Web, rags and writers, who do you read?

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Mosbyranger

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Regarding all of the available media out there, who influences your firearms opinion? Which magazines/ print writers, web sites, you tube channels, forums/boards etc. do you pay attention to? Which ones do you see as reliable vs. which ones do you see as shilling for the industry? Who do you see as giving objective advice/reviews vs. spewing out fanboy koolaid? Who do you trust and who are you skeptical about?
 
I'll read anything written by Massad Ayoob, Tom Givens or John Farnum. I get nothing useful from Hicock45, I like The Yankee Marshall and about 2% of what James Yeager says but I'm sure I miss a lot of Yeager's stuff because I can't take the 98%.
 
None of the mainstream, newsstand rags are, imho, worth the paper they're printed on. In print media, I do enjoy Small Arms Review and The Double Gun Journal though. We receive all three of the NRAs magazines as part of our memberships, and there is good content in there a times.

Online; a little here and there. I follow Forgotten Weapons pretty religiously. See what is on various forums too.

Cheers.
 
Swing said:
None of the mainstream, newsstand rags are, imho, worth the paper they're printed on. In print media, I do enjoy Small Arms Review and The Double Gun Journal though. We receive all three of the NRAs magazines as part of our memberships, and there is good content in there a times.

Online; a little here and there. I follow Forgotten Weapons pretty religiously. See what is on various forums too.

Cheers.
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Same here. I prefer to do my own research and come to my own conclusions.

All to many times the only thing you get from reading "published" information is an opinion not necessarily based on fact and experience.
 
There's no one left who can compare to the likes of those I used to enjoy like
Elmer Keith, Bob Milek and Skeeter Skelton.
 
I really like Brian Pierce's articles in Handloader. I'm a John Taffin fan as well and a fan of anyone that writes about S&W revolvers
 
Who influences my opinion? Everyone I read or watch, to some extent. The extent of the extent is the question. ;)

I would say Mas Ayoob is the writer I respect the most, followed by Clint Smith.

As far as technical writing, nobody does as good as Peter G. Kokalis. I also like Fortier, Sweeney, and some guy named Prisbery...:p
 
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As a guy who takes a practical, utilitarian approach to firearms ownership I tend to seek out folks who offer practical, utilitarian information. I frequent the following websites and youtube channels:

Tiborasaurus "Rex Reviews"

Chuck Hawks, et al.

Ballistic Studies

Accurate Shooter "Good Gear"

The Firearm Blog



I like these guys because, though they do have sponsors, they typically review stuff that they bought with their own coin and have used extensively prior to doing a review on. You aren't going to read a review about a product that they got to dink around with for a couple hours on the range or a product by a company that sponsored their Colorado elk hunt.
 
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Several of my magazine subscriptions are less than $10.00 for twelve issues. At least one is around $7.XX per year, that is hardly the cost of postage, never mind printing.

The current crop of gun magazines are nothing more than advertising copy that is primarily subsidized by the gun industry, and the consumer is required to pay something to show good faith.

No one can expect objectivity with such a business model.
 
I watch a mix of several (no particular order and yeah, I know some are notoriously hated here)

nutnfancy (not so much anymore, wayyyy tooo long winded)
James Yeager (if you can get past attitude, some good info)
Military Arms Channel (usually most useful)
Hickok45 (just fun to watch someone enjoy guns so much)
IraqVeteran8888 (guilty pleasure)
TheYankeeMarshal (Surprised he isn't more popular)
Demolition Ranch and FPSRussia (just for kicks)
 
Hickok45 is my go-to; he reminds me of the older guys I learned from growing up and he's so obviously having a good time, I just can't help but like the guy. Some of the brand-specific forums can be useful from time to time but in terms of broad-scope firearms forums it doesn't get any better than THR.
 
In print the only magazines I look at are Small Arms Review and Shotgun News.

Favorite writers include Skeeter Skelton, Jeff Cooper, Elmer Keith, John Taffin, Mas Ayoob, and Peter Kokalis.
 
I don't remember the last magazine I read, other than skimming through the American Rifleman. And I couldn't tell you who wrote what I just read.

I used to look forward to Skeeter, Elmer, Jack O'Connor, Peter Capstick, Robert Ruark, Gene Hill, (more hunting than guns, but they could tell a story) and others whos names escape me right now. Of course they're all gone now.

Ummmm...it's raining...maybe I'll go look through the book case.

Oh...computer...there are a lot of members here and on other forums who opinions and writings I respect. Probably couldn't tell you a name, because I seldom pay attention to who wrote what.

I like to watch Hickock 45...He's about the only one I've ever bothered with.
 
web:

bradshaw over on the singleactions website
yeager - good info and i agree with most of it
gunblue490 - wordy, but lots of good stuff
jerry miculek - "got a little jumpy"
thefiringline - second only to thr
rimfirecentral - 22rf heaven!
tib rex - the common mans sniper
bullseyecentral - pistols at 50 yards
accurateshooter - benchrest heaven

writers:

elmer keith, ed mcgivern, walter winans, general hatcher, colonel whelen

rags:

handloader magazine - when i don't agree, i can write them and voice my opinion

murf
 
I read forums and watch YouTube videos.

Why?

In general, they aren't biased and usually the reviewers aren't getting bought out. You can get a way better idea on the REAL qualities of an arm that way.

Hell, all the "gun rags" were gushing over the Remington R-51 a couple years ago when it first came out. According to them, it was great! Then reality set in and the REAL reports flooded in. Then we REALLY found out what the gun was like.

Notice the word REAL? Yeah, that's what I look for in a gun review. Not some under the table wheeling and dealing contract "reviewing" you get in the rags and some online mags.
 
Back in the day, long before the internet, Ross Seyfried made we want to own anything he wrote about, or try anything he wrote about when it came to reloading. He was by far my favorite writer. Something about his style.
 
I can't say anyone really influences my opinions much, if at all.

I don't read print magazines much anymore.

Youtubers? I like the reviews by Sootch00, The Yankee Marshall, MDPrepper, 22Plinkster, and maybe one or two more I can't think of right now.
 
Back in the day, long before the internet, Ross Seyfried made we want to own anything he wrote about, or try anything he wrote about when it came to reloading. He was by far my favorite writer. Something about his style.
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I enjoyed his articles too. Years ago, I had a brief correspondence with him (just a couple letters and a phone call) regarding a 19th century firearm I was researching. He was a friendly and very knowledgeable fellow.
 
Handloader, guns and ammo, and American Rifleman. I'll watch Hickok45, and Gunblast from time to time, but not with any frequency.

American Rifleman has a great issue out right now, as far as actual gun content..... Some months are hit or miss. I don't care for or need a 4 page story on Bloomberg. I don't like the guy, never will, and don't need to reaffirm my beliefs.

Guns and Ammo can be hit or miss as well.

Hand loader is always great.


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