Favorite Gun Magazine
- Thread starter BlayGlock
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You're going to get a lot of "Gun magazines are terrible, I stopped reading them since I came here" responses but I still enjoy them now and then. I like Guns, they seem to offer a more diverse range of articles and the photos are great. Its sister magazine American Handgunner is along the same lines but after a poor experience with the circulation department I usually just read that at Barnes & Noble.
SWAT is decent but starting to get a little too into running after-action reports on training seminars without including any takeaways from the training. The classes all sound the same. Gun Tests can be decent but I think I'm going to let my sub lapse now that it's gone four issues in a row comparing 1911s.
Other than that, not much. Guns & Ammo seems a little improved from a few years ago. Handguns isn't very good. Combat Handguns can't seem to stop running covers that say "Pair of Aces."
SWAT is decent but starting to get a little too into running after-action reports on training seminars without including any takeaways from the training. The classes all sound the same. Gun Tests can be decent but I think I'm going to let my sub lapse now that it's gone four issues in a row comparing 1911s.
Other than that, not much. Guns & Ammo seems a little improved from a few years ago. Handguns isn't very good. Combat Handguns can't seem to stop running covers that say "Pair of Aces."
speaksoftly
Member
I'm a huge fan of Mecgar personally. Pmags are also pretty awesome. 
TexasBill
Member
I like American Handgunner. Roy Huntington, a retired cop, is the editor and does a good job and some of the columns are a hoot.
benEzra
Moderator Emeritus
I like Shooting Times, SWAT when they have articles I'm interested in, Guns (sometimes, depends on the articles), Small Arms Review (when an article catches my eye---they are always well done), and the occasional Guns & Ammo and Combat Handguns.
G&A is the only one I ever subscribed to, though (had a subscription for years and it was a big help for me as neophyte in learning my way around guns and gun law, but at some point I realized I had learned most of what they were able to teach me.
G&A is the only one I ever subscribed to, though (had a subscription for years and it was a big help for me as neophyte in learning my way around guns and gun law, but at some point I realized I had learned most of what they were able to teach me.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
Rifle and Handloader are excellent. Guns and A/H are okay but I mostly get them for Taffin's articles.
TheCol.U.S.M.C.
Member
I like American Rifleman but you have to join the NRA. to get it so if your only joining to get the rag it's a little pricy $35 I think for a year.
I like Shotgun News the best but it isn't a monthly mag
Kind of depends on what you want to read I just got into reloading so I let my Guns and Ammo subscription go to get a relaoding mag, Handloader I think is the name
I would get the shortest subscription of the mag you want that way if it sucks dont renew it and get something else.
I like Shotgun News the best but it isn't a monthly mag
Kind of depends on what you want to read I just got into reloading so I let my Guns and Ammo subscription go to get a relaoding mag, Handloader I think is the name
I would get the shortest subscription of the mag you want that way if it sucks dont renew it and get something else.
MinnMooney
Member
NRA's American Rifleman
That and Shooting Illistrated is great, also.
Gun Test is OK because they don't run ads so therefore have no loyalties to the mfg'rs but their test methods and sample sizes leave a lot to be desired.
Sports Afield and Field and Stream are way too shallow. Their articles are more for show than depth.
That and Shooting Illistrated is great, also.
Gun Test is OK because they don't run ads so therefore have no loyalties to the mfg'rs but their test methods and sample sizes leave a lot to be desired.
Sports Afield and Field and Stream are way too shallow. Their articles are more for show than depth.
KarenTOC
Member
"American Handgunner" and "Guns" are available on line for free. I find it a pain to read magazines that way but you'd at least get an idea of whether or not you want to pay for the paper version.
American Handgunner: http://americanhandgunner.com/
Guns: http://gunsmagazine.com/
American Handgunner: http://americanhandgunner.com/
Guns: http://gunsmagazine.com/
Dr T
Member
Rifle and Handloader.
They alternate months.
They alternate months.
JackCrow
Member
American Handgunner, Guns, Handloader.
The Backwoodsman is not a gun mag but they regularly run gun articles usually about blackpowder, Mil-surplus guns.
The Backwoodsman is not a gun mag but they regularly run gun articles usually about blackpowder, Mil-surplus guns.
BCCL
Member
Guns of the Old West!
The Lone Haranguer
Member
As primarily a handgun enthusiast, I like American Handgunner. I particularly like "The Ayoob Files" column and stories. There is one particular story whose protagonist's experiences I often cite. For more of a general interest mag I like Gun World.
oneounceload
member
IMO, the only mag I subscribe to is "Shooting Sportsman"; world-class writers, gorgeous eye candy, excellent reviews of shooting locations and guns - it is geared to shotguns (not the HD pump type), and is beautifully done. I stopped all other subscriptions to the generics mags that were nothing more than ads for the makers
Bad Penny 03
Member
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- Dec 29, 2003
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- 178
Handgun Tests, Exotic Weapons, Pistolero, Popular .22's, Assault Weapons, and the other mags put out by Phil Engledrum.
More useful information in one copy of Handgun Tests (not the rip off magazine by the same name) than a year of Guns and Ammo or their competition.
Life size photos, torture tests, meticulously laid out detailed specs, chrono and accuracy test results, exploded views, close up shots, etc etc.
and he's humorous to boot.
Too bad I haven't seen a copy around here since '94.
http://www.thegunzone.com/auctions/phatphil.html
More useful information in one copy of Handgun Tests (not the rip off magazine by the same name) than a year of Guns and Ammo or their competition.
Life size photos, torture tests, meticulously laid out detailed specs, chrono and accuracy test results, exploded views, close up shots, etc etc.
and he's humorous to boot.
Too bad I haven't seen a copy around here since '94.
http://www.thegunzone.com/auctions/phatphil.html
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carbuncle
Member
I'll throw another vote in for American Handgunner, I subscribe to it and enjoy it quite a bit.
Jefferson Herb
Member
Handloader and Rifle are good.The only two I have subs for are Backwoodsman and Fur Fish and Game.
BHP FAN
Member
Guns of the Old West...
Buck Snort
Member
Put my name on the AH fan list.
partestres
Member
I used to subscribe to lots, but now find myself with 3: American Rifleman (Patron Life Member), G&A (seems much improved over a couple years ago), and Gun Tests (fairly unbiased reviews - has helped me make several more informed purchases over the years).
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
I agree that Shooting Sportsman is also excellent, as is The Double Gun Journal. I get the occasional Sporting Classics too. Do a lot of cigar smoking and daydreaming with those three. Guns of the Old West is pretty good for getting to see some neat old guns and new replicas but the technical aspect is somewhat lacking. Backwoodsman is also a good one that I subscribed to about a year ago.
mcdonl
Member
I completly misunderstood... Gun Rags... I use those little blankets that you bring your babies home from the hospital in. My daughter just got her first hunting rifle, and she now has HER baby blanket to clean it with.
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