I don't subscribe to any specific gun magazine, other than American rifleman for NRA, so whenever I'm in the grocery store I spend some time at the magazine rack. I'm not a big fan of 1911 style pistols, prefer 3rd Gen S&W, but every magazine I look at always has an article or big spread on Kimber this or Kimber that. Are Kimbers that good or is their advertising budget that big. The only thing I own that is Kimber is the Life Act pepper blaster that the wife carries besides her .38, she has her CCDW also.
Gun Magazine Rant
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I don't take any gun mags any more. Although I'm an NRA member, for whatever reason, I don't get the American Rifleman. I've told them about it but it makes no difference.
The gun magazines got to the point they were just repeating what they or others had already written, with a lot of it just plain false. You have to wonder if some of these writers even shoot. Plus, I'm not a 'tactical' guy and it seems everything has to be tactical these days. I saw an ad on here for a Tactical range bag! What the hell is that?
The gun magazines got to the point they were just repeating what they or others had already written, with a lot of it just plain false. You have to wonder if some of these writers even shoot. Plus, I'm not a 'tactical' guy and it seems everything has to be tactical these days. I saw an ad on here for a Tactical range bag! What the hell is that?
oldRoger
US Veteran
I like American Handgunner and Handloader, both worth the money IMO.
Depends on who you ask. My friend Dennis is their main gunsmith, his hands are full always.
Faulkner
Member
I subscribe to several gun mags, I don't see that
much about Kimber's...personally I'm tired of reading about black poodle shooters.
much about Kimber's...personally I'm tired of reading about black poodle shooters.
I don't subscribe to any gun mags, but I have bought a number of them at the store...if they have something in them I am interested in. I'm not into rifles or shotguns, just handguns...and particularly pistols.
My gripe with the gun mags is that I don't think their reviews are really objective. They all seem like PR puff pieces. I look to sources like this forum for real reviews...I just look at the mags for the pictures and the specs (and I don't count on those being 100%.)
My gripe with the gun mags is that I don't think their reviews are really objective. They all seem like PR puff pieces. I look to sources like this forum for real reviews...I just look at the mags for the pictures and the specs (and I don't count on those being 100%.)
bobsdad
US Veteran
I subscribe to Gun Test mag, and get American Rifleman as part of the NRA membership. I buy Handloader off the rack, when I remember. What do you think of Gun Test magazine?
kscardsfan
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Think about it guys. The advertising makes up the biggest part of the budget, not subscriptions. So they're not going to piss off their cash cows and risk drying up the funds. 2nd, the with the current political climate tactical is in. Nobody wants to talk deer hunting or collectible wheel guns right now. We want hi cap black guns for now, pure and simple
I like American Handgunner too.
As far as Kimber, thier guns are ok. But if you ask them, they think they are the best. They ain't. They simply do a great job of marketing thier product.
As far as Kimber, thier guns are ok. But if you ask them, they think they are the best. They ain't. They simply do a great job of marketing thier product.
649 Bodyguard
Member
I've pretty much have let everything expire. I only buy what I like, when I see it.
I have also dropped all but two magazines one being American Rifleman, the other American Handgunner may not get renewed when it expires. Years ago I used to keep and catalog magazines with articles of interest and started to see the same articles turning up, how many times can you read about loads for a 270.
What really irritates me is that the articles are nothing more than extensions of the ads. Writers are not objective or at least rarely objective I had a lot more respect for the old timers who called a spade a spade and had far more real world experience with what they wrote about.
From personal experience as an advertiser in Peterson's publishing (back when it was Peterson's) they changed policies that articles required not only as in my case a free hunt for the writer but additional advertising in the main body of the magazine.
What really irritates me is that the articles are nothing more than extensions of the ads. Writers are not objective or at least rarely objective I had a lot more respect for the old timers who called a spade a spade and had far more real world experience with what they wrote about.
From personal experience as an advertiser in Peterson's publishing (back when it was Peterson's) they changed policies that articles required not only as in my case a free hunt for the writer but additional advertising in the main body of the magazine.
I generally agree that gun magazines are abysmal, but there are a couple of exceptions. Before you give up completely, take a look at Reloader and Rifle magazines by Wolf Publishing. They are far better than the usual fare.
I read gun magazines for the articles like those from Ayoob. Other than that, 90% of the mags are advertising or reviews. The reviews are slanted since they are just dressed up advertisements as well. While the review may have some negative comments, the vast majority of the review will be positive for that gun.
As stated above, there are a lot of falsehoods in the mags. But I still buy them for the little informative information they contain.
As stated above, there are a lot of falsehoods in the mags. But I still buy them for the little informative information they contain.
ChattanoogaPhil
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I subscribe to a half dozen each of gun and motorcycle magazines. They all seem a bit heavy with fanciful verbiage but light in other areas. I recently learned that my Sig522 .22lr operates from a modified gas piston system. 
GUN Digest The Magazine.
Issue: 2010 Shooters Guide
Article: BLACK GUN REVIEW 2010
Writer: Scott W. Wagner
Page 21 Scott writes: "The SIG522 will give a low cost alternative to those who favor the the SIG566 rifle as their black rifle of choice. Interestingly, the SIG522 has a hammer forged barrel, and operates from a modified gas piston system rather that straight blow-back. Again it is indistinguishable from the full power version unless one takes a close look at the action area, noting the small ejection port area and rimfire extractor setup"
That said.... they make for good 'reading room' material.
GUN Digest The Magazine.
Issue: 2010 Shooters Guide
Article: BLACK GUN REVIEW 2010
Writer: Scott W. Wagner
Page 21 Scott writes: "The SIG522 will give a low cost alternative to those who favor the the SIG566 rifle as their black rifle of choice. Interestingly, the SIG522 has a hammer forged barrel, and operates from a modified gas piston system rather that straight blow-back. Again it is indistinguishable from the full power version unless one takes a close look at the action area, noting the small ejection port area and rimfire extractor setup"
That said.... they make for good 'reading room' material.
mm6mm6
Member
For the many that are not aware, many of the gun magazines have subscriptions available very inexpensively via Amazon, Ebay, or online sites (search "magazine subscriptions").
As an example, this Amazon link Guns & Ammo: Amazon.com: Magazines has Guns & Ammo, delivered to your door every month for just $1.08 per month.
Come on, $1.08 per month? Just to keep up on new guns, look at professional, high quality photos, and maybe even read something you haven't read before, learn something new, perhaps read a classic review? $1.08 to support a magazine dedicated to the shooting sports?
I get about 6 gun magazines a month and with these cheap subscriptions, it cost me less than $10 a month. That's not even a dinner for my wife and I at McDonalds.
As an example, this Amazon link Guns & Ammo: Amazon.com: Magazines has Guns & Ammo, delivered to your door every month for just $1.08 per month.
Come on, $1.08 per month? Just to keep up on new guns, look at professional, high quality photos, and maybe even read something you haven't read before, learn something new, perhaps read a classic review? $1.08 to support a magazine dedicated to the shooting sports?
I get about 6 gun magazines a month and with these cheap subscriptions, it cost me less than $10 a month. That's not even a dinner for my wife and I at McDonalds.
tbury
Member
I have been through cycles with the gun mags. In the sixties I subscribed to at least 3 not counting American Rifleman. By the time I was in the third cycle of "That d--n Ole 1911" and "The Great Ole 45 Colt" articles I dropped all subscriptions until about 2006 when I became active again in rifle and handgun shooting. Most Hobby mags have similar cycles, the main thing I find useful is the information on new technology, guns, powders, etc. that come out. and I am willing to put up with the "expanded ad" style stories just to know what a .338 Lapua is all about even though I doubt I will ever buy one. When I got back into shooting after about a 20 yr layoff, I really did not know much about the short magnums or Black Rifles etc. Now I at least know about what people are shooting at the range even though I prefer my .250 Savage and .25, .30, .35 Rems as well as my 45-70 levergun. Hmmm, then there is my Colt HBAR .223 and Stag 6.8 SPC. I guess gun mags can cause some sales decisions. 
szuppo
US Veteran
I'll scan them at the grocery store just to get a chuckle about an article from one of the "experts" reviewing a POS handgun that is a must have and is ultra reliable.
Douche bags in my opinion.....
Douche bags in my opinion.....
ChattanoogaPhil
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Good point. The news stand price for just a couple issues is about the same as the subscription price for a year or more. Cheap entertainment.
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