NPR has an interesting story. “How the Glock became America’s Weapon of Choice.” Granted, it’s my Choice, but is it America’s Gun? As far has handguns go, it is very popular with Law Enforcement on the Municipal level. But on the Fed level, it’s the SIG. In civilian sales, we have the XD and the Beretta 92FS, which has had a large resurgence in sales. Huh, and there isn’t even a new Lethal Weapon movie out. But if I had to pick one gun as “America’s Handgun” it would have to be the 1911. Because that’s what most guys that come to the gun counter look at the most. Even if they come in to buy something else, their eyes and their hearts linger on the 1911. As does my own. I love the 1911, but I don’t I am packing it as a carry gun less and less all the time. I’ve only carried one three times that I remember this year… Of course this year is only 24 days in, but the entire rest of the time it’s been my Glock. There is something about the 1911. It’s organic, beautiful, powerful,timeless and elegant… things the Glock is not. But the spirit of the genius that went into the 1911… is found in the Glock. The simplicity is actually stunningly brilliant. Using a Striker system with the safety built into a transparent system for the user, it’s the easiest handgun to learn. Or was, when it came out. The Glock has been copied by so many other maker’s now, it’s silly. Just like the 1911.
However the question NPR asked, was is the Glock America’s Weapon of Choice.
The answer is no. Not even close.
The weapon of choice is AR-15. The rifle that outsells ever other type. The rifle that people who had never owned a gun before, snapped up after Obama became president. The rifle used by our Military, Law Enforcement, and Sport shooters more and more every day. Because while Handguns are popular, America is a Nation of Riflemen.
This is demonstrated in Ammunition Sales. Just restocking ammo, we are constantly restocking .223/5.56mm. More than any other caliber. More than 9mm, .45, or the others.
The AR-15 is accurate, low recoil, cheap to shoot, and potent enough to be useful on anything up to deer sized creatures. (Even if that’s ethically questionable)
You know, I really do like my Glock. I like it the more I carry it and shoot it. I’ve seen the M&P making serious inroads on the Glock… and the new Gen 4 Glock series has left me feeling luke warm on it… I certainly prefer the Gen 3. But that’s just me.
NPR(?) National Propoganda Radio? What does this group of lilly livered knuckheads know about fireams?
Nothing, NPR just talked about a book. By Barrett, who wrote about Glock.
Yes, the 1911 is not as clumsy or random as a Glock. ;>
“America’s Gun” is actually the Remington 870.
I actually heard this interview yesterday when working – obviously NPR isn’t unbiased on guns but the author made several statements of facts that the host tried to just gloss over – John Lott’s argument about “More Guns = Less Crime” has been found true. We have more guns now that ever before, and crime is dropping, so anti-firearm rights groups (my term, not his) need a new argument – they’ve lost the one about “it’ll be like the old west, shootouts over fender-bender’s” etc, etc.
870/m500. Indeed! Few arms are as distinctly American as the simple pump twelve.
As a Multiple 870 owner – I can’t disagree… it’s a good gun that can do anything.
A nation of riflemen indeed!
To paraphrase Jeff Cooper, no well furnished home should be without an AR-15.
In the spirit of what I think was meant by “America’s Gun”, I’d humbly suggest that “America’s Gun” be three guns, one from each major utility class (handgun, shotgun, rifle). For shotgun definitely 12 gauge pump like the 870 or Mossberg 500, and rifle definitely (these days) AR-15. For handgun? Glock or a Smith & Wesson 357 of some kind, or 1911, or … aw hell go with Glock I guess for America’s handgun.
1911a1 will still be going strong long after most of us are room temp
I’d vote Ruger 10/22, but of course that’s not as glamorous as the 1911s or ARs.
Every home should have at least 1 Ruger 10/22 with plenty of extra mags. A fine choice
Ok I am 36 yeas old. My Glock experience is limited to use of my father’s G17, purchased new in 1986. I have more than a few rounds downrange with it and still hate it. Granddaddy started me with Great-Granddady’s 1927 A1 in 1980. A love affair was born. I have owned other handguns including a Witness Compact in .45 that had 12,000 rounds through it when I was forced to sell it. My darling wife recently bought me one if the 1-500 Springfield Range Officers from the first run. 3.5 years without putting a .45 downrange (that divorce business takes a long time to bounce back from) and my first 100 rounds went into a group the size of a cigarette pack at 15 yards. My best grouping was seven rounds of ten year old CorBon 185+p into a sub 1.5″ group at 15 yards.
And that is why the 1911 is America’s pistol- the lay out is intuitive, the controls perfect, and the ergonomics good. Anyone with the time and experience to be familiar enough with one to carry one can come back years later and the layout fills your hand, triggers latent muscle memory. I always say that grabbing a 1911 in response to a sound in the night is like grabbing my Johnson in the darkened bathroom, I instinctively know where it us, where it’s pointed and what I need to do to hit the target.
Wrong argument NPR.
Are “guns” American?
Yes. Very much so. Deal with it.
Uh…, guys. I didn’t hear the NPR story but I did catch a few comments on another website. It was an interview with the guy who wrote the recent book “Glock, The Rise of America’s Gun”. The book is not about what gun should be crowned as the most representative of America. It was written by a business writer for (I think) Business Week. The book details–brilliantly, in my opinion–the business side of how the company promoted and marketed the gun in the USA and how this led to its adoption by LE agencies and the public in general. If you get a chance to read it, I recommend it. It’s fascinating and well-written. Very little anti-gun opinion involved which is surprising given the mainstream media source.