Pink Guns

[Jackson]

I know several manufacturers are offering guns in pink now, like the Walther P22, Sig Mosquito, and Taurus all have models in pink.

Clearly a way to market to women... But I'm curious what women in the shooting community think about this marketing strategy. Is a pink gun desirable?

Or does it make you feel like they are saying 'women don't know how to pick based on any other criteria, so if we make them pink...'



I was just curious. Any women on the board have an opinion one way or the other on pink guns?

 

[Scutter01]

I know Spasmo goes out of her way to at least look at the pink ones. I do not believe it would be a primary criteria, but I believe it would be an influencing factor in her purchase.

 

[spasmo]

The number one feature for me in a gun is the fit. I have had a .40 cal Smith & Wesson, which was my first purchase. I didn't know any better. I ended up selling it and purchasing a Glock 26. I love everything about it but the grip/fit. It is slightly larger than it should be and when I mean grip, I mean the part from the back of the grip to the trigger. I'm sure this probably has a technical name.

Now, I like looking at colored guns. Even though I would never own one, I think the Neos guns were really cool because they had different colors on them. I have looked at the pink Taurus but I don't like the grip on them. Once again, it doesn't fit my hand. I am however interested in the pink P22. Not necessarily because it fits my hand but because I think it would get my daughter to shoot it. I wouldn't carry it because it's only a .22.

If there were more firearms in different colors, you may get more women to carry them. That may or may not be a good idea. The problem with the colors is that it would draw attention to the firearm and is probably not such a great idea. I would not open carry though. That is just not me.

 

[Jackson]

If you like looking at the colored guns, why wouldn't you own one? Just curious.

 

[Pami]

Pink guns were the only reason I even decided guns were not scary. That whole "Evil Black Rifle" phenomenon exists for a reason. Black has long symbolized evil, dark, scary things. Guns are black, therefore guns are scary. Pink, on the other hand, has long symbolized everything sweet and innocent. Coating a gun pink makes it less scary.

Short story:
When I was brand new to guns and we were still trying to decide which one was the best for me, we went to Gander Mountain just to check out their selection (and because they had the pink Taurus Millennium Pro). W9ZEB was looking at a few different pistols, and asked the clerk if he could see one in that case over there. The clerk said, "Just don't say the pink one." W9ZEB said, "Actually, that's the one she wants." The clerk responded back, "You can't shoot that! You'd have to shoot the guy in the kneecaps twice just to prove you were serious! What's intimidating about a pink gun??" I smiled and said, "Exactly my point. If the guy on the business end isn't scared of a pink gun, I'm certainly not going to be scared of holding it."

Thank God for that Millennium. I never did get one (I discovered SIGs instead), but the fact that it came in pink certainly made guns less scary for me. They were suddenly approachable.

Not every woman thinks the way I do (in fact most probably don't), but I'll bet you having guns in a "girly" color turned more heads that normally would have either been afraid of the evil black guns or just weren't interested because black or stainless guns are boy toys.

Where have you seen an SIG Mosquito in pink that wasn't customized post-production?

 

[Jackson]

It was just a picture online. Now that I've looked at the page again though, it even says "custom" on the page under the picture. I just thought it was a factory thing to answer to the P22 pinkness (which, is a factory option, right?)

Sig Mosquito 22 LR Pink Frame **BUDS EXCLUSIVE** for Sale at Buds Gun Shop $330.00

 

[melensdad]

My daughter started shooting a Ruger 10/22 with a "pretty" brown laminated stock. She didn't think the gun looked scary because the wood was pretty. On the other hand she thought some of my rifles looked scary because they were black.

Now she has 2 rifles of her own, she doesn't think either is scary. Both are obviously PINK.

On a similar note, I also have AR15/M4 furniture in BRITE BLUE and in SHOCKING YELLOW.

 

[Jackson]

Those rifles rock. How old is your daughter? When do you think you'll start her in on handguns? Is there a pink P22 (or whatever) in her future?

I have a niece (6) that my brother and I hope takes some interest in guns and shooting. I know she's only 6, so there's lots of time. And if she's not interested, she's not interested. Right now she knows the Eddie Eagle rules, and we've talked to her about the "four rules" a bit just to introduce them.

 

[shooter521]

My wife and I both think the pink-gun marketing concept is condescending to women, except for this one:
S&W M&P9JG

 

[melensdad]

Those rifles rock. How old is your daughter? When do you think you'll start her in on handguns? Is there a pink P22 (or whatever) in her future?

I have a niece (6) that my brother and I hope takes some interest in guns and shooting. I know she's only 6, so there's lots of time. And if she's not interested, she's not interested. Right now she knows the Eddie Eagle rules, and we've talked to her about the "four rules" a bit just to introduce them.

My daughter is turning 14 soon. She already shoots handguns, she favors my HiPower because it has such a modest recoil, not sure if I will buy her a pink handgun, but Gander Mountain sells a pretty nifty pink polymer Taurus semi-auto in 32, 380 and 9mm.

I see nothing wrong with colored guns. Who of us is really a tactical ninja anyway? If I shoot someone with my bright yellow 6.5 Grendel AR15 they will probably fall over despite the fact that the gun is not all black. Ditto if I shoot someone with my bright blue 9mm AR carbine. Out at the public ranges people love the colored guns. In my back yard range it really doesn't matter, but it sure helps me tell which gun is which since I have so many that are 'color coded'

 

[GetA2J]

Melensdad, if you choose to try out one of the Pink Taurus'. I bought my wife the 9mm.
I would be happy to meet youat a range somhere and let you or whomever is interested in a personal physical review o the Taurus.

 

[stormryder]

I just found a Panther Arms Pink rifle being auctioned on Gunbroker.com.
It is for Breast Cancer Awareness.

DPMS Panther™ Lite 16" - Pink Rifle - CHARITY : Semi-auto at GunBroker.com

 

[Pami]

I just found a Panther Arms Pink rifle being auctioned on Gunbroker.com.
It is for Breast Cancer Awareness.

www.gunbroker.com/AuctionViewItem.asp?Item=112670834

I get a 404 error on that one?

 

[spasmo]

DPMS Panther™ Lite 16" - Pink Rifle - CHARITY : Semi-auto at GunBroker.com

I did too and then just did a search on pink rifle. It's going for over 2K now. Scutter didn't like it. hehehe I said it needed a little more black on it. He said it needed to be all black.

 

[melensdad]

Its very pink!

 

[Pami]

That is SO hawt.
/drool

 

[techres]

There is one of these in the back of the gun safe, held in reserve for my middle daughter (she is 6):

I took so much pain from my wife over this rifle that we are not to speak about it again for some time. But, I won, cause it is still in the house.

BTW: my daughter wanted it BECAUSE it is pink!

 

[Scutter01]

There is one of these in the back of the gun safe, held in reserve for my middle daughter (she is 6):

I took so much pain from my wife over this rifle that we are not to speak about it again for some time. But, I won, cause it is still in the house.

BTW: my daughter wanted it BECAUSE it is pink!

My 9-year old has one. She's a pretty decent shot with it, too.

 

[stormryder]

link is fixed

 

[chadkandy]

If they made a TC prohunter in pink, I think I'd have to ask my husband for one