What would you like to see in a firearms website?

[MikePGS]

I've already bought the domain name and am in the process of designing (yet another) firearms related site. I don't think i want to have a message board or anything because for the most part thats been done, and done better than i could hope to do. So my question is this. As a person who likes guns, what is it that you would like to see in a website about guns (mostly focused on reviews)? Is there anything that you've always wanted to see but just haven't yet? Any suggestions or opinions would be greatly appreciated because i want to try to make the site as comprehensive as possible. Thanks in advance.

 

[DMK]

Black rifles. Lots of black rifles. ARs, FALs, AKs, M1As... oh and those HK thingies.

Free targets are cool too.

 

[CountGlockula]

Comparisons:

Price value, size, pros/cons, expert recommendations, history and locations of vendors that provide at a relatively affordable prices.

 

[DMK]

am in the process of designing (yet another) firearms related site.

What are your other sites?

 

[whitetiger7654]

I think you will have trouble just making an information site. Unless you can somehow get the big gun manufacturers to send you guns to test.

There are so many forums out there. People can get others opinions for free and almost instantly. Plus they can discuss things with others. All over the net are links to almost everything you would need. Like targets and gun maintence info.

Good luck in whatever you chose though.

 

[MikePGS]

What are your other sites?

Oh no i don't mean i have other sites, but rather that a bunch already exist. I basically want to include things not commonly found in other sites and have it be a good clearing house for information. I've found that to get the sort of info i want to get i've had to sort through half a dozen or more sites. I really want to make a good one stop place to get all kinds of good technical and descriptive information about all things gun related.

 

[KenRocks]

God...you'd have your work cut out for you just digging through the archives here to do write-ups. I would definitely love price comparisons on common weapons, as well as reviews with regard to quality/function/value. RKBA news would also be incredibly valuable, as well.

Definitely should include a section for Oleg's posters in there too...really, theres tons of things I'd love to see in a single website, but the manpower part would definitely be a problem...

 

[cwmcgu2]

A picture and description of every single gun imaginable along with an easily navigable interface. This would be a constantly updating and growing site but it would be a great resource for people. Far too often I find myself searching on gunbroker to find out more about a gun.

 

[Werewolf]

Gun reviews written buy gun guys who actually own and shoot the gun being reviewed.

There's no such place on the internet that I've found which is too bad because I'm not interested in what some gun rag guy who gets sent the cream of the crop by the manufacturers has to say about a gun he might fire 2 or 3 hundred rounds out of.

I think such a site could be successful. If you're a wargamer you may have heard about www.wargamer.com. It got started in '95 or there abouts to do for wargames exactly what I just suggested for guns. About 2 years ago he sold the site to a commercial interest. I imagine there's a lot more gunnies out there than hardcore wargamers like the wargamer catered to.

It wasn't hard for Mario Kroll - the guy that started The Wargamer - to find guys willing to write reviews and I imagine it wouldn't be too hard to find guys who'd write reviews for the gun of the week for example. You could take your pick of the best review submitted.

Think about it. Hell I'd even pay a couple of bucks a month to subscribe

 

[MikePGS]

Actually thats what i plan on doing. I already know of some people who's reviews i like a lot because of the thoroughness and also their willingness to talk about problems (sometimes major problems) that the guns have. But i'd also like to add other interesting things that i personally have trouble finding and put it all on one page.

 

[Gator Monroe]

A Review Section of your Board that Reviews other Gunboard/Forums (With reviews like " Loaded with Horsepower and a Real fun Bunch" and Dont even waste your time because they are an Anti-Gun Gun Forum full of Law Enforcement slummin as law enforcement haters...

 

[BigO01]

Reviews of classics like the Savage 99 in as many calibers as members can round up .

 

[Alphazulu6]

Free stuff. And links to great websites to buy stuff. I ALWAYS like to see updated website lists of the best deals in the country

 

[Don Gwinn]

A Review Section of your Board that Reviews other Gunboard/Forums (With reviews like " Loaded with Horsepower and a Real fun Bunch" and Dont even waste your time because they are an Anti-Gun Gun Forum full of Law Enforcement slummin as law enforcement haters...

Never, ever happen. We don't do forum wars. You seem quite determined to get THR to fight it out with some boards that banned you--and from your description, for good reason.

 

[h0ss]

Along with reviews of all sorts of guns, maybe ask owners of guns to create and submit detailed .pdf files (with detailed pics) on how to disassemble and maintain specific models of rifles and hand guns. I know i appreciated it when i was able to download instructions with informational pics on detail stripping my Kahr's and my Swedish Mauser.

 

[PercyShelley]

I would love to see gun reviews done with some sort of standardized format. Feels more apples to apples that way.

There's also a wealth of information that could be objectively tacked down and put on display to great benefit for other gun owners.

The fantastic Box O' Truth website is a good example of this. The site is well-designed and visually appealing thanks to the large number of high-quality photographs. Most importantly though, those photos bear out what the website is intended for; a source of information on penetration of common objects by common rounds.

For more typical gun reviews, why not have some standardized picture tests to demonstrate your point?

For reviews of Evil Black Rifles, weight, overall length, accessory rails and ergonomics are primary considerations. For me, though, saying that "XZY Tactical Supreme-brand AR-15's are 28'' long with standard stock and 17.5'' barrel, 6 pounds unloaded with 4 picatinny rails and proven AR ergonomics" is a rather abstract and meaningless phrase.

A better system would be to show what 28'' long means. Can it fit in a golf bag? If broken down, can it fit in a gym bag?

Pictures of someone shooting or at least shouldering a gun are critical for me. They help put things in perspective, and are much more visually appealing than a picture of the gun on its own.

If you're talking about shotguns for clay shooting, why not get some dowel rods out and find out exactly where the center of gravity sits, and post a picture of it?

If you're talking pistols for concealed carry, how about some pictures of the gun concealed in various positions?

In short, consider turning the site into a visual encyclopedia. Pictures, when used to explicitly demonstrate a point, are about the most compelling and interesting media available. Since this is the internet, pictures can be seamlessly integrated into an article much more liberally than in print. It's a little more work, but it will make your site shoot to the top.

If my free advice is wrong, then by the whiskers of Ahura Mazda, you can have your money back!

 

[paramedic70002]

Make sure to get pic of the controls. It just burns me up to read a gun review but they don't show the controls.

Let readers offer replies and ask questions.

 

[Big Calhoun]

Call me corny, but I'd actually like to see a site that is inviting to families, women, and anti's. I'd appreciate a 'Lounge Area' social discussions as I recently had a kid and would like to get to know other parents nearby with young kids and are into firearm sports. And of course, lots of guns, reviews, and anecdotal stories!