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

by
posted on March 15, 2016
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

Mouse trap with ammunition bullet
Mouse trap with ammunition bullet

Scam Alert: Fraudulent Ammo-Related Ads On The Rise

Internet and social-media scammers have impersonated a number of popular ammunition brands and retailers in an effort to defraud deal-seeking shoppers. Here's what to watch out for.

Preview: Southern Trapper OWB/IWB Alligator Trim Holster

Add a touch of the exotic to your concealed-carry kit with the OWB/IWB Alligator Trim Holster by Southern Trapper.

New For 2025: Auto-Ordnance Thompson TAO50

Auto-Ordnance announced its first entrant into the .50 BMG long-range rifle market with its TAO50 bolt-action.

Tips & Techniques: “Right & Wrong” Drill

A simple 15-shot learning exercise, the aptly named Right & Wrong Drill consists of two strings of fire focused on technically correct execution of the fundamentals for maximum accuracy.

Gun Of The Week: Colt MSR Carbine Model CR6762

We’re headed to range today with a modern sporting rifle from Colt, but this one is chambered for one of the world’s most prolific centerfire rifle cartridges: 7.62x39 mm.

The Armed Citizen® Jan. 10, 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.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.