What would you like to see in an online gun/outdoor publication?

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Jason_W

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I'm considering making a second attempt at an online hunting, fishing, shooting, and outdoor/rural living publication. This time I'm going to wait until I can afford a more professional, appealing, layout as well as the funds to pay some other competent writers for content. Being the sole writer for a website is both exhausting for me and boring for the reader.

Being something of a contrarian I want to make less about tactical firearms applications and self defense and more about the application of firearms as tools of self-sufficiency and as a means of having a really fun day outdoors. I'm certainly not opposed to the tactical crowd, but there are already innumerable publications both print and online that focus on that particular topic.

I would also like to completely avoid politics. Once again there are a ton of gun politics oriented publications out there and politics are divisive. While I want to have numerous DIY articles that facilitate self-sufficiency, I want to avoid the whole doomsday prepper thing.

I'm already assuming that such a publication would have niche rather than grand scale appeal.

Ideas and input would be appreciated.
 
I'm actually FOR politics in gun mags - current events from around the nation that I need to be aware of.

Unbiased reviews - NOT how amazing this new gadget is. TELL me if this gun is just crap or overpriced.
 
I'm actually FOR politics in gun mags - current events from around the nation that I need to be aware of.

Unbiased reviews - NOT how amazing this new gadget is. TELL me if this gun is just crap or overpriced.
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On politics: There are already just so many that focus on the politics. I'd like mine to be more about reviews and how-to articles.

I also have a potential business model that would allow the site to be completely ad free without requiring a subscription. Such a setup would allow unbiased articles.
 
I think a regular debate column titled : "Pragmatist and Purist" would be cool.
Get two people (one representing each side) give them a topic (such as sporterizing milsurps, synthetic vs wood, 1911 customization, etc) and just let them go at it.

EDIT:
Also the title and subject matter is just a suggestion. Really, any kind of debate column about non-political divisive issues.
 
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As a newcomer into the world of Firearms, I suppose I can throw my two cents in. My impression of on the shelf gun magazines, is that they're pretty much all the same, and all lack major content. As popular as they are, another AR-15 or 1911 on the cover does nothing for myself, and many others I would guess. I suppose one could say the same for many other magazine types.

I certainly respect the want to write something different. My only advice would be to keep pretty close to your goals about your desired content. Leave the gun/scope/gear reviews to the other umpteen magazines, and focus on what you want to write and publish. It will earn far more interest and respect from your niche' audience.

As far as columns, I love reading columnist's who are better writers over those with "know-how." Personality goes along way to appealing to the readers, and it helps builds a relationship between the writer and reader. I find much personality lacking in the many gun magazines on the grocery store shelf.

Anyway just a random thoughts on the matter. But as always, best of luck, and let us know when you go to print...
 
Training techniques. Ways to TEACH skills. Interviews with trainers and videos of techniques and drills, and the methods used to teach them. And this could be applicable to everything from precision rimfire through highpower and on down to CQB shotgun.

Every single class I've ever attended, the most valuables things I've come away with have been new ways to teach something, or new stuff to teach.
 
As a newcomer into the world of Firearms, I suppose I can throw my two cents in. My impression of on the shelf gun magazines, is that they're pretty much all the same, and all lack major content. As popular as they are, another AR-15 or 1911 on the cover does nothing for myself, and many others I would guess. I suppose one could say the same for many other magazine types.

I certainly respect the want to write something different. My only advice would be to keep pretty close to your goals about your desired content. Leave the gun/scope/gear reviews to the other umpteen magazines, and focus on what you want to write and publish. It will earn far more interest and respect from your niche' audience.

As far as columns, I love reading columnist's who are better writers over those with "know-how." Personality goes along way to appealing to the readers, and it helps builds a relationship between the writer and reader. I find much personality lacking in the many gun magazines on the grocery store shelf.

Anyway just a random thoughts on the matter. But as always, best of luck, and let us know when you go to print...
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I agree with your assessment of a vast majority of the gun rags out there currently. I'm certainly not anti-AR or polymer auto pistol or 1911, but how many articles on them are really needed?

For existing publications I would suggest Rifle and Handloader, both of which are from Wolf publications. The articles are on a wide range of firearms and related projects and go into more depth than most of the other publications out there. I actually hope that some day I'm good enough to write for them.

The publication I have in mind won't be strictly about firearms, though such articles will make up a significant chunk off the content. I also want to have a nice selection of articles on hunting, fishing, wild fish and game recipes, gardening, animal husbandry, and self sufficiency for its own sake and not because you think the world is ending. The underlying theme will likely be how to enjoy such a lifestyle given the time and money available to the average reader.

Just ideas, anyway. I need to save money for startup capital first as I want the appearance of the site to be a little more unique and professional than the average blogspot page. I also want to be able to pay good writers what they're worth.
 
Jason, perhaps I can go into a little more detail about what I like in a magazine. It's not so much the content that I'm reading about, but the writer telling the story. If the writer is writing a gun piece, cool. But if he's telling the story of how his favorite franken-gun came to get that rather peculiar picture carved into the stock after that bizarre hunting trip in '99, well, THAT is going to make an interesting story that just about everyone can get a kick out of. The truth is, I'd much rather read an entertaining piece with only a couple facts or insights, than try to drudge through another tech-review of the latest zombie gun. (You know, the same old, "It has an 8 round magazine, shoots 1.37 MOA with winchesterton super speeder ammo, weights 7.5 pounds, and comes in midnight-camo black, or desert tactical earth finishes.")

You mentioned you wanted to give some attention to living self sufficiently. Let's pick a topic - say, hunting and preparing a rabbit for a meal for example. You (or any other writer) could write out a step-by-step set of instructions on how to take a rabbit and prep it for cooking. Or, you could tell the story of you, taking your first rabbit with your Pop's, and him teaching you how skin it and clean it. For example... "Now that I'm older, It's hard to believe when looking back, how big that little .22 felt in my 7 year old hands. It was chilly that day in the woods, and I was worn out from following dad through those thickets and and briers that never seemed to let up. But then, there it was - a healthy male jack rabbit, watching us watching him, eager to run. He froze - I froze. He twitched - I shook. "Steady," pop whispered, "go ahead and take it." Slowly I aimed, squeezed the trigger, squeezed more, squeezed even more, still mo -BANG! And I got him!"...

-Hypothetical of course, but I think you get the idea. Not only do we get the how-to from you, or actually, from your Pop here, but at the same time we get to read a heart-warming story reminding us of the importance of time spent with family making memories together.

Dave McCracken, our friendly Shotgunning section moderator here on THR, does a good job of writing like this. Peruse some of his stickied "101" threads sometime, and I'm sure you'll agree. (Hint hint, he might be a good person to have writing for you...) And while not gun related, a popular woodworking Author, Christopher Schwarz is an excellent example of this writing style. And because he can entertain with his pen, he now has a huge following of readers, and can basically make or break a product based on his review. But, true to himself, even his tool and tech reviews communicate his same personality, and you know that when he says something's good, it's because it really is good, not just because some advertiser paid him to say so. And if it's crap, he will not hesitate to let you know about it. People respect that, and journalism needs a lot more of it. If you'd like to check him out, see a sample at his blog.

I do hope this is helpful, and as always, best of luck.
 
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On the truth angle, let me give a little comparison using one of today's (still) better publications.

When American Handgunner started out, they made no bones about pointing out both the good and bad about a handgun being reviewed. This upset some of their advertisers, and they lost that income. But they felt that the "truth" was more important than an advertisers feelings. It was a pretty remarkable position for a firearms publication to take. They were applauded by the readers.

Fast forward to today. Their reviews are pretty much the same as everyone else's. In other words, everything reviewed is the best thing since sliced bread. Now either handguns have become perfect, or they aren't telling the entire truth. You decide.

Heck, their "Industry Insider", alone, likely angered more firearms related product manufacturers than all of the other magazines of the time combined. Today, it's just a feel good "fluff" column.

Now don't get me wrong, I like Handgunner. It's still one of the better rags out there. But, it isn't what it was in the beginning. Which sorta proves the golden rule. "Those with the gold make the rules".
 
I think it is a great idea. You will need more than "you" to pull it off. I assume that you intend to sell advertising for this publication to pay your writers and so forth. Selling on line subscriptions to individuals is harder since the forums are essentially "free" and many publishers routinely offer content for free from their paper publications on line.

Blue Book publications started out somewhat like this years ago prior to a significant internet usage. Their initial Blue Books on firearms weren't that great, but were at least as good as most of what was available at the time. They grew. The future for an effective Blue Book of Fireamrs is to have an online version that is updated quarterly so it provides something in addition to the hard copy. It's the American dream.
 
I'd make sure to include at least one 'basics' article in the publication, either as a good reminder of 'back to basics' or for those people who are just getting interested and may not have all the knowledge and technical jargon to understand some of the other things.

I'd review things, but I'd make a point to review things other than the most brand new thing. Rather than review the newest scope being offered by some maker, review some of the 'classics' that are still being offered.

as an electronic publication this probably isn't relevant, but I like coupons that go along with an add.
 
Jason_W said:
...For existing publications I would suggest Rifle and Handloader, both of which are from Wolf publications. The articles are on a wide range of firearms and related projects and go into more depth than most of the other publications out there...
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Rifle and Handloader are pale shadows of their former selves. Once, Wolfe Publications put out some mighty fine magazines that explored the world of actually shooting firearms with some good technical depth, good enough that I kept each issue for years. But as soon as some of the modern well known names showed up, both magazines have become almost as shallow as the rest.

I want to see articles written by folks with as much experience as the writers that made gun mags great to read and learn from- such as Elmer Keith, Skeeter Skelton, Col. Cooper and P.O. Ackley, writers with real experience, not someone who gets a rifle, shoots it a couple of times and re-writes the copy ad.

A good story is entertaining to read, but I want to know about what the author is writing about. It used to be one could pick up a magazine and find out what the third locking lug on a Mauser action was for, tips for running a bolt action rifle efficiently, what a grey trail of smoke from a bullet means or other in depth technical information. Authors used to tell us really how firearms worked and why designers engineered a firearm the way they did.

There is a lot of bad information being passed off as fact. People still insist an AR does not have a piston or do not understand that a blow back pistol made of zinc firing a standard pistol round isn't very durable. There are a lot of myths floating around and most gun writers themselves often repeat them. Give me authors who don't just ask somebody, then repeat what they think they heard, give me authors who have actual hands on experience. That's what's missing today. Writing with experience
 
Good luck on your project. I'd be interested in a subscription. I like the old Sportsman's Notebook in Field and Stream by H.G.Tapply. You know he really had been there and done it, no puff pieces selling new gear, mostly about technique, and covered it all in about 300 words. Also some book reviews might be nice.
 
I like Field and Stream's digital edition. Lots of info on outdoor sports and shooting tools.
As pointed out, there are a lot out there so to distinguish yourself your niche needs to be well above the pack in writing style and content.
 
Thanks for all the input everyone. I'll consider all of it when I'm ready to move forward.

As far as a method for making a few dollars off the project, I'm initially going to try something experimental. Traditional banner type ads don't seem to work all that well unless a site has millions or tens of millions of visitors weekly. a site with niche appeal likely won't draw nearly that many visitors.Internet audiences tend to resent subscriptions as they are used to having everything for free.

What I'm initially going to try is a voluntary, donation based, $1/month subscription model. I want to put out 2-3 really good, really engaging editions and then withhold the fourth until a reasonable sales goal is met. The greater the income, the better the edition. If that idea falls flat, I'll try something else.
 
How about an all-in-one place repository so I don't have to go searching all over the world for it. People could submit their own reviews (past and present written) into categorically arranged locations for all to read. There could be new articles section as well.

I like the debate idea...it's good to hear both sides of an argument well articulated. Understanding the opposition is key to a debate.
 
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