Top Hunting and Shooting Equipment Brands for 2008
February 17, 2009
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Southwick Associates has announced the brands and products that hunters and target shooters preferred most in 2008. This list has been compiled from the 24,206 surveys completed by hunters and target shooters last year for HunterSurvey.com and TargetshootingSurvey.com. In 2008, top brands included:
* Top rifle brand: Remington (18.1% of all purchases)
* Top shotgun brand: Mossberg (29.9% of all purchases)
* Top muzzleloader brand: CVA (40.8% of all purchases)
* Top handgun brand: Smith & Wesson (18.4% of all purchases)
* Top scope for firearms: BSA (16.1% of all purchases)
* Top rifle ammunition brand: Remington (29.9% of all purchases)
* Top shotgun ammunition brand: Winchester (35.7% of all purchases)
* Top handgun ammunition brand: Winchester (26.1% of all purchases)
* Top blackpowder brand: Pyrodex (39.0% of all purchases)
* Top balls, bullets, or shot brand: Powerbelt (34.9% of all purchases)
* Top bow brand: BowTech (22.0% of all purchases)
* Top arrow brand: Easton (40.5% of all purchases)
* Top fletching brand: Bohning (26.3% of all purchases)
* Top broadhead brand: Muzzy (21.5% of all purchases)
* Top game call brand: Primos (35.9% of all purchases)
* Top reloading bullet brand: Hornady (23.0% of all purchases)
* Top reloading powder brand: Hodgdon (33.0% of all purchases)
* Top binocular brand: Bushnell (29.4% of all purchases)
* Top knife brand: Buck (19.8% of all purchases)
* Top shooting target brand: Shoot-N-C (37.7% of all purchases)
Launched in 2006, HunterSurvey.com and TargetshootingSurvey.com help the firearms and outdoor equipment industries, government officials, and conservation organizations track consumer activities and expenditure trends.
Firearm Sales Continue Upward in January
February 9, 2009
The following comes to us from The National Shooting Sports Foundation.
NEWTOWN, Connecticut — Despite a weak economy and slumping retail sales, firearm sales continued to increase in January, continuing an upswing that began after November’s election.
Data from the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) show background checks on the sale of firearms jumped 28.8 percent in January when compared to January 2008. The increase follows a 24 percent rise in December and a 42 percent jump in November, when a record 1,529,635 background checks were performed.
FBI background checks are required under federal law for all individuals purchasing firearms from federally licensed retailers. These checks serve as a strong indicator of actual sales.
“Since the election, sales of firearms — in particular handguns and semi-automatic hunting and target rifles — are fast outpacing inventory,” said Steve Sanetti, president of the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the trade association for the firearms and ammunition industry. “Americans are clearly concerned about their ability to be able to purchase these products in an uncertain future.”
NICS reported 1,213,885 checks in January, up from 942,556 in the same month a year ago. Last year, a total of 12,709,023 background checks were reported, up 14 percent from 2007.
NSSF, founded in 1961, is the trade association for the firearms, ammunition and recreational shooting sports industry. It promotes the safe ownership and responsible use of products its members make and sell. For more information, visit www.nssf.org.
