Elkins45
Member
Same here, but I should probably re-up my subscription to Handloader. I don’t really know if I need it much anymore but I would like for it to continue being published so I should probably contribute to the cause.
Gun Magazines in Print. Do You Still Read Them?
- Thread starter IJ1981
- Start date
WisBorn
Contributing Member
For those that are close to a public library. Stop in and see what they subscribe to. I check-out Wisconsin Outdoors paper every few weeks.
Ignition Override
Member
The (free) handgun magazine goes immediately into the recycling container.
A single magazine reviewed —Milsurps— and years ago when I was new to Everything (age 52) that publication was enjoyable.
Ironic : an article in it described that the “Persian” Mauser actually was produced in the Czech Republic…
a few months earlier the popular distributor by Miami, very well-known SAMCO, had sold their last batch of Mint Condition Persians- but I then had no idea that they were Czech rifles.
A single magazine reviewed —Milsurps— and years ago when I was new to Everything (age 52) that publication was enjoyable.
Ironic : an article in it described that the “Persian” Mauser actually was produced in the Czech Republic…
a few months earlier the popular distributor by Miami, very well-known SAMCO, had sold their last batch of Mint Condition Persians- but I then had no idea that they were Czech rifles.
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dh1633pm
Contributing Member
I know their still in print, but I don't read print too often. I read them on their respective web pages. Same for books, manuals and other written information.
guyfromohio
Member
I like the real-world self-defense spots and “this old gun”, but I don't pay much attention to the paid reviews. As said, if I wasn’t a life member, I wouldn’t order it.
WisBorn
Contributing Member
Now we know why so many paper mills have shut down. There aren't to many places making buggy whips either.
Ignition Override
Member
Guyfromohio mentioned “paid reviews”, nevermind that almost every gun covered was/is a Fudd gun.
This was a factor, as with some personal YT gun reviews, which allow plenty of bias.
As for private entertainment YT ‘reviews’, Hickok45 always clarifies whether a specific gun was loaned to him.
This was a factor, as with some personal YT gun reviews, which allow plenty of bias.
As for private entertainment YT ‘reviews’, Hickok45 always clarifies whether a specific gun was loaned to him.
Phaedrus/69
Member
It's been many years since I've read a paper gun magazine, and it's rare that I read any paper magazine. Pretty much in the waiting room at my doctor's office or the laundromat, that's about it.
Old Dog
Member
Five pages thus far and it's apparent many have negative opinions of the firearms print periodicals. More complaints than positives.
Sometimes I wish @dpris, old THR member Denis Prisbrey, retired cop and great gunwriter in his own right, was still here to engage in this discussion . RIP, brother.
When the print magazines are gone, pretty sure our community and our right to keep and bear arms will also...
Me, I like the pictures.
Sometimes I wish @dpris, old THR member Denis Prisbrey, retired cop and great gunwriter in his own right, was still here to engage in this discussion . RIP, brother.
When the print magazines are gone, pretty sure our community and our right to keep and bear arms will also...
Me, I like the pictures.
As an aside. I never found out why SWAT just disappeared from the shelves. Even though, I moderated for their forum for a bit. Also, after the TOPS massacre, the mags disappeared from the supermarket shelves and never came back. At Barnes and Noble, they went behind the counter and you had to ask for them. After a bit they came back to the shelves. Most don't have content that teached me much. BTW, it's the same for military aviation magazines, they used to have some interesting articles. However, the types of new planes have diminished and they are just rehashes of the same planes and since we don;t (good thing I suppose) have modern air combat, not much new of interest.
Old Dog
Member
SWAT was one of only about three periodicals I enjoyed. Brent Wheat on cop stuff, Ruben Beaulieu (sp?) on survival, Denny Hansen, a few others and guest writers I'd actually met; the magazine had a good variety of articles, not just gun stuff. SWAT went digital only for a while and is now gone for good. Interestingly enough (to me, anyway), our B&N stores up here stock pretty much all the "gun rags," outdoor and survival/prepper publications. Kroger stores, nope.
caribou
Member
My sole subscription is for Man At Arms, the collector magazine.
As a youth "Shotgun News" was 50c and I read every advertisment.
As a youth "Shotgun News" was 50c and I read every advertisment.
I'm old school when it comes to magazines for my hobbies and interests. I'm selective, but if I am into a hobby, I prefer to read about it in print, not digital format. I do have the Apple News Plus subscription that includes a full Digital Magazine subscription to hundreds of magazines. But as you can imagine, a "Gun" magazine is not going to be high on their offering list. The closest they have available is "Field and Stream". I do read that electronically every month.
The only paper shooting sports magazine I take regularly is "Handloader". Since the 1990s I've been enjoying reloading even more than shooting. I'm not saying I do not thoroughly enjoy shooting my guns, but reloading takes the top rung for the enjoyment of the sport for me.
The only paper shooting sports magazine I take regularly is "Handloader". Since the 1990s I've been enjoying reloading even more than shooting. I'm not saying I do not thoroughly enjoy shooting my guns, but reloading takes the top rung for the enjoyment of the sport for me.
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BLACKHAWKNJ
Member
- Joined
- Dec 30, 2007
- Messages
- 1,322
Receive American Rifleman as an NRA member, the rest I skim through at Barnes and Noble. Used to subscribe, found they had at most a 3-4 years shelf life, they started to repeat, too many articles on guns and cartridges i wasn't interested in, products that didn't make it the market, etc. The gun writers I "grew up with"-Askins, Keith, Jordan, Skelton et al. all gone, the newer ones just not in the same category.
I'm extremely unimpressed by gun/hunting magazines these days. There are too many ads and even the articles read like ads. The staff writers all sound the same and linger for far too long in their positions.
Even YouTube is getting to be like that.
I'd rather scroll through this site for any gun information, news, or discussion.
Even YouTube is getting to be like that.
I'd rather scroll through this site for any gun information, news, or discussion.
I read that the repetition is a magazine industry standard for specialty mags. Folks hold subscriptions for that long on the average and burnout. Bridal mags run the 3 year cycle as that takes them to new brides just before and after the mistake (oops!). A gun editor told me once that he would rather do techy articles on shooting but SD, ultimate boom is what sells. Put a boomer on the cover, sells. Put an exotic 22S bullseye gun - nope. Folks read about buying the boomer, study up on boomer articles. Buy it and then put it in the underwear drawer.
unclenunzie
Contributing Member
I read the magazines in the bookstores in NYC back when I worked there, and did buy a few over the years. At the time they were fun, but clearly promotional, and I didn't care. Now that I'm no longer looking in from the outside, I don't bother, as the kind of content I like in this subject area is here and a few other online places. I have bought useful books though, which contain more useful content and much less fluff and self promotion.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
The level of bitching and moaning about magazines never ceases to baffle me. Some folks think it's all new stuff. Some folks think it's all "Fudd" guns, whatever that means. I personally think the folks that think nothing in print appeals to them haven't looked very hard. Heaven forbid you read about something new, oh the horror! Yes, ads pay the bills, ever turned on the TV before? It's insane to me that people will sit and watch TV or YouTube for hours a day and sit through infinite commercials but begrudge shooting industry magazine ads and still call themselves a shooter. It blows my mind.
My magazine collection goes back to 1986 and I have every one I ever bought or got in a subscription. I've never had any trouble finding something that interests or inspires me. John Taffin was my biggest influence and to blame for much of my sixgun obsession. These two custom guns were inspired by the same 1990 article but are about 25yrs apart. I couldn't imagine life without this stuff. If it weren't for people like Ichiro Nagata (Taffin does all his own photography) we'd all still be taking pics on the bed with our feet at the bottom and over-exposed from the flash.
American Handgunner still turns out that kind of content.
My magazine collection goes back to 1986 and I have every one I ever bought or got in a subscription. I've never had any trouble finding something that interests or inspires me. John Taffin was my biggest influence and to blame for much of my sixgun obsession. These two custom guns were inspired by the same 1990 article but are about 25yrs apart. I couldn't imagine life without this stuff. If it weren't for people like Ichiro Nagata (Taffin does all his own photography) we'd all still be taking pics on the bed with our feet at the bottom and over-exposed from the flash.
American Handgunner still turns out that kind of content.
Handloader is is the only subscription I have anymore. I read it front to back. I enjoy reading about the new powders that are available. If I live long enough I might have to buy more powder. I do get American Rifleman due to being a long time Life member, mostly just skim thru it unless an article catches my eye.
.308 Norma
Member
Yeah, it's kind of like reading through yet another gunshow thread, isn't it?
I'm not complaining though - I'd only be doing that if THR charged for memberships. Besides, just like "antenna" TV (yeah, I'm cheap and won't pay for cable or satellite) I can always change the channel or push the "OFF" button.