hickok45: interesting and informative, or more annoying than anything else?

ohihunter2014 said:

fortunecookie guy or Hornady loader? Both seem to offer decent info but just go on and on and on. Im kind of ashamed that i remember these names from 2yrs ago when i was searching for info to get started.

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Nope neither of them
Now that you mention both of these, maybe it’s all the reloading channels that have boring folks. What’s sad is that Hickok and others have done videos on reloading that we’re interesting. I guess the guys that are hardcore reloading channels don’t get what it takes to make good videos.

An example of what's annoying: he actually got a Hudson H9 to try out, a gun that has been big news in the gun press for some time now. He shoots it and remarks in passing how the barrel/bore axis is set lower on that design, which is intended to reduce recoil.

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I’d say, if you have over half an hour (the linked video is 33 minutes long) talking about a specific pistol and don’t mention something, it wasn’t due to lack of time or trying to be brief. If it was something different, special or even noticeable I would expect it to slip out in that amount of time.

Hickok is my only "go to" gun channel. I occasionally browse the others but really like Hickok.

Mizar said:

Well, if Hickok didn't go into details about that splendid Hudson H9 and it's incredible recoil reduction system, maybe he was not impressed by it in the first place...

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For what it is worth my local range has an H9 and I rented it last week. I was exceedingly underwhelmed. For a gun that fit my hand so perfect, and a trigger that felt so great dry fire, my accuracy was very poor.

Talking 4-6 inches at 10 yards poor (I expect half that on a bad day with anything else). Recoil was not as tame as advertised. I had my Glock 17 out as well and felt recoil wasn't even in the same ballpark as my Glock, let alone a full size CZ.

The H9 did stay fairly flat rapid fire, but again I expect better accuracy from such a nice trigger and ergos.

I went to the range expecting to be thinking of justifications for buying a H9, left feeling perfectly happy with my Glocks, Sigs and BHP in my 9mms.

I like his videos and his style . And will continue to watch. I like that he isn't all about tactical stuff.

Only thing I don't like is he can be deceiving when it comes to gun size. The dude is 6' 8" so you see him shooting a gun and you think it ain't that big,for example a ruger redhawk .Than you get your hands on one and you're like wow it IS that big .

I enjoy watching his videos. He doesn't take himself too seriously and comes across as someone who enjoys shooting and talking about guns.

I loved his review of the Hi-Point pistol. He starts out acting like many gun owners looking down at it (even going so far as to hold his nose) then grudgingly admitting how reliable and accurate it is and it's value to someone with limited income needing a gun for self-defense.

I also love his video on how he gets his guns for testing. Again just a gun nut that doesn't take himself too seriously.

" My main complaint is that he doesn't seem to know any more about guns in general than some old dude living out in the country, but he undeniably gets his hands on a lot of great stuff."

There are a number of southern US accented guys who have made a pretty decent living, going along with the idea that they must be idiots because they are just some back woods hick. Probably one of the best examples of this is Terry Bradshaw. He played that dumb country boy thing all the way to four superbowl rings, the NFL Hall of Fame, several movies, a record album, and a long career as a NFL TV show guy. And I am sure there are a lot of people who still think he is just some hillbilly that don't know much but is sort of entertaining.

Let's start off with the fact that Hickok is a teacher. Which means he has a college degree. Possibly a Masters. Then let's look at the fact that he has out who knows how many videos on YouTube (over 1000) in which he shoots hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of different guns (and does it well). Then lets add in the fact that he occasionally mentions that he used to shoot cowboy action, he used to shoot IPSC or something like that. Then combine that with the fact that this YouTube channel has made him a gun industry insider. Anybody that comes out with anything new, sends one to him first. Anything from muzzleloaders to belt fed machineguns, single action revolvers to suppressors.

I think you might be getting the picture here: that laid back southern boy is probably one of, if not the most prominent gun celebrity today who forgot more about guns than most of us will ever know.

I think one of the key points of his show is that shooting is fun. Enjoy the experience and don't take it, or yourself too seriously.

One more thing: in the world of YouTube, you need to find a niche if you want to have a successful channel. There are guys that just go out and spray lead, there are guys that are very specification/detail oriented...................Hickok has his own niche which is sort of the average guy who loves shooting and who is having fun with it. There are lots of other videos for any given gun and if you want to learn all you can about a particular gun, watch them all. Hickok's should be one of them.

Haters going to hate.

Sometimes its just nice to watch a guy having fun shooting a gun.

When I first started watching reviews on youtube, I’ll admit I wrote Hickok45 off at first. I’d start a video, hear him rambling and not getting to a point and then see there were 25 more minutes left and I’d say to myself “no way am I going to watch this crap.”

But then I’d switch to everyone else and see the douches in their 5.11 pants and tight t-shirts pretending they are all ex Seals. All the technical information they provided amounted to what I can already find on the manufacturers website, and then I’d see some action shots and that’d be it. Oh, and then there’s the terrible audio quality and wind noise that always seemed to accompany these guys. These were all typically short 5-7 minute video's, that honestly could have been edited down to 2 minutes.

So I gave Hickok another shot, and after watching some of his reviews all the way through he’s become my go-to for youtube reviews. I like his casual style, he’s humble, his son does a great job with the video and audio, and I don’t mind spending 20-30 minutes watching his video’s at all because I find his style entertaining. I can find anything technical online on places like this website, but Hickok45 lets me see the gun in action without putting the focus on himself in action. Case in point, you'll never see him brag about group sizes, and he has no problem missing 7-8 shots in a row while he tries to hit a turkey or sheep or the gong. But if you watch enough of his videos, you know if he does repeatedly hit those animals that he's shooting a gun that's probably more capable than many of us.

Like someone else mentioned, my only complaint is his big mitts do make the guns seem small lol!! I guess that's something he can't help so I won't hold it against him.

I'm a fan. I subscribe and watch every video that I think the content is interesting.
He seems like a cool guy who just loves guns. He's a pretty darn good shot too.
His son, John is cool as well. They are very different in some aspects, but both seem like nice guys that it would be fun to hang out with at the range.

Some have a problem with him pitching Buds and Federal these days, but if a gun company and ammo company offered me unlimited guns and ammo to shoot, I'd paint my house with their logos. lol

Double post.

I liked him when i first started watching gun stuff on youtube. He does give some insight on the guns, but doesn't get technical or talk about specs to much which is what i am more interested in know that i have learned a little bit. I much prefer Chris Bartocci, MrGunsandGear, MAC, Primary and Secondary, Garand Thumb and a few others who provide detailed gear reviews/training info

I enjoy watching him & his range is great.
So much more interesting than the trash that is on TV.
He did not have to talk me into a Ruger American Ranch--
I had been waiting for one(7.62 X 39)-being able to shoot 308-310 & steelcase in the same weapon is great. I have not tried 311 as yet.

444 said:

" My main complaint is that he doesn't seem to know any more about guns in general than some old dude living out in the country, but he undeniably gets his hands on a lot of great stuff."
...
I think one of the key points of his show is that shooting is fun. Enjoy the experience and don't take it, or yourself too seriously.

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Exactly! I think people miss that point. Hickok45 talks about it in many videos -- he's not trying to sell any particular gun nor does he claim to know every detail about any of them. He and his son very candidly state that regularly. They are just shooting the guns they already own, recently purchased, or receive on loan from various sources (Buds, friends, and viewers). They state they have turned down paid reviews.

The videos just tell viewers whether they liked them or if any particular issues were encountered. There is no accuracy testing, no technical specs, or tactical drills (if anything he pokes fun at all the tactical stuff -- bicycle drive-bys anyone?).

I dont know the guys, however they come across as down to Earth regular folks. Would I trust his opinion on something I was thinking about buying? Sure & probably more than a paid magazine write-up, though I don't recall any he declared unworkable junk so my expectations may be very different from his.

In the end it is entertainment. If you want something else just go searching and you'll probably find it.

There's a plethora of gun reviews out there if you don't like his. i just did a Google search for "Hudson low bore axis" and scrolled through dozens of pages of gun reviews from a variety of pages. I wouldn't be surprised if there are 100's of reviews and articles on this new gun. If i'm looking at a new gun I will usually read half a dozen different reviews to try and get a feel of the deficiencies that exist.

Huge fan here. He's technical enough for me on most reviews and entertaining enough to hold my attention. I've learned a lot from him even on guns I have no interest in owning.

As others have said he's a great example for the cause.

drband said:

He rarely says bad things about a firearm but gives hints if he has reservations. Very understated. Some folks might miss his hints.

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Handguns are a very personal item, meaning they are specific to people's hand, grip, sighting technique, etc., and one pistol that doesn't work one individual might be the best fit for another. I appreciate that Hickok45 is understated on his opinions for that reason (as @drband said), but the glaring difficiencies (price, weight, footprint) of the Hudson H9 and the other strikers out there made themselves known as he wasn't able to get past those and rightfully so. I've seen enough of his videos that if he thought the trade off of the deficiencies of the Hudson H9 were worth the added control firing it would have come out in the review. But those stats he talked about are hard to overcome in today's flush market of strikers.

Hickok45 is one of the best reviewers out there in my opinion. He cuts through the "Tactical Tommy" routine and finds great comparison firearms to contrast with the subject firearm. He was spot on in his assessment of the Hudson H9 at about the 8:00 mark when comparing it to the three other striker fired pistols, the Hudson is twice the cost and about 30% heavier than the Glock 19. I don't own any Glocks but I recognize that new manufacturers of striker fired pistols better take notes on weight, cost and durability when they seek to compete against the many striker fired pistols out there as there are several really good and affordable pistols out there.

No doubt the bore axis is low on the Hudson, you can see that right away, but bore axis isn't the end all be all. They added significant weight over the other standards for striker fired pistols and made it's profile less conducive to holstering in my opinion with the deep well that houses the mainspring under the barrel. It almost seems that one could have a Glock 19 with a mounted light on a pic rail and be about the same size and weight as the Hudson, that's heading the wrong way in my opinion. I bet if you added the 30% extra weight to a Glock 19 in the right areas one could eliminate some muzzle flip just from that as well.

This all coming from someone who doesn't own a Glock but can respect it for the fact that it's "a" (not necessarily "the") standard for striker fired pistols.

I took Hickok45's review as that the Hudson H9 didn't stand out amongst the heavily populated striker fired pistol market, and based on the MSRP of $1,100 I think he said, and the extra weight and larger footprint under the barrel, a pistol better stand out for being double the cost of the competition.

If I need a more technical review MAC provides that, he is another great reviewer.

Although not following him, I must admit that Hickok45 is to the "normal" gun owners what Instructor Zero is to the Mall-ninjas community - a nice guy, that really gives an example for calm, reasonable and well mannered gun enthusiast.

Hickock45 is anything but annoying. I really enjoy his videos. I can get tech specs anywhere. What's difficult to find is what it's really like to just shoot something which is what I get from H45. I've spent many enjoyable hours shooting with guys just like him.

YouTube reviews are worth what you pay for them...but everyone still wants exactly what they want and they want it for free and on demand.

Seriously, the guy is having fun sharing his passion and he does it positively instead of negatively with his reviews. He’s got some great videos, some good videos and some mediocre video reviews.

Maybe the low bore axis didn’t impress him and he chose not to say anything rather than make a subjective negative comment on a new gun.

Hickock45 seems like an affable guy. Can’t say the same about some other guys...

Much rather watch him than a trio (granted, a funny trio) of automotive brits that somehow can't get over the fact that we won the war many years ago. Good show, but I choose not to sit and listen to folks when they spit in my face.

As for Hickok45, I know he has a huge YT following. Good for him. I've not subscribed but I do stop in from time to time. Found no reason not to. I AM envious of his range though! Had a 100 yard range at a previous house and didn't know how good we had it!

I can watch him easier than most of the other gun video makers. Sometimes a little more windy than necessary but much better than most. Just an ordinary guy enjoying shooting guns and giving you a decent overview of what he is shooting.

He isnt always correct on historical or technical details, but I think hes a great guy and much better than the majority of gun stuff on youtube, however, id watch more of his stuff if they were 1/3 to 1/2 as long. I use the 5 second skip a lot to get to more substantive information, the shooting or showing things about the guns. I often find myself looking at his stuff and seeing the length and just pass when looking for info about particular guns. Hickoks vids could be great at 5-15 minutes, most youtube vids could be great at 10-45 seconds to about 2 minutes. More get on to the point, less rambling talk.

One of the biggest things I enjoy about Hickok's videos are the length of them.

Unlike a lot of people, I view a lot of YouTube content in the living room, on my TV. I enjoy watching YouTube videos that are something I am actually interested in, which I find far more entertaining than just surfing the channels on cable and finding the thing I dislike the least and then sitting there watching it. In other words, I view Hickok's videos much like most people would view a TV show. When I want to zone out in front of the TV, I don't want to watch 20, five minute videos. I want to watch one video that is an hour long. Same thing applies at the gym. If I am on the tredmill, I want to put on ONE video that lasts as long as I am going to be on the tredmill. I hope he doesn't try to cut them down.

If I'm interested in a new pistol I always check to see if Hickok 45 has done a review. However, he's not the only one on YouTube that I rely on. If there are other videos by different individuals then I look at all of them and read any reviews that I can find specially if I'm interested in buying. Regarding Hickok, I like the man and enjoy his videos. Pistol reviews would be much poorer without Hickok 45.

Not a gun reviewer.... a gun/product presenter. He merely talks about guns he gets paid to talk about......Nothing more. He's not going to say anything Negative about any "product" he is presenting....otherwise he would not get his paycheck.....nor would he get any other product giving to him to "present" for the next Pay check. Pure entertainment for profit. Nothing wrong with it...but that's what it is.......Plan and simple...