Fear & Loading: The Semi-Automatic Pistol’s Sweet 16

by
posted on March 15, 2016
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
automatic.jpg

If U.S. gun manufacturers squared off in NCAA basketball tournament fashion, BATFE’s Annual Firearms Manufacturing and Export Report would, undoubtedly, be the selection committee’s bible. The 2014 edition was recently released, and here’s how the hypothetical semi-automatic pistol bracket shapes up for that year. Note the numbers are for total pistol production in 2014. The guns depicted below are for illustration only.  

No. 1 seed Smith & Wesson (914,700*) vs. No. 16 seed Diamondback (42,901*) 
Smith & Wesson’s coach has the luxury of a bench so deep that he rotates players faster than a ceiling fan. That’ll wear down the reptiles, but the Diamondbacks have a history of striking unexpectedly. 



No. 2 Ruger (722,263*) vs. No. 15 Kahr Arms (59,346*)
Kahr’s high-speed lineup will be hurt by Ruger’s flawless game in the paint. The underdog’s best chance is to push the pace and keep center Desert Eagle out of foul trouble. 

No. 3 SIG Sauer (433,905*) vs. No. 14 Browning  (64,131*)
Expect SIG to advance, although Browning (Arms Technology) has the kind of record and lineup that can leave a mark on any foe this season.

No. 4 Glock (232,324*) vs. No. 13 Springfield Armory (64,189*)
The Vegas line on this matchup is heavy toward Glock, but Springfield brings some solid frames to the key and its nimble bench should turn this into the tournament’s first real nail biter.

 

No. 5 Kimber (124,298*) vs. No. 12 Remington (65,762*) 
PARA USA (57,539) transferred too late to play for Remington this year, and without the extra starter big green is limited in height to run the baseline.  

No. 6 Colt’s Manufacturing  (91,595*) vs. No. 11 SCCY (69,049*)
There’s a lot going on in the Colt clubhouse and it could show on court. Expect this year’s reinvigorated SCCY to fly away with this one in overtime. 

No. 7 Hi-Point (90,100*) vs. No. 10 Kel-Tec (78,471*)
Hi-Point’s unusual lineup is its best offensive weapon, but if Kel-Tec runs its game plan, don’t be surprised if there’s another upset.   

No. 8 Beretta USA (88,980*) vs. No. 9 Taurus (84,249*)
The winner can be judged in the first five minutes of the game. If Beretta’s 3-point storm starts early, it’s lights out for Taurus. The ending’s different if the underdog is effective in that curved pick-and-roll route we saw in the conference championships.

*Semi-automatic pistols manufactured by the manufacturer, according to the 2014 BATFE Annual Firearms Manufacturing and Export Report

 

Latest

British Garate Revolver
British Garate Revolver

I Have This Old Gun: British Garate Revolver

World War I, as it would come to be known, rather took most powers by surprise. In 1914, Great Britain, which had not entered into a formal alliance with France and Russia, was expected by some to sit on the sidelines while the others went at it.

Beretta Commemorates 50th Anniversary Of 90 Series Pistol Family

Beretta's popular 90 Series handguns, including the iconic Beretta 92, celebrates 50 years of production in 2025, and to honor the milestone, the company has released a limited-edition variant.

The Armed Citizen® Nov. 24, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Ruger & Glenfield: Revisiting The Budget Approach To Firearms

Decades ago, no-frills firearms were offered within the sporting-goods departments of many popular retailers. Does the return of the Glenfield Firearms brand by Ruger signal a return to those days?

Preview: Leupold VX-6HD Gen 2 3-18X 56 mm

Introduced earlier this year, Leupold’s second generation of VX-6HD riflescopes adds not just several additional features to the line but also a versatile 3-18X 56 mm model.

Pietta Revives Its LeMat Revolver Reproduction

Following a hiatus from the reproduction market, Pietta Firearms announced that it has officially reintroduced its LeMat revolver, which replicates the famous Civil War-era design, down to its centrally located shotgun barrel.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.