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February 20th, 2014
Here at AccurateShooter.com we tend to focus on highly-accurate (1/2-MOA or better), custom-built bolt-action rifles. But for home defense, deer hunting, or just having fun with the grand-kids, factory-built firearms serve their purpose. With that in mind, we wondered, “Just what are the most popular mass-production firearms these days?” To get a complete answer you must consider both new AND “previously owned” sales figures. Gunbroker.com, the biggest firearms auction site, recently tallied the top-selling firearms in various categories. Below we present Gunbroker’s January 2014 “Best Sellers” among rifles and pistols.
Some things we expected — the Rem 700 is the top-ranking bolt-action rifle, and the Ruger 10/22 was the leading semi-auto rifle. But in the pistol rankings, there were some surprises. Despite being out of production, the Colt Python is the best-selling revolver. Why is an out-of-production gun a top-seller? First, high-grade Pythons are actually increasing in value, making this “snake” a good investment. Pythons are also highly accurate, beautifully-finished revolvers with superb triggers. These qualities make the guns highly desirable to serious shooters as well as collectors.
Top-Selling Firearms on Gunbroker.com
| Bolt-Action Rifle |
Semi-Auto Rifle |
Single-Shot Rifle |
Lever Rifle |
|
1. Remington 700
2. Winchester 70
3. Ruger 77
4. Ruger American Rifle
5. Ruger M77 |
1. Ruger 10/22
2. Smith & Wesson M&P
3. Ruger Mini-14
4. Kel Tec Sub 2000
5. Springfield M1A |
1. Ruger No. 1
2. T/C Pro Hunter
3. Winchester 1885
4. T/C Encore
5. Browning 1885 |
1. Winchester 94
2. Winchester 1894
3. Marlin 336
4. Marlin 1895
5. Marlin 1894 |
| Semi-Auto Pistols |
Revolvers |
Single-Shot Pistols |
|
1. Smith & Wesson M&P
2. Sig Sauer P226
3. Sig Sauer P238
4. Glock 42
5. Colt 1911 |
1. Colt Python
2. Smith & Wesson 686
3. Ruger Blackhawk
4. Smith & Wesson 629
5. Ruger GP-100 |
1. T/C Contender
2. Remington XP-100
3. T/C Encore
4. Bond Texas Defender
5. Colt Derringer |
Colt Python (Royal Blue) — An Appreciating Asset
February 12th, 2014
 SHOT Show 2014.
Full 1-Hour Broadcast.
Tonight on the Outdoor Channel.
Lots and lots of new guns on display.
This is the episode of Shooting USA you don’t want to miss. Set your DVR for 2PM ET/1PM CT or watch the show at 9PM ET/8PM CT, on the Outdoor Channel. Host Jim Scoutten says: “John, Mike, and I are running 12 miles of aisles in the Sands Convention Center in Las Vegas, with 60,000 gun dealers and buyers. It’s your first look at the new guns and gear that will be making news this year. Set your DVR. We have a lot to show you in non-stop new product presentations.” CLICK HERE to See Products Featured on SHOT Show Episode
New products showcased will include: Ruger American Rimfire Rifle, Glock 42, Colt 2012 Bolt-Action Rifle, New S&W Revolvers, Remington R-51, Bergara Barrels, Hornady Rapid-Safe and much more.
Shooting USA airs its annual one-hour SHOT Show Special today, Wednesday, February 12, starting at 2:00 pm Eastern Time. Other broadcast times are listed below.
The Shooting USA Hour on Wednesdays:
Eastern Time: 2:00 PM, 9:00 PM, 12:00 M
Central Time: 1:00 PM, 8:00 PM, 11:00 PM
Mountain Time: 12:00 noon, 7:00 PM, 10:00 PM
Pacific Time: 11:00 AM, 6:00 PM, 9:00 PM
November 3rd, 2013
Could you hit a 18″x24″ plate at 100 yards with a handgun? With a bit of practice, an experienced handgunner should be able to make that shot using a quality, full-sized pistol held two-handed. This editor has done it with a 1911 and a Sig P226. OK, now consider hitting that same-size plate at TWO hundred yards, with a 2″-barreled revolver, shot upside-down, one-handed, pulling the double-action trigger with your pinky finger. Sound crazy? Well that’s exactly what legendary wheelgunner Jerry Miculek does in this video. It’s hard to believe, but it’s all caught on camera for posterity.
As you can see in the video, Jerry was pretty excited when he makes the shot. That took some serious skill. Jerry was shooting a double-action-only Smith & Wesson 340 PD Scandium J-Frame (1.875″ barrel) with fixed sights. After making this amazing shot, Jerry explains: “Gun shoots a little right, so when you flip it over it shoots a little bit left.” Thanks Jerry — I’m not sure most of us would have figured that out.
June 10th, 2013
Cabela’s Web Deals and In-Store Sales
June 16 (next Sunday) is Father’s Day. Throughout this week Cabela’s is running a Father’s Day Sale with some web specials on outdoor merchandise. Plus there are in-store-only sales at most Cabela’s retail outlets around the country. CLICK HERE for a list of stores, then click “Store Info” for the store nearest you. That will take you to a page where you can view the Father’s Day flyer for that store. Below are some special promotions running this week:
Smith & Wesson m1911 Series E Pistols, $899.99
Liberty Safes — 0% Interest and No Payments for 12 Months
Browning and Winchester Firearms — 0% Interest and No Payments for 12 Months
May 5th, 2013
 A number of interesting jobs in the firearms industry have become available in recent weeks. The NSSF maintains a regularly-updated listing of employment opportunities with gun-makers and shooting sports organizations. On the NSSF’s job board right now there are tech and engineering offerings, PR and marketing positions, and Sierra Bullets and Nosler are even looking for Ballisticians. Here are some of the jobs we found this week posted on the NSSF Website. CLICK HERE for a complete listing (many more jobs).
Firearms Industry Jobs — Current Openings
| Location |
Company/Organization |
Opening/Title |
| Brighton, CO |
Colorado Clays LLC |
Rifle & Pistol Range Manager |
| Newtown, CT |
National Shooting Sports Foundation |
Manager, Public Relations |
| Smyrna, GA |
Glock, Inc. |
Public Relations Specialist |
| Springfield, MA |
Smith & Wesson Firearms |
Asst. Brand Manager |
| Sedalia, MO |
Sierra Bullets |
Ballistician |
| Sedalia, MO |
Sierra Bullets |
Production Manager |
| Yonkers, NY |
Kimber Manufacturing |
Product Engineer |
| Bend, OR |
Nosler, Inc. |
Ballistics Technician |
| Bend, OR |
Nosler, Inc. |
Web Developer |
| Wilsonville, OR |
Crimson Trace Corporation |
National Sales Manager |
February 28th, 2013
 This past weekend, top pistol shooters from 28 states, one U.S. territory and three foreign nations competed at the 2013 Smith & Wesson IDPA Indoor National Championships in Springfield, Massachusetts. Robert Vogel successfully defended his Stock Service Pistol division title for the sixth straight year. Second place in the SSP division went to Rob Tate who claimed first Master and the High Military Veteran title.
In another impressive performance, our friend Randi Rogers won the High Lady title for the fifth year in a row. You go girl! Randi Rogers also claimed second Master. High International title went to Luis Ricardo Zanotti of Venezuela.
 Vogel Dominates SSP Division
Vogel, the first IDPA shooter to claim the sport’s Distinguished Master classification in all three pistol divisions, won all but two stages in the championship to outpace his nearest competitor by nearly 30 seconds and finish with a final time of 154.37. That’s dominance. In addition to winning the SSP title, Vogel earned High Law Enforcement and High Industry honors.
“Bob Vogel is riding an incredible win streak in IDPA that extends back to the 2007 IDPA Nationals.” said Joyce Wilson, executive director of IDPA.
To learn more about the IDPA or to find a club near you, visit IDPA.com. You can also visit the IDPA Facebook Page, watch IDPA TV, and read the DOWN ZERO Blog.
January 15th, 2013
 At Media Day, we had a chance to try out a new Smith & Wesson Pro Series C.O.R.E. pistol in 9mm. Despite the wicked cold weather, we enjoyed shooting this pistol. It is accurate, comfortable, and has a decent trigger.
This M&P variant features a slide that has been milled to fit modern, compact red-dot optics. Six optic types will fit: Trijicon RMR, Leupold Delta Point, Jpoint, Doctor, C-More STS, Insight MRDS The slide cut positions the red dot optic (a Trijicon on our test gun) so that the conventional iron sites are still usable below the red-dot. That’s smart, because the front blade sight can still be used to steer the gun towards the target, and then, as you bring the muzzle down on target, the red dot appears. This is a very fast, efficient system.
This C.O.R.E. model, like other M&P series pistols, has a comfortable, ergonomic grip-shape that is far superior to the grip on Glock handguns in this reporter’s opinion. I also like the grip better than the blocky grip on my older H&K polymer .45 ACP. Grip angle feels “just right” (unlike the Glock), and the corners are rounded (an improvement on the blocky HK). Plus the M&P has three (3) optional backstraps, so the user can “fine-tune” the grip to his or her hand. For 2013 the stipling on the backstraps has been modified for better grip and comfort.
This is a nice, intelligent upgrade on a gun which was already very good. And even with the special “optics ready” slide, the gun remains affordable with a $729.00 MSRP (not counting optics).
November 12th, 2012
The Smith & Wesson Model 41 is an American classic — one of the great, iconic .22LR target pistols. Accurate, well-balanced and built-to-last, model 41s have been in production for over 50 years. The Model 41 remains one of the most accurate pistols ever produced by Smith & Wesson. Now the Model 41 has been updated for the 21st Century, with the introduction of a new Performance Center “optics-ready” version. The new Model 41 PC has an integral Picatinny Rail mount for optics, plus adjustable target sights, with a distinctive skeletonized and removable front blade sight.
This full-size, 10-shot .22LR pistol features a carbon steel frame and slide along with a 5.5-inch barrel. Measuring 10.5 inches in overall length, the Model 41 PC has an unloaded weight of 41 ounces.
Across the top of the slide, the Performance Center Model 41 sports an integral Picatinny-style equipment rail for easy installation of optics. Other standard features include an external thumb safety on the left side of the frame, custom wood target grips, and a blued finish. The Performance Center Model 41 is covered by Smith & Wesson’s lifetime service policy. To learn more about the optics-ready Model 41 PC and other new Performance Center guns, visit www.smith-wesson.com
July 27th, 2012
 A number of interesting jobs in the firearms industry have become available in recent weeks. The NSSF maintains a regularly-updated listing of employment opportunities with gun-makers and shooting sports organizations. On the NSSF’s job board right now there are gunsmith openings, engineering offerings, sales and marketing positions, and even high-level legal and executive career opportunities. Here are some of the jobs we found this week posted on the NSSF Website. CLICK HERE for a complete listing (many more jobs).
Firearms Industry Jobs — Current Openings
| Location |
Company/Organization |
Opening/Title |
| Prescott, AZ |
Proforce Law Enforcement |
Vice President Sales |
| Sunland, CA |
ISS |
Gunsmith |
| Washington, DC |
Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation |
Director of Finance |
| Springfield, MA |
Smith & Wesson Firearms |
Legal Counsel |
| Springfield, MA |
Smith & Wesson Firearms |
Brand Manager – S&W |
| Accokeek, MD |
Beretta USA Corporation |
Product Marketing Manager – Shotguns & Rifles |
| Accokeek, MD |
Beretta USA Corporation |
Production Manager – CNC Machining |
| Exeter, NH |
SIG SAUER |
Tool Designer |
| Exeter, NH |
SIG SAUER |
Quality Inspector |
| Exeter, NH |
SIG SAUER |
Senior Design Engineer |
| Exeter, NH |
SIG SAUER |
Business Analyst |
| Delaware, OH |
Black Wing Shooting Center |
Outdoor Range Associate/Safety Officer |
| Not Specified |
Crimson Trace Corporation |
Regional Sales Manager (TX, OK, W-AR, W-LA) |
| Beaverton, OR |
Leupold & Stevens, Inc. |
Director of Sales – US |
| Fairfax, VT |
Century International Arms, Inc |
Gunsmith |
| Fairfax, VT |
Century International Arms, Inc |
Sales Coordinator |
July 7th, 2012
 Smith & Wesson Holding Corp. (NASDAQ:SWHC) on Thursday reported record fourth-quarter and full-year financial results. Fourth-quarter sales were up 28 percent compared to the same period last year. Full fiscal year sales were up 20 percent compared to the previous year. Said James Debney, president and CEO, “Our objective in fiscal 2012 was to streamline the company and focus on our position as a leading, pure-play firearm company. We are very pleased with our results, which include record annual and fourth quarter net sales and profits.” On Friday, July 6th, Smith & Wesson (SWHC) traded at $8.80 per share, up from a 52-week low of $2.29. That $6.51 per share increase represents a whopping 284% net gain in one year! If you had invested in either S&W a year ago, you’d be sitting pretty right now.
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