American Handgunner Magazine?

[BinRat]

I just got an offer in the mail to subscribe to American Handgunner magazine for $14.77 for 2 years, or $35.00 for 5 years. Even knowing that there are only 6 issues per year, that's a pretty good deal. That is the only gun magazine I've ever subscribed to and that was about 4 decades ago. I'm pretty much only into handguns, so it fit me pretty well back then and I liked it. I don't recall why I quit subscribing to it.

My inquiry is whether the magazine is still worth subscribing to. I've seen a lot of references in threads over the years that really trash the gun magazines so I'm asking what you think about this one in particular.

Thanks for your input.

 

[Old Dog]

Even at full retail, I believe it's the best dedicated gun magazine out there. Gives equal time to revolvers, budget handguns and full custom 1911s. Some great writers, a bit of history from time to time, and even some funny stories. Reviews will often point out things that the reviewer does not like about the gun being reviewed, flaws or detail malfunctions, which isn't always common in the industry. Best photos, too.

 

[Jeb Stuart]

Not worth it. Get Gun-tests. (no ad STUFF, and online lookup from years back of gun test and comparisons). Able to do great search on hundreds of firearms. Do not always agree with them, but gives you a better base to understand the firearm you are researching. And like every one, they have their bias.
I had Handgunner, 15 minutes of reading it, and done. Then goes in the trash.

 

[Old Dog]

At least get the name right, Jeb: Gun Tests.

And eh, some folks just don't like print periodicals, no matter the subject. As my kid says, "Haters gonna hate." And to quote the immortal Patrick Swayze in the legendary motion picture Road House: "Opinions vary."

 

[.308 Norma]

$35.00 for 5 years.

I like American Handgunner enough to occasionally buy the issue I'm thumbing through at the magazine rack while my wife is shopping. And at $35.00 for 5 years, that's only $7.00 for 6 issues per year, while I paid $6.95 plus sales tax for the September/October 2018 issue I have sitting in front of me right now. And the thing is, I can't remember, but I probably paid another $6.95 plus sales tax for an earlier issue this year.

 

[Jeb Stuart]

Even at full retail, I believe it's the best dedicated gun magazine out there. Gives equal time to revolvers, budget handguns and full custom 1911s. Some great writers, a bit of history from time to time, and even some funny stories. Reviews will often point out things that the reviewer does not like about the gun being reviewed, flaws or detail malfunctions, which isn't always common in the industry. Best photos, too.

Might try out Pin interest (Spelled it wrong on purpose and Placed a 'S' after gun-test) See, I do care.

 

[RKRCPA]

I've been reading AH since the early Eighties, that and Handloader are the only subscriptions I have. I don't recall any issue that wasn't worth the money. In fact, occasionally I will pull out old issues and reread them.

 

[bannockburn]

Use to subscribe to American Handgunner years ago because they had some fairly decent writers and some of the best photography of any gun magazine out there. But eventually I grew tired of reading pretty much the same thing in every magazine, every month and one by one I just stopped reading them. The only one I look at occasionally is Small Arms Review.

 

[Deanimator]

I prefer "Combat Handguns", but it`s ok. I buy it on occasion.

 

[bannockburn]

Deanimator

Yeah, Combat Handguns and SWAT magazine, the first few years they were out, had some interesting articles and solid, no nonsense reviews of different guns. But even they got into the "This is the most Awesome, Greatest Gun ever...(insert name of latest handgun being introduced), on the cover of every issue. Pretty much just like all the other gun magazines out there.

 

[Labguy47]

I'm waiting on Connor to come back or at least the memsab Helena, before I renew my subscription to Handgunner and Guns magazines.

 

[Slamfire]

My inquiry is whether the magazine is still worth subscribing to. I've seen a lot of references in threads over the years that really trash the gun magazines so I'm asking what you think about this one in particular.

I enjoy American Handgunner, excellent pictures, interesting topics. The reason the subscription is so cheap is because the magazine makes its profits off advertising. This is a business model started by Ladies Home Journal back in the 1880's, just count the percentage of ad space versus article space. The ad space is over 50% of the print, and that is what pays the bills. Your subscription is more or less, earnest money. So the articles cannot be totally objective, that is, say something about a product that will cut into sales as the advertiser will pull an ad. So, given that you understand that all of these for profit, in print, periodicals operate on the same business model, just remember the content is only going to educate you on what to buy, not on what not to buy. But that does not mean what you read is not informative or interesting. Don't we all sit around the television and evaluate Super Bowl ads? As entertaining as they are, they are still, ads.

 

[AFK]

It is my preferred firearms magazine. You usually get a little bit of everything from modern guns to classics, reloading articles, and some humor. Overall a good read and worth the price.

 

[boom boom]

Guns and American Handgunner have some long term continuity in columnists that you don't see in Shooting Times or Guns and Ammo, etc. Along with well done photography and valuable short reviews of new firearm accessories that might be useful especially around Christmas for small gifts.

The downside is those same long time columnists that trot out tired phrases over and over again and they often have predictable columns dealing with predictable interests, mentioning rare one off firearms that they possess because of gunwriter status, etc. Massad Ayoob does a regular column for AH and very regularly appears doing firearm reviews in AH and Guns. He is usually worth reading wherever he chooses to write. Neither magazine has someone as authoritative as Allan Jones at Shooting Times for reloading and cartridge information as that is not its focus. If you get tired of black rifles, you do get a bit more of a mix of old and new in Guns.

That is my take on them.

 

[jeepnik]

When AHG first came out it was pretty much a rebel. They would do reviews and really tell it like it was. Several advertisers threatened to pull their advertising dollars and the folks at AHG said go ahead.

Then slowly at first but with gathering speed they began to toe the line and never had a bad word to say about any product. They claimed they didn't want to waste print on "bad" products. Yet, many of us who read the magazine were looking for just that. The unblemished truth about products.

So to answer the OP's question. No, it's not worth it. Then again none, including the NRA magazines are. Oh I get AR but only because I belong to the NRA. I wouldn't pay a dime extra for it.

 

[doubleh]

It's the only gun mag I still buy now and then when I spot something in it that interests me. I subscribed to it for a few years and then let it drop bit I should just do the 5 year subscription and save some money. Taffin is still writing and I kind of like his stuff as I did Venturino until he got on his old army guns thing. What happened to Conner? I got a kick out of his stuff and now he's gone.

Taffin and I are the same age. I wonder which one of us will last the longest?

 

[boom boom]

It's the only gun mag I still buy now and then when I spot something in it that interests me. I subscribed to it for a few years and then let it drop bit I should just do the 5 year subscription and save some money. Taffin is still writing and I kind of like his stuff as I did Venturino until he got on his old army guns thing. What happened to Conner? I got a kick out of his stuff and now he's gone.

Taffin and I are the same age. I wonder which one of us will last the longest?

Conner has led a hard life by his own account. My guess is health issues for him or family.

 

[Thomas Mayberry]

AH is one of two firearm publication I subscribe to, the other being Handloader. Great photos. I take the gun reviews with a grain of salt, just as I do opinions on gun forums

 

[JONWILL]

I haven’t gotten a magazine for years
When I did American Handgunner was one of my favorites. Pictures are great. Ayoobs articles always are well written
Pretty much now I just look things up online. It seems like magazines are advertisements for gun companies. A lot of websites are the same. Never anything bad to say about a gun

 

[DPris]

Connor was one of the reasons I quit reading AH.
If he's gone, I'll have to give it another look.
Denis

 

[Elkins45]

I used to read it primarily for Ayoob’s column. If I were in the market for a handgun magazine it would be the one I would choose.

 

[doubleh]

Connor was one of the reasons I quit reading AH.
If he's gone, I'll have to give it another look.
Denis

To each his own. I found him to be kind of goofy at times but always amusing. I certainly liked him better than the one that has replaced him.

 

[DPris]

I did not like his in-your-face style.
Simply found him annoying.

I WILL have to take another look.
Denis

 

[Coyote3855]

It's the only print magazine I subscribe to, other than American Rifleman.

 

[CraigC]

For me, I have a collection that spans the mid`80's through the 2000's but it hasn't been worth reading in several years. Other than the occasional Taffin gem, most of it is not worth the paper it's printed on. Particularly annoying is that Skeeter-wannabe. I buy Guns of the Old West on the stand, subscribe to Handloader/Rifle, Double Gun Journal, Primitive Archer and several blackpowder magazines.