What Print Gun Magazines Do You Read and Why?

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NONE, They go on and on about the same thing. Seems as though no one tells the truth, be it because the writers are afraid to up set any one or Company.
 
They’re business expenses for me, so I get a bunch just to a) keep up on what’s new in case it’s needed for advice or testimony in Court, b) I like the historical firearm/ammo pieces to broaden my knowledge base and c) I just like reading them, looking at the pictures, reading about hunting trips in faraway places I’ll never get to go on, etc.
G&A, Shooting Times, Rifle Shooter, Handguns, Guns, Gun Tests, Gun Digest the Magazine, Handloader and AMERICAN Rifleman are subscribed to. I’ll get other specialty ones like On Target etc. when I find them.

Stay Safe!
 
Once and awhile I'll pick up Guns of the Old West,but it's more of a glamour magazine with lots of nice pictures of old guns and every so often a decent informative article about a certain gun or character from the era.
 
I "read" several, have subscriptions to quite a few actually.....they about give them away so why not. Some I have are under $1 per issue to my door....I figure I will get a buck worth of enjoyment out of them, then I will take them to work and put them in the lunch room for others to enjoy.....or on the corner table in my office.

I started a few magazine threads on here the latest being a month or so ago.....they are what they are. Shooting times (I think) are doing a pretty good series on WWII small arms, I think they are doing Hungry now. It is a little fun to look at reminds me of shotgun news.

I would not pay full price for them but for what the subscription is for sure why not.

The only one that is really READ is american gunsmith, it is a little more expensive, and actually has pretty good content if you are in to that side of the hobby.
 
I have not bought a gun magazine for more than a few years now, got tired of the same re-hash of the same guns you just need to have. There is more to life than a Government 1911 and a Garand rifle, but not according to Venturino or Cooper. I did enjoy Shooting Times for a number of years way back, they did have a good staff at that time with the likes of Skeeter Skelton. Enjoy some John Taffin from Guns Magazine, but one writer cannot carry a magazine when most of the staff does not hold my interest.
 
WOW!

Simply WOW!

A simple question about reading material quickly turned into a hate fest about the NRA. It does serve as reminder that some gun owners support gun restrictions I guess.

I subscribed to Handloader and American Handgunner. Of course The American Rifleman is part of my NRA membership. The magazines are useful for my deep thinking sessions on the throne.
 
Wisco said:
My American Rifleman mags usually go straight to the trash.
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Ok I understand you are anti NRA.

However instead of filling up your landfill with paper consider tearing off the address label on the cover and leave the magazines in places like the waiting rooms at the Doctor's Office. Better Homes and Garden and women's magazines sure are boring stuff.

A added benefit is maybe we can promote interest in guns. Just be sure to tear out any information about joining the NRA.
 
BSA1 said:
Ok I understand you are anti NRA.

However instead of filling up your landfill with paper consider tearing off the address label on the cover and leave the magazines in places like the waiting rooms at the Doctor's Office. Better Homes and Garden and women's magazines sure are boring stuff.

A added benefit is maybe we can promote interest in guns. Just be sure to tear out any information about joining the NRA.
Click to expand...

Bravo! I have actually thinking about taking gun mags to my doctor's office for similar reasons.
 
American Rifleman (NRA Endowment member), G & A, Shooting Times, Rifle, Handloader, American Handgunner, Field & Stream, and a NY state oriented thing called "NY Game & Fish". Now that I'm retired there's more time to read and I usually read in bed in the evening until my eye lids get heavy. That's a good idea about removing the address label and leaving some in the doctor's waiting room.
 
Hmm, none. I gave up when I found they were just shills for companies selling the latest and greatest, which really weren't.

Comments that gun owners who take issue with any public policies of the NRA are anti gun, well, that's just ridiculous. I, and obviously other people, will not blindly lock step with any individual or organization, none are perfect.
 
Gun-test -

There are no ads, they are independent and I can go online and look up gun test and reviews from years back. And comparisons. Simply pick out the firearm you want to search and you can see the review and comparisons. While I do not agree with all reviews or test, like many, gives you another viewpoint. It will be delivered to home and they have the monthy issue and on line as well.
 
American Rifleman because I'm an NRA member and American Hunter because my wife is also a member although she no longer shoots because of arthritis damage to her hands. Once in awhile I'll pick up a copy of American Handgunner or Guns Of The Old West if I see something that interests me and I also get the Blue Press. I'e found some interesting historical articles in the Blue press now and then. GOTOW is mosty fluff and advertising but once in awhile they come thru with something I think is worth reading.

I used to pick up Muzzle Loader magazine for the historical stuff but after Hastings went belly up it's unavailable in my area and I've never gone to the trouble of subscribing.
 
What would you like to see in a gun review article?

For example on a conceal carry gun:

Dimensions Height - Length - Width - size and width of grip as well - and weight empty and loaded
type of sights - availability of factory installed night sites and what kind
Trigger pull weight and what can be done to lower it safely as well as how the trigger stages and recovers with comparisons
snag resistance
Pointability testing at 2-7 yards
accuracy testing with various loads out to 10 yards
actual shooting times from carry with comments on accuracy and comparison to other guns in the same class by the same shooter with any disclosures necessary.
An accurate list of malfunctions (if any) fully referenced to what caused the malfunction. Sometimes this would be the ammo in a Seecamp or a Boberg/Bond Arms Bullpup, and sometimes it would be the gun itself. Sometimes it would be the shooter as in deliberately testing a semi auto for failure when "weak wristing".

While there will alway be debates on revolver vs semi auto or pump vs semi auto for defensive shotguns, or bolt vs break open in rifles, et al the pros and cons should be discussed especially if the gun being reviewed does something to overcome some of the cons.

Modifications including type and cost should be discussed. If I don't like the trigger pull on my cheaper 1911 can I get this easily and safely modified and by whom? Realistic information about do-it-yourself and gunsmith modifications should be included. (You try changing the front sight on a SA XDs without the right tool - I knew better and borrowed the tool.)

Your thoughts.
 
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I subscribed to both Outdoor Life and Field and Stream from about 1998-2005. That’s around the time I realized they were recycling the “10 new deer tactics” and “5 great bass fishing tips” type of articles every 5 or so years. That’s also around the time I realized you could learn a heck lot more about new guns from forums and youtube than magazines which seemed to praise each and every firearm they “tested”.

Now it’s just American Rifleman. I read it every month, but more often than not I just get irritated with the pro-Republican / anti-Democrat propaganda. And to be perfectly clear, I’m about as pro-Constitution as someone can be as a libertarian leaning Conservative. I just don’t want to hear about how bad Obamacare is or how horrible Hillary is in my gun magazine. I can get that information elsewhere.

The gun reviews in American Rifleman are hit or miss too. Monthly magazines lag behind the real world so typically I already have heard about the new stuff. There also is an abundance or reviews on $1500+ handguns and $3,000+ rifles that I’ll never own. I do enjoy the historical articles on guns used in WWI and stuff like that though.
 
Print? None except for American Rifleman, which comes with my NRA Life membership.

I subscribe to the .pdf downloadable versions of Handloader, Rifle, and Successful Hunter from Wolfe Publishing. I'd be happy with just the first two, but the package price for all three was low. I dump them to my dropbox and access them from my iPad or Surface when I'm on the road.
 
As a "Lifer" with the NRA, I chose American Hunter. When it still existed, I was a lifer in the North American Hunting Club and got their magazine. Unfortunately, it folded (or was bought out) and that magazine disappeared.
I sometimes read other magazines in the stores, if I spot an interesting article.
 
AlexanderA said:
None, except for the American Rifleman, which comes as part of my NRA life membership. I used to read the gun rags a lot, until I realized that they were basically just shills for the gun industry. They never say an unkind word about a new product, no matter how bad or useless it is. Even the American Rifleman makes me mad with its off-topic political rants.
Click to expand...

Exactly the same goes for me!
 
Shooting Times is my favorite. I like their layout and articles the best. They dont cram politics down my throat either.

I get American Rifleman with my NRA membership, although I've received only 2 magazines this whole year. Maybe my mailman likes them more than me.
 
American Rifleman, reason should be obvious
Handloader, Seems like it is more than advertising copy rewritten to look like an article
Garand Collectors Assoc news letter because M1s are an area of interest for me.
 
Technically, two:
Small Arms Review
American Rifleman (except I never get it as they can't seem to change my address).
Gun Tests I get as online subscription.

Used to be a lot of periodicals for me. Too much material to store, even more to pitch into landfill--far better to go electronic.
 
None. Firearm writers have gotten into the rut of "everything about this firearm/ammo/accessory is GREAT" with little real feedback. Only a handful of recent articles I have read went into an author's honest opinions and feedback. If I am bored at a store, I will pickup nearly anything off the rack that has a firearm on the front. Read tidbits of a few articles and put it back.
 
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