Reliable Print Magazines for Handgun Reviews?

[Cassidy]

I have been considering buying a handgun and would like to be able to trust handgun reviews published in gun magazines. Is there a particular magazine that I can trust for such reviews to help narrow down my selection?

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Nobody can tell you whats best for you. Since youre in a big city go to one of those indoor ranges that rent pistols for the range. Only your hands can decide (unless you like to collect them like we do then just order away). Theres a range in spring tx up the road that has pretty much every pistol available to rent. Im sure austin has a few as well

 

[nakneker]

Good advice

 

[Forum Boss]

I concur with Dusty. You need to try the guns yourself with your own hands -- both strong side and weak side. I will say this... back when I taught pistol shooting, over 90% of my shooters had better results with a SIG or compact HK than with a Glock 17. The Glock grip design is NOT good for most hands. You won't hear that in most print mags. The SIG P226 pointed very naturally for me and most of my male students. Not so the Glocks.

 

[k80skeet]

I concur with Dusty. You need to try the guns yourself with your own hands -- both strong side and weak side. I will say this... back when I taught pistol shooting, over 90% of my shooters had better results with a SIG or compact HK than with a Glock 17. The Glock grip design is NOT good for most hands. You won't hear that in most print mags. The SIG P226 pointed very naturally for me and most of my male students. Not so the Glocks.

Very well stated. And 100% dead on. I used to think I wanted one but after shooting one I was all done with that thought.

 

[Cassidy]

Thank you for all of your feedback. I am aware that I need to handle and try a pistol before deciding to buy it and have done so at multiple ranges and gun shops. But since there are many, many handguns out there, and I get varying feedback from some of those in the gun stores and ranges, published reliable reviews may be helpful. Is there a particular handgun magazine I can trust to provide relatively unbiased reviews to help me select a handgun I can then try out at a gun shop that has a range. Thank you for your help!

 

[tangocharlie]

The thing to remember about magazines (“gun rags”) is that negative reviews of any product can hurt their advertising income. The answer? No negative reviews. I subscribed to and religiously read American Handgunner for well over 25 years. They reviewed an absolute piece of crap that failed in every in every way imaginable, including breaking. But - because the manufacturer replaced it with another absolute piece of crap, they gave it a glowing review. End of my
association with said publication. Go hands on. Go to indoor ranges. Go to your local range. Prevail on your friends. If you’re buying something for EDC, you’re betting your life on the final decision.

 

[Cassidy]

Thank you, TC, your comments are precisely why I am trying to find a handgun magazined that publishes relatively unbiased reviews, if any exist. All reviews will have some bias because such review tests are not blinded randomized studies and for sure there is conflict of interest due to advertising income. I am trying to find a handgun magazine that publishes reviews in a relatively unbiased manner. A friend told me about Gun Test Magazine but I don't know much about them.