From: fcrary@ucsu.Colorado.EDU (Frank Crary)
Newsgroups: rec.guns
Subject: Net gun consumer reports
Date: 22 Nov 92 20:20:18 GMT
Organization: University of Colorado, Boulder

In article <9211220155.AA12198@mimsy.cs.UMD.EDU> ccrafton@daewoo.math.indiana.edu (c.crafton) writes:
#In response to Franks reccomendation to starting our own "Consumer Reports"
#on guns: I think its a good idea. Here are some reccomendations:

#Start the thread with the model number and "specs" for each model.
#Also include a blank Consumer questionaire for easy followups.        

These are certainly important facts to include. However (since it
looks like I will be compiling the statistics... Why did I volunteer
for that? _Never_ volunteer for _anything_...) I'd prefer to see
things organized by type of weapon, as opposed to a seperate thread
for each model. Since, from postings to rec.guns "assault rifles" are
an item people are thinking of buying at this time, I'd like to 
start there.

#Example:
#Model: Ruger Mark II
#Bbl: 5.5"
#Finish: Stainless
#Mag. Cap: 10
#Weight:
#Action: semi-auto
#Options: bull barrel
#Caliber: .22LR
#Purpose: target, sport, plinking, hunting, defense, survival etc

#Consumer Question section:
#Rate the following from 1 (worst) to 10 (best):
#Performance:
#Accuracy:
#Reliability:
#Durability:
#Finish:
#Value:
#Workmanship:
#Overall Satisfaction:
#Ease of Maintenance:
#Reccomendation Rating:

However, I'd like to turn these into slightly more objective
questions. I've been thinking about how to assess "reliability", 
since my last post: 

How many rounds have you fired through the gun?
How many jams have you experienced?
What type of ammunition do you use? (Ex.: 75% handloads, 25% factory new)
How many jams occured using factory new ammunition?
(all answered roughly, of course...)

#From these questions, I think I could estimate both reliability and
"pickyness" (e.g. usable range of ammunition.)

On other issues, I'd like to see other people's opinions: What specific
questions can be asked, for example, to determin "ease of maintaince"
(or any other issue that concerns a would-be owner?)

# Also, a deadline on followups can be enacted if desired.

I'll post a date by which I plan to reduce the responses. Responses
receved after that time _might_ be included in a later revision...

# I would reccomend a "base number" of responses for the "composit" of at
# least 10 followups.

I'd guess, for 1 to 10 responses, the standard deviation would be
something like +-3. I would want at least 9 responses to reduce that
to a collective uncertainty of +-1 ( +-3/sqrt(9) ). I would be
much happier, however, if I could get at least 16-25 responses per
model.

# We could start by making a list of "must-have" guns to start on.
# Such as:
# Sig Sauer P226, Glock 17/19, SKS, Ruger 10/22, Ruger Mark II, AR-15,
# Remington 870, PPK/S, P85, P90, Pt92, 1911, PSS, etc etc etc etc etc etc...

I'd prefer to follow Consumer Reports' example: Compiling statistics
for a group of similar item. That way, someone interested in, say, 
self-defence autoloaders could look at one table for a comparison. Looking
only at favorites would defeate the purpose: To identify the "don't
waste your money" guns as well as the "best buys."

                                          Frank Crary
                                          CU Boulder