Photo Credit: Rock Island Auction
As an instructor with over 2 years of experience in firearm sales and over a decade in firearms training, I’m going to provide a list of some of the best and worst firearm brands that I’ve come across. I’ll be basing this list on the brand’s quality, design, reputation, and my personal experience to name a few. While I won’t be incorporating every possible brand out there (there are too many to name), this list will provide you with a decent idea of what brands to look at when considering purchasing a firearm.
Best Brands
Let’s begin with what I consider to be top quality brands (in no particular order)!
- Heckler & Koch (HK)
- Glock
- Wilson Combat
- Henry Repeating Arms
- Sig Sauer
- CZ (also owns Colt and Dan Wesson)
- Staccato
- Daniel Defense
- LWRC
- U.S. Arms Co.
- Benelli
- Riley Defense
I realize that there are some brands that I didn’t mention (ex: Springfield, Smith & Wesson, Walther, Ruger, FN HERSTAL, Winchester, etc). Those other brands are mid-tier in my opinion and not every model that’s been released by these brands have been great (ex: Smith & Wesson Bodyguard).
Worst Brands
Now, we’ll get into what I consider to be the worst firearm brands (again, in no particular order).
- DoubleTap Defense
- Taurus (with the exception of their revolvers)
- SCCY
- Kimber
- FMK Firearms
I will also throw in the AR-12 platform into the mix. While AR-12 isn’t a specific brand but rather a shotgun style, generally speaking, it’s common for many of them to experience feed issues. This is why I recommend tube-fed rather than magazine-fed shotguns. If you’re looking to save money on your purchase, Hi-Point is reliable and American Made even though they’re heavy and ugly. Also, Canik isn’t a bad option for its price point and what’s included. However, I recommend looking into the other brands first to see what models they offer that might fit within your budget.
