harrisburg pa eastern sport show not allowing vendors with black rifle wares gear or marketing slicks.

[phade]

crazy. last year there were several tasteful vendors with ar gear. not being allowed now. ficg released a statement on it.

[steve863]

This is a bit funny to me. I was just reading another NY gun forum, and there were scores of people talking about how they will now be leaving NYS and moving to PA. Yeah, right, like in PA and other states you will be allowed to own AR's if there is a federal ban? I've sad it before. This time the $#!+ really hit the fan with how society perceives AR type weapons be it for the right or wrong reasons. Anyone openly acknowledging that they own, make, sell or having any other associations with AR guns will put you on a list just below the pedophiles. Not saying this is right, just pointing out what is happening in the country right now.

[First-light]

I wonder how many hunters own AR type of weapons?? In my group which consists of some hard core gun enthusiasts, I can't remember anyone shooting or talking about owning one.

[steve863]

I wonder how many hunters own AR type of weapons?? In my group which consists of some hard core gun enthusiasts, I can't remember anyone shooting or talking about owning one.

I think it depends what age bracket you are in. If you are under 30, you most likely are falling for the AR fad. If you are over 40 or 50, you could probably care less about them, let alone hunt with them. I do think that the percentage of people that do hunt with them has been greatly exaggerated by the gun industry. Yeah, some may hunt big-game with them, but I really don't think it's nearly as many as they say. There are better big-game weapons in many BETTER calibers in my opinion for a lot less money than an AR. Some may hunt coyotes and other varmints with them, but I don't think there are very many who go hunt coyotes or varmints specifically anyway, in comparison to deer hunters, so these numbers are relatively low. Generally, I think people buy these guns to shoot at targets, zombies or other things or because they think they look cool.

[ants]

I think it depends what age bracket you are in. If you are under 30, you most likely are falling for the AR fad. If you are over 40 or 50, you could probably care less about them, let alone hunt with them. I do think that the percentage of people that do hunt with them has been greatly exaggerated by the gun industry. Yeah, some may hunt big-game with them, but I really don't think it's nearly as many as they say. There are better big-game weapons in many BETTER calibers in my opinion for a lot less money than an AR. Some may hunt coyotes and other varmints with them, but I don't think there are very many who go hunt coyotes or varmints specifically anyway, in comparison to deer hunters, so these numbers are relatively low. Generally, I think people buy these guns to shoot at targets, zombies or other things or because they think they look cool.

They have a huge following in the competitive shooting world. They seem to be getting more popular with hunters, but not as popular as other hunting rifles. I know a few guys that own these types but only one guy coyote hunts with it.

[Single_shot]

You can get them barreled in many different cals....30RemAR / 338Federal / 450 Bushmaster / 458 SOCOM / 243/260/7mm08/308/....etc. Moreso out west I would think,than local woods hunting.

22 LR - S&W, Colt and others

5.7x28

5.45x39 - S&W

221 Fireball - Custom

20 Vartarg - Custom

20 Tactical - Custom

204 Ruger - DPMS

223 Remington - everyone

6 - 223 Remington

20 PPC - Custom

22 PPC - Custom

6 PPC - Custom

6.5 PPC - Custom

6mm AR - Robert Whitley

6mm Hagar - White Oak Precision

6.5 Grendel - Alx Arms

6.5 CSS - CS.com

30 Walker - Custom

22 BR - Custom

6 BR - Custom

6.5 BR - Custom

7 BR - Custom

6mm Whisper - SSK (aka (6 fireball)

6.5 Whisper - SSK (aka 6.5 fireball)

6.5 MPC - SSK

7 Whisper - SSK (aka 7 fireball)

300 Whisper - SSK (aka 300 fireball)

6.5 - 30 Remington - Custom

6.8 SPC - Multiple

30 AR - Remington

243 WSSM - Olympic

458 SOCOM - Rock River

450 Bushmaster - Bushmaster

50 Beouwulf - Alx Arms (actual .499 caliber)

7.62x39 - Colt and others

9mm - Colt, Rock River, Bushmaster

40 S&W - Olympic

Edited January 15, 2013 by Single_shot

[steve863]

They have a huge following in the competitive shooting world. They seem to be getting more popular with hunters, but not as popular as other hunting rifles. I know a few guys that own these types but only one guy coyote hunts with it.

I think it's nothing more than a big sales pitch by gun manufacturers to say that these AR type guns are now the future of hunting guns. Many manufacturers, gun magazines, etc. make them sound like they are the next best thing since sliced bread. I really don't think that's the case, but of course to sell stuff people will tell you anything, and there are always some who will believe it.

[First-light]

Thanks guys, kind of what I thought.

[HuntOrBeHunted]

Another state that lays down its rights and bends right over.. Shame on these people that call them selfs gun owners but just lay down to the man to get owned.

[First-light]

It's all in the eye of the beholder..............

[Nomad]

Who owns AR's ? Hum it is the most popular rifle in the U.S. so I'd guess plenty ?

Now for me,lets see well my lawyer has one,as well as the electriton nextdoor, a retired engineer i hunt with, the farmer who's land I hunt upon,oh and i'd say at least 25 % of the 500 man Fire Dept. I work for ok add in a few cop friends as well.

Many buy them after serving in the Military seeing as how thats where they learned to love them.

But don't kid yourself, they don't like your nice friendly wood stocked hunting gun either.

They went for the lowest hanging fruit, easy pickings,heck half the guys here don't like em..... that makes it even easier for them.

Trust me one day it'll be,"these hunting guns are FAR MORE POWERFUL then the guns the military uses", no citizen needs that kind of power.

Edited January 15, 2013 by Larry302

[Setters4life]

I believe the exhibitor (Reed) told the vendors no black rifles and no black accessories. Reed Exhibitions is the same exhibitor of the SHOT Show in Las Vegas this week. Odd?

http://www.reedexpo.com/en/Events/2756/The-Shot-Show

Look at the Eastern Expo's FB page and comments folks are leaving in light of the news:

https://www.facebook.com/EasternSports?fref=ts

[steve863]

Who owns AR's ? Hum it is the most popular rifle in the U.S. so I'd guess plenty ?

I think the question was how many hunters own AR's. It is obvious that many people own them, and I'm sure more than a few hunters own them, but I don't think all hunters are rabid gun nuts, and all rabid gun nuts are hunters. I would put the AR's as the "gotta have" gun for the rabid gun nuts more often than it would be for the typical Joe hunter. Of the hunters I know personally outside this forum, I too do not know of anyone who has an AR or wants to own one.

[Nomad]

I'd say your right Steve on parts of that, at work I know a few who own only 1 or 2 guns AR's beining one of them. My lawyer owns 1 shotgun one Glock and one AR hardly a gun nut, let alone hard core.

But the whole HUNTING part is a strawman anyway,its a 2A issue not hunting, but many fell for cuomo's bait and swtich .Sad.

I do think it may be a big mistake for hunters not to stand up for gun owners though,seeing as how hunters make up only a small fraction of gun ownwers, we need THEM to stick up for hunting .If I was an AR guy and hunters did not stand up with me, I'd be sending money to PETA .