Which option is the best for me?
Rifles haveย been a part of theย color guard activityย sinceย the days of militaryย pageantry.ย Traditionally, theseย non-functioning riflesย were made from woodย with metal parts to look just like their functioning counterparts.ย Since then, the shape has been simplifiedย andย fine-tunedย forย optimalย balanceย for those high-flying spins. One of the newest equipment innovations is the development of wood-alternative riflesย like theย Endura Drill Rifle, made fromย high-impact ABSย plastic. Wood rifles are still quite popular andย won’tย be going away anytime soon, butย the plastic alternatives have “broken the mold” in what we come to expect from one of the most recognizable pieces of color guard equipment.ย ย
One of the firstย decisionsย you willย make when choosing a rifle isย “wood or plastic.” Whileย both options have benefits and drawbacks, the choice ultimately comes down to your ownย preferences.ย
While manyย still consider wood riflesย (like theย Ultra Spin Wood Rifle)ย the obvious winner,ย plastic rifles still have many features that make them appealingย for beginners and advanced performers. While plastic rifles are not completely indestructible, they do tend to hold up much better over longer periods than their wood counterparts.ย
Here are just a few of the pros and cons:
PLASTIC
Pros:
- Lighter weight โ great for beginners and experienced performers alike.
- Great for use with teams practicing/performing on turf/grass fields.
- More consistent weights from rifle to rifle
- Do not need to be taped (but it is encouraged to help with longevity)
- Sturdier than wood (under normal use)ย
- 3 sizes available
- Waterย damageย and moistureย are notย a concernย
Cons:
- Prone to breaking when repeatedly dropped on pavement/concreteย
(recommend taping to give added strength)ย ย ย - Can bounce when dropped
- After continued use (and abuse) some warping may occurย
WOOD
Pros:
- The traditional favorite of color guards
- 3 sizes available
- Perfectly balanced for use with beginners as well as experienced performers
Cons:
- Must be taped to help prevent breakage
- Weights vary due toย the nature of usingย woodย material, which can lead to inconsistent batches
- Water damage can occur if not properly cared for
Thereโsย definitely anย art to taping your rifle correctly. Done right,ย it willย prevent damageย while giving you theย best possible grip. Make sure to check out our article,ย “Taping your Color Guard Rifle.”
We hope this information assists you in making the most informed decision for yourself or your color guard when it comes to your rifle purchase! Our Sales Team can answer any further questions you may have about our Ultra Spin and Enduraย Rifle.