Rastoff
US Veteran
Guys buy a new gun, run to the range, shoot a little and then come here to post a "range review" of their new toy. They often sound something like this, "Got my new gun to the range today. Shot 48.6 rounds. Boy is this a great gun!" This is almost universally followed by 20 replies of, "Good for you! Have fun with that new piece." Then, because there isn't a picture of the same gun we've all seen a thousand times, there is the obligatory response:
In their defense, many would say that they just didn't know what to write. They were excited about the new purchase and just wanted to crow a little. Nothing wrong with that.
However, one of the functions of a site like this is to help others find the right tool. It would be nice to have reviews that offer up really useful information. So, in an effort to help those of us with writer's block, here's an outline of what to include that will make your review more powerful.
Be Specific
Avoid generalities. Saying, "This is great!" conveys emotion, but doesn't tell us anything else. It says nothing about the gun being reviewed. Change that to, "I have small hands and it's easy to reach the trigger." This conveys specifically what made the gun great for you.
"The sights suck!" So what? That doesn't tell us why. We now know you didn't like something, but we have no idea what it is. Instead say, "The sights are too narrow for quick acquisition." This leaves the reader with no doubt about why you didn't like them. Be sure to qualify every statement.
Be Thorough
There are several points that every gun has and should be included in your review:
Be Honest
You just paid $1K for this new gun and don't want to report any flaws. Who would? Alas, nothing is perfect in this world. If there are burs that could scratch you or the gun, tell us. Maybe the gun doesn't want to feed hollow point saber tooth rounds. Maybe the wood grips don't fit perfectly. Maybe there is a flaw in the bluing. Believe it or not, pointing some of these things out can be helpful. Personally, I like it when I can say, "Man, if that's the only flaw he can find..."
Be Concise
We want to know about your new toy, but we don't want to read a book. I know, taking advice like this from me is like taking health advice from a fat man. Still, the logic is sound. Tell us about it, but don't ramble on. If the point can be made in once sentence don't use two.
Know what you're talking about
Take a moment and look up the proper terminology. "This thing that moves up and down" will not inspire confidence in your audience. All the manufacturers have parts lists for their guns. Take a second and look up the right term. This alone can make or break a good review.
For God's sake, post focused pictures!
This is a pet peeve of mine; a really big one. Look at this pic:
For crying out loud, this is the digital age. It costs you nothing to take another pic until you get one that's IN FOCUS!!! Very little is more frustrating than a pic with a background in perfect focus, but the subject is blurry. We can talk about subject placement, composition, lighting, exposure and a host of other photographic components another time. Most of us aren't photographers, fine, we get it. That doesn't mean the picture can't be in focus. Take an extra second and take another picture. We'll appreciate it.
Proofread the post!
Just like the out of focus picture, this is something that has no excuse not to be done. It's super easy to read over what you just wrote. Reading it back will demonstrate how it will look/sound to others. It will only take a few seconds, but will make a big difference in how it reads.
There is a lot more I could write about posting a review. Even so, if even this little bit is included, the review will be a good one.
In their defense, many would say that they just didn't know what to write. They were excited about the new purchase and just wanted to crow a little. Nothing wrong with that.
However, one of the functions of a site like this is to help others find the right tool. It would be nice to have reviews that offer up really useful information. So, in an effort to help those of us with writer's block, here's an outline of what to include that will make your review more powerful.
Be Specific
Avoid generalities. Saying, "This is great!" conveys emotion, but doesn't tell us anything else. It says nothing about the gun being reviewed. Change that to, "I have small hands and it's easy to reach the trigger." This conveys specifically what made the gun great for you.
"The sights suck!" So what? That doesn't tell us why. We now know you didn't like something, but we have no idea what it is. Instead say, "The sights are too narrow for quick acquisition." This leaves the reader with no doubt about why you didn't like them. Be sure to qualify every statement.
Be Thorough
There are several points that every gun has and should be included in your review:
- Feel
- How does it feel?
- Grip?
- Weight? (Not on a scale, but in your hands)
- Balance?
- Trigger pull?
- Trigger pull weight (you don't need a gauge. Just saying that it felt heavy or light is enough)
- Quality- smooth or not?
- Creep
- Over-travel
- Felt Recoil
- Was it snappy?
- Was it harsh?
- Easily controlled?
- Uncomfortable?
- Operation
- What controls did you have difficulty with?
- Was it easy to operate? What made you think that?
Be Honest
You just paid $1K for this new gun and don't want to report any flaws. Who would? Alas, nothing is perfect in this world. If there are burs that could scratch you or the gun, tell us. Maybe the gun doesn't want to feed hollow point saber tooth rounds. Maybe the wood grips don't fit perfectly. Maybe there is a flaw in the bluing. Believe it or not, pointing some of these things out can be helpful. Personally, I like it when I can say, "Man, if that's the only flaw he can find..."
Be Concise
We want to know about your new toy, but we don't want to read a book. I know, taking advice like this from me is like taking health advice from a fat man. Still, the logic is sound. Tell us about it, but don't ramble on. If the point can be made in once sentence don't use two.
Know what you're talking about
Take a moment and look up the proper terminology. "This thing that moves up and down" will not inspire confidence in your audience. All the manufacturers have parts lists for their guns. Take a second and look up the right term. This alone can make or break a good review.
For God's sake, post focused pictures!
This is a pet peeve of mine; a really big one. Look at this pic:
For crying out loud, this is the digital age. It costs you nothing to take another pic until you get one that's IN FOCUS!!! Very little is more frustrating than a pic with a background in perfect focus, but the subject is blurry. We can talk about subject placement, composition, lighting, exposure and a host of other photographic components another time. Most of us aren't photographers, fine, we get it. That doesn't mean the picture can't be in focus. Take an extra second and take another picture. We'll appreciate it.
Proofread the post!
Just like the out of focus picture, this is something that has no excuse not to be done. It's super easy to read over what you just wrote. Reading it back will demonstrate how it will look/sound to others. It will only take a few seconds, but will make a big difference in how it reads.
There is a lot more I could write about posting a review. Even so, if even this little bit is included, the review will be a good one.
