Best quality gun manufacturers???????

Status
Not open for further replies.

hornblower

Member
Joined
Feb 14, 2008
Messages
41
Location
Southwest Florida
As a newcomer, decerning the best quality gun manufacturers is difficult. It seems that every manufacturer has more than its fair share of detractors.

Who are the manufacturers, both handgun and long gun, considered to make the highest quality guns?

I am not talking about very expensive esoteric guns, but rather those manufactured by companies that are mentioned over and over in these forums, like:

Kimber
Kahr
Sig Sauer
Glock
Springfield
Colt
Ruger
etc.

I would really welcome input and facts that support the opinions.

Thank you.
 
A better list of contemporary firearms manufacturers concerning quality may be those that do not make high quality weapons.

I'll let more knowledgeable folks line up for this one, but I'd say that, in order to stay in business in these tough times, most firearms manufacturers are putting out fine stock.

Because there are so many fine weapons out there, past and present, it is going to come down to your personal preferences.
 
I wouldn't hesitate buying from any of the companies you list. They all make fine, high quality guns. I'd add CZ, S&W and HK to the list.
 
Every manufacturer you mentioned makes a gun I want. None are better products based on quality. They are simply all different guns that serve different purposes.
All preference.
 
What about STI? How does an STI 1911 rank in comparison to, let's say, a Springfield Armory 1911?

Just because I'm considering forking over the moolah for an STI.
 
Auto Ordnance.

Why? Because they kept to the "old ways". They were original manufacturers of the 1911 and Thompson subguns during the first half of the 20th century.
Not only they use the original tooling, plus some newer advancements from Kahr, they also produce high quality, yet budget priced items.

Anyone, from a soldier on the field to a homeowner living in a crime ridden neighborhood, should not feel any way underarmed with an Auto Ordnance 1911A1.
 
A lot of times it is not much different than the Ford/Chevy/Dodge debate, influenced as much by personal preference as actual quantifiable quality
 
A lot of times it is not much different than the Ford/Chevy/Dodge debate, influenced as much by personal preference as actual quantifiable quality

But I've never seen a sticker of Calving p***ing on a Ruger emblem. :)
 
I've owned a variety of Ruger products during the past 45 years and have never ever experienced so much as a hiccup in any of them, from revolvers to rifles. +1 also on the German-made Walthers ... still the real deal.
 
This isn't probably one that will be mentioned and may be on the "very expensive esoteric guns" list but Shiloh makes works of art and are one of the best built guns that I have ever owned and had the pleasure to shoot.

I shot this weekend and IMO the old BP's are some of the best shooting a person can have.
 
Like some said, nearly ALL modern gun makers make high quality firearms - very high in fact - even those considered low-end. So it would be easier to make a list of the companies who put out crap - very short list.

But having said that, I think I can answer your question of what brands are considered "prestige" brands, among non-custom factory-made brands - arguable whether they're actually better, but most people perceive that they are:

-Colts
-Sig-Sauer/ Sig Arms
-Thompson Center
-HK
-Browning
-Steyr
-Sako
-Anschutz
-Walther
-Cooper
-(old) Winchesters
-(old) Smith & Wessons
 
Aha! What do you mean by quality?

There are some purists who believe the high cost of machining parts drove the manufacturers to investment cast receivers, MIM internal parts, and hammer-forged barrels, and that these are inferior to the original production methods.

For fun, research "Pre-64 Winchester Model 70" and read about the endless argument on whether the modern production Winchesters are their equal.

It isn't easy to define quality. To be sure, there are poorly made investment cast receivers, but Ruger's are generally of high quality, have proper heat treat and final machining. I believe the same is true of MIM parts, and hammer-forged rifling. If you look, you can find bad examples, but these shouldn't condemn the production method. Just that company.

If you define quality as "reliable and withstands typical field abuse", then many of the modern synthetic-stocked stainless wonders are higher quality than some earlier rifles.

For many, quality gets mixed up with aesthetics. When they describe a rifle as high quality, they are referring to the evidence of hand-fitted actions, detailed hand-checkering and the like.

So, if you research this stuff at length, you will probably wind up in the same position I am....confused. ( :) )

To summarize, I believe each of us has to define quality according to our own standards. Standards which vary according to our needs.
 
I think you would be better served W/ a list of what to avoid. For starters stay away from

Llama & Jimenez Arms
 
In the 44 years that I have owned firearms, probably my best overall experience has been with Rugers and Glocks. Both are sturdy, reliable, and reasonably accurate firearms. I've owned over 100 firearms and the only manufacturer you listed that I've had problems with is Kimber. I've owned 4 of their 1911s, and two of them were stinkers. I know a lot of people love them, but I guess my luck must just be bad.
 
As a newcomer, decerning the best quality gun manufacturers is difficult. It seems that every manufacturer has more than its fair share of detractors.

hornblower-you're off to a good start, there. I have a suggestion: Since you are a fellow floridian, I would recommend you visit the next sun coast gun show:
http://www.suncoastgunshows.com/
Once there, DO NOT BUY! (Very rarely will you get any kind of deal). Handle every gun you can and make note of the ones you like the fit, feel, quality of. Maybe write it down or something, and then come back here on THR and do a search on it. I've learned so much by reading and researching here at THR. Also, check out your local ranges and see if any rent guns. A good way to find out what you like is to handle and if possible, shoot everything you can get your hands on.

If you're wanting to move quickly, you can never go wrong with a 22lr. You'll probably end up getting one anyway and you can get started cheap while you get informed. Either a Ruger Mark III or a Browning Buckmark would give you a lifetime of service for a good price.
 
To Avoid:

Jennings
Jimenez
Bryco
Cobray
Taurus (older ones, and all small autoloading .22s)
Vulcan Armament
JoeKen
Special Weapons
Rohm
Comanche revolvers
Any AR-7 "survival .22" by any company
Winchester 1911SL
Sig Mosquito

To be wary of:
Century builds
Heavy Metal builds
Rossi (older)
Iver Johnson revolvers
"Sporterized" military surplus rifles
Bushmaster .308s and Carbon-15s
Shotguns with damascus-steel barrels

Also, never, ever, not on your life, buy a rifle from the CMP. At least, tell your friends not to. They dry up quickly and the prices keep getting higher. :D
 
I still like my old H & R Model 904. I also like my new Bersa Thunder.

Being retired and living on a fixed income, I cannot afford those high dollar guns that you rich guys shoot ... :) .....lol

My kids hate it when I bring up that old saying ( living on a fixed retirement income ). It's been a standing joke since I retired and one I heard from my Dad after he retired. :)

Chris
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top