Bloated YouTube reviews?

As far as demonetization goes, I feel bad for a lot of them. I just wish Youtube had a way to let advertisers choose who they would advertise on, instead of their all-or-nothing plan. Seems like that would solve a lot of that problem.
There's the old adage 'find your niche'. And many of them found a niche that was previously filled by magazines or TV, and required expensive pieces of paper and/or experience that you can't get without experience. I'm aware of the work that goes into producing a video, let alone weekly or daily. Great hobby, fulfilling career if you can make it, and between that and often doing their own promotions and marketing--and often every part of a video that would otherwise be done by a team--they put more effort and personality into it than a day job doing filming or production because they actually want to do it.
Current TV provide less of that than most of Youtube.
All the best to them. That part of the American dream was short-lived.

As for the actual reviews... there are definitely good ones out there, informative and carefully done, but you have to dig under the top layer of "let's show off what I just got" because they're not the ones with thrice-weekly updates. There are plenty I pass right over because, if it's going to be a waste of time, I simply don't waste my time.
I'm a fan of actual reviews, whether "I've been using this" or "caveat: I used it this afternoon and here's my first impression" as long as that's stated.
I'm a fan of things like Forgotten Weapons because I'm both a gun guy and have some interest and education in machining and engineering, and right from the start he's saying "Here's this gun, its history, and its engineering good and bad." That sort of thing used to be on Discovery and TLC.
And as much as I'd like to hang out at the range and buy him a beer, Hickock 45's videos always just seem to be twenty minutes of watching him play with it and chatter, and you're lucky if five minutes of that is actually about the gun.

Pat Riot said:

If I am interested in a firearm I read about it on sites like THR. Then I go out to a rental range or a gun store and put my hands on one.

I used to go look at YouTube but I got sick and tired of the hand model wannabes and the guys that think they have a clue.

As for Hickok 45 I think he’s a nice guy. I have watched other popular YouTube channels but for most videos when they start shooting I lose interest. I too could be a primo marksman through video editing...

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I like to learn about firearms, Just like the Grand Power video by Scooth00 where I was able to actually learn something and see it up close. Sorry, you cannot just go to a LG and expect to see all firearms much less rent any that you want.. Heck I know some that do not even carry a Beretta's much less Grand Power much less rent one.
I doubt Hickcock45 does a lot of editing to make himself look good and I could not loot that good with a video editing. My hat is off to you if you can even come close with the editing.

That said, watching some amateur at the range is about as boring as watching paint dry.

I captured this Pic from the Scootch00 video on the grand Power.

Jeb Stuart said:

I like to learn about firearms, Just like the Grand Power video by Scooth00 where I was able to actually learn something and see it up close. Sorry, you cannot just go to a LG and expect to see all firearms much less rent any that you want.. Heck I know some that do not even carry a Beretta's much less Grand Power much less rent one.
I doubt Hickcock45 does a lot of editing to make himself look good and I could not loot that good with a video editing. My hat is off to you if you can even come close with the editing.

That said, watching some amateur at the range is about as boring as watching paint dry.

I captured this Pic from the Scootch00 video on the grand Power.

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If I can’t put my hands on it I do not buy it. Period.
Made that mistake before. I sure as heck wouldn’t trust a video, magazine review or online info to buy a handgun. Long gun, maybe.
Actually, recently, well, a year ago, I bought a long gun without seeing or touching the real thing. I bought a Henry Single Shot. There were very few videos and only online reviews by a couple of magazine writers. Luckily, that worked out nicely.


Also, I wasn’t saying Hickok used editing. I was referring to others I have seen. No, I think Hickok is a fairly good shot and when he misses, he misses, jokes about it and moves on.

D.B. Cooper said:

I think this spells out everything that used to be right, and now is wrong, with youtube. When YT first got started, it was a hobby. It was people showing themselves doing things they liked. Then, somewhere along the line, someone tried to make it a job. YT should not be your job. There a little kids in my family (1st and 2nd graders) who want to be youtubers when they grow up.

I'm sorry, but I have a really difficult time crying for these gun channels who have been "demonetized." This never should have been their career in the first place. Get a real job to make ends meet, then do videos in your spare time. 96.5% of "youtubers" make less than the national poverty line.

(http://fortune.com/2018/02/27/youtube-success-poverty-wages/)

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LOL, times change and technology and society change with the times. YouTube may have started out as a fun hobby sort of endeavor, that that is ancient history, sort of like Wal-Mart starting off as a singular store called Walton's but it has changed over time. I get a kick out of people who get hung on perceived origins and intent as if those parameters should define the only ways in which something should be done or applied for eternity. With guns, I see that a lot with ammunition. People get hung up on how the ammo is marketed (inferring design-intent) as if that is the only way a given type of ammo should be used, failing to understand it could have applications beyond how it was marketed.

Get a real job???? These are folks who showed real entrepreneurial spirit and created their own jobs. That is really cool. The downside was that they tied to a singular medium, YouTube, for their video income, although numerous ones get additional $$ from sponsorships and Patreon. Then many of them got really uppity and upset about the fact that they didn't actually control their own revenue streams when YouTube changed the rules...sort of like when your employer at a "real job" lays off people and cuts wages.

Yep, 96.5% of YouTubers make less than the national poverty line. I would be willing to be that more than that amount don't use YouTube as their primary source of income either, and do it as a fun hobby. Many use the income to help produce their videos, paying for gear and supplies.

Lol, so you think Hickcock45 is a fairly good shot. I would say that is quite a understatement for sure.

Pat Riot said:

If I can’t put my hands on it I do not buy it. Period.
Made that mistake before. I sure as heck wouldn’t trust a video, magazine review or online info to buy a handgun. Long gun, maybe.
Actually, recently, well, a year ago, I bought a long gun without seeing or touching the real thing. I bought a Henry Single Shot. There were very few videos and only online reviews by a couple of magazine writers. Luckily, that worked out nicely.


Also, I wasn’t saying Hickok used editing. I was referring to others I have seen. No, I think Hickok is a fairly good shot and when he misses, he misses, jokes about it and moves on.

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No offense but you said "Period" and then go on to say you do buy guns without handling first. I agree, I always try and rent one or find one that folks in my club that have one. I almost bought a 380 pistol that is new to the market and glad I was able to shoot it. Really did not like it at all. It all has to be within reason. I bought the Midland Back Pack 12ga recently without shooting, but it turned out to be a much nicer gun than I thought it would be. I do not pay any attention to mag reviews. The 10% rule seems to apply to mag and you tube videos. 10% good reviews, 90% garbage.

I normally disdain Youtube mumble and fondle shows, but I have watched a few of Patrick E. Kelly's "From the Box to the Match" videos.
He will take a NIB pistol, look down the barrel to be sure the hole goes all the way through, and shoot it in a Steel Challenge match. True, watching him shoot six stages x five strings does drag them out a bit; but his concluding remarks are on point.

I enjoy Nutnfancy, IraqVeteran8888, Honest Outlaw and Paul Harrell for passing the time on my 35 mile commute to work every day. Throw in knife reviews by Advanced Knife Bro and you have my complete list of patreon supported channels.

paulsj said:

There are at least two great ones. Military Arms Channel and MrGunsngear.

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These both captivate me regardless of length. MAC reviews guns, but also shows the guns firing, includes additional footage of similar/related products, and has a good blend of data and fun interwoven into well-produced videos. MrGunsnGear make clean, easy-to-follow videos that give the right amount of info.

I think the worst big gun channel is Yankee Marshall. He is a super opinionated buffoon who rambles and takes controversial stances to generate views (clickbait).

Nutnfancy videos are lengthy. He sometimes rambles, but I like how he does voice over videos and shows his viewers the raw footage and basis for his conclusions.

giggitygiggity said:

I think the worst big gun channel is Yankee Marshall. He is a super opinionated buffoon who rambles and takes controversial stances to generate views (clickbait).

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Hes such a baby. He responded to a comment i made on a video by calling me an idiot and when pressed for his supporting evidence stopped responding. I dont think he really shoots much if at all. He collects and shines up guns for endless pictures and he freaks out if he gets a small scratch on a gun he claims to carry. Between his speech impediment, his cry baby personality and know it all additude i cant stand the guy. I subscribed to his channel for about 6-7 years and disliked it most of the time.

Jeb Stuart said:

No offense but you said "Period" and then go on to say you do buy guns without handling first.

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Yep, I had forgotten about THE ONE purchase I made in that fashion.
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A couple of other things that steer me away from YouTube gun reviews is, one, the old “I never met a gun I didn’t like” made by some folks or on the site. It reminds me of certain gun magazines that used to do the same. Then there is the guy or guys that pretty much have to find a problem with a gun so they can have something to talk or complain about.

One of the annoying yet stupidly captivating videos I watched regarding Magpul Glock Mags months ago were these two obviously self important guys raging against Magpul Glock mags for quite a while. The longer the video went the more these two morons fed off of each other in their faux-anger.

I totally agree, especially when some YouTube so called expert bashes a gun he really knows nothing about,

+1 to Paul Harrell videos. Kind of bummed I've seen most of them.

The podcast about writing called 'Writing Excuses' from the start adopted the slogan 'Fifteen minutes long, because you're in a hurry, and we're not that smart.' Lots of youtubers could improve their product by adopting the same slogan.

The problem with most gun stuff on YouTube is that it’s made by people who live almost entirely in a world of opinion, some in a world where the laws of physics don’t seem to apply.

InRange, Forgotten Weapons, Paul Harrell are refreshing exceptions to this. Hicock45 seems nice enough but he is too much like Nutnfancy, taking 20 minutes to say what could have been said in five. I’m not all that busy, but I still don’t have so much free time that I can afford to watch a video of someone loading magazines.

Elkins45 said:

The problem with most gun stuff on YouTube is that it’s made by people who live almost entirely in a world of opinion, some in a world where the laws of physics don’t seem to apply.

InRange, Forgotten Weapons, Paul Harrell are refreshing exceptions to this. Hicock45 seems nice enough but he is too much like Nutnfancy, taking 20 minutes to say what could have been said in five. I’m not all that busy, but I still don’t have so much free time that I can afford to watch a video of someone loading magazines.

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Sorry, cannot go along in inrange. Way Too far out there for me. Each to his own. I love Hickcock45 have no problem with his talking. I love his reviews. Interesting to see a guy shoot so many guns new to him. Obviously he adjust fast.
You say Hicock45 talks too much. Those guys at inrange that sit in a grundgy room that looks like telemarketers just vacated is not the type of talk show I want to watch. Heck, they even do recipe's, cooking not re-loading. (I doubt the cooking channel will hire them)
I will agree with you on Paul Harrell. I enjoy him as well.

Elkins45 said:

I still don’t have so much free time that I can afford to watch a video of someone loading magazines.

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Or paint dry. Or grass grow. Or cars rust. All about the same.

Jeb Stuart said:

Sorry, cannot go along in inrange. Way Too far out there for me.

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Yeah, I kinda stopped watching them when they started crying about being "demonetized." Cry me a river, will ya? I do follow them on facebook, and when they do a firearm I am interested in, then I go watch their videos. I am looking forward to buying Ian's book on French rifles, however..

C&Rsenal are kind of the same way. Speaking as an historian, his research is phenomenal, yet, most of the guns he shows just don't interest me. (I get that he is on a mission and has a theme he must stick to, and he's doing well with it.) So, like ForgottenWeapons, if C&Rsenal does a gun I'm interested, I'll tune in.

I like Paul Harrell's videos; he does a good job of showing the good and bad points of different weapons
and ammo with excellent comparisons and demonstrations. I also like Hickok45's videos, as he does a
good job of demonstrating and comparing different handguns, and I like watching him blast things.

i like hickock45 a lot as i like watching people shoot wish i had a range of my own like his. 22 plinkster also although i havent watched any in a long time. yankee marshall always seems angry so i tune out. i buy targets after watching some videos featuring them. as the viewer, you can always fast forward if you're not interested in some segments.

the biggest letdown for me was when i made my first video with my gopro for a povshot. i couldn't see the targets on my video(closest steel shooting we are allowed is 25 yrds. ) What the heck so those videos with pov footage that I was admiring were all shot at 10 yrds or so!!! i thought they were further.

All I can say is that I have about 4 that I watch occasionally.

Forgotten Weapons is always my first. Ian can be a bit of a boring guy, but the guns are great and the coverage of them is always beyond belief. I have Ian as a favorite on YouTube.
@MachIVshooter videos are always interesting, if for nothing more than the fact that he does stuff a different way than others do. I have his as a favorite and can easily get to it too.
MilitaryArmsChannel can be good. I can take it or leave it. If I’m looking for something and run across a MAC video I will likely watch it.
C&Rsenal is one I rarely see and always forget about. I need to make it a favorite.

One thing I truly despise though is being talked down to, and a lot of the big YouTube personalities seem to have that persona. If I ever hear “I’m a grown ass man” I’m stopping and changing the video. That just irks me the worst of the wrong ways.

Obturation said:

Hickok45 makes videos for mass consumption, no thinking required. Trouble is hes been at it so long its very predictable , shoot the gong, shoot the cowboy...shoot the pot...see how big it is compared to a glock . I still watch and i think it is still a decent channel compared to what else is out there.

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Hickok was my #1 channel when I first started watching in 2013/2014, but he's so watered down now I only watch him if he shoots a gun I'm interested in to entertain myself or to get some general history on it. Whenever he does a vintage Charter Arms videos, it's a must watch for me, so little respect for those affordable classics.

Otherwise, I've moved on from him and gone to more specialized and in depth videos like Paul Harrell, InrangeTV, etc. Nutnfancy I will watch on occasion, but I find his demeanor to be unserious and unscientific, thus I take everything he says now with a grain of salt. Most of what it comes down to for him if weight of the gun and accuracy, of which he's only shooting a half dozen factory loads and making a determination off that.

Fact is all guns can be different and shoot differently.

If you can survive watching... yankee marshall youre a stronger man than me. That is pure garbage.

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If you think his clickbait videos are bad, try his live chats. People pay to ask his opinion on a gun, if it's not S&W, Sig, Beretta, or an LCR, he doesn't like it and eventually he'll go on a rant about Republicans and rarely ever bash a Democrat. He honestly believes all White people are racist too. If you argue with him or disagree with him, he just bans you from his chat because he's a typical left winger and can't function without his safe space.

I wonder if any of the guys who do these channels we're discussing have accounts here and/or are reading this. LOL

D.B. Cooper said:

Yeah, I kinda stopped watching them when they started crying about being "demonetized." Cry me a river, will ya? I do follow them on facebook, and when they do a firearm I am interested in, then I go watch their videos. I am looking forward to buying Ian's book on French rifles, however..

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Inrange (and ForgottenWeapons for that matter) are some of the best funded channels on Patreon, they're doing fine and I just tune them out. It's the smaller channels that need the funding more and when I see that Hickok has a Patreon I'm like, "Why? You're the best sponsored channel on Youtube!" Hickok gets free ammo from Federal, free guns from Buds, the NRA, now he's always got a VaultTec safe on his table... he's pulling in plenty enough to do videos, he doesn't need to be on Patreon getting more money. At that point, he's just using his audience for personal gain.

Obturation said:

Hes such a baby. He responded to a comment i made on a video by calling me an idiot and when pressed for his supporting evidence stopped responding. I dont think he really shoots much if at all. He collects and shines up guns for endless pictures and he freaks out if he gets a small scratch on a gun he claims to carry. Between his speech impediment, his cry baby personality and know it all additude i cant stand the guy. I subscribed to his channel for about 6-7 years and disliked it most of the time.

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I'm not a fan of his anymore, but his earlier videos from 5+ years ago when he was buying nicked up guns and refurbishing them, that was good stuff and it takes more work than him standing in front of a camera for a few minutes recycling the same rant videos he did 3-4 months earlier.

Yankee now is like clockwork. He'll complain about Hickok, some of it warranted, some of it is just jealousy cuz Yankee has a massive ego and wants the same following Hickok has, then about the NRA (again, warranted) but when he runs out of anything new to talk about, he does it again. He's always the guy on youtube who flings crap at others because that's the only way he stays relevant. Rarely does he ever praise anyone, he's always focused on negativity.

I think Yankee has been retired for so long he's just become lazy and doesn't know how to work hard anymore. He made his money owning a bar in Portland, not exactly a difficult job.

He's apparently forgotten that talking about guns and gun politics doesn't lead to viewers, but he's too lazy to actually make content that people want to see and that's what sets him off knowing he can't grow his audience flapping his gums cuz the more he talks, the more he exposes himself as a leftist.

If Inrangetv is one of the best, then all I can say is May God Help us all. I just tuned in to see if they were as bad as I remember. Right away my google search took me to these two guys right out of a The Big Leboski movie. Two guys that hang around a bowling alley with "The Dude" and Walter Sobchak. I mean these guys have serious issues. Their website started off with these two clowns sitting around having a cry feast about advertising. The guy on the left drives me insane with his "authoritative demeanor". (The guy on the left with the Pony tail not the guy that looks like a drunk cut his hair.) Most of the time, they look like they shop for clothes at a run down Military surplus shop. There expertise seems to be throwing firearms in the dirt and mud to do a torture test. The rest of the time they sit around in some old rented office space that might have cost them $15 bucks a day talking crap. No, I do not watch a lot of video's on Youtube. Just when I want to see a particular firearm or want a review on a accessory. Most of them I do find disgusting. Think I will stick with a few video from Paul Harrell and Scooch00 and a occasional Hickcock45 if I want a gun review.
I guess is that when they go bellyup from not making any money on Youtube, they can just use the same $15.00 room to sell Vape devices and E-juice.

Jeb Stuart said:

The guy on the left drives me insane with his "authoritative demeanor". (The guy on the left with the Pony tail not the guy that looks like a drunk cut his hair.

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Thats ian mccollum, he is an authority on firearms and militaria- no joke,
as well as being a national treasure. Hes down to earth and very well informed, if you watch some forgotten weapons videos youll see.