I like the magazine, but I'm starting to get turned off by their absolute love for the 45acp 1911 pistol. It is a GREAT pistol, but there are other calibers out there guys! They go out of their way it seems to praise it. It's starting to bug me. Ok, I vented.. I feel better... :(

It's likely because of the sheer numbers of 1911s out there. They probably figure they've automatically (no pun intended) got a subject of some interest to millions of potential readers. And after all, as you pointed out, it is a neat pistol.

I think it's because they no longer hire or use very many real gun lovers or real shooters as writers. Most of those jokers seem to be hacks, so they lack originality. I stopped buying that magazine because it was boring.

Dave In Oakwood, GA

500 Magnum,

I received two copies of G&A today for the first time ever. I had one of those cards that allowed you to get a couple of copies without any obligation.

I understand your frustration. Both mags had articles on the 1911, but NOT my 1911 (Norinco copy cat). I just smiled.

My opinion goes with the rest of us on this site...ALL of those writers are PAID a salary. Their SALARY comes from ADVERTISING dollars and magazine SALES.

IF you are not pushing the 'Blue Plate Special' than no one will buy it and henceforth no SALARY. Maybe the 1911 is the 'Blue Plate Special' of the year. How many folks make em now?

Seems to me though that every time I turn around the NEW and IMPROVED rifle is being pushed...Magnum this (no offense if 500 Magnum means something to you...) Ultra Magnum that....Super Short Magnum those...you get my drift.

All I need to do is look at the price of that ammo, catch my breath, and thank the Good Lord for my 98 year old 30-06 design and my son's .223 and 30-30...very affordable to both buy and reload.

IF the G&A writers failed to promote all the new stuff who would advertise or buy the rag??? Why don't they tell the readers about all of the problems these new overbore magnums have; OR about how they will be lucky to get 1,000 rounds MAX through a typical 300WSM barrel; OR about the cost of ammo...WHY not highlight the darkside to all the NEW stuff...MONEY...that's why.

Never bite the hand that feeds you right?

Remember, ALL of us have the power to change editorial opinion with our WALLETS...Just don't buy the rag after your two free complimentary copies...Sooner or later someone will have to listen...Better yet send em an email...Maybe they'll print it!

JP

One Shot...One Kill

G & A doesn't just cover the 1911 alot, they will run the same type of article on the same gun just worded differently a couple of issues apart. Phil Spangenberger ( Mr. Hollywood ) in his own articles along with all of the other contributors sing the praises of every gun tested. "Ok, it has a 18 pound trigger pull, alot of over travel,
the sights could be better, the grip was too small/large for anyones hands, the receiver is covered with tool marks and it shoots 12" groups @ 25 yards with premium ammo, but we just fell in love with it."
I read this publication for years. Maybe I was getting smarter, the magazine was getting dumber, or a little of both. I simply found myself reading information that I knew was sugar coated.

I am reminded of a sign in front of a local business that read as follows. "Peace if possible, but truth at any cost"

Just my opinion.

G & A doesn't just cover the 1911 alot, they will run the same type of article on the same gun just worded differently a couple of issues apart. Phil Spangenberger ( Mr. Hollywood ) in his own articles along with all of the other contributors sing the praises of every gun tested. "Ok, it has a 18 pound trigger pull, alot of over travel,
the sights could be better, the grip was too small/large for anyones hands, the receiver is covered with tool marks and it shoots 12" groups @ 25 yards with premium ammo, but we just fell in love with it."
I read this publication for years. Maybe I was getting smarter, the magazine was getting dumber, or a little of both. I simply found myself reading information that I knew was sugar coated.

I am reminded of a sign in front of a local business that read as follows. "Peace if possible, but truth at any cost"

Just my opinion.

Amen and Hallelujah...The world has changed and who are we to NOT change with it? Politically Incorrect and Proud of it...

JP

One shot...One Kill
Peace through superior firepower...

Thank you! I thought I was the only one noticing this. Enough with the 45acp and 1911s. Lets hear about other more interesting calibers, say the 454 Casull, Linebaughs, etc... Are there any magizines out there that cater to revolvers only?

I must agree. Vote with your wallet. I got Guns & Ammo constantly for about 20 years. What they taught me would fill volumes. Whatever they had is gone and whatever they are leaves me bored. That's on reason I am so thankful to have a forum like this one. Glad to be here!

Bill

I subscribed to G&A, Shooting Times, Gun World, Guns, American Handgunner, each for one year.
I found that with one years subscription I have read everything they have to say and the second year is just repeating the same article. And that was twenty years ago.
I still buy the occasional gun mag just to see what's new and it seems I read that article 20 years ago.
Jim

Yes it's true the mainstream gun rags are sold out to the advertisers,and it's a shame.Most articles as been pointed out are just rewrites of previous articles.
Since Keith left us there have only been a handful who still had the gumption to go against the grain.
Bob Milek,Bob Hagel and Finn Aagaard are three that come to mind rite off the bat,and they all had enuff field time under their belts to speak the truth,and get away with it.
Does anyone remember this one,It was a gun review that accepted no advertising from anybody,and told it like it was.
I haven't seen it in a spell,but,haven't really looked for it either..
Maybe WE oughta start one...
Jack

Yes it's true the mainstream gun rags are sold out to the advertisers,and it's a shame.Most articles as been pointed out are just rewrites of previous


Does anyone remember this one,It was a gun review that accepted no advertising from anybody,and told it like it was.
I haven't seen it in a spell,but,haven't really looked for it either..
Maybe WE oughta start one...
Jack

Yes,I remember it.It died because there weren't any advertising $$$ to pay the bills.

For about 40 years,I subscribed to about every gun and sporting magazine available.
Now,the only ones I get are Shooting Times ( because Rick Jamison is the best reloading editor in the business),the Rifleman,North American Whitetail ( James Kroll routinely tells me stuff I don't know about deer) and several trapping magazines.
If you look at the great magazines of the 30's,40's,and 50's;like Outdoor Life and Field and Stream,the majority of the feature articles were not authored by staff writers and there was continuous new info and experiences.
Now,most mags have their "tame" writers on salary and the product sucks!
Don't you just jump for joy,when you see more "how to" articles in the index?

I don't subscribe to any magazine except the rifleman and only because it comes with the NRA membership. I find better information online than in any magazine. If you want to know the truth about any new item just read what real honest users have to say.

I'll agree on Rick Jamison - good writer and expert reloader. It's a shame he's with Shooting Times, as I don't buy that magazine or most others, anymore.

The Wolfe publications (Rifle, Handloader, Successful Hunter), the American Rifleman and North American Hunter suffice for me nowadays. The last two come with the life memberships or I would cancel the NAHC.

Yeah I think the variety of writers the rags offered back then helped them a lot...
Now all I get is AR (with my lifer dawg membership) and Handloader by Wolfe.
With Handloader,no matter how much ya think ya know,someone comes along and shows you what you don't know,jus wish Gary Sitton had not retired "again"
Jack

You mean to tell me there are other pistols besides the 1911. I own four of them and I love them all.
The reason they write so much about them is because they are awesome. They have a huge following.
I also own a Baby Eagle 9mm that has been Metaloyed. Three of my 1911's have been heavily customized and Metaloyed.
I love the 1911. I never get tired of reading about them.
I don't subscribe to any magazines, currently. I think Shooting Times is one of the best mags.

I subscribed to G & A from age nine to my early 20's, and learned a lot, especially the history of many firearms and cartridges. But even as a teen I realized that nearly all gun magazines are shills for the gun/ammo companies, and never met a piece of junk they couldn't endorse. Nowadays, I read American Handgunner (love the staff, from Clint Smith to Roy Huntington) and Handloader from time to time. I collect Gun Digests, going back forty years, and I spend a lot of time on these forums, where I learn as much as I did when I was young and stupid. Maybe that means I'm old and stupid, but the greatest thing about the internet is the free exchange of information. My BS detector still works pretty well, so the misinformation often posted doesn't sink in very often. And aside from the articles in Am. Handgunner, the photos are museum quality, I plan on papering my next gun room with them!
PJ

manyplews you aoght to try those by Wolf Publishing (Rifle, Reloader and Successful Hunter) I agree with kdub at present time they are the only ones with any integrety at all and that is because they are not afraid to tell the truth about the super long shots and over magnified scopes and they actually use iron sights with 100 year old guns to create articles about. Give them a try. They are they only ones who havent sccumbed to the auto pistolitis.

Keep your powder dry.

I stopped buying that magazine because it was boring.

This is exactly why I have cancelled my subscription of 20 + years.

I gave them "another chance" to keep my interest for the past three years but they have failed to do so.

This also applies to Shooting Times for me as well.