Are Handguns Getting Too Heavy?

[Confederate]

Maybe I'm getting too old (60), but it seems that people are settling for guns that are too big and heavy. High capacity pistols are heavy just because of the ammo capacity; and revolvers no longer are light and sleek. Gone are the S&W 19/66s, and Model 10s with skinny barrels. Seems everyone wants a heavy barrel.

I remember when Ruger introduced its Heavy Barrel Security-Six. It was on the covers of all the gun magazines. I had a regular barrel stainless steel Security-Six and, being young and not knowing much, I sold it and bought the new model. Big deal. Still, the balance was good and the gun ended up not living up to the hype.

Going into gun stores, I loved looking over the wares and I always gravitated to the lighter guns, but now I heft the new GP-100 and the balance is horrible! And there aren't any smaller versions. Isn't there a market for a rugged lighter gun that are good for camping and hiking? Seems the .357s are built for range use only. A lot of people ask about S&W 686s with tapered barrels, but none are available.

Also, all the smaller guns have vanished. Most states have outlawed the Jennings and Raven autos, and it's nearly impossible to get a .25 or .22LR pocket pistol like the Berettas.

 

[smalls]

Depends on what it's gonna be used for.

Target guns should be heavier to tame recoil as much as possible.

For carry? Well weight is pretty much subjective. And all handguns are a compromise. You have to determine for yourself where weight, capacity, size and effectiveness meet.

Some people want a .32 in a tiny package. Some want a .44 in as small of a fun they can get. Some don't mind lugging around a couple extra ounces.

 

[MedWheeler]

I miss heavy guns.. I thought they were getting too light...

 

[45_auto]

High capacity pistols are heavy just because of the ammo capacity; and revolvers no longer are light and sleek. Gone are the S&W 19/66s, and Model 10s with skinny barrels.

Have you ever looked at the actual weights of the guns you're talking about?

A 2.5" Model 66 weighs 31 oz unloaded. A 4" pencil-barrel model 10 weighs 30 oz unloaded. A 4" heavy barrel model 10 weighs 34 oz unloaded.

A Glock 19 weighs 30 oz LOADED with 16 rounds.

You believe that a loaded 30 oz semi-auto is heavy, but a revolver that is even heavier unloaded is "light and sleek"?

Internet logic is frequently baffling to me.

 

[Pilot]

If you want a light pistol, the polymer or some of the alloy framed SEMI-AUTOS are better, especially the smaller 9MM, like the Ruger SR9, Walther PPS, S&W Shield, XDc, Sig P938, etc.

There are now polymer framed revolvers from Ruger, as well as the older alloy stuff like the S&W 642, etc. There are still lighter revolver options out there. You don't need a .22, or .25, especially NOT a Raven or Lorcin.

 

[critter]

Well, if light is what you want---this might work. I have a S&W 337. Think S&W model 36 in .38 special with an AL alloy frame and Ti cylinder. Under 12 oz!

BTW, you WON'T have to ask anybody if it went off when you pull the trigger. It WILL let you know.

 

[Sam1911]

Gotta agree. By far -- BY FAR -- most handguns sold now are made of the lightest possible weight materials.

It seems to be becoming harder to find a heavy all-steel handgun, not easier.

 

[Pilot]

Yep. All steel pistols seem to be an anachronism today. Even CZ has gone polymer, but thank goodness they still produce their all steel, and alloy framed pistols alongside the polymer stuff. BHP's are in short supply, and increasingly expensive, always with talk of discontinuing them.

Only the 1911, and some revolvers seem to stay with the concept of all steel construction.

 

[tarosean]

It seems to be becoming harder to find a heavy all-steel handgun, not easier.

+1

then add in stipulations like no locks or rails. and you might as well be headed up the proverbial "creek"

 

[hariph creek]

Seems to me, things trend towards lighter and smaller?
People are starting to confuse uber-tiny deep concealment pieces, with range guns. Then complain about recoil, inaccuracy, etc...
.22's, .25's, and to a lesser extent .32's have gone away because .380' are (now) the same size (or smaller).
9's have gotten small enough that even .380's could be supplanted, somewhat.
I think appreciation for full sized "shootable" guns has slackened. Too often, when someone asks HD gun recommendations for; young, small, petite, weak, elderly, arthritic, etc... The general recommendations are for the smallest, lightest, recoil intensive, hard to shoot, flavor of the month.

All that said? I don't like full under lugs on revolvers. I'll take a taper barrel, any day.
Feather weight carry pieces have their place. I prefer STEEL for a "shooter."

 

[Certaindeaf]

Things weigh the same as they always have unless we've entered the Twilight Zone.
You can always get any of your old favorites.. they weigh the same now as then.
It's probably you.. do you have problems handling a 2 pound+ gun now?
I like a 2-3 pound full-size gun for shooting and carrying.. though I carry a lightweight revolver occasionally.
It seems there about a thousand times as many light guns now as compared to the past.

 

[manithree]

Nope. I'm pretty sure mine are all the same weight they were when I bought them (unlike me).

 

[WoodchuckAssassin]

I've tried the "plastic fantastic" type of gun, but have always gone back to the heavy metal. As far as carry goes, I like the slightly heavier weight of a metal gun (I carry a S&W m60).

I think that 2 or 3 years ago was the height of the plastic fad. I've noticed it leveling off over the past year, but I haven't seen the public switching back to heavier guns quite yet. I'll be excited when everyone else figures out that metal is king!

 

[Certaindeaf]

There's nothing super heavy about a 3" M-13 but it's about perfect as far as fighting revolvers go. It's sure no lightweight (these days) though.

 

[Schwing]

I have found myself gravitating to heavier guns over the years. I even purchased the good old GP100 with that almost ridiculously heavy underlug and love it more than my Smith and Wesson 686.

 

[wolf695]

Keep looking, there are many new light framed out there!

 

[easyg]

Going into gun stores, I loved looking over the wares and I always gravitated to the lighter guns, but now I heft the new GP-100 and the balance is horrible!

What barrel length did you hold?
I find the 4" GP100 to have a nice balance....a bit nose heavy, but that is a good thing when actually shooting. It helps reduce muzzle flip and allows you to get back on target faster.

And there aren't any smaller versions. Isn't there a market for a rugged lighter gun that are good for camping and hiking? Seems the .357s are built for range use only.

Maybe you should check out the Ruger SP101.
The 4.20" barrel model weighs 29.50 oz.
The 2.25" barrel model weighs a mere 26.00 oz.

And if you're not recoil shy you can always get the Ruger LCR in .357 magnum.
It only weighs 16.6 oz.
It's definitely not built for range use only!

Personally, I don't want to shoot a 16 oz. .357 magnum revolver.



Easy

 

[tomrkba]

I thought the Ruger Alaskan wasn't too bad to carry in the appendix position. However, I use a kydex reinforced Comp-Tac belt. Paraphrasing Jim Cirillo from Guns, Bullets and Gunfights: "Nobody ever wished for a smaller gun with fewer bullets in a gun fight."

I'm pretty much done with snubby revolvers and am moving toward four and five inch barrels since those are the longest I can practically conceal. The longer barrels are so much easier to shoot that the only reason to have a small framed snubby is for pocket carry. One could pocket carry the Alaskan, but you'd need 12"x12" pockets!

 

[PabloJ]

Maybe I'm getting too old (60), but it seems that people are settling for guns that are too big and heavy. High capacity pistols are heavy just because of the ammo capacity; and revolvers no longer are light and sleek. Gone are the S&W 19/66s, and Model 10s with skinny barrels. Seems everyone wants a heavy barrel.

I remember when Ruger introduced its Heavy Barrel Security-Six. It was on the covers of all the gun magazines. I had a regular barrel stainless steel Security-Six and, being young and not knowing much, I sold it and bought the new model. Big deal. Still, the balance was good and the gun ended up not living up to the hype.

Going into gun stores, I loved looking over the wares and I always gravitated to the lighter guns, but now I heft the new GP-100 and the balance is horrible! And there aren't any smaller versions. Isn't there a market for a rugged lighter gun that are good for camping and hiking? Seems the .357s are built for range use only. A lot of people ask about S&W 686s with tapered barrels, but none are available.

Also, all the smaller guns have vanished. Most states have outlawed the Jennings and Raven autos, and it's nearly impossible to get a .25 or .22LR pocket pistol like the Berettas.

For all around use Glock 20 is hard to beat. I just bought my second one. The only use I see for revolvers is big game hunting, cowboy action shooting or for someone who is looking for simple mode of operation. That simple mode of operation stops after last cartridge in cylinder is fired. In defensive/combat worthy cartridge the most one can get is EIGHT cartridges which is not enough. Each of my autos can be loaded with 16 cartridges.

 

[CDW4ME]

A Glock 36 (45 acp) weighs about 23 oz empty with magazine.
A Glock 27 (40 S&W) is about 22 oz empty with magazine.

 

[Cosmoline]

The steel handguns do seem to be getting heavier. The plastic and titanium ones are getting lighter. The fine art of machining and fitting steel to be as light as possible while remaining strong is being lost in favor of bulkier pieces. That's why you don't see fine tuned pencil barrel revolvers anymore.

 

[CraigC]

I think the two sides are moving away from the middle. The light guns are getting lighter and lighter and the heavy guns are getting heavier.

The only use I see for revolvers is big game hunting, cowboy action shooting or for someone who is looking for simple mode of operation.

Methinks you left out a whole bunch of stuff, as usual. I have hunting handguns and I hunt with them but the dedicated hunting revolvers number a scant two. The other two dozen are used for any purpose for which a handgun is appropriate.

Let me get this straight, a 1911 is too complicated because you have to flick the safety off before you can fire but revolvers are simple until you have to reload and Glocks are perfect. Eight cartridges is not enough for a typical self defense scenario? My God man, do you want to be bothered with having to operate a handgun or do you want somebody to shoot it for you too???

 

[tomrkba]

The steel handguns do seem to be getting heavier.

Nah...people are fat and out of shape. Problems associated with firearm weight are compounded by using inadequate belts and holsters. Mental attitude is a big deal and they want "convenience" over "effectiveness". Such is the way of our stupid American culture!

 

[Cosmoline]

People are certainly fat and out of shape, but steel handguns ARE getting heavier. Handle a PPS or M&P from the pre-war period to see what I mean. Or just compare the Security Six with the GP-100. Lugs have gotten longer, barrel walls thicker, and the frames larger in general. And then you have the massive uber-handguns created for the .454 Casull, .460 S&W and .500 S&W along with other chamberings far more potent than any earlier handgun cartridge.

You believe that a loaded 30 oz semi-auto is heavy, but a revolver that is even heavier unloaded is "light and sleek"?

That's the beauty of craftsmanship and a knowledge of how a handgun should balance. The Glocks DO sit heavier in the hand than the classic wheelguns of old even if the weight is on par or less. That's because balance has been sacrificed for ease of manufacturing, and grace sacrificed for firepower. A recent example is the Ruger line, where the full grip frames of the Sixes and Redhawks got replaced with a grip stud, throwing the balance point further forward than it should be. I've never liked shooting Super Redhawks very much, but when I recently got a Redhawk I loved it. It's far easier to hold and doesn't droop. It has a full grip frame and no extra steel around the barrel shank.

 

[Swing]

I miss heavy guns.. I thought they were getting too light...

Yep.