[Boats]

What I mean by this is their seeming editorial decision to browbeat the buying public about non-essential "safety enhancements."

First there was the .44 Special Thunder Ranch article with Clint Smith calling the critics of the lock and the garish sideplate, turdsuckers.

Then they had Taffin and his ode to the "safety features" of the Ruger P345.

Now there is the current issue, which features an article about the recent offering of the Model 22. .45ACP. It is largely a gorgeous piece, save for the sideplate eyesore, and in the text accompanying the pictures, an admonishment aimed directly at critics of the lock, saying in effect, that we wouldn't have this pretty piece to look at were it not for its warts. Never mind that the real analogy is like that of an open sore on the face of a supermodel.

So I wonder how much of this appeasement behavior is driven by S&W or Ruger being an advertiser, and just how much of it is their desire to knuckle under rather than be the least bit controversial about something. I am not naive about gun rags, as they are beholden to their advertisers, but c'mon, they don't have to insult our intelligence about why their take is what it is. They should just proudly declare their whoredom instead of lecturing we chaste buyers about the errors of our ways.

I am glad I only take the mag for its pictures.

[Standing Wolf]

If I were writing for a gun magazine, I believe I'd just shut up about the locks or poke fun at them.

At best, they're a feel-good addition to firearms; at worst, they're going to get firearms owners killed when guns are needed right this instant.

Most of the "articles" in gun magazines appear to be rewritten manufacturer press releases. If you want clear, experience-based information, you'll have to visit http://www.thehighroad.org and separate the wheat from the chaff.

[beaucoup ammo]

As a wheel gun fan, I like the article on the S&W Model 29 - 44Mag. Thats a beauty!

Take Care

[Thefabulousfink]

Personally I just ingnore them (the locks). I have a new(ish) S&W j-frame with the lock on the side, and it has never been touched. The keys are still in the case and I have never touched them either. For me the lock is a non-issue, if they want to put locks on their guns that is fine, they aren't forcing me to use them and the gun still works great.

As for writting about it in a gun mag, you would think that the authors could find better things to discuss when reviewing a gun than "some people are stupid 'cause they don't like locks (sic)".

[Old Dog]

Boats said I am not naive about gun rags, as they are beholden to their advertisers, but c'mon, they don't have to insult our intelligence about why their take is what it is. They should just proudly declare their whoredom instead of lecturing we chaste buyers about the errors of our ways.and I heartily concur!

I think it's more of an acceptance of the locks on the part of AH's staff writers than it is the fact that S&W and Ruger advertise in their magazines. And also, the fact that some of these AH staff guys appear to be fairly close to some S&W personnel.

I recently went through about four years' worth of this magazine in my garage trying to determine which issues I wanted to save -- and while doing so, I noted a number of articles in which some of the writers were actually pretty forthcoming with, if not damning criticism of a firearm under review, at least a somewhat honest piece noting what the writer(s) considered the guns' shortcomings ... AH has, at least from what I notice -- in the past --been more likely to note a gun's negatives that many other firearms publications.

Now -- about the AH staff and their take on The Lock: I'm truly disappointed, especially with guys such as Roy Huntington, Clint Smith, but especially John Taffin -- these guys could certainly go on record with their true feelings about The Lock and maybe even spark more feedback to S&W on how we, the consumer, actually feels about The Lock. I'm wondering if the company even knows how loathsome we all find The Lock.

American Handgunner used to be the premier firearms publication. Since ol' Roy took over, though, I almost feel as though he's turned the magazine into a collection of columns and articles with his personal circle of buddies all making the same silly little inside jokes (especially with him and this "John Connor" dude) in so many of the pieces; it's gettin' old.

(Disclaimer: I do actually own some Smith revolvers with the lock, and though I lament the blemished sideplate, I do still enjoy these revolvers.)

[SAWBONES]

All the gunrags I've read are lame at least some of the time.
AH is the least offensive of the lot, however, for my money.
If they seem to support the presence of politically-correct-but-actually-potentially-detrimental "safety features" on reviewed guns, you have no farther to look than the full page advertisements to understand why. The editor and publisher can't change these things, after all, and they dare not speak out directly against those features for the sake of offending their advertisers, so they have basically said "quit whining about it" to the readership.

AH has good quality photography, and some of the writing is actually pretty good. Jeff Snyder's articles in particular represent genuinely clear-thinking on Second Amendment issues. While much of the other writing is rather sophomoric, and too often the authors' points are obvious before they even get started, I still usually enjoy reading most of AH, and even the worst writing examples are nowhere near as bad as that in some of the other rags. Of late, it seems that there's been a trend toward the expression of the Conservative Neo-Con Republican Party Line, which IMNSHO is something not really belonging in a gun magazine, but that's JMNSHO, and I realize you can't please everybody.

[Cosmoline]

Most of the rags are little more than advertising for gun companies dressed up as articles. The golden age of gun writing is gone. Or perhaps it's moved on-line. The best of the lot are Handloader and Rifle, and they're far from perfect. I like "Shotgun News" because it doesn't pretend to be anything other than a bunch of ads. And some of the articles on C&R firearms are actually useful.

I have to say I don't trust the opinion of any living gun rag staff writer. If I want to get the lowdown on a firearm, I come here and survey the array of responses. Not all posts are accurate, but errors are corrected and the cumulative knowledge on the main gun forums I frequent is orders of magnitude greater than any gun writer or editorial staff. If I have a question about an obscure marking on a Mosin-Nagant, I can go ask the author of "The Three Line Rifle" on the Collector's forum. Or just look at one of the many exhaustive sites on the matter. Compared with these sources, even the best magazine article is rife with error and misdirection.

[Old Fuff]

I am no fan of S&W's lock, especially since there are documented cases where a revolver - apparantly because of recoil or vibration factors, has unexpectedly locked itself. Of course this is very rare - something like people getting hit by lightning on a golf course, but both things do happen.

Anyway when handling a new model 24/.45 ACP I noticed it had one of the older style latch thumbpieces, and it did a pretty good job of covering up the safety. This is not a solution, but it was an improvement. I have no plans to buy a "lockable" S&W, but should I do so I'll look into this option... :evil:

[XLMiguel]

I like AH because they cover a bit of everything handgun related. Like any publication, they have their biases and agena, and there seems to be a cycle between 1911's and large bore revovolvers in the spotlight, but also decent coverage of other platforms & calibers, and content on handguns in general.

You do read/borrow/trade/subscribe to more than one gun rag, right?

[bigbore442001]

About the only time I will read AH is at the newstand. I haven't bought an issue in ages due to the fact that there has been very little interest for me between the pages.

It seems that there is a lot of focus on tactical this and tactical that. I see little in the way of plain ole plinking and handgun hunting. I would like to see more full feature articles on handgun hunting of various game . But I guess that isn't selling right now.

[spooney]

I read some of this month's issue today, I like the Mike Venturino columns in all of them but thought his this month was kinda insubstantial. I also wished they would have expanded the Colt 1903 article, but thats just my own personal bias, I love the Model M. All in all its a pretty good magazine although I wish it, and all the other gun rags, were a little more indepth.

[skynyrd1911]

It's the only gun mag I subscribe to at present. To each his own. :D

[Kodiaz]

What locks are you guys talking about ?Sideplate? could someone post a link to a pic of this thing??

[gunsmith]

in a store I think a coin shop or smething. the victim pulls his gun out as the perk gets his out a second later.
victim dies because his "safety":mad: :( :cuss: :fire: :barf:


prevented him from shooting.

I will never use a handgun like that, glocks and the like for me.
my safety means being able to live long enough to shoot back.

back to the thread...I never read AH any longer. THR then "gun test", SAR, shotgunnews & once in awhile SWAT

[Cosmoline]

focus on tactical this and tactical that. I see little in the way of plain ole plinking and handgun hunting. I would like to see more full feature articles on handgun hunting of various game . But I guess that isn't selling right now.

I have a growing suspicion that the bulk of the readership of most main-stream rags does a lot less shooting than it used to. The fixation on paramilitary and "tactical" hardware seems to be widespread, which is a sure sign most of the readership aren't serious shooters.

[TheEgg]

The only reason I subscribe to AH is for the pretty pictures.

[Double Naught Spy]

in a store I think a coin shop or smething. the victim pulls his gun out as the perk gets his out a second later.
victim dies because his "safety":mad: :( :cuss: :fire: :barf:

prevented him from shooting.

I will never use a handgun like that, glocks and the like for me.
my safety means being able to live long enough to shoot back.

It wasn't the safety that prevented the clerk from shooting, but a lack of familiarity with the gun. From the sounds of it, he would have died anyway given his abilities with the platform.

As for the thread, I don't know that AH has gotten more pathetic recently, at least no in the last few years. I think it has maintained a stable pathetic level for quite some time. Keep in mind that AH is the rag where Ayoob publishes some of his interpretive works where the title on the cover, in the contents, and of the article itself will say something like "...6 shooting cases show why" and you read the article and 3 are shooting, 2 are hit and run with cars, and one was a simple beating. Apparently Ayoob and the editors at AH are a little fuzzy on what is or is not a shooting. Several of his stories have a marked difference between what is claimed and what is actually in the articles he writes. There is absolutely no reason why this sort of mistake should happen and it happens repeatedly. Apparently neither AH or Ayoob are bothered.

[Wayne D]

Keep in mind that AH is the rag where Ayoob publishes some of his interpretive works where the title on the cover, in the contents, and of the article itself will say something like "...6 shooting cases show why" and you read the article and 3 are shooting, 2 are hit and run with cars, and one was a simple beating.
That sounds more like Ayoob's "Self Defense and the Law" column in Combat Handguns. Usually the only articles by Ayoob in American Handgunner are Cop Talk and Ayoob Files, unless he's reviewing a gun. And to defend Ayoob a little bit, usually the author of the articles has no control over what the editor decides to put on the cover of the magazine or in the table of contents.

IMO Handgunner has went down hill since Huntington has been in charge

[beaucoup ammo]

What a concept!

[ezypikns]

it must be really difficult for the writers to find something fresh to write about every month. Just how many fresh takes can there be about custom 1911's.
What I'd like to see more of are articles about 'affordable' handguns. We aren't all going to purchase Wilson, Les Baer, and other high dollar pistols.

[Zundfolge]

I read American Handgunner ... I start to get annoyed with all the 1911 coverage and the lack of coverage of anything not 1911 or wheelgun ... then I read another gun rag and realize that even though AH could be better its tons better than most other mags.

[Logan5]

I got sick of AH a while ago for pretty much the same reasons... Most of it was their tone, constantly pushing how hardcore and tactical they are, but some of it was the constant 1911 thing. I mean, I've got 1911's. Like, several for each hand. Marketing message recieved. Ease up a little!

Scary thing though, I was at the range tonight, and everyone there but me was shooting a 1911. (Weds. is 4506 night for me.) What if AH has some kind of pod people thing going on? If I'd been shooting a 9mm, would they have put some kind of alien fruit in my range bag?

[joab]

I quit readingthem years ago when they endorsed Rexio revolvers instead of calling them the RGish pieces of junk that they were

[Mulliga]

I honestly can't stand gun rags, period. You might catch me rifling through G&A or (more likely) Shotgun News, but that's about it. THR and other forums (heck, even online reviewers like Stephen A. Camp's website and the guys at gunblast.com) are better for info.

As to the downplaying of the integral locks, I suspect it's mainly because if they took the blanket position that all integral locks are bad, they couldn't review a lot of the new stuff that comes down the pike these days from gun manufacturers. In all honesty, the casual gun owners couldn't care less about them, so the gun rags don't focus on them.

[Rabbi]

I wouldn't read a review of Kiwi Shoe Polish if it was written by Massad Ayoob.

He might be quite a good pistol shot, I'll give him that. He has never been much of a cop, gunman, or street survival guy. He's always been a reserve/part time cop with a lot of media hype and media darling attention.

Mags that publish his foolishness don't deserve a minute's attention.

I just read a rave review the other day in "Guns" magazine about a Charles Daly .45 1911 with an MSRP of $724.00 ................ ya ready for that?

Who do they think they are addressing?

[Moonclip]

really sucks, and I glad I no longer subscribe. I only like the Ayoob Files really anymore. Turdsuckes, Taffins old man grumblings, ect, hell, the mag is like well over 1/2 non gun related babbling it seems now.

And I bet the "memsaab" is a 250lb 60 year old woman who is not even a redhead!

[torpid]

Logan5:
What if AH has some kind of pod people thing going on? If I'd been shooting a 9mm, would they have put some kind of alien fruit in my range bag?

I like the way you think.

:D

[fantacmet]

Well, since I laugh at S&W(Not a factor of their quality more of their politics when they got screwed in the ass. I still think they should have refused to sell to LEA's but thats my .02 on that and is worth about as much), I think the Taurus approach to integral locks is a nice one. It's simple, and unobtrusive. It doesn't detract from the looks or ergonomics of the gun itself. Same with the new locks on the Glocks(and I hate glock with a passion but their lock is nice), I don't particularly care for integral locks. to me their only useful purpose for us is to lock them when storing long term. As said when using them regularly they are just going to get us killed. Of course doh't you know it serves us right for having such things, we should just let the police handle it. You know those guys who are here to protect us, but due to PC and budget cuts, can't do anything other then standing around looking like a monkey f#$king a football? It's not their fault though, i don't blame cops for it, it's the damn liberal scum.

Rev. Michael

[Bobarino]

i haven't bought AH in over a year. i used to like it for the Ten Ring, now gone and for the thorough write ups and photography. however, i refuse to buy it when it has YET A-FRICKIN-NOTHER 1911 on the cover that is gushed over inside the pages. its like the Camaro in car magazines. ain't nothin' you can do to a 1911 that hasn't been done a million times before. your full length guide rod and 875 LPI checkering on the front strap doesn't make it worth the asking price of $3,658.

NEWS FLASH! this just in; there are actually other types of pistols in the world besides the 1911 that shoot extremely well. more at 11.

Bobby

[Erich]

Bob, that's always bugged me, too. :)

[TexAg]

"his personal circle of buddies all making the same silly little inside jokes"
This is whats annoyed me the most about AH recently, it seems in every issue, at least in a couple articles, there must be some comment on 'his editorialship Roy...yadda yadda' or 'Roy told me to...blah blah blah'. I don't care what the goings on of asigning articles is and I don't care about the inside jokes! Cooper is kind of funny, and I have to wonder who these guys are that write in saying they were "howling and fell of the throne" from reading one of his articles. Its not that funny. I sometimes smirk at them, thats it. I think they need to flesh out the articles more and provide fewer needless anecdotes about office jokes.
Overall its a good gun mag, I only get it and American Rifleman now. I do wish they would throw out the "knife" articles (American Hangunner right? throw in something about rifles if you must throw in other non-handgun articles/advertisements). And it would be nice to see a few less "custom" guns.

[Walt Rauch]

Beavis and Butthead in print form.

[kasTX]

The emphasis on 1911's wore me out too, until I realized they weren't just 1911's, the were THE ULTIMATE TACTICAL 1911's! :rolleyes:

And a new one every month to boot. The pace of progress just boggles the mind sometimes. :D

[Roy Huntington]

Gents and ladies (I hope?),
A reader sent me this link and wanted me to get upset and pound my fist and such. Silly. Of course I'm not upset, of course I like this kind of spirited discourse and I'm only surprised I've never heard form any of you with any of your complaints! I think, often, readers are under some serious false impressions when it comes to publishing a gunzine. Might I dispell a few?

First off, none of us are experts in anything. We may know a bit more than average in some cases, but we're fortunate in that through a miracle of fate, we happen to be blessed with doing something as fun as writing about guns. We definitely make mistakes and usually my group of writers will be quick to admit it. They'd better ...

We do have fun. The latest round of "poking fun at the editor" by readers and such developed on its own. Readers write to me all the time calling me "His Editorship" and such. It's a bit of a spin-off on Connor's humor but it seems many people seem amused to imagine me sitting in some oak paneled office somewhere, getting greyer by the minute due to the trouble the writes are getting into. Actually, I sit at a steel desk in a small office and have to make my own coffee. Usually it's bad coffee, but I'm learning.

It's all in fun. And frankly, I grew up with gun magazines and today's crop don't often seem to have a sense of humor. Something Handgunner will never be acused of.

Those pesky locks on guns these days are always a pain to try to cover. About 50 percent think they are great or at least understand why some makers put them on. About 40 percent think it's a big consipiracy by the gun companies, American Handgunner, me, the FBI and that guys in black BDU suits will come storming in their door at any second to make sure the lock is on. And the rest really don't care one way or the other.

But here's the deal, at least in my opinion. In today's world there's exactly nothing I or anyone else can do to make manufacturers take the locks off.I've sat across from company presidents and they smile and say, "No, we can't remove the locks." And then they smile again. Period. If we all quit buying their guns, they might. But it simply doesn't bother the vast majority of gun buyers, so the makers don't change. Also, if we users would quit allowing unlocked guns to be used incorrectly while they are in our custody, that would make things a bit easier, I'm sure.

I'm sad because they quit making 1934 Packards. I wish my new car was like that. It's not. It has seatbelts and airbags. The law says I HAVE to wear a seatbelt. I hate the fact they MAKE me do it, but I'd probably do it anyway. I want a car. So I compromise and buy the one that's closest to meeting my wants and needs. And I have to tell you the annoying beeping it does all the time whenever I get in or out does wear thin. But if I disconnect it, I found out it won't start. Ahem ...

And another thing, lighten-up some. Handgunner is for "entertainment" and fun. Yes, we sometimes talk about serious things, but generally it's just a way for guys like you and me to enjoy reading about guns and looking at Ichi's great photos. Sometimes people wish the articles could be longer or go into more detail. So do I, but we're a bi-monthly and I have only so many pages per issue. I have to constantly compromise in order to make the most people happy. And those 1911 articles? I have to tell you, the SINGLE topic I get the MOST letters about are 1911s. Yes, we do cover some "factory" 1911s and other factory guns, but you can get that in any gunzine. What Handgunner does better than any other magazine is show you what can be done in the custom arena. And even IF there's a 1911 on the cover, once you delve inside, you'll find pages of "Non-1911" gun articles. Just look.

And please remember, there's no great consipracy at work anywhere. We've lost tens of thousands of dollars in advertising revenue because we've refused to be bullied by the big guys. And you'll notice when we run a cover feature about a custom gun, chances are very, very good we'll never see a single advertising dime from that tiny custom shop. So ... do I put Kimber on the cover? Or Glock? Or SIG? Or the one-man shop who has a wife and kids? Often that one-man shop wins out. And we really like doing that whenever we can. I will tell you personally, and you can ask anyone in the industry who has first-hand knowledge, we are absolutely not subject to the demands of the advertisers. We cover what's new, what is interesting and of note, and if they are advertiser's guns, all the nicer. But most advertisers know it does them good to be seen in Handgunner, so they advertise and they get customers. If we cover them in an article, they are simply even happier.

If you've any questions, please feel free to reach me at the magazine at:
ed@americanhandgunner.com. I always respond to every reader note, unless they sound completly nuts, and then I direct them to Soldier of Fortune (Just kidding, Mr. Brown!). Meanwhile, I don't really have the time to hang around the forums, but after seeing the notes here, I thought you guys would appreciate hearing from the source. I'm an old retired cop, who read gunzines since I was ten. Probably like many of you. I too miss the old days of Skeeter and Elmer. But these are the good old days of gun designs, amazing accessories and a thousand other things. Plus, I like to think we do have our share of pretty decent fellows who write these days. So enjoy, relax and mostly, go shooting!
I look forward to hearing from any of you when you've a moment.

Adios and thanks for the opportunity to waste so much space on your forum.
Roy Huntington
Editor
American Handgunner Magazine
P.S. And yes, I do confess to shamelessly supporting our troops and cops out there on the streets. And we do dearly love America and will poke fun at and call people names who don't agree with us.

[Bobarino]

well, i certainly appreciate you taking the time to respond to your customers' concerns. I can understand your desire to support the mom and pop shops too. however, i will still never buy an issue with another 1911 on the cover. its great to cater to your base clientel which appears to be baby boomer aged people that still love the 1911 but those customers aren't going to be around forever. there is a younger generation of shooters out there too that would like to see the latest plastic fantastic wares, gizmos to hang off of those "tactical" rails and such. i truly do like AH. it was the first gun magazine i ever bought. it had a Sig P229 on the cover (kinda shows my youngish age eh?) and started my love for pistol shooting. but throw us younger guys a bone every now and then eh? we are your clientel too.

thanks again for the insight. the next issue to come out without a 1911 on the cover, i'll buy. i promise.

Bobby

[beaucoup ammo]

There's a great Model 29 - .44 Mag on the cover! :O)

Take Care

[Bobarino]

wilco. i'll pick it up tonight on the way home. :)

Bobby

[P. Plainsman]

Gun mags today are a curious lot.

On the "useful info" front, Gun Tests could be the undisputed champion if only the concept were executed a little better. But their ratings system is administered in such a chaotic and inconsistent fashion -- sometimes a glitch with a handgun's safety will earn it a harshly critical "Don't Buy", other times the reviewer just breezes by it as a "training issue" and gives the gun a "Buy It." It's plain bizarre, and it hurts the value of the magazine. However, I do trust them not to mince words when they perceive something wrong with a gun and think it important, and that's a valuable attribute. Basically, I trust the Gun Tests guys to tell me the real deal, as they perceive it -- I'm just not always sure their judgment is trustworthy.

American Rifleman falls short of Gun Tests on the "no B.S." front, but its credibility is somewhat above average for gun mags. It is a well laid out, decently written, informative publication whose articles tend to stick to the point. I like it.

After Rifleman and Gun Tests, the only two I pay attention to are American Handgunner and Guns. Taffin is the big draw for me (along with the Ichiro Nagata pics). I trust him and read every word of his articles. Petty is low-key but good. Venturino has his moments. His article "The .45 Colt Sucks!" was pretty controversial by gun mag standards, well argued and thought out. I'd like to see more of that.

John Connor is a gifted natural writer (his air pistol article was a hoot :D) but he needs to dial the shtick back a few notches -- as do the rest of you on the editorial side, Mr. Huntington. Please stop answering every letter in the same junior-high snarky tone. It cuts into the reader's enjoyment. It ain't cool.

Taffin and Charlie Petty always write like grown-ups, and are the most consistently informative writers in Guns and AH. I don't think this is a generational thing. I'm early 30s; young for a gun buff.

Thanks for stopping by and responding in this thread.

[Sean85746]

AMERICAN HANDGUNNER and GUNS, with MAYBE the exception of SHOOTING TIMES are the only gun mags worth reading anymore. COMBAT HANDGUNS is still pretty good.

GUNS & AMMO blows, and so does HANDGUNS...they are just advertisements.

Oh well...I miss Bill, Skeeter, and Elmer!

But, I have to say Ayoob tells it like it is. Taffin and Venturino are always fun to read. Smith knows what he's about, and Joh Connor in the GUNCRANK DIARIES is a blast too.

[Kodiaz]

Baby boomer man I wouldn't trade my Kimber for a dozen Glocks. I'm 31 well if all the other people my age want plastic guns then I have a lot to look forward too. A lot of 1911's that is.:D :D :D

[mec]

"First off, none of us are experts in anything...."
I fit into that category rather handily. I suspect that other writers, more often than not, find themselves writing to an audience with members who know more about a given subject than they do. It's quite a challenge.

I occasionally commit prose that winds up in American Handgunner or Guns. Don't know what the other's do but, on the little short product review articles, I only touch stuff I've used and liked. I surely don't got looking for products to write up and won't waste my wit trying to make suckatrophic products look good.

On the Lock gizmos, Ayoob did a column a short time back on the .44 Smith's locking themselves up under recoil. Wouldn't be the first time he has micturated in S&W's grits. In one of the latest issues of GUNS, Jeff John wrote up one of the Para Ord 1911's and mentioned maybe that they could spend a little effort making the things accurate. There's quite a bit of that under the current management- they encourage their staffers and wide orbit contributors not to skimp on the negatives.

FMG is financially solvent and has even ventured a new gun publication (American Cop). That is quite a departure from the trend over the last decade or so when gunzines were more likely to disappear than reproduce.
The page counts of both AH and Guns has been growing fairly steadily and now seem likely to double the usual 80 page length of competiting magazines. This presupposes a fair supply of satisfied readers and advertisers alike and it does appear that somebody at fmg has got the right idea.

[Remander]

I am an American Handgunner subscriber for 2 or 3 years now, and I enjoy the mag. But I do read the reviews with it in mind that most of the companies who make the guns being reviewed pay much more (for ads) than I do to keep the mag (and all gun mags) afloat.

True of almost all magazines: This new gun by ___ is great!! (When is the last time you saw a review that said a gun sucked?) (And when was the last car magazine article that said Chevy or Ford sucked?)

"The CrapPoint TAK put 3 of 6 rounds in an area the size of a Purina Monkey Chow feed bag at 7 yards, and it hung up only twice, which may not win at Camp Perry, but it was quite acceptable for CCW use at close range and was well worth the $900 MSRP."

I ignore such blather, but as a rather new gun fan, I learn a bit about the various models of guns available and the history of the many makes, models and calibers.

I'll keep subscribing, and winking at the "new gun" reviews, if they'll keep educating me on the history issues.

[Moonclip]

Wow, I'm surprised they responded to this thread! Maybe I'll give them a second chance though I'm a turdsucker and all;)

[Erich]

I wound up re-subscribing to AH (after dropping my sub in the TS incident) because I wanted to read Cumpston, Venturino, Petty and Taffin (sent Huntington an email to that effect, too). I just cruise over Smith and Connor and totally ignore the idiotic letters section.

[Psssniper]

Mr Huntington thanks for a well reasoned reply.

And not that anyone cares but AH and SOF are the only two that I read

edit to add that i also subscribe to SWAT which slipped my mind

[orionengnr]

"Those pesky locks on guns these days are always a pain to try to cover. About 50 percent think they are great or at least understand why some makers put them on. About 40 percent think it's a big consipiracy by the gun companies, American Handgunner, me, the FBI and that guys in black BDU suits will come storming in their door at any second to make sure the lock is on. And the rest really don't care one way or the other."

Well, maybe he is right, I mean, he has his finger on the pulse better than I do. But here, TFL, SWforum, and tother places, I don't see the numbers he quotes. Probably more like, a certain number, approaching 50%, is totally ignorant of the existence or the operation of The Lock. Most of them have never heard that it can malfunction. When presented with evidence, most say, "hmmm...bad idea, good revolver. Guess I'll live with it". Some say, "Very bad idea, from now on I buy only No-Lock S&Ws". Some (like me) say, "Very bad idea...for a CCW weapon. For a range gun, still don't like it, but the stakes are much lower." I see no-one who "thinks they are great".

FWIW, I'm looking at 625s, and see no reason why I should buy 625 with The Lock when there are plenty out there without them? Now, if I decide I want a 325, different story...

I actually owned about 5 S&W revolvers with The Lock...until I started reading about them. I now own two, and I carry my 360PD less frequently now (neither my Kahr nor my Para has a lock).

For someone to dismiss me as a "TurdSucker" because I have an opinion which differs from his...perhaps he should write for DU. I have no interest in giving him my money.

[TexAg]

Those pesky locks on guns these days are always a pain to try to cover. About 50 percent think they are great or at least understand why some makers put them on. About 40 percent think it's a big consipiracy by the gun companies, American Handgunner, me, the FBI and that guys in black BDU suits will come storming in their door at any second to make sure the lock is on. And the rest really don't care one way or the other.

But here's the deal, at least in my opinion. In today's world there's exactly nothing I or anyone else can do to make manufacturers take the locks off.I've sat across from company presidents and they smile and say, "No, we can't remove the locks." And then they smile again. Period. If we all quit buying their guns, they might. But it simply doesn't bother the vast majority of gun buyers, so the makers don't change. Also, if we users would quit allowing unlocked guns to be used incorrectly while they are in our custody, that would make things a bit easier, I'm sure.

I'm sad because they quit making 1934 Packards. I wish my new car was like that. It's not. It has seatbelts and airbags. The law says I HAVE to wear a seatbelt. I hate the fact they MAKE me do it, but I'd probably do it anyway. I want a car. So I compromise and buy the one that's closest to meeting my wants and needs. And I have to tell you the annoying beeping it does all the time whenever I get in or out does wear thin. But if I disconnect it, I found out it won't start. Ahem ...



Well so far the law doesn't say we HAVE to have locks built into our guns, thank God. What I don't understand about S&W is that they are putting these locks on pretty much all of their guns (but for law enforcement its an option?!) and yet Glock has it as an option for civilians (and I have not seen one yet with the lock here in Texas), Kahr doesn't do it, Ruger has it on their newest designs but hasn't retrofited all their guns with them, Colt doesn't do it, and Springfield makes their ILS removeable, so I am a little perplexed why S&W thinks they should put them on all their guns and why people think that there is no way we are going to change this. We can buy guns without locks, we can buy brand new pistols without locks, and we can buy used S&Ws without locks (anyone notice older Smiths are becoming more desireable?) so why buy a new S&W with a lock? Why doesn't S&W make it an option like Glock does? Why isn't a cable lock included in the box considered enough? Why does S&W give in so readily and not think we can reverse things a little bit. We did not give up when the Assault Weapons Ban was passed, and sure enough, it sunsetted and was NOT renewed. Colt makes WWI and WWII reproductions and series 70s without a lock or even a firing pin block and yet Smith can't put out a Model 22 or 29 without a lock? Phooey. There are still enough vintage Smiths without a lock that I will never be buying a new Smith with one. There is something we can do to make the manufacturer's take them off, don't buy them and keep telling them why you're not buying them. Buy from the good guys who have the courage and intelligence to not build a permanent lock into a firearm.

[Roy Huntington]

Thanks to those of you who found me at Ed@americanhandgunner.com.

I asked Charley Petty to do some research, contact people involved and basically get to the bottom of the "S&W lock hysteria" question. Charley did a great job (he's actually a retired scientist, by the way) and his research was thorough. The results will be in an upcoming issue of Handgunner.

I touched on something with one of you who sent me at note at Handgunner. The reason you don't see articles trashing guns is simply because I don't want to waste the space. If it's junk, we don't write about it and send it back with a nice note saying "no thanks" and move on. The lesson there is often, if you "don't" see it, there's a reason.
Also, please keep in mind when our writers test guns, they are careful to give the gun a good chance to work. A good cleaning, proper lube, good quality ammo, a break-in period, and in all honesty, some knowledge of "how" to shoot certain guns (like autoloaders) can make a big difference. Often, a shooter will simply buy a gun, some ammo, and then it's off to the range. Limp-wristing, no break-in, cheap ammo and the like will often cause malfunctions that wouldn't usually occur. Then the gun in question gets a bad rap.
Also, if the problem is traced to a bad magazine, I don't see why we should trash an otherwise good gun. Simply change to a good magazine. The unfortunate thing is I've seen many new guns get a bad start simply because an over-zealous "gun'riter" somewhere talked about some malfunctions he had, when in all probability it was either during break-in or (more probably!) were user-induced. I hate to see a good gun given a poor chance like that.
Having said that, if you read the articles, there are times when our writers poke makers in the eye. We just do it in a positive manner, especially if they respond well to our calls and offer to address those issues in the production guns.

I hope this helps some. I have to say you've all been very welcoming and I'll try to find the time to return. But it's off to SHOT now and a busy week.
Adios and please feel free to chat at the magazine's e-mail listed above.
And yes, as one of your members said, things are going well at FMG and it's directly because of people like you, so my hat's off to you for trusting us enough to spend your money!
Roy Huntington

[Trace Rinaldi]

Hello.

I was talking to Roy recently about online forums, and he mentioned this to me. I was kinda curious about what was going on so I came over to check it out.
Now Roy doesnt need me to defend him at all, I just thought I would mention a few things about AH and my friend Roy after reading what has been said here.

I am a knifemaker by trade, but I wanted to be a 1911 gunsmith when I was younger. That was inspired by reading American Handgunner from about the time I was 16.
The amazing craftsmanship displayed in the magazine was unreal to me, and I knew I wanted to do that, or something like that. Being a young guy in Kalifornia gunsmithing was pretty much out of the question. Knifemaking was the next best thing I thought, so I started doing that and became pretty succesfull at making knives. This was all due to American Handgunner in a way.

Some may not see the value in a custom 1911, or a custom knife, BUT some people do. American Hangunner is a magazine where you can see that, in full living fantastic color. I mean G&A, or any of the other rags to me have no value, unless they happen to feature a gun Im interested in, and thats purely just to get another opinon, biased though it may be. They dont really offer much in the way of anything made by a mans hand, and are just the same stuff warmed over and over, till a new gun comes out.

Now there MUST be something to the grand ole Slab Side or you wouldnt see everyone and their brother making them.
I mean S&W is making a 1911 for gods sake!;-)
If your not into 1911's or custom guns go read Shooting Times or some other sleeping pill of a magazine.
But to publicly bash Mr. Huntington for doing what he does, without contacting him about your feelings is kinda crude, and not anything like taking the High Road.

Like I said I have been reading AH for a long time now, and personally since Roy took over I am very pleased with the way he is doing things, and think its the best AH has ever been.

Now you may not know this about Roy, but he is really a different kind of guy. If you have a legitimate concern or idea he is ALWAYS willing to take advice, and is NOT some guy sitting in an Ivory Tower sipping Scotch and puffing a big cigar. I have been to FMG he works in a glorified cubicle, and is constantly on the go. He does NOT care how much advertising money you are going to bring to the magazine, I know this for a fact. I have run a total of maybe 2 or 3 small ads in AH, and that was sort of a thank you for the great coverage they were GIVING me. Being a one man shop I cant afford tons of advertising, and Roy knows that, and still continues to help me and many like me.. Not because its good business, but because he is doing something different from the other mags.

Roy once told me he wont take a dime from anyone who wants to advertise a rip-off. Even if its something as small as a holster. I walked in to FMG one time and we got to talking about the flood of rip-off cheap Chinese knives flooding into the US. Right there on the spot he said "I want to do an article on that" and he did in both AH and Guns! Not because it was going to make FMG some money, but because he thought it was the right thing to do.

Now I really didnt mean to be this long winded, but Roy is a dear friend of mine, and I wish some of you guys would give him a bit of a break. If you dont like what he's doing go read something else, or read this forum for your info. Better yet write Roy and let him know what you think, I bet ya $20 he responds.. Just take the High Road I guess is what Im trying to say, and dont judge a book or magazine by its cover.
You may be suprised..:)

Take care
Trace Rinaldi
www.THRblades.com

[Old Dog]

Trace, thanks for posting. For the record, I'm one of those who doesn't begrudge knife features in A.H. -- I suspect most of us dedicated handgunners also share a love for good blades. (Also, I remember the article about Chinese knockoff knives, and it was excellent info.) As for 1911s, I suspect also that many of us can't get enough feature articles and photos of them as well.

It's nice that you and Roy took the time to write, and speaking for myself, I appreciate hearing your points of view.

Oh, and Roy? No problem with you having a sense of humor (by the way, whatever happened to Mark Moritz? He was funny ...) and as I stated in my first post on this thread, A.H. is the best of the gun rags, just don't wear out the schtick with you and Connor ... And don't let Petty or Taffin or Ichiro get away, either.

[Trace Rinaldi]

Well thanks Will! To me guns and knives go together like salt and pepper. Thats why making custom knives was the next best thing to being a gunsmith for me.

I will try and keep checking this forum as time allows, it looks like a pretty cool place.;)

BTW I really like the name THR also happens to be my initials, and my logo has THR in it..:D


Take Care
Trace Rinaldi
www.THRblades.com

[mec]

Mark Moritz quit writing and went to law school. Cameron Hopkins, who p.o.'ed the entire legal profession by calling them " the bottom feeders of society," nevertheless, wished him the best of luck.

Hopkins really built the circulation of American Handgunner and Huntington is very well liked by the best of the custom pistolsmiths. He likes classic revolvers and gives them considerable space in the magazine. One really neat thing he did just this month was to recruit Hamilton Bowen to write an article and the gunsmithing column is handled by Alex Hamilton of TenRing Precision.

Huntington was the holster editor before taking over as Editor-In-Chief. His review of some of the deep cover holsters was outrageously funny- so much so, that one of the advertisers got his nose severly bent over the article.

[Roy Huntington]

Mr. MEC,
Thanks for the kind words about my old Handgunleather column. We definitely used to push the envelope at times. That particular column you spoke of cost us an entire year of advertising from the company. But sometimes, you just gotta' tell the truth no matter how much it hurts. As I recall, we also reviewed "The Butt Buddy" in that column. But that's another story ...

Reach me at ed@americanhandgunner.com when you get a moment so I can get you caught up on things.
Roy Huntington
P.S. Don't believe everything Trace tells you. The part about the cluttered office is true though ...

[buzz_knox]

"Well, maybe he is right, I mean, he has his finger on the pulse better than I do. But here, TFL, SWforum, and tother places, I don't see the numbers he quotes.

For someone to dismiss me as a "TurdSucker" because I have an opinion which differs from his...perhaps he should write for DU. I have no interest in giving him my money.

Based on the forums, gun control would mean only hitting what you aim at. Unfortunately, gun forums don't necessarily reflect the world as it is. A lot of people who buy firearms have never "set foot" on these forums and think "the lock" is a safety feature they just can't live without.

As for Turd Suckers, Mr. Smith wasn't referring to those with a differing opinion; he was referring to those who had a differing opinion and were insulting about it. Sort of those who would complain if you hung them with a new rope. I read the article, and knew precisely the type of people he was referring to, as I'd called them far worse than Turd Suckers in my life. But, I believe that a lot of people whom he wasn't painting with that brush thought he was, and became offended, thus blowing it out of proportion.

[mec]

Vulgarian that I am, I appreciated the Turd Sucker usage because I had either not heard the expression before or had (unlikely) forgotten it. The center of the gun-cultural universe is just about impossible to define as everybody perceives himself to be standing right there.

Huntington had outrageous fun with the deep concealment holster which more or less brackets the wearers genitalia. " I stood up! I sat down! I stood back up again! Oh, the agony!!!. This thing gives a whole new meaning to the word squeeze-cocker!"

Now THAT is literature.

[F4GIB]

I stopped reading "gun" magazines years ago when, one month, three of them published slightly different versions the same "warmed-over" article I remembered reading two years before. They seem to specialize in two types of articles: ".38 v. .357 (or whatever)" and "the new, perfect, wondergun from (whomever)." Reminds me of the old computer rule - garbage in, garbage out.

The Shotgun News has better articles.