Question about Handloader Magazine.

[alwslate]

I have subscribed to both Handloader and Rifle magazines for many
years. They are probably the best gun magazines on the market.

 

[S&W38]

I find Handloader well worth its subscription price for its information content. Rifle has been pushed toward the "Manufacturers' Showbasket" category, but its firearms and shooting information content still far exceeds that of its competitors, including the once-hallowed American Rifleman.

 

[zeke]

Have saved all my handloader magazines. Excellent reference, and especially like the Brian Pierce articles. However it might be time for a few of the others to hang it up. An added bonus is not reading one particular writer call himself the "Duke", at least not yet.

 

[Erich]

Handloader and Rifle are different from other gun magazines: they're easily worth the price of the subscription. I've been into this hobby for quite a while and managed a pretty going gun store for a couple of years, and I learn something with every issue. Can't say that about most other mags. I happily renew my subscription at the asking price every year.

 

[JJEH]

I read Handloader once and it was okay. I will subscribe when I start reloading. Other than that I like magazines way better then reading on a computer. It's giving me headaches after a while.

I have alot of car- and gun related subscribtions, but when the gun magazines are expired I will only stay with American Handgunner and American Cop Magazine.

 

[civil1977]

I subscribe to both Handloader and Rifle and I would definitely recommend them. Since they are bimonthly, the publisher staggers them so you get one of them each month.

 

[AveragEd]

I echo what most others have already said - Handloader and Rifle are well worth their subscription cost. And contrary to what some have posted, subscribing is less costly than buying single issues unless you only have interest in an extremely limited number of calibers or types of firearms. It seems like today, if you're into black guns or shoot-em-up-bang-bang, every magazine has lots of content for you. Those of us who handload for accuracy and don't care how fast we can empty our guns' magazines have less content to enjoy.

And JB, I have to point out a glaring flaw in your logic concerning how a magazine can "sandbag" on quality. You basically said that after a few good issues, a magazine can coast on content quality because they already have the subscribers hooked. How about the guy who picks up his first issue after the coasting began? If the content sucks, he sure isn't going to subscribe and when the first batch of subscribers doesn't renew, the publication dies.

Magazines strive for good content every month. When they come up a little short, it is not the magazine's fault; rather, the blame lies with its writers - people like me. If we don't submit it, the magazine can't print it.

Ed
Contributing Editor
Shotgun Sports Magazine

 

[BobB257]

I started buying Handloader on the news stand in town. That lead to a subscription to both Handloader and Rifle. That lead to a lot of gun buying and the buying of reloading equipment.
I used to just shoot shotguns and load on a MEC sizemaster.
Boy is my wife upset about the loss of room in the basement.
Read it for a year. You will learn a lot.

 

[TAROMAN]

Handloader is the only magazine of any type that I subscribe to.
Excellent and informative. I learn something new and I've been reloading on and off, for 40 years.

 

[shil]

My humble opinion: Handloader's a decent magazine. Many articles, though irrelevant to me, are interesting reading nonetheless. Any handloads shown in articles are very good reference material. Of course, safe reloading practice should be followed; namely, start 10% lower and work up to the author's load. Some good ideas that one can try may be found. Knowledge is golden.

 

[Green Frog]

A somewhat contrarian view;

Back in the days when Handloader was available only by subscription, it was a great magazine and the the information in it was timely and useful. When it went mass market (read "available on the news stand") it had to be dumbed down for the larger audience that they hoped would be buying them and who they aimed at. Yes, some issues have a couple of good articles, but to me, the old issues were so much better on a consistent basis and the newer ones are so much less useful, that I let my subscription lapse years ago. I guess I'm an old curmudgeon with a bad attitude, but that's just the way it is!

the Crusty Old Frog

Froggie

 

[jimkim]

I'd spend a little more and subscribe to Load Data. It has, oddly enough, the Load Data from Wolfe Publishing, the powder companies, and a few of the manuals. It will also offer you access to a few articles. http://www.loaddata.com

 

[parabarbarian]

I read few issue bought off the shelf and it certainly seems to be a good magazine. The articles provide more than just data tables. However, if all you care for is the load data then just get a subscription to their website at loaddata.com.

 

[David LaPell]

I read Handloader quite alot and even have some older issues. It isn't just strictly loading, there are some articles on guns, like this month the Colt New Frontier has a review. It also has articles on bullet casting, and alot of things you wouldn't think of. I don't read any other guns magazine anymore except Handloader.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

It is the best magazine for our hobby. I can't say it is perfect but it is darn good. If you buy the DVD collection of all of their articles, that is the best. I find that older articles tend to be more technical. New stuff seems to be a lot more "me and billy bob went huntin" type of fair.

 

[Hammerless-12]

Handloader is the ONLY magizine I subscribe to. The only reason I subscribe to it is simply because I found myself buying every issue. I would recommend it as they also evaluate new guns, as of the latest Handloader I felt they did an excellent job giving the new Colt New Frontier a so-so rating. I have a new Colt SAA that is currently back at Colt for some repairs. The barrell to cylinder gap was .012 as will as very inconsistant cylinder bores. The article points out the over sized cylinder bores on the NF as well as stating the reason for the oversized boring of the cylinders from Colts veiw point. Its nice to see an article or magizine that states a little truth sometimes.

 

[AZretired]

I think a subscription to any magazine is a waste of money.

All that information, and more, can be found on the internet for free.

The only time I buy a magazine is if they have a particular article that I must have.

Subscriptions in general are not a good idea, because they already have your money
and can then put any garbage they want into their magazine.

If everyone bought them by single issue at the store, then they'd have to put interesting articles
so people would buy their magazine.

In other words, they'd have to compete with other magazines.
Buying a subscription means they no longer must compete with other publishers.

..

What a cynical way to look at life. Do you actually think magazines put junk in them just because they are available as subscriptions?

Sent from my Xoom using Tapatalk 2

 

[smithnframe]

I subscribed to it for one year thinking I needed to. Nothing advanced in it and most of the articles are recycled from other magazines the "writers" write for! I used to subscribe to a popular "BPCR" magazine but have since stopped it because it became an arms race. Everyone had to buy the latest invention.

 

[Beans]

Handloader & Rifle are probably the best gun magazines out there.

I also subscribe to both those magazines. I have found a lot on interesting information in both mags. I keep most of the back issues and use them for reference.
If your interest is confined to reloading just one caliber .IE 38 Special,

I would forgo the magazine subscriptions, buy one of the specific caliber only reloading manual
( Loadbooks USA 38 Special Reloading Manual)
pick a load you like, put the book up and reload until you arm wears out.

I reload several calibers, some which are considered obsolete, and are no longer found in the reloading manuals.

 

[oldbrownhat]

I'm with the majority here- both Handloader and Rifle are excellent. I've been getting the online verisons for a couple of years now as I couldn't turn down the price, but I will admit that I prefer a hard copy and regularly thumb through the back issues I have. I especially enjoy Brian Pearce's articles in Handloader. It's hard to put a finger on exactly why, but his writing seems to have an air of honest authority without coming across as a know-it-all. I used to enjoy Ross Seyfried's writing in Rifle, too. (I'm not sure what happened there but it seems he and the editor didn't get along.)