Selling Handguns
An Impressive Inventory Is Available To Meet The Needs of Today’s Demanding Customer!
Slling handguns is a daunting challenge in today’s tough market. The harsh summer slump has dealers scrambling to create greater incentives to attract customers.
“We will not be undersold!” declares Carl Ingrao, owner of Four Seasons Firearms in Woburn, Mass., on his Website. “We will meet, and probably beat, any Massachusetts dealer’s price on any brand new, Massachusetts compliant handgun! Buy with confidence and also receive the best service possible.”
Manufacturers are also offering an impressive variety of handgun models. There was a healthy number of new handgun offerings unveiled at this year’s SHOT Show. In addition, a number of manufacturers released mid-year models.
At the El Cajon Gun Exchange in El Cajon, Calif., variety is key to handguns sales.
“We carry Colt, Springfield, CZ, Glock, H&K, Ruger, Kahr, SIG Sauer, Magnum Research, Para-Ordnance and Taurus,” said Lou Baldridge of the El Cajon Gun Exchange. “This is not an upscale, high-income area of San Diego. The people we sell to have lower to middle incomes and always look for bargains.”
Handgun Inventory
Ruger, the nation’s top handgun manufacturer, continues to offer a wide variety of handgun actions and calibers. The little Ruger Model 22/45 semiauto .22 rimfire pistol is perfect for target practice, plinking and recreational shooting. The magazine holds 10 rounds and the barrel measures 4 or 5.5 inches, depending on the model. The grip angle and feel are designed to approximate a 1911 pistol.
Another Ruger handgun that sells well is the SP1Ol revolver in .357 Magnum, .38 Special, .32 Magnum and .22 LR. Barrel lengths are 2.25, 3.06 and 4 inches.
Ruger’s Vaquero series continues to dominate cowboy action sales. New for 2001 is the Bird’s Head grip, now available on the blued and stainless versions of the Vaquero.
Beretta’s Cougar and Mini Cougar in .45 ACP attract customers familiar with Beretta quality. The .45 Cougar has an eight-round magazine, while the Mini Cougar comes with a six- and an extended eight-round magazine.
The lightweight Beretta 9000S pistols feature a fiberglass reinforced technopolymer frame and two steel rail inserts. Soft high-tech polymer grips are overmolded onto the frame. Available in four versions and two calibers, 9mm and .40 S&W, the unique look of the 9000S is attracting customers.
Bersa pistols are distributed in the United States by Eagle Imports. The compact Bersa Thunder .380 double-action pistol is offered in matte, satin nickel and blued finishes.
Among the features found on the CZ pistol are three-dot illuminating sights and up to 16-round magazines for law enforcement customers. Several versions and finish options are available for the CZ 75B, intended for law enforcement, self-protection and competitive shooting. The 75PCR Compact was designed for the Czech police and has a 10-round magazine.
Charter 2000, formerly Charter Arms, is producing the .44 Special Bulldog and the .38 Special Undercover revolvers, each with five-round cylinders.
Dan Wesson’s interchangeable-barrel revolvers are back, thanks to new owner Robert W. Serva, who purchased the company in 1996.
“Our goal is not to produce the highest volume in the cheapest way possible,” Serva said. “We will only be satisfied with the best of the best, and only until we can make it even better — just like Dan Wesson himself.”
The new Dan Wesson handguns have received top reviews from dealers and customers. The company now offers numerous revolvers featuring the unique Wesson interchangeable barrel system. These include the New Generation Small and Large Frame Series and the New Generation SuperMag Frame and Compensated Series.
Wesson also has introduced a series of Model 1911 semi-automatics in .45 ACP. The Pointman pistols, designed for LDPA and IPSC matches, have caught the attention of shooters.
“The Pointman, you can’t buy a more accurate pistol for PSC,” said Donny Lairson, owner of AA Gun Sales in Artesia, N.M. “And Dan Wesson is doing a lot to help the dealer.”
Glock continues to dominate the law-enforcement market. Experts say that more than 1.5 million Glock pistols have been imported into the United States in recent years. A recent introduction is the Glock Model 36 single stack in .45 ACP. The pistol measures 6.77 inches overall and holds a six-round magazine. For a quick add-on sale, display a Pearce Grip M36 Plus One Extension with the Model 36. The extension adds an additional round to the magazine, plus it makes the small Glock more comfortable to shoot.