Continued Unrest?

Expect Self-Defense Options To Trend UP

Written By Carolee Anita Boyles

2021

Featuring a thinner, low-profile design compared to the larger RMR, the Trijicon RMRcc is designed
for a faster and easier draw from concealment. Image: Trijicon

We all know the record-breaking sales of 2020 — driven by COVID-19, the summer’s unrest and presidential election — won’t last forever.

Eventually the panic buying created by those events will subside to some kind of normal. What “normal” looks like, though, may not resemble anything we saw in 2019 or before.

Two dealers describe the self-defense trends they’ve observed in their stores over the past year — and where things may be headed this year.

Wheelguns Leading The Way?

Anthony Puglia owns Puglia’s Sporting Goods in Metairie, La., about 10 minutes from New Orleans. Its proximity to the city impacts sales.

“Our crime rate fluctuates, but is never good,” he shared. “One thing we always keep in stock is revolvers. They’re a little lighter weight than many pistols, and a little easier for older people and women to carry and fire.”

For the past couple of years, popular models in the store have included the hammerless Smith & Wesson Model 642 in stainless steel.

“It’s probably our number-one selling self-defense gun,” Puglia noted. “It’s simple, and not a lot of things can go wrong with it — which is important because your brain doesn’t really work when you need it and you’re frantic. And with older people who have arthritis, it’s easier for them to operate instead of trying to pull a slide back.”

Even younger men who have strong hands are trending away from semi-autos back toward snub-nosed, lightweight revolvers, according to Puglia.

“Again, the theory — in part — behind this is it’s a flawless firearm,” he stated. “I’m not saying it’s perfect 100% of the time, but the chances of a malfunction are much lower than with a semi-auto.”

Other Home-Defense Staples

When it comes to home defense, Puglia’s tried-and-true products have been compact tactical pump shotguns in both 12 GA and 20 GA. His customers have shown a clear preference for 20 GA shotguns.

“They like the 20 GA because they’re smaller and lighter, and there’s less recoil,” Puglia said. “Probably our number-one seller is the Mossberg Shockwave.”

“The basics of our self-defense sales will be the same: revolvers and tactical shotguns. They might have some different bells and whistles on them, but it’s what people will buy.”

Anthony Puglia, Owner Puglia’s Sporting Goods Metairie, La.

The Shockwave’s popularity with customers has been one of the biggest surprises for Puglia over the past couple of years.

“When I first saw it, I wasn’t all that impressed,” he recalled. “We bought just a handful of them, but then it wound up being one of the most sought-after tactical shotguns all year. Everybody wanted it.”

Puglia’s top-seller in non-lethal options has always been pepper spray.

“We carry a lot of pepper spray from SABRE,” he said.

Post COVID Predictions

After COVID-19 subsides, presidential politics settle down (if they do) and life returns to something resembling normal, Puglia expects sales of revolvers like Smith & Wesson’s Model 642 to stay strong.

“I believe it will continue to be one of our strongest sellers,” he predicts. “But I think things will change a little on the shotgun side, just because there will be newer models coming out in 2021. Some people are going to want the newest thing, and will be the hardest to get because it’s new — which will also make the demand go up.”

Continuing this line of thinking, Puglia said some customers always want the newest model of firearms, no matter what type they like.

Mossberg 590 Shockwave Nightstick

SABRE RED Aim and Fire Pepper Gel offers protection from a 15' distance
and is capable of engaging multiple threats with 13 bursts.

“It’s almost like bragging rights for them,” he shared. “But I think the basics of our self-defense sales will be the same: revolvers and tactical shotguns. They might have some different bells and whistles on them, or some added features, but it’s what people will buy.”

One thing Puglia doesn’t expect to see changing very soon is the ongoing shortage of firearms and ammunition in the marketplace.

“Our sales (as of early January) are still above normal across the board,” he shared. “If Biden starts talking bad about the Second Amendment, it’s going to start the whole process over and it’s probably going to be worse than it was before.”

Puglia was in restocking mode at the beginning of the year.

“We’re still stocking up, and we’re still buying as much as we can get our hands on,” he said, “even though the demand has slackened a little bit. Depending on what Biden does, people may go back to panic buying, and we may be just as busy if not busier.”

A Divergent Trend

Unlike Puglia’s, Ultimate Defense in St. Peters, Mo., has seen high-capacity subcompact semi-autos dominate the sales landscape.

Up until recent history, according to Retail Manager Michael Knipping, two of the most popular firearms for self-defense were the SIG SAUER Model 238 and the SIG SAUER Model 938.

“About two years ago, SIG came out with the P365 and Springfield came out with the Hellcat,” he said. “GLOCK came out with its 43, 43X and 48 models. Those kind of took the market away from the high-capacity, smaller-framed pistols such as the SIG SAUER 238 and 938, and the Springfield 911.”

Those newer pistols are what Knipping sees selling today when he can get them.

“Pre-COVID, those were the firearms of choice for someone who wanted to carry a firearm,” he observed.

Knipping said Ultimate Defense carried holsters for pistols in the past but have stopped doing so.

Though he ranks the Smith & Wesson Model 642 as his store’s top seller, Anthony Puglia shared the
Springfield Armory Hellcat has quickly risen to the top since its debut in late 2019 (pictured here).
Springfield recently launched a reduced-capacity (10-round) option for customers in restrictive states.

SIG SAUER P365 XL ROMEOZERO

Teaching Time & Distance

“We have tried out a lot of holsters,” he said. “We tried concealed carry underwear and didn’t like the concept of it. We have a very small retail space, and when we sell as many guns as we do, and there are more holsters for every gun, you can’t sell every option out there for every gun. It just got to the point where when someone purchased a firearm, we never had the right holster.”

Instead, according to Knipping, staff help guide the customer to the right kind of holster and encourage them to make that purchase elsewhere.

In its classes, Ultimate Defense doesn’t sugarcoat what’s ultimately needed when a gun owner is forced to defend himself or herself.

“We teach time and distance,” he said. “The more time and the more distance you can put between yourself and the perpetrator, the higher your chance of survival. The only thing besides a firearm we encourage the use of is pepper spray. You have to be in close proximity to the perpetrator to use a TASER and knife.”

Even a good, strong pepper spray has its limitations, Knipping added.

“If someone is on crack, they can overcome the effects of pepper spray and still come toward you,” he said. “If someone is there to attack you, they’re going to inflict bodily harm. The law says at that point you’re good to use deadly force, so go ahead and use it. The quickest way to stop the threat is rapid decompression of the chest chamber. It sounds extreme, but extreme situations call for extreme measures.”

What New Buyers Want

Post-COVID, Knipping thinks the same pistols will continue to be popular even with all the new shooters who emerged during 2020.

“There’s nothing spectacular coming into the market,” he said, while adding the caveat, “I say that, but things often surprise me.”

The most recent thing to surprise Knipping is red dot sights on concealed carry pistols.

“Companies are coming out with little bitty red dots,” he stated. “Now all I have to teach a new shooter is to look through the sight, put the red dot on the target and pull the trigger.”

“Red dot sights are one of the most popular options I thought would never catch on, and they’re totally catching on with new shooters.”

Michael Knipping, Retail Manager Ultimate Defense St. Peters, Mo.

He said there isn’t one that stands out as being an exceptional seller; many customers are purchasing red dots made by the various gun manufacturers.

“The SIG SAUER ones are selling well,” Knipping noted. “The ones from Trijicon sell well. All the new guns that are coming out all have the option to have a red dot on them. If someone buys a SIG SAUER P365 and wants a red dot sight on it, he tends to go to one made by SIG. Those red dot sights are one of the most popular options I thought would never catch on, and they’re totally catching on with new shooters.”

The Next Hot Commodity?

If the early part of this year is any indication, it’s well on its way to being as bizarre as 2020 was. At some point, however, things will settle down. It will be interesting indeed to see what self-defense products become the new hot sellers.

What will be your store’s next hot commodity? Let the SI team know: comments@shootingindustry.com.

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