Question for older guys, American Rifleman magazine

[danny]

Ok, you guys old enough to have been reading American Rifleman circa mid 70s and earlier, do you consider the magazine at all worthwhile? It used to be that I considered it one of the best, and one of, if not the most important reasons to join the NRA (back in the politically more calm days). I guess these days I may read parts of one or two articles per year and am seriously considering asking them to stop sending it (if that option exists) (I am a Life Member). Most months I just look at the cover to see what might be in it, then stow it with the others. Maybe I am wrong, maybe not. Oh, and please do not use this posting to bounce off onto a "whip the NRA" thread. That is a whole different topic and I am not interested in that here.

Danny

 

[joshb]

It’s not what it used to be. It’s more like a gun ad catalog than an in depth source of information.

 

[nmkid]

I don't even go through mine.

 

[B y r o n]

Just depends on the type of articles you are interested in reading. Personally I subscribe to the American Hunter for the time being.

 

[Explorer1]

Yes, you can request a digital version of the publications or no publication at all. I went digital as most of the content is repeated amongst the publications (wife and I each get one).
Not to mention the number of pages is constantly shrinking, reducing the odds there is something of interest in one.

 

[Dkk37058]

Yes I still read mine it’s not what it used to be but it still has some good articles in it . This month it had a article on the WAR rifle. It came close to replacing the BAR after WWII. WAR was the abbreviation for Winchester Automatic Rifle

 

[topclass2017]

the classifieds were a source of dreams unfulfilled as a teen in the late 60's. I still speed read through it, blowing by the politics (not that I don't agree, but I also don't need to read WLP's and his sycophant's latest rants again and again), and reading but a few articles. There was a time long ago that I kept them as a resource but those days, too, are long past. One of these days I may switch to American Hunter if for no other reason than a partial change of scenery.

 

[1K6BRA]

Not what it used to be for sure. 10 out of the 12 months it takes me 10 minutes to go through. Occasionally there is an article that will catch my eye. Don’t know whether it’s the magazine’s fault or mine maybe I’ve grown to particular. I cut my name and mailing address off the front cover and usually post it on the back of a crapper I use on my way to work for some other hapless schmug to hopefully enjoy it. Yup, it’s filed.

 

[Medic505]

I received my January 2024 copy in the mail today. Read the Armed Citizen, thumbed through the rest of it. Saw Wayne "I need a new suit and a mansion in Dallas" Ala Percrookair's picture and tossed it in the trash. I remember a time when I looked forward to reading it.

 

[Tommie]

All gun related periodicals have been dumbed way down. For the most part, they’re just doing product “tests” and good luck finding any real critical analysis.

 

[Old Navy]

Leave it with your local barber when you get a cut.

 

[mike mccormick]

I agree, it is terrible in comparison to what it once was. The writing, the little there is, is of poor quality. It is mostly a compilation of advertisements, interspersed amongst pleas for more money.

 

[nwmnbowhunter]

All magazines have trended this way. I'm not that old, but in the 90s the first few days of the month were like Christmas. I had to choose carefully which magazines i wanted to subscribe to. Oftentimes the cheapest ones won. Mowing money needed to be cherished and not blown!!

YouTube and forums are where the real info is at.

But I'll never forget how excited i was to read each magazine when they came. Nothing now compares.

 

[YEW PLUCKER]

I don't read mine piece by piece, end to and, any more. I scan through and look for an interesting article. If I find one, I might keep it overnight. It is still a well done magazine, but there is so much information available through the internet, that feature articles on new guns can be dated.

What I would advise them to feature more history, of guns, the gun culture, American warfare, and then go full geeky on gun reviews. I would also suggest more articles on loading. Not how to as much as cartridge design, tested powders, tested bullets. (I always looked forward to Rick Jameson's pieces in Shooting Times 'cause he would go full geeky on load data.)

I just can't stand to see LaPiere feature himself and blow his own horn every month. The Board REALLY needs to take over the organization and get REAL leadership.

 

[FredV]

American Rifleman has shrunk down, as most print magazines have. My local newspaper is now about 5 pages. Road & Track is now a bi-monthly with little actual critical reviews as in the "old days". Readership is down to the point that many magazines are gone. I look through the American Rifleman hoping for a good article, but they are far and few between. I'm 73 and I've got to say the same thing the elders said when I was young: "The worlds going to hell in a hand-basket".

 

[cem]

My first subscription dates to the '50s and by the '70s I was a life member. To me today's issues are almost but not entirely worthless. Most of this is the ever declining quality of production and staff. I'd be hard pressed to say which has gone down more. I suppose economy is their first priority. Maybe a stupid silly reach to the ignorant for news stand sales led to the ignorant writing for the ignorant.

On the other hand I've had more than 50 years experience to get into an attitude of there is very little new. I'm a pretty jaded reader. I still look at Handloader and Rifle but not nearly so avidly. About all I look forward to reading these days is something new by John Barsness or maybe Brian Lietz and Mr. Barsness is slowing down dramatically himself.

 

[topclass2017]

the quality and lack of any useful info in print is why this forum grows and grows

 

[vonb]

Good for deer camp where there's no Internet. Also good fodder while on the "thinker".

 

[jpjulian]

I used to save every issue. Kind of like National Geographic. Stopped doing that a few years ago and now the mag goes into the recycle bin most months. For whatever reason, the USPS chooses not to forward Rifleman to me at my winter address otherwise it would get recycled every month. It really isn't worth the paper it is printed on anymore.

 

[BobT]

I used to read it cover to cover then when American Hunter came out I switched to that. I haven't subscribed to either publication for many years. I will occasionally pick up a magazine from a store rack but the only one I subscribe to any more is Full Cry (I have an Original Mountain Cur).