This question may be a little vague, but as i am fairly new to restricteds i would like some opinions. This year i have bought a late 80's s&w 586 and a ruger 1911 from ee sellers. Both are really nice guns and in the 6-800$ range. I see 357 revolvers and 1911's of different makers for thousands of dollars.My question is this, would the average shooter notice a huge difference in quality, fit, appearance, and accuracy with the more expensive pieces, or is it more of a collector, prestige thing.Thanks in advance for any insight.
Price vs quality
- Thread starter Erkel1
- Start date
When you first start out, it's usually price over quality. Everyone will say start out with a less expensive firearm, and spend the money on ammo. I guarantee there will be Norinco owners that will be more than happy to attest to this. You will get those that spend hundreds on extra a mods on their $400 pistol, and compare it to a $1000 brand name but by then you have already spent $1000. Unfortunately, it will be worth well less than what you spent.
When you spend extra $$$ on quality, you are also shooting what you paid for, and it will hold it's value in case you want to sell it.
When you spend lots of $$$ on a quality custom handgun you will get what you paid for, craftsmanship, resale, and of course bragging rights. The average shooter will NOT notice a major difference between a $1500 1911, or a $3000+ 1911. A good shooter will. Most guns will shoot better than their owners with the odd exception.
You cannot compare a AMC Pacer to a Porsche, they both will get you from point A to B, but it's how you get there.
When you spend extra $$$ on quality, you are also shooting what you paid for, and it will hold it's value in case you want to sell it.
When you spend lots of $$$ on a quality custom handgun you will get what you paid for, craftsmanship, resale, and of course bragging rights. The average shooter will NOT notice a major difference between a $1500 1911, or a $3000+ 1911. A good shooter will. Most guns will shoot better than their owners with the odd exception.
You cannot compare a AMC Pacer to a Porsche, they both will get you from point A to B, but it's how you get there.
The short answer is yes, while many pistols go bang every time, the feel, balance, fit, and performance are noticeably better with the higher end guns. The difference between a Norinco and a Wilson Combat is huge. If someone at the range lets youu do a comparison, you will see the difference.
There is definitely a difference with fit, finish and exclusivity. You'll see a big difference from $500 to $1500 to $3000. You usually hit diminishing returns with fit and finish though, above which you are paying for uniqueness in design or materials, or full customization.
The equation is not necessarily true with accuracy but usually. There are some very accurate samples of inexpensive guns. Lots of if inexpensive 22lrs are inherently very accurate with fixed barrels. The increased time and effort in fitting the high end guns typically equates to more consistency in the accuracy department at a minimum.
Also when it comes to resale some of the higher end guns actually do not hold their value relative to the average, particularly with 1911s. You could loose 10-15% on the average gun. A high end 1911, maybe 15-25 because there are so many on the market. You need to know what you are getting into.
I'd add though, that while I really appreciate some of the higher end pieces from an engineering perspective etc, I can enjoy shooting some of the less expensive guns just as much.
The equation is not necessarily true with accuracy but usually. There are some very accurate samples of inexpensive guns. Lots of if inexpensive 22lrs are inherently very accurate with fixed barrels. The increased time and effort in fitting the high end guns typically equates to more consistency in the accuracy department at a minimum.
Also when it comes to resale some of the higher end guns actually do not hold their value relative to the average, particularly with 1911s. You could loose 10-15% on the average gun. A high end 1911, maybe 15-25 because there are so many on the market. You need to know what you are getting into.
I'd add though, that while I really appreciate some of the higher end pieces from an engineering perspective etc, I can enjoy shooting some of the less expensive guns just as much.
"... would the average shooter notice a huge difference in quality, fit, appearance, and accuracy with the more expensive pieces, ..."
The law of diminishing returns says huge differences get less huge the more expensive it gets.
The law of diminishing returns says huge differences get less huge the more expensive it gets.
1riot1ranger
CGN Regular
- Location
- Calgary, AB
It’s a bit like wine or scotch... Unless you’ve developed the palate, it will be difficult to appreciate the difference between “high” quality and “medium” quality.
The differences only manifest under difficult circumstances and hours of practice.
Most pistols can outshoot their users. It’s only on the fringes of performance when the differences can be perceived.
The differences only manifest under difficult circumstances and hours of practice.
Most pistols can outshoot their users. It’s only on the fringes of performance when the differences can be perceived.
The first 1911 i got was an Armco pimped STI Trojan in 9mm. Call it a $2800 replacement value. Since then I have bought a few cheaper ($800) 1911s to try and every one gets sold soon after delivery. You will notice differences in build and attention to detail on how guns that require hand fitting. There is something amazing about how a well built gun feels and looks. In this case a $2000 difference is so abundant it became unbearable.
To answer your question yes the differences are very noticeable both in shoot ability and fit/finish amongst various price points.
To answer your question yes the differences are very noticeable both in shoot ability and fit/finish amongst various price points.
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When you talk quality in guns it can affect the following:
- accuracy
- fit&finish
- reliability
I would say that most commercial handguns > $1000 are probably not lacking much that ... That said you can improve any of the 3 aspects with more cost and effort as much as you like
So you can buy a perfectly fine 1911 for 1000-1500 and you can spend as much as a small car. Take in mind here that once a gun has reached (just to make this up) 90% perfections as might out $1000 production gun, every additional percent increases cost exponentially ...
- Location
- West Quebec
After shooting for awhile most shooters can tell quality differences between low quality and better quality firearms
- Location
- NFA country
But the dead game animals can't.
303BR Lee Enfield filled our family freezer for years.
$12 out of a rain barrel full of similar guns from Albert's Surplus in Timmins.
Have you shot a 6K pistol beside a 600.00 pistol, it will with not shoot 10X better but it will shoot WAY better, if you have never made the direct comparaison, anything can be said.
The proof is in the pouding.
I disagree. While higher end guns are better they do not get better in direct proportion to the price increase. Like many products price seems to increase exponentially with increasing quality. That's where the concept of value comes into play and that's a judgement call that will vary from one person to the next.
I do not talk of proportional vs price, i stated they cost more, they are and shoot BETTER.
If a 6K revolver group one inch at 25 yards and a 600.00 revolver group 2 inch at 25 yards, in reality you pay for one inch less at 25 yards, not proportional but huge improvement in accuracy.
Substracting that extra inch at 25 yards is you price difference. And if i may add, it worth all the extra dollars you pay. But this is just me, i could be wrong but i doubt it.
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