This internet including forums like this one have replaced the printed word on magazines.
We don't even get the newspaper anymore. The 'Press's' building is for sale. The TV and radio news and the computer have replaced them.
The Rifleman & American Hunter come only because of the memberships.
Get the 'power' or optic that your eye likes!
When we go to the eye doctor they ask us what lens we like! They have us look through lens's and find what we see best with! Do that with your shooting optics.
Wish they told the honest truth. Instead they guffaw over a $3000 1911 that shoots 4" groups at 25 yards off of a sandbag. The older writers were loyal to the reader/subscriber, but now they are an arm of the sales dept of the firearm they are "reviewing." Most of them have lost credibility with the people who are paying for the subscription. JMHO
Speaking of old writers, I remember a time when they would talk of perfect hunting bullets as 'one that would enter the animal, expand twice it's size but NOT exit the animal. Now every one here in Eastern Kentucky hunting deer, we hardly ever shoot one at 50-75 yards but want a large exit wound running just a few steps. why would anyone want to shoot a deer at 50 yards with a .300Win mag. We always cut out the slug checking the expansion or if it held together, now you would have to go over in the next county to find your bullet. Times have changed....as far as magazins go, I get the American Rifleman, G&A, Shooting times, Rifleshooter.and some others and read them from cover to cover, Keeping them for a couple years before passing them along.
...would give a brief summation of the author's credentials to let you know what their experience is in firearms. Are they military, ex-LE, gunsmith, what? It would be nice to know what their point of view is when reading their articles so you know what sort of bias they might be bringing to the table.
Thoughts?
First of all, why are you still reading gun magazines? There is nothing new under the sun and anything that does come out, you can be assured there's a youtube on it.
Secondly, it doesn't really matter what the credentials of the writer are. They aren't writing about their credentials. They are writing about a subject. You, the reader can smell the poop when you read it and determine that a resume is inflated. As for the product, it's going to pass muster regardless - even if all that can be gained from it is "combat accuracy." The plusses will "always" outweigh the minuses.
The late-great Dave Arnold bought my first article for Handguns Magazine and the photographs I submitted sucked! Dave replaced them all, at no cost to me! He told me that the article was too good not to print! It was an article about cap and ball revolvers. My credentials? I owned a few and shot them a lot over the years. Nothing else. But for a bunch of experience and three hours at a computer keyboard, I got paid $500.
Handguns mag bought 3 features from me, and G&A one. My credentials? I could write a good article and had 25 to 30 years experience shooting the guns in question, or doing the job the guns were used in. Often, that's all that's required. I simply stopped caring.
Over the years, there have been some really prolific gun writers. Some have done really cool things in their lives. When I was buying gun magazines, that's really what I was paying for.
It's a source of great pride for me, that when my name is googled, one finds book titles and not mug shots. Daniel C. Chamberlain
That's right, a writer who can make it interesting, a good read and keep my attention is much better IMHO than one with a wall full of "Artifacts" of his accomplishments.
Sometimes they have both which is all the better. Just depends. Some topics are better from someone who has been there and done that without a doubt. Some have a knack for writing informative articles that keep me wanting more and to look forward to their next one.
I have found myself captivated by few and read articles by them I have absolutely no interest in, but yet read them because they were that good. Others like a fill in the blanks form, pure monotony.
Looking at well done pics of a gun in front of me on a magazine page can't be matched by anything I see "Online" accompanied by an informative story/write-up, especially for a writer I like and value their opinion.
Some YouTube pieces are very good like those by Hickok 45 and others, some just like to hear themselves talk about how smart they are or pretty much just drivel on their personal likes and dislikes.
I see room for both kinds of media.................besides who takes a laptop to the crapper to read about guns while siitin on the throne? :yikes: :rotflmao: :rotflmao:
It's only true if it's on this forum where opinions are facts and facts are opinions
Words of wisdom from Big Chief: Flush twice, it's a long way to the Mess Hall
I'd rather have my sister work in a whorehouse than own another Taurus!
Even some of those articles in the annual Shooter's Bible and Gun Digest are very good reads. For example, one feller wrote a good piece about the Colt Detective Special. I think he called it Granny's Colt(?). It was the one his granny carried in her country store and he remembers it from when he was a kid and he carries it fishing now. Stories like that with real life connections and a guns history are something I can relate to and make it worth reading to me.
It's only true if it's on this forum where opinions are facts and facts are opinions
Words of wisdom from Big Chief: Flush twice, it's a long way to the Mess Hall
I'd rather have my sister work in a whorehouse than own another Taurus!
I just really enjoy reading a well-written article; much more interesting than just looking at the manufacturer's website, and as has been said by others, the magazines are far more convenient throne-room reading material.
Good coverage of the technical specs, a little history on how the gun came to be, some decently conducted test results; all good data to pique the interest. Realistically, nothing you read in a mag or see online compares to holding it in your hand (double entendre! :jester:).
I'm sure that I'm not the only one for whom someone else's evaluation of the product is not enough to make me buy it; I have to handle it myself, so the articles just give me a starting point so I can decide if it's interesting enough to investigate further.
Knowledge is essential to living freely and fully; understanding gives knowledge purpose and strength; wisdom is combining the two and applying them appropriately in words and actions.
I just really enjoy reading a well-written article; much more interesting than just looking at the manufacturer's website, and as has been said by others, the magazines are far more convenient throne-room reading material.
Good coverage of the technical specs, a little history on how the gun came to be, some decently conducted test results; all good data to pique the interest. Realistically, nothing you read in a mag or see online compares to holding it in your hand (double entendre! :jester:).
I'm sure that I'm not the only one for whom someone else's evaluation of the product is not enough to make me buy it; I have to handle it myself, so the articles just give me a starting point so I can decide if it's interesting enough to investigate further.
Hey breamfisher, as to your questioning the same guy bringing your artical back twice? All I can say it must have struck a chord in him. And the fact that everybody is piling back in for more is a tribute to your ability to come up with an interesting subject.
One thing about me, I don't care what they come up with, gun rags are here to stay. I never put 100% stock in anything I read. I like to get ideas from reading articles and then later try it out myself. I never believe 100% what I read. Not the first time anyway. Then there's the problem with perspective of the writer as opposed to the perspective of the reader. You may be writing something thinking from a totally different perspective of where I'm reading it. As for opinions, the world is all about opinions. Unless you're doing math problems nothing has the same answer twice. Anyway, I'll keep getting a few gun rags. They keep me up on what's out there if nothing else. I don't get off on only reading off the net. Way too much BS and you can't always pin it down. A mag is different. It's a physical object, not a wad of electrons. Also, as far as gun rags promoting products I take it with a grain of salt. It's capitalism, and while it has its faults it beats the crap out of all the other systems.
Daddy, what's an enabler?
Son that's somebody with nothing to do with his time but keep me in trouble with mom.
Replies
We don't even get the newspaper anymore. The 'Press's' building is for sale. The TV and radio news and the computer have replaced them.
The Rifleman & American Hunter come only because of the memberships.
When we go to the eye doctor they ask us what lens we like! They have us look through lens's and find what we see best with! Do that with your shooting optics.
Speaking of old writers, I remember a time when they would talk of perfect hunting bullets as 'one that would enter the animal, expand twice it's size but NOT exit the animal. Now every one here in Eastern Kentucky hunting deer, we hardly ever shoot one at 50-75 yards but want a large exit wound running just a few steps. why would anyone want to shoot a deer at 50 yards with a .300Win mag. We always cut out the slug checking the expansion or if it held together, now you would have to go over in the next county to find your bullet. Times have changed....as far as magazins go, I get the American Rifleman, G&A, Shooting times, Rifleshooter.and some others and read them from cover to cover, Keeping them for a couple years before passing them along.
First of all, why are you still reading gun magazines? There is nothing new under the sun and anything that does come out, you can be assured there's a youtube on it.
Secondly, it doesn't really matter what the credentials of the writer are. They aren't writing about their credentials. They are writing about a subject. You, the reader can smell the poop when you read it and determine that a resume is inflated. As for the product, it's going to pass muster regardless - even if all that can be gained from it is "combat accuracy." The plusses will "always" outweigh the minuses.
The late-great Dave Arnold bought my first article for Handguns Magazine and the photographs I submitted sucked! Dave replaced them all, at no cost to me! He told me that the article was too good not to print! It was an article about cap and ball revolvers. My credentials? I owned a few and shot them a lot over the years. Nothing else. But for a bunch of experience and three hours at a computer keyboard, I got paid $500.
Handguns mag bought 3 features from me, and G&A one. My credentials? I could write a good article and had 25 to 30 years experience shooting the guns in question, or doing the job the guns were used in. Often, that's all that's required. I simply stopped caring.
Over the years, there have been some really prolific gun writers. Some have done really cool things in their lives. When I was buying gun magazines, that's really what I was paying for.
Oddly enough the same member bumped it back up twice since 2017. With very similar lead-ins and comments about what magazines they get.
http://forums.gunsandammo.com/showthread.php?14979-I-wish-gun-magazines&p=622168&viewfull=1#post622168
http://forums.gunsandammo.com/showthread.php?14979-I-wish-gun-magazines&p=672940&viewfull=1#post672940
Sometimes they have both which is all the better. Just depends. Some topics are better from someone who has been there and done that without a doubt. Some have a knack for writing informative articles that keep me wanting more and to look forward to their next one.
I have found myself captivated by few and read articles by them I have absolutely no interest in, but yet read them because they were that good. Others like a fill in the blanks form, pure monotony.
Looking at well done pics of a gun in front of me on a magazine page can't be matched by anything I see "Online" accompanied by an informative story/write-up, especially for a writer I like and value their opinion.
Some YouTube pieces are very good like those by Hickok 45 and others, some just like to hear themselves talk about how smart they are or pretty much just drivel on their personal likes and dislikes.
I see room for both kinds of media.................besides who takes a laptop to the crapper to read about guns while siitin on the throne? :yikes: :rotflmao: :rotflmao:
Words of wisdom from Big Chief: Flush twice, it's a long way to the Mess Hall
I'd rather have my sister work in a whorehouse than own another Taurus!
Words of wisdom from Big Chief: Flush twice, it's a long way to the Mess Hall
I'd rather have my sister work in a whorehouse than own another Taurus!
Good coverage of the technical specs, a little history on how the gun came to be, some decently conducted test results; all good data to pique the interest. Realistically, nothing you read in a mag or see online compares to holding it in your hand (double entendre! :jester:).
I'm sure that I'm not the only one for whom someone else's evaluation of the product is not enough to make me buy it; I have to handle it myself, so the articles just give me a starting point so I can decide if it's interesting enough to investigate further.
Hey breamfisher, as to your questioning the same guy bringing your artical back twice? All I can say it must have struck a chord in him. And the fact that everybody is piling back in for more is a tribute to your ability to come up with an interesting subject.
One thing about me, I don't care what they come up with, gun rags are here to stay. I never put 100% stock in anything I read. I like to get ideas from reading articles and then later try it out myself. I never believe 100% what I read. Not the first time anyway. Then there's the problem with perspective of the writer as opposed to the perspective of the reader. You may be writing something thinking from a totally different perspective of where I'm reading it. As for opinions, the world is all about opinions. Unless you're doing math problems nothing has the same answer twice. Anyway, I'll keep getting a few gun rags. They keep me up on what's out there if nothing else. I don't get off on only reading off the net. Way too much BS and you can't always pin it down. A mag is different. It's a physical object, not a wad of electrons. Also, as far as gun rags promoting products I take it with a grain of salt. It's capitalism, and while it has its faults it beats the crap out of all the other systems.
Son that's somebody with nothing to do with his time but keep me in trouble with mom.