4 Feb 02

I visited a friend this afternoon who owns a large, retail gun store and indoor range in the Midwest.

The hottest sellers are still Glocks-in all configurations. However, the G23 is the most popular by far, followed by the G19. They are both typically in and out the same day. The G32 is starting to pick up, particularly in Texas and neighboring states, as the Texas State Police are popularizing the 357SIG cartridge.

SIG pistols don't do nearly as well as Glocks, but they do move, particularly the P239 in 40S&W.

The Kel-Tec 32ACP is selling well. It's small, wafer thin, and inexpensive. Too small for my hand. Most buyers use it as little more than a good luck charm, but it is easy to carry in a pocket. Buyers don't usually concern themselves with holsters.

Plastic-framed Kahr pistols (the "P" series) sell briskly. All-steel Kahr pistols do not.

Nothing made by Beretta sells.

Kimber's 1911-style pistols are consistently good sellers. Kimber has the best marketing program in the business, and it pays off handsomely. The perennial 1911 crowd are active pistol buyers, and Kimber has that market cornered.

The Taurus Millennium pistol is 40S&W enjoys modest sales. It's a small pistol that is easy to carry and nicely finished, and the price makes people buy.

S&W lightweight, hammerless, J-frame revolvers sell well. They are unbelievably light and easy to carry. Again, none of them see heavy use. Few see any use at all, but they are the only thing made by S&W that is selling. Sales of all S&W autoloading pistols is flat.

Sales of Ruger pistols is also flat. The Ruger Mini-14 rifle, on the other hand, does modestly well and has, year after year.

Colt and Bushmaster AR-15s usually sell within a day or two of arriving at the store. Most dealers don't bother with the other brands.

DSA FALs also move out the door briskly. Everyone who owns one loves it, although the 223 market is still bigger than the 308 market.

Big retailers are having a good year, but, as with selling cars, aggressive promotion is the key to success. As my friend puts it, "unseen plus untold equals unsold."

/John