Best Firearms Magazine?

[Fat B]

Just wondering what the opinions are from everyone who subscribes to a frirearms magazine. I read the NRA's American Rifleman and was looking to get another. Since I don't want to just pick one, and I have no interest in subscribing to 4 at once, any suggestions? My interests are all over the map from handguns to hunting. Which magazine stands above the rest?

Or for those of you that recieve multiple subscriptions, which one would you read first if they all came on the same day?

 

[Rule3]

I used to get Guns. But canceled all except American Rifleman. Most are online for free. They all are pretty much ads and every gun is great or tactical. Same as Florida Sportsman, nothing but super expensive offshore fishing that only millionaires can afford.

Digital Editions | Guns Magazine

 

[feralmerril]

I cant help buying "Guns of the old west". I dont subscribe to any others except the rifleman anymore.

 

[oldman45]

At one time, I think I has subscriptions to every gun publication out there. Then I developed some wisdom.

Nothing personal meant against any writers we have here but the facts are facts.

1. Most of any gun magazine is advertising. That is ok, the bills have to be paid but magazine sales ought to pay the bills. Put in more informative articles and sales will increase. It costs less than a quarter to print a magazine but the mag sells for more than $5.00. So why fill the mag with mostly advertisements other than greed?

2. Most of the gun reviews are nothing more than out and out lies. Some writer will review the cheapest gun on the market that is made of pot metal, assembled in a country one has never heard of and sells for $9.99. Suddenly this gun becomes the most accurate, reliable gun in the world. The writer is like attorneys, they no longer care about truth or factual information but the money to be made by their sponsor. They only care about the gun maker or gun magazine that is paying them to review a product that they have to glorify.

3. Well over half of all the articles deal with black plastic since that is the current rage. As with cars, plastic in guns does not last as well as metal does. I have a friend that is a professional person having reached the highest level of competence in the martial arts, including cage fighting. So he gets involved with guns. If it is not black, plastic or semi auto, he does not want any part of it. His attitude is seen in gun magazines and many other people. Nobody wants quality or visual appeal now. They want plastic guns because the media has portrayed it as the ultimate gun. I do not want a plastic gun and I do not want to read about one. A real gun person wants quality, visual appeal and guns that will hold their value and that is what they want to read about. I would rather read about the guns of the old west than about the latest Glock offering. I would rather see photos of custom guns or read about real life events than hearing how good a plastic gun will work when recovered from being dropped 50 feet while in a heated firefight. We are not night time snipers needing night scopes, non refelctive surfaces or camo covered guns. We are shooters that may or may not carry for work or protection.

4. I do not want to buy a gun publication to read advertisements about non gun products like tennis shoes, products for the ladies, land sales in NY or timberwolves for sale. I want to read about guns, practical use of guns, firearm accessories and get honest reviews of each.

Until the publications get back to the basics of what real gun owners want to see and read, I will stick to getting American Rifleman. If I see something in the store racks that has an article I am interested in, I MAY buy that one issue.

 

[CajunBass]

I guess I look at magazines differently. To me they're just something to read. I don't expect any real fountains of knowledge from them. I read them to be entertained. I'm not surprised that most gun reviews are good. Since I've never had a bad gun, why would I expect the writer to have one?

I get Rifleman and Hunter. I pick up most anything that looks interesting. "Guns" and "American Handgunner" most often. From time to time "Guns and Ammo" and "Shooting Times", which used to be my favorite magazine "back in the day." That was when Skeeter was still alive and writing though.

 

[Frank237]

I've gotten Wolfe Publishings two mags; RIFLE and HANDLOADER for 30+ yrs now. Good articles, with a decent mix of hunting, (they also do a hunting mag) handguns, antique rifles, pistols, handloading, casting, etc.

I think they are the top of the heap.

FN in MT

 

[max]

I get Handguns, American Handgunner, Shooting Times and Guns and Ammo. AH probably has the most info.

 

[Sebago Son]

Other than "Rifle" and "Handloader" the only other periodical I pick up is "The Harding's Magazine" also known as "Fur-Fish-Game". I grew up sitting on my Grandfather's knee while he read Hardings to me. Hasn't changed much in nearly 60 years....

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Honest to God-since I've been on the forum I have not seen the need for a gun rag. I can read everything I want about guns here and on other sites and get any question answered in a few minutes. I don't need to read an article authored by some jack leg that probably knows less that I do about tactical reloads for a #1 in .223.
If I have a question that needs answering The guys here collectively know more than any of those writers.
Plus, as a bonus-I'm saving the trees

 

[george minze]

I have a couple of friends that are well known gun smiths..."builders" mostly of 1911, bhp, and one of them did great work on revolvers in the old days....One who used to write for most of the mags was almost banned, and then he just quit writing due to his absolute honest appraisal about firearms. He was advised not to be to critical about handguns that were being advertised in the mags..The problem is you need advertisers, and you need gun writers. In the world of advertising honesty is not always the best policy. I agree that most of the time if I have a question I ask on the forum, with all the members we have somebody will give you a straight answer. With no monetary interest in the answer......One thing I do know if a handgun is featured in one mag you can bet it will be featured in others, and i might add very hard to get.....Human Nature

 

[Goldstar225]

I read American Handgunner and Handloader in addition to my American Rifleman. I've gotten rather weary of all the tactical stuff that gets plastered on the covers.

How did people ever defend themselves before "tactical" became the rage?

 

[oldman45]

.........The problem is you need advertisers, and you need gun writers. In the world of advertising honesty is not always the best policy.

George, I agree with you. Yet in all honesty, more than advertisers and writers, they need readers. Without the reader or magazine buying people, all the writers and advertisers in the world will not do any good.

Magazine subscribers are down from years ago. Could it be the lack of honesty in favor of advertising dollars is the cause?

 

[Nimble Jack B.]

I'm probably like most others and get more biased and unbiased info about guns on the internet. But I subscribe to about four different gun rags because I don't carry a laptop with me to the can or to bed. Call it a lifetime habit.

The subscriptions are relatively cheap and there's always something new I learn in each issue. Sure, I know the writers are not going to be totally honest when reviewing products from manufacturers that spend big bucks with their publishing company. (but they always seem to have a "dislike" that's relative solely to their particular traits and shooting styles).

I've always enjoyed reading anything by the Skeltons - Bart and his late father Skeeter. Wild musings from John Conner at American Handgunner is always a good read, too. Maas is always a good read and there are many other writers that always bring something new to table.

It's not just the guns, technical specs, ballistics, reviews, etc...that make me subscribe to their product.

 

[walnutred]

I'm down to four magazines. American Legion, American Rifleman, Handloader and Backwoodsman.

 

[A10]

The only one that comes to the house is Rifleman, and I occasionally pick up a Handloader. Most of the rest are just kind of a waste of space any more. I used to read Handgunner when I was shooting competition but I got tired of the 1911 mania they seem to have had. I'll leaf through all of 'em at the magazine stand and if something catches my eye I might get it, but not too often any more.

 

[gregintenn]

I feel that American Rifleman has been steadily improving the last couple of years. Take out the political speil, and it would be a pretty good mag. I also find Shooting Times usually pretty interesting. I used to suscribe to RifleShooter, but it was pretty expensive, and I just got tired of paying for it.

 

[ACP230]

I have several coming in. The two I like best are American Handgunner and Small Arms Review.
SAR is more involved with exotics, machine guns, suppressors, history of gun designers, etc.

 

[sjmjax]

I only subscribe to one these days. SAR - Small Arms Review.

Like ACP230 mentions, mostly covers the type of weapons not commonly encountered at your local gun shop or talked on most internet discussion boards.

Most articles written by knowledgeable collector/owners.

 

[therevjay]

I cant help buying "Guns of the old west". I dont subscribe to any others except the rifleman anymore.

Thats my favorite too. But I realize if your intrested in hunting & modern guns theres not much in it for you. (old west guns)

 

[Bullet Bob]

Precision Shooting. Costs more than the others, because it's worth it.