Opinion
I spent most of my day talking with manufacturers of serious (concealed carry, 9mm) pistols and military rifles.
Manufacturers and distributors of pistols tell me that “expensive” pistols are in vogue! Many consumers are now happily paying $1.5k-$3.5k for “premium” pistols. By comparison, sales of $500.00-$800.00 “plain-vanilla” pistols, that are perfectly functional and eminently satisfactory for concealed carry, are flat.
Manufacturers of concealed-carry handbags tell me the same thing! Expensive, up-scale handbags are selling better than are much less expensive, plain-vanilla (but perfectly functional) ones!
Of interest:
PTR’s long-awaited PTR63 Rifle (chambered in 223), a downscaled version of their PTR91 (chambered in 308), is finally in production and will be shipping in the first half of this year. I’ve been promised a copy for T&E. Takes M4 magazines. Price is $1.8k. Not gas-guns, PTR rifles are all roller-delayed blowback.
I looked at the German B&T Rifle (223, and it is a conventional gas-piston gun). Also takes M4 magazines. Very acceptable, but at $2.4K/copy it’s on the pricy side.
Savage’s “Stance” line of striker-fired pistols are suitable for concealed carry, but all models feature through-and-through cuts on the slide, which I really don’t like on a serious pistol.
Mossberg’s carry-pistols, the MC2/c and MC2/sc, are now out of production! Friends at Mossberg told me that sales were just not robust enough to suite top management. Mossberg’s pistols were, and are, excellent. I’ve carried and recommended them. Sorry to learn of this unhappy development!
Beretta’s concealed-carry candidate, the APXA1, is single-column and compact, but I’ve never had a student bring one.
Kahr’s upgraded P92, now the P93, is an eminently concealable, single-column pistol. Kahrs all run well. The P93 is $700.00
Walther’s PDP F Series, double-column pistols are hard to beat! They feature polygonal rifling and a 30-day full-refund guarantee. When, after thirty days the new owner does not like his Walther pistol, it may be returned to Walther for a complete refund, tax included. Few other manufacturers do this! $800.00/copy
Shadow Systems has a well-earned reputation for excellence, and their MR920 (which I’m currently carrying) enjoys a substantial following. It’s been described as an “ergonomically-enhanced G19″ In any event, my copy has never hiccupped. Now, Shadow Systems is introducing its own “premium pistol,” the AXIO. External dimensions are identical to the MR920, but the trigger is amazing! $2k/copy
Shadow Systems has also just introduced their premium M4, the U526. I handled it, and it is wonderful. $2.2k
Stoeger’s STR 9mc micro-compact (double-column) pistol represents a good choice, particularly at $500.00
Sarsilmaz (Turkish-made) SR9SC (double-column) subcompact pistols, also at $500.00, look satisfactorily too, but all models have slide-cuts (that I don’t like).
Springfield Armory’s Echelon 4.0 Compact Pistol, with its excellent trigger, is an strong contender at $730.00/copy.
I didn’t visit everyone, but I’ll try to talk to the rest of the manufacturers tomorrow.
Finally, Hi-Viz displayed their Fastdot pistol sights. The front sight is red, until you view it while looking through the rear sight. Then, when you’ve achieved correct sight alignment, the front sight turns green!
More tomorrow!
/John
About John Farnam & Defense Training International, Inc
As a defensive weapons and tactics instructor, John Farnam will urge you, based on your beliefs, to make up your mind about what you would do when faced with an imminent lethal threat. You should, of course, also decide what preparations you should make in advance if any. Defense Training International wants to ensure that its students fully understand the physical, legal, psychological, and societal consequences of their actions or in-actions.
It is our duty to make you aware of certain unpleasant physical realities intrinsic to Planet Earth. Mr. Farnam is happy to be your counselor and advisor. Visit: www.defense-training.com
Shot Show Industry Day at the Range 2026: Year of the Suppressor
I’m so glad people can afford expensive, high-end firearms and accessories. I guess I’m relegated to the dust bin of the poor.
Sounds like another FAFO episode to me.
Sounds like the gun manufacturers learned from the automobile manufacturers, accessorize the hell out of their products, jack up the price and we will be glad to pay it! It will bite them in the ass in the long run.