Have fanboys ruined a gun for you?

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I've got a take on this.


Fanboys do not ruin a firearm for me. Fanboys ruin my opinion of themselves to me.

I spend a lot of my time in Rifle Country. We are fortunate that there are quite a number of very knowledgable people in there. Some of them have favorite rifles, and they have no qualms about telling you that.

However, what sets those people apart from fanboys is that they will freely tell you the LIMITATIONS of their pet firearm. A fanboy is incapable of seeing ANY limitation in their chosen platform.


Now, *I* have platforms/manufacturers that I like more than others. I have some that I don't care for at all. I feel ZERO reservations about giving my opinion if it is asked. I do my best to qualify my statements and disclaim the reasons for my choices-- which are usually based upon the uses that I have for the platform.

But I do not feel the need to temper my opinions if they are asked in fear of being called a fanboy.

For instance... I DO believe that a Saiga is one of the better AKs made, and can be had for a very good price. I also prefer that a Saiga is converted. However, I am not keen on telling a new-to-AK's guy to go out and convert one. I'm not one to tell a guy that doesn't like to tinker to build an AR or AK, either. Some folks just want it ready to go, and don't want the hassle-- especially if it meets their needs.

But I will not pretend that a WASR is on the same lines as a Saiga or Arsenal.

But if you are just burning magazines at a range, then who cares?


My first semiauto handgun was a Glock. But I was never a fanboy beyond the fact that it always worked and has held up for the last 15 years. But I never felt compelled to drag it home from work behind my jeep to illustrate how rugged it was. And I never used that as a point of why I had one.

Then I got a 1911. NOW I get it as to what the 1911 guys have always loved about them. I still have my Glock, and it does fine. Just like my 1911.


I guess what I am trying to say is that there is nothing wrong with recognizing quality and giving that opinion if it is asked. There is nothing wrong with having a platform that you particularly like. And there is nothing wrong with having a platform that you don't care for. For instance-- I don't really care for lever actions or pump rifles. But I LOVE military semi autos and practically any bolt action. But that's just me. I also like side-by-side shotguns and dislike over-and-under ones.

I've got my reasons, and will be happy to tell you if you ask me.


But HERE is where there *IS* a problem:

And when fanboyism gets so thick that people feel boorish behavior is justified, it just drives people away.
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Having a favorite ANYTHING doesn't give ANYONE the right to be a jerk. Period. It doesn't give anyone the right to insult anyone, either.

Frankly, I consider "fanboy-ism" a BIG red-flag to being an immature amateur.

When someone comes to appreciate firearms for what they are, and for their construction, they lose the need glorify anything. They start looking at the strengths and weaknesses of any given firearm. They will give a balanced viewpoint. When a person can recognize the limitations of any firearm or caliber or whatever, they tend to lose the fanboy urge. Then they can speak of merits.

THOSE are the people that I seek advice from routinely.

If I want to know about an optic, I KNOW that Zak Smith will give me very considered point of view. There are a number of folks that have given me great advice in other areas as well.


Sorry to ramble. I think you get what I am saying. For me, Fanboy-ism is the antithesis of "expert."


-- John
 
I was glad to see somone mention scopes. Hear that, Leupold fans?

And after reading some of the threads, I swear my next gun will be a Hi-Point. I hear they come with a map to all the local liquor stores.
 
I've only fired two 1911s, one was WWII original. made by Remington Rand, I was in Korea, I couldn't hit the broad side of a barn if I was shooting from inside the barn. The other was a fluffed and buffed Norinco, a sweeter shooting gun you could not find.Say what you will about the Chinese but the Norinco's imported in the early 90s were high quality hardware.Am I bashing US made 1911s, of course not, the 45 I was issued in Korea was wore out, being in the AF, we didn't have an armorer in our squadron and command thought we would never need to fire it anyway. They were right, other than 50 rounds fired at the base range I saw no combat....
 
I am not loyal to any one design or brand. I own rifles from many different makers, and they all do their job that I bought them for.

But the one rifle that I have seen put on a pedastal that does not deserve to be is the Mosin Nagant.

I have read on forums like this about the awsome recoil, and the kill anything in a 1000yrd soviet round. I read about the awsome accuracy of these battle tough bolt actions.

The when I finally shot one I was really let down. There was no recoil worth mentioning. Kinda like a .308, and if you complain about that as a hard kicker you really should just stick to a .22 short. The accuracy was crap. And I have shouldered 2x4's that were more comfurtable.

I am sure it was good for what it was made for. A rifle for disposable cannon folder soldiers.

If you have to be a fanboy of a rifle at least make sure its a rifle worth being a fanboy over.

Now will come a dozen posts from the fanboys about the sub moa, beat all, uber Nagant.

I am a fanboy for Remington, Savage, Ruger, and Montana.

Though I am probably a rare fanboy around here since my favorite guns don't have hi capacity magazines, and aren't military issue.
 
I have read on forums like this about the awsome recoil, and the kill anything in a 1000yrd soviet round. I read about the awsome accuracy of these battle tough bolt actions.

The when I finally shot one I was really let down. There was no recoil worth mentioning. Kinda like a .308, and if you complain about that as a hard kicker you really should just stick to a .22 short.
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I am SO GLAD someone said this.

I have been trying to figure out for months why a Mosin Nagant has such devastating recoil, and yet the Remington 700 30-06 (with steel butt plate) that I've shot since I was 13 years old did not seem to kick that bad.

I haven't been able to figure out why a 91/30 with a 78" (kidding) barrel has more of a "Fireball" than the 20" barrel on the above Remington 700.

I just don't get it. Am I missing something?


I had a Mosin, and couldn't find any differences from any other 30 caliber bolt action that I had (in terms of recoil and flash)


-- John
 
Maybe it's just me, but it seems the "fanboy" phenomena is more prevalent in the handgun community. I find many of the Glocksters and H&Kers to be some of the most virulently anti 1911 folks ever, but then I do know lots of SIG and S&W revolver fans who are also big into 1911s.

A lot of the AR guys I know make me wanna puke when they get started (and I carried an AR for goshsakes in the military and have a Colt carbine for my job now). So now I just look at the AR as another tool, can't really feel any love for it at all.

Shotgun folks are either real hunters, who don't tend to be snobs, or gun club guys, who really can be bigtime shotgun snobs. I took a black-stocked 870 to my last gun club once to try and learn some stuff, it became my former gun club.

Many of the true riflemen I know, regardless of which rifle is their favorite, appreciate any quality rifle, be it Weatherby, SAKO, Winchester, Cooper, Remington, Browning, Kimber but even most of the rifle snobs I know at least appreciate the accuracy and reliability characteristics of the entry-level Savages.
 
you guys obviously skipped one of the largest and most vocal fanboi groups out there.

THE DILLON FANBOIS!

If it aint blue its crap and SO ARE YOU.
Spending less than 15,000 bucks on your reloading setup is a waste of money!
etc.. etc.. etc..
 
Oh, sure I have seen them. Most of us have. I try 1) to ignore them, 2) to read between the lines of their bias, and 3) ultimately to purchase what I decide fits my needs best.
 
Hey Old Dog, you forgot my Enfield in that list.

Let me just tell you ................. ;)
 
When someone comes to appreciate firearms for what they are, and for their construction, they lose the need glorify anything. They start looking at the strengths and weaknesses of any given firearm. They will give a balanced viewpoint. When a person can recognize the limitations of any firearm or caliber or whatever, they tend to lose the fanboy urge. Then they can speak of merits.
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I am a firm believer in this attitude. I have what many would consider an eclectic collection. Everything from a flintlock to modern military semi-autos. If you keep your mind open to the many pros/cons of all weapons, you get much more enjoyment out ot the sport.

Fanboy= less fun.
 
Fanboys are part of the reason I hate 1911s.

And I havent seen half as many Glock fanboys as I do anti-Glock zealots.
 
How can anyone let "fanbois" affect their opinions of inanimate objects? For an intrinsically subjective matter ("Do I like this particular gun?"), it's usually a fairly straightforward and objective evaluation process. "Fanbois" are never, ever a part of the equation.
 
they definately put a break on my enthusiasm for the 1911. For a long time there, the 1911 was the ultimate fan gun and everybody who had read a cople of articles on it became an instant expert.

Some of the gushing about it was embarassingly stupid
 
Lots of fanboys out there, and not just in the firearm field. 1911's, AR-15's, and H&K seem to have the most diehard fans.

As for SMLE, Mosin, Mauser and bizzare surplus rifle fanboys, well, you can't really call them fanboys. They're simply a delightful, amiable kind of insane. They are respectable rifles and almost always respectable men who own them, and neither the rifle or the man have anything to prove.

I don't mind about what other people want to buy. I don't even mind them trying to shove it down my throat. I choose what I like. Me? I'm just waiting for this whole "cell phone" fad to blow over. : )

Nobody's been able to convince me that I need one yet. I leave my house for the avowed purpose of being rid of pesky electronic devices, and so people can not contact me. My favorite defense of cellphone users is, "What if something happens to you while you're driving?" I say, "Doesn't happen much. And if it does, I'll just do like they did in the olden days and bleed out on the steering wheel. Don't need a cell phone to do that."

-Sans Authoritas
 
When I began motorcycling, I laughed my way all the way to Mexico and back on my $500 '78 Suzuki GS550. I went everywhere the fanboys did on their $20k+ custom V-twins and I had just as much fun.

I do the same at the range with my $200 pawn shop Ruger P97 firing Wally-world's finest Remington UMC's. It gets just as many in the 10 point ring as the guy next to me with Brand X gear.

I kinda like the fanboys. They keep a steady stream of quality used goods flowing into the marketplace for tightwads like me.
 
No. Fanboys are annoying, but their fandom can't change the merits/lack of merits of the platform in question. I'll make my choice on the gun's own merits or lack thereof.
 
1911 fanboys steered me clear from Glocks for a loooong time. Then I rented one...and quickly bought a Glock 17. Never looked back.
 
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