Who are the next generation of firearms writers?

[Derosa]

Today I was discussing with another forum member gun writers. The past and present writers. And who we would consider to be in the next generation in the pathways of (in no random order): Keith, Skelton, Cooper, Jordan, Venturino, Askins, O'Connor et al. We tossed around many names. Who carries the mantle? We discussed how the written medium has changed; how the electronic versions have supplanted print; and how our ways of receiving the "word" has changed. So I ask who the English authors are that I should be reading? I love the English language. English boasts a vast and diverse vocabulary, with a rich literary tradition spanning centuries. Constantly evolving, incorporating new words and expressions, it is a vibrant and ever-changing language. There is no right or wrong. Just a person that you enjoy reading his or her material. Opinions?

Regards.

 

[huthike]

Brian Pearce.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Since the print media has faded and the Video Media is on top,
It’ll be a YouTuber.
Who’s your fav?

 

[Brush2000]

I'd love to write about the legends one day.
Many years to come

 

[jeffrefrig]

I’ve never been a big reader of regular books, but my dad always got the monthly subscription to the PA Game News many moons ago. The artist who created the front covers on most of them was Ned Smith. He was a great wildlife artist and writer. His monthly contribution was called “Gone For The Day”. I always made sure I read that one. I have a book here that Dad ordered from the State Game Commission that was a great collection of the monthly articles that I like to grab once in a while and open it up and just start reading wherever the book opens up to. Back in the day, wildlife was about wild life; animals n’at. Not the life I was living at the time! Today is 7/14, by the way, just to give you an idea of what I am reefer ing to.
Mark Twain had a way with words also. Geez, I would have loved to be buddies with Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.
Peace!
Edit to add: I like reading about the team that the OP uses, too!

 

[Faulkner]

Since the print media has faded and the Video Media is on top,
It’ll be a YouTuber.
Who’s your fav?

You know, Hickock 45 has a pretty good schtick. I watch his videos from time to time about specific firearms, and I like his Sunday morning shoot arounds. There are very few other YouTubers I've watched more than once or twice.

 

[bamashooter]

AI.

 

[diyj98]

AI.

I was just going to type this. It's being used to some extent already, but as it gets more sophisticated, I could see it becoming the norm.

 

[chief38]

While I am sure there will be firearms writers in the future I would bet there will be fewer in numbers, fewer with real life experience and fewer with the real passion the old guys had. The reason I say this is we now have the internet where one can bring up pretty much any article, information, research or reports on exactly what they want. Secondly, I feel that the new crop of gun owners are more focused on self defense more than collecting or as a true hobby. Many new younger owners only have one gun - maybe two and are not interested in anything much other than being able to think they are well protected by the virtue of just owning it. Not to say there won't be some future enthusiasts, collectors and passionate owners, but I feel the younger generation of gun owners are a bit different than us. Hence the lower and less experienced gun writers in the future, IMO. Add that to the fact that I believe circulation of printed magazines has reached an all time low - again, less need for gun rag writers.

Lastly, the old time writers (mostly ex LEO's) had experiences along the border and in rural settings back in a time that there was a lot less restriction, limitation, scrutiny and ability to "enforce the law". Some were probably walking a thin line between right and wrong and they had lots more real life experience in the wild than the younger generation of today will ever have.

 

[Norton 750]

I like the forums, one can seek out other fans of the brand and tap into some serious collector knowledge. Having said that, I still like paper and ink. I am old! Will Dabbs is an author I have not met, but would like to share a steak with. He is a car guy and a gun guy...his easy writing style and friendly demeaner make him a current favorite. Mas Ayoob of course, but he is going to retire sometime. He is another writer whom I read everything he writes. I have met him a couple of times, and he is the real deal. (Mas, if you are reading this, Ben White says hello from Columbia) Brian Pierce is a technical, knowledgeable writer who is also a nice, friendly guy and his writing style reflects his personality. I am sure there are others, but these three leap to mind.

 

[65-2x2]

I was just going to type this. It's being used to some extent already, but as it gets more sophisticated, I could see it becoming the norm.

I think that it will happen more than we want it to. The problem is that AI speaks with authority even when it is dead wrong.

 

[greenwellg]

Read it right here

 

[Bo Rich]

I feel that with the computer, Gun Writers are now found in forums like this. I get more information from this forum on Smith and Wessons then in current magazines. The Winchester Collectors (WACA) is a great source for information on Winchester guns. The books that are of today on firearms are written by advanced Collectors, and are done quite well. I get Guns and Ammo, and The American Hunter, and Rifleman. I read these mostly for current events. Not so much for the gun articles anymore. Todays gun writers are kinda like Todays Boxers. There are some good ones, but they do not have the popularity of the past ones. People don’t know who the Heavy Weight Champion is. But they remember Ali, Frazier, Foreman, etc. Just like O’Connor, Kieth, and Cooper.

 

[Norton 750]

Patrick Sweeny! How could I have missed him on my first post 45 minutes or so ago?!? I had actually gone out for a drive before it got too hot and swung back to the house to add him to the list so I didn't forget. He is scientifically trained, a gunsmith, a competitive shooter, has worked in a gunshop and lived in Detroit, the USA's Beirut. And a heck of a nice guy in real life at the Bianchi Cup.

 

[Brian Parrish]

Today I was discussing with another forum member gun writers. The past and present writers. And who we would consider to be in the next generation in the pathways of (in no random order): Keith, Skelton, Cooper, Jordan, Venturino, Askins, O'Connor et al. We tossed around many names. Who carries the mantle? We discussed how the written medium has changed; how the electronic versions have supplanted print; and how our ways of receiving the "word" has changed…

Gun writers then worked for the magazines who in turn worked for the advertisers. For people to get paid, something has to be sold. Jeff Cooper’s writing sold the magazines. The ads in the magazine sold the guns. This did not hurt his writing at all, or help it, and neither made it true or false or helpful or not. Chris Baker at Luckygunner is selling ammo. He is a typical gunwriter of today. Good stuff, whether you read it on the site or watch it on tube.

 

[Buford57]

I enjoy Pearce and (usually) Dabbs. Taffin and Venturino I remember as the "new guys" trying to fill the shoes of Skelton, Askins, Keith, et al. Now they are gone, too. Roy Huntington may be the last of the gun writing street cops and our careers were simultaneous. The last writer whose choice of sidearm on the job consisted of S&W or Colt DA or 1911. I suspect the presence of AI in some current articles, usually in the form of strangled verbiage and clearly erroneous information (e.g. the shorter .38 S&W can be fired in a .38 S&W Special). This and the number of typos makes me wonder about the next generation of gun editors.

 

[slickracer]

Brian Pearce.

Best one going right now and should be included in the list of all time greats, in my opinion.

 

[Oldengineer]

Let's not forget Tom Siatos, the long time editor of Guns and Ammo magazine.

 

[6string]

To answer the OP, Derosa, the answer is: “Nobody”.

Why? With the demise of a widespread printed press vetted by expert proofreaders and editorial staff, there is no longer any hope of veracity let alone linguistic eloquence.

Technology hasn’t made things better. While “truth” is still out there, it is overwhelmed by an avalanche of opinion, deception, and unadulterated nonsense.

 

[zeke]

Best one going right now and should be included in the list of all time greats, in my opinion.

Am waiting for overall compilation of his his articles from handloader, if he hasn't already. Would consider it a valuable modernization of Ken Waters "Pet Loads" volumes.

Unfortunately when just updating my subscription to Handloader, they will lose me as a subscriber when they stop sending out mailed reminders, insisting on your email address.