I can not personally vouch for this story, but I came across it in a newsletter, "Page Nine", by Alan Korwin.

Southwick Associates has completed an extensive survey of the top brands in the shooting sports. It is part of a 238-page report that received so much coverage you have never even heard of it. Are you using the top brands? Here they are:

Top rifle brand: Remington (17.5% of all purchases)
Top shotgun brand: Remington & Mossberg (virtual tie with 21.5% of all purchases)
Top muzzleloader brand: Thompson Center (31.9% of all purchases)
Top handgun brand: Sturm Ruger (16.7% of all purchases)
Top scope for firearms: Bushnell (17.1% of all purchases)
Top rifle ammunition brand: Remington (25.3% of all purchases)
Top shotgun ammunition brand: Winchester (31.9% of all purchases)
Top handgun ammunition brand: Winchester (22.0% of all purchases)
Top blackpowder brand: Pyrodex (38.7% of all purchases)
Top balls, bullets, or shot brand: Hornady (28.4% of all purchases)
Top reloading bullet brand: Hornady (31.7% of all purchases)
Top reloading primer brand: CCI (38.2% of all purchases)
Top reloading powder brand: Hodgdon (37.8% of all purchases)
Top binocular brand: Bushnell (33.6% of all purchases)
Top holster brand: Uncle Mikes (19.0% of all purchases)
Top knife brand: Gerber (15.0% of all purchases)

For details; http://southwickassociates.com/node/10972

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Retired Police, Life NRA

Quantity does not equal quality.

Top handgun to me is;
Ruger/CZ/S&W all three are tied for the top spot. I've had nothing but problems with colts / springfield armory.
Top rifle;
Remington 700 or winchester 70 tied for the top spot.



My experience with different manufacturers of rifle ammo is;

My new remington 700 in 338win mag wasn't accurate with remington 338wm ammo. While the winchester super X 338wm ammo put two bullets thru the same hole at 100yds.

My norinco 1911 with a national match barrel bushing is shooting one cloverleaf per mag no matter who shoots it with wolf ammo.

My point is guns can be ammo finiky and the quality in the ammo may differ. With the rifle bores its a matter on how long they use a dull broach or button when they do the rifling. This is why some guns need many rounds to break them in.

You are so right. If we look at the car manufacturers in japan they were awesome quality wise when there production numbers were lower. Now with there higher production numbers there having quality problems too. There starting to push out the lesser quality stuff too now.

My point is when the production numbers increase the quality will decrease sooner or later.

Those of you not already subscribed to Alan Korwin's Page 9 are missing out on important commentary on current gun issues, as well as Alan's cogent and insightful observations of "lamesteam media" gaffes and follies.

Alan is your friend, you should establish an acquaintance...