WHERE ARE THE GOOD GUN WRITTERS???

pack rat633

With the exception of maybe Col. Boddington, there are hardly any gunwritters left worth reading. In our youth, we had O'Connor, Keith,Atkins and Townsend. You had a fealing these guys lived what they wrote about, and you could believe them. Nowadays, seems they give a YUPPIE a camera and a typewritter, and he gives you a good review for a price. I know gents that hunted with O'Connor and Keith, and they were real honost to God hunters and shooters! I even know one gent who shoot it out with Fitz McGivvens and lost. He had nothing but praise for Fitz, even though he practiced for years to beat Fritz!!

Who's left now?

SEMPER FI MAC, SEMPER FI

offeror

Gun readers are notoriously hard to please. I don't know hardly any writers who don't get crap from somebody, from Ayoob to Cooper. Some think you have to hunt, some think you have have military or LEO experience, and some think you have to safari in Africa. And some insist that those things only make for wannabe gun writers. Then they all get crap for moonlighting for extra money, as Ayoob gets for being an expert witness and Cooper gets at Gunsite and on and on. Then there is the group that thinks range tests of every gun should be exhaustively scientific, and shoot every available factory load in every test. Then there's Gun Test magazine, the self-appointed objective critics. We have the "pretty gun" pictorials, which are all pictures and no dope. There used to be a $2000 customized gun that hardly anyone would afford on every issue of American Handgunner.

Personally, I think if you read with common sense you can sort the wheat from the filler pretty easily. Take good info where you find it. I like my fix of gun mags every month, so I'm willing to filter through the hype.

We're going to have to get along without some of the oldtimers though. Cooper's in a wheelchair now, part of the time. Hopefully the new crop will gain experience over time. The hunting group and the tactical group will not cross over much, and that's okay with me. They are different specialties. Those who want a 30" bird barrel load formula are just not going to be much interested in the applications of a 552 or a G36. Hopefully, we can all at least get together on news about our gun rights.

T. Jefferson: "[When doing Constitutional interpretation], let us [go] back to the time when [it] was adopted. [Rather than] invent a meaning [let us] conform to the probable one in which it was passed."

joey garza

they went to vidio

DancesWithSheep

Cooper isn't a gun writer; he trafficks anecdotes and drools.

bigdaddyjunior

You want good gun writing scroll back to Mark Christian and Judge Colt threads.

Big Daddy my heros have always been cowboys,they still are it seems

timberbeast

I tink day awl wetired.

thunderbolt

I really miss Skeeter Skelton's work in Shooting Times, especially the
"Dobe Grant" and "Me and Joe" stories. Good solid gun info and fine fiction as well.

drobs

They all went to Shotgun News. I prefer reading articles by Fortier.


Regards,

ndbilly

In addition to the monthly generalist publications like G&A and Shooting Times, there are a number of specialty mags going right now. Handguns only, rifles only, reloading only, shotguns only, military and police only, varmint shooting only, blackpowder only, etc. Quality of writing is a very subjective judgement. I've found that those scribes who agree with my opinions and observations are geniuses and quills of the first order. The others are morons who should not be allowed to write with anything more sophisticated than a Crayola.

chuck

Well said Packrat, I no longer take any kind of gun mag any more, I do not believe the new bunch shoot gun's or Hunt. I call them Prostitutes of the printed pages. I miss the gun mag in the winter time. Elmer Keith was my old mentor, ( he hated 30 cal Rifles ) He helped in getting us our 338 mag rifles ( the best Elk caliber in the world ) I hope this does not start a fight.[:0][:0]

kimberkid

I was reading an artical in SGN a couple monthes ago, some kid was doing a piece on military rifles and focused on FAL's ... making a comparison to M-14's and HK-91/G3 ... but said he had never shot one of the HK-91/G3 type rifles ...

... I read the article anyway, but at first didn't really understand how they let him write the piece without research ... muchless his limited experiance ... it really didn't turn out to be much more than advertising for DSA.

... oh well [:(][xx(][V]

===========================
Chance favors the prepared mind [8D]

kimberkid@cox.net

offeror

ndbilly -- I take the opposite view. When a new gun comes out, I want a proper review and range report, and I prefer not to come at it with a preconceived notion. I only get frustrated when the reporting is incomplete or seems inadequate, regardless of the outcome of the tests run.

These other guys mentioned -- Keith, Cooper, Atkins, Skelton -- all serve up a dose of their personal worldview with their writings. They are Hemingway-esque. Their points of view of life clearly tick some people off, for some reason. But the influence their writing has had on guns and gun development is undeniable -- their work has tangible results you can point to. Saying these guys are not gun writers is like saying Shaolin masters are not real kung fu experts just because they serve up their expertise with a large dose of principles and a sense of lifestyle.

The old guys are only going to get older and drop away. Their writings get shorter and more specialized. Their book-writing days are about over. Might as well deal with it.

But I do know that not all gun writers have ever "honest to God" hunted in their lives, and that's okay, unless maybe if you're reading American Hunter. Others have safaried in Africa and filled a trophy wall, with the pictures to prove it, and that's fine as well. Other writers are more interested in silhouette or paper-punching competition and race guns, and others are into displays of cowboy trick shooting and fast draw. Still others, particularly at American Rifleman (and Neal Knox), are all about the politics of the situation. And I'm sure there are some yuppies at the gun mags now too, still learning how to review a gun to our satisfaction.

What brings out the delusional criticism of favorite whipping boys is a mystery to me, but it reveals much about the whipper and nothing about the objects of the ire, and it won't make anybody any younger or take away anything from what the "icons" accomplished and the whipper hasn't. I can say Jan Libourel is not a gun writer. Jan doesn't know or care, and I'd be plainly nuts.

T. Jefferson: "[When doing Constitutional interpretation], let us [go] back to the time when [it] was adopted. [Rather than] invent a meaning [let us] conform to the probable one in which it was passed."

TwoDogs

I read Jim Wilson in Shooting Times.
He is pretty much no frills and Skeltons kid is good at tellin a story. Rest is just trying to sell guns at overinflated prices.

Twodogs

KX500

That Shockey guy is my favorite. Doesn't take himself too seriously & wil even admit to being human (he actually misses once & a while).

aglore

Well Hagel is dead as with Skelton and the others. Still take Handloader Magazine so I can see what Ken Waters is writing about. Ken Howell is working on a new book.

AlleninAlaska
Delta Firearms & Supplies
http://canadianfirearmsexchange.com

Buy firearms on the installment plan and Play while you Pay.

aglore@gci.net

cletus85

I have taken a couple of Magazines a month for years, except when I was in college. For the most part, I still am glad to see them in the mailbox. It's kinda like here, if I don't like it, I don't read it....twice, anyway!

faldum

I've always enjoyed Gene Hill, whose work
borders on poetry.
Perhaps it is poetry...I doubt Mr. Hill would object
to such a description.

My absolute favorite, by Corey Ford:

http://www.afn.co.kr/archives/readings/tinkham.htm

A masterpiece!!!!

robsguns

I think there are still some good writers, I cant remember names well, but I will say that the best one I know of, who writes purely about guns and hunting the way I like best, is General Craig Boddington, he was promoted by the way. His knowledge of firearms, hunting, and reloading, is by far greater than nearly every other writer out there. His combined knowledge over a variety of areas is what makes him stand out to me. I dont get into buying books or magazines much anymore, however, I did buy his book 'Where Lions Roar or Rome', I forget which it is. Its an excellent book, and one worth buying for anyone interested in Africa. I'll buy his next book he has published also. Funny how as you get older you read mags. for a different reason. I read them now just to keep abreast of info. on new things on the market, use to be I read them to learn about guns. I also agree that there are probably at least 2 or 3 members here who could do a fair job of writing about guns and hunting.


SSgt Ryan E. Roberts, USMC

mballai

Having earned my living as a writer for a couple of decades (in another trade), I know firsthand what these guys are up against. Magazines are shrinking both in number and number of pages. Writing in a diminishing market means there's less financial incentive. Some stuff inevitably gets spun primarily to make the rent and/or help an advertiser. There just isn't a lot that's genuinely new and different: just how many ways can you rewrite a 1911 article? You could probably make an article template and just drop pistol or rifle specifics in and rearrange a couple of paragraphs to send off to an editor. Hopefully not and I never would, but that's the reality. I read whatever I can get my hands on, but I don't expect a great new revelation every month.

Some writers are more wordsmiths than pioneering spirits in the gun industry. Others provide real insight. Old writers inevitably tread on familiar paths with increasing frequency. Chew the chicken, spit out the bones.

Three Precious Metals: Gold, silver and lead

spiny

'We have the "pretty gun" pictorials, which are all pictures and no dope.'
I am truly shocked![:0][:0][:0]

spiny
'not all who wander are lost'

EVILDR235

I like older guns mostly.I enjoy reading stuff by Jim Wilson,Bart Skelton,John Taffin and Mike Venturino the most.Always enjoyed stuff by Skeeter.I liked the story about his cow killer bullets.Met Chuck karwan at a gun show a couple of years ago.I like his stuff too.He was friendly and we talked for a bit.
EvilDr235

Two types of people drive old cars.Rich people because they want to and poor people because they have to.

kingjoey

They're where the good politicians are: six feet under[;)]

Love them Beavers


SUPPORT THE I.N.S. , THE COUNTRY THEY SAVE COULD BE YOUR OWN

v35

It's tough to get a good technical review.
The Rifleman has become a sad disappointment and the Shooting Times
is very subjective and lacks detail. Wilsons' western sagas are good but Venturino with his ***** foot, politically correct handloads would make Elmer Keith roll over in his grave.

stanman

I've read Boddington for enough years to see him contradict himself so many times it seems HE doesn't even know what he really thinks.
I miss the writings of John Wooters and G. Sitton but have come to very much enjoy the more recent articles by John Barsness.
I guess if we all liked the same writers there would only need to be one gun rag.
That would SUCK!!

pack rat633

Thanks ROBSGUNS, glad to hear Boddington was promoted. What's his MOS, do you know??

SEMPER FI MAC, SEMPER FI

robsguns

I'm not sure Marine On Line is up to date. It still says he is a Col. I wanted to see if I could get his MOS, but all I could find was his phone number, its probably out of date too. I cant access the info. I need from home. I'll see if I can find out though.

I did another search. I found this.

http://www.cpp.usmc.mil/IMACE/mace.cgbio.htm

Its outdated by 2 years, and you'll see he was pending promotion then. It doesnt state his MOS. I never knew it while I was there, but he was previously BN XO of the unit I was assigned to when I was in Okinawa, 9th Motors, which is now 9thTSB. Interesting. This is why I like him, he isnt some bullcrap writer, he's been there, done that, and most likely knows more than probably any other writer discussed in this thread.[;)]


SSgt Ryan E. Roberts, USMC

Pearyw

The only gun writer that I actually know is Charles Q. Cutshaw. He and his wife moved to this area when he retired from the army. I enjow reading his articles and talking with him. He seems to know what he is talking about when it comes to military rifles and he has had access to some things that I have never seen. I learned why the writers give good write-ups on so many guns. The companies give them the guns or sell them to them at very low prices after they test them.

searcher5

I have to agree with faldum on this one. Toss in a little Robert Ruark as well.

Proud member of the NRA

If it ain't broke-it ain't ours!!!

idsman75

I subscribe to a hunting magazine--Peterson's Hunting to be exact. I pull it out of the mailbox and throw it in my car. When I get to work the next morning it goes on the back of the toilet in the office men's room. A recent issue disappointed me a great deal. Boddington did an article on "Common Sense Deer Cartriges". He seemed to cover every popular cartrige but failed to mention the MOST popular one--the .30-30 Win. How could you leave out the .30-30? I like the magazine because I need something to tell me what new products are on the market. That's about all it's worth. I bought this magazine because an organization that I support was selling magazines to raise money and I didn't like any of the other ones that they had to sell.