DO YOU TRUST GUN MAGAZINE REVIEWS ?
- Thread starter robkarrob
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Nakanokalronin
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I stopped reading gun mags awhile ago. They only give positive reviews to any gun in their magazine. I barely trust half of the reviews online from people claiming accuracy and reliability with guns I'm interested in. Anyone could say their gun is great and accurate, but they could be someone who maybe shoots 100rds. a year. About 99% of the people I see at my local range hold guns incorrectly and have shotgun pattern groupings at 7 yards. I'm sure at least a few dozen of those people have claimed how accurate their guns are on some forum I've read. It's worse with a magazine since they're getting paid to review it.
Harrison
US Veteran
You have to remember that these gun reviews are subjective. What is a pro feature for one writer might be a con for another. Personally some guns I like and some I don't. Not to say the ones I like are better or good, and the ones I don't like are bad. It is just personal opinion, and many gun reviews are the same thing. Just some ones personal opinion.
I used to subscribe to a lot of the gun mags...mainly for news about new models and pictures...but with the availability of information on the internet, as well as the discussion forums, I no longer subscribe to any.
That's why I subscribe to Gun Test Magazine. They accept no advertising and buy their guns on the open market, no specially set-up test guns.
FloridaFlier
Member
The problem with so many first hand stories is that the numbers get distorted, especially bad news. An old axiom in customer satisfaction measures was something like "Make a customer happy, he'll tell 10 people about his experience. Make him unhappy, and he'll tell 100."
Having said that, when a gun review ends up with "I like it so much, I've decided to keep it and mail in a check", I generally discount the review.
Just my opinion, your mileage may vary.
Having said that, when a gun review ends up with "I like it so much, I've decided to keep it and mail in a check", I generally discount the review.
Just my opinion, your mileage may vary.
When researching guns that I am interested in I find that most online articles pretty much say the same thing. I do like to watch youtube videos on the gun and more importantly, read the comments below about it. I find a lot of truth in the comments. It is hard to do this with a gun that there are not a lot of them out there. I found this to be the case with the AR I just bought (the M&P VTACH II). A lot of reviews said don't get that gun, get a DD or X instead. They plainly had not even looked at the gun, no matter shot it.
gwpercle
Member
My old Daddy once told me " Son, never believe anything you read and only half of what you see!" . People write the articles , so they are subjective to that person's views. Be it guns, cars or restaurants.
I have read some glowing restaurant reviews that turned out to be so wrong it wasn't funny.
Take all reviews with the proverbial " grain of salt". Then try it out for yourself and tell us your findings here.
Gary
I have read some glowing restaurant reviews that turned out to be so wrong it wasn't funny.
Take all reviews with the proverbial " grain of salt". Then try it out for yourself and tell us your findings here.
Gary
PastureOfMuppets
Member
The thing to remember is that some magazines don't review what they don't like... and that's the most telling thing.
scattershot
Member
I like Gun Tests, too. I remember several years ago they had a test of an off brand semi auto pistol, and Phil Engledrum noted that he heard this *** needed a bit of stoning to make it work right. It showed him beating on the gun with a big rock!
Your use of far too many commas caused me to stop reading so I did not see where the writer you were talking about actually reviewed the gun. It sounds like the column was devoted to ranting about how writers are "wined and dined" by Remington. This makes me wonder if he is just jealous?
The best review is a rental gun. If you want to know how it shoots go shoot it yourself and see how well it is holding up. Rental guns are some of the most abused guns out there. They are what convinced me to forsake Glock and go with M&P nearly exclusively.
The best review is a rental gun. If you want to know how it shoots go shoot it yourself and see how well it is holding up. Rental guns are some of the most abused guns out there. They are what convinced me to forsake Glock and go with M&P nearly exclusively.
I have written a couple of articles for American Handguner, and several for an automotive magazine. Neither editor encouraged me to gloss over problems with equipment. Might be a different tale for the staff writers.
shooter1911
Member
Let's think about this for a minute. The gun manufactures support gun magazines with gun advertisements. When is the last time you read a negative gun review in a gun rag? I personally never buy gun magazines anymore because they are a waist of money. Maybe one good gun article, and the rest of the magazine is advertising. I'll read an occasional gun rag article at the grocery store, and that's it. The short answer is no I do not trust gun magazines gun reviews, and would never base a buying decision on what the say.
On a positive note, gun magazines will inform you about new products on the market, which is why I glance at them at the super market.
On a positive note, gun magazines will inform you about new products on the market, which is why I glance at them at the super market.
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Rumors of the death of the Remington R51 are apparently premature. Remington released this on July 25:
"July 25, 2014
Remington R51 Pistol Product Update
Earlier this year, we launched the innovative R51 subcompact pistol to critical acclaim. During testing, numerous experts found the pistol to function flawlessly. In fact, they found it to have lower felt recoil, lower muzzle rise and better accuracy and concealability than other products in its class.
However, after initial commercial sales, our loyal customers notified us that some R51 pistols had performance issues. We immediately ceased production to re-test the product. While we determined the pistols were safe, certain units did not meet Remington's performance criteria. The performance problems resulted from complications during our transition from prototype to mass production. These problems have been identified and solutions are being implemented, with an expected production restart in October.
Anyone who purchased an R51 may return it and receive a new R51 pistol, along with two additional magazines and a custom Pelican case, by calling Remington at (800) 243-9700.
The new R51 will be of the same exceptional quality as our test pistols, which performed flawlessly.
We appreciate your patience and support."
Remington To Replace All R-51 Pistols - The Firearm Blog
"July 25, 2014
Remington R51 Pistol Product Update
Earlier this year, we launched the innovative R51 subcompact pistol to critical acclaim. During testing, numerous experts found the pistol to function flawlessly. In fact, they found it to have lower felt recoil, lower muzzle rise and better accuracy and concealability than other products in its class.
However, after initial commercial sales, our loyal customers notified us that some R51 pistols had performance issues. We immediately ceased production to re-test the product. While we determined the pistols were safe, certain units did not meet Remington's performance criteria. The performance problems resulted from complications during our transition from prototype to mass production. These problems have been identified and solutions are being implemented, with an expected production restart in October.
Anyone who purchased an R51 may return it and receive a new R51 pistol, along with two additional magazines and a custom Pelican case, by calling Remington at (800) 243-9700.
The new R51 will be of the same exceptional quality as our test pistols, which performed flawlessly.
We appreciate your patience and support."
Remington To Replace All R-51 Pistols - The Firearm Blog
hkcavalier
US Veteran
The only paid ads gun mag that comes close to being objective is Shotgun News. Note that they don't have many ads from the manufacturers, most of their copy is from dealers and parts warehouses like Sarco.
They will occasionally send a gun or accessory down the river if it sucks. They also do lots of side-by-side apples-to-apples comparisons which I enjoy.
The mags loaded with ads will always be full of glowing reviews. Conflict of interest. Or else they hide defects behind phrases like, "Accuracy is good enough to do the job" or "Not all magazines fed properly, so make sure to test yours!" (code for, lots of FTFs).
They will occasionally send a gun or accessory down the river if it sucks. They also do lots of side-by-side apples-to-apples comparisons which I enjoy.
The mags loaded with ads will always be full of glowing reviews. Conflict of interest. Or else they hide defects behind phrases like, "Accuracy is good enough to do the job" or "Not all magazines fed properly, so make sure to test yours!" (code for, lots of FTFs).
uechikid
Member
I always take gun reviews in magazines with a grain of salt. Those people writing the reviews are expected to give a favorable review. I do however trust the numerous online "user" reviews that start popping up several months after a new product is released.
skip4309
Member
Just a thought...how would you (we) feel if S&W, GLOCK, Sig, H&K, Springfield to name a few, produced a firearm and did a 100% recall/replacement (thats basically what they are doing). My confidence in ANY of their products would be ZERO...and thats where I'm at now....just saying...
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scooter123
Member
I trust magazine reviews ABOUT AS FAR AS I COULD THROW A BUICK, which just aint gonna happen. Fact is I don't trust any magazine writer today, they all seem to have some personel axe to grind and don't seem to have the best interests of their readers in mind at all.
