American products over the foreign competition.
 
Being a prior mechanic ... I'd say tools are a daily use disposable. The same would apply if I dunno I was a "professional shotgun user." Personally, it'd be local, simply because of infrastructure. Parts would be miles cheaper than abusing a Benelli or Beretta and then having to repair it.

But even then, I've never had a better knife than the stubby little Craftsman fold-outs. Miles better than pretty much any other knife I've ever used. And they are some of the few that don't break when you pry open airplane panels.
 
I buy american whenever possible. It burns me up seeing all those foreign cars on the roads. Maybe they were "assembled" in america, but they were designed and tested elsewhere(I believe that takes many bodies to do than to assemble a car) and the $$ goes to a company based in a foreign country.
 
It's not "American made guns" vs. "Foreign made guns". It's a "high quality vs. low quality".

I buy quality products....regardless of where it made.
 
What really does it mean to have an American label these days? The Hemi engines in the Dodge line up are made in Mexico. I believe the Dodge Caravans are Canadian made. Chevy and Ford both have their share of foreign parts as well. Boeing has built the new 777 and 787 by parts from other countries. Wings from one country, fuselage from another country, empennage from yet a third country, etc.

For me, I prefer Russian firearms, or at least Russian caliber firearms. They are exotic and when you take them to the range, they're real head turners. I've never had one fail to go boom when you pull the trigger.
 
I have no problem buying foreign guns. I have never sat down and thought about it really, but I am sure a good deal of my guns are foreign. I am not buying a product to do anyone else a favor, I am buying what suits me the best. Sometimes the foreign guns are better, sometimes the American guns are the better deal. Look at one of the threads in the semi auto section, Remington 1911 vs STI. Not a single person last I looked could recommend the Remington over the gun from the Philippenes.

It burns me up seeing all those foreign cars on the roads.
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I have owned two American cars, and both were absolute crap. They were newer models and I had nothing but problems. I have since replaced them with Honda and a Toyota. If American companies want my business, you have to compete for it, build a better car. YMMV
 
Yep buy American, get a Walther, or a Beretta, or a FN....
Or buy a nice American gun like a 1911... on a Brazilian frame or a good ol XD, from Croatia
 
I would gladly buy american in situations where I sacrifice neither price nor quality, all things being equal. Otherwise, no.
 
For me its all about what I want from it.
The American Nagants tend to have a (much) higher price then their soviet counterparts ;)
But my primary bolt gun is a 70's Rem700, my primary handgun a CZ75B, I also have an Ar-15...

My Mossberg Plinkster was assembled in Venezuela... so im confused on where to put that one :D

Che, I'm all over the place! I just buy whatever I think would best fit my needs. Im more of a classic rifle guy anyway...
 
I buy American when possible but am not totally loyal when it comes to firearms. Engineering both domestic and foreign produce quality weapons. I bought a Turkish made O/U 12 gauge shot gun a couple of years ago because I could not afford the over $1000 plus price tags on over / unders shotguns that I liked. This particular shotgun has beautiful walnut stocks and checkering along with some engraving that I got for $500 a few years ago. It has served me well when dove hunting and skeet shooting. On the other hand I did also buy tactical 870 with a 18 1/2 inch barrel in 20 gauge. It has the Knoxx special ops stock. It is a blast to shoot.
 
As it turns out, the vast majority of my firearms are American (S&W in particular). I own a few foreign guns, a Finnish M39 and a CZ-452 come immediately to mind. My Springer 1911 is a mix of American and Foreign components. All the others are made in the USA (S&W and Ruger revolvers, H&R, Marlin, Mossberg, Del-Ton, Heritage Mfg). As others have said, all things being equal I'll certainly buy American, but in the end I buy what best meets my needs.

It burns me up seeing all those foreign cars on the roads. Maybe they were "assembled" in america, but they were designed and tested elsewhere(I believe that takes many bodies to do than to assemble a car) and the $$ goes to a company based in a foreign country.
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Not all "foreign" cars are designed in foreign countries. What is more American, a Toyota designed in California and assembled in Kentucky, or a Ford designed in Detroit and assembled in Mexico? Heck, the new Ford Festiva was designed (for the most part) in Europe. Don't recall where it is assembled.

Strange times we live in.
 
It's not "American made guns" vs. "Foreign made guns". It's a "high quality vs. low quality".
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Good comment.

I select the best tool at the best price I can find. American companies are free to compete for my dollar. S&W and Mossberg and Ruger all got my money.
 
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