Reading threads on Rick Jameison started a memory function of past writters in the gun world.I asked myself-

Who did I enjoy the most?

Who was the most informative?

Who made realy significant contributions?

Try answering these or whatever other gun writter catagory you want to contribute. It isn't intended to be restricted to magazines only; other publications count. roger

Old age is a high price to pay for maturity!!! Some never pay and some pay and never reap the reward. Wisdom comes with age! Sometimes age comes alone..

My favorites are Jim Carmichel and the late Finn Aagard and I like John Taffin for handguns. All are very knowledgeable and are really good writers. A lot of the newer guys, esp in American Rifleman, don't do much for me. Some of them seem like they just started shooting about the time they got the job writing for the gun rag. I used to like to read Charlie Askins even though I thought he was full of it a lot of the time.

Who do I enjoy the most- Jim Shockey- very entertaining and down to earth

the least
-Boddington-a little too holier than thou
-Barsness-same thing


The most informative-Jim Carmichael- one of the few writers with actual knowledge on the topic

the least
Jamieson-badly skewed attempts at pretending to understand ballistics

Contributions Layne Simpson-for his work on the stw,sta

the least-Boddington-jumps on every new product bandwagon.

-Jamieson-for his misinterpretive and badly skewed attempts at ballistics knowledge.

Bob Milek
Skeeter Skelton
Jim Carmichael

in decending order.......the rest are just fluff.

I too found Bob Milek to be both informative and sensible.

analog_peninsula

Present tense, I've learned more from Ross Seyfried than all the rest put together. Barsness in second place. The occasional Denton Bramwell article. That's about it.

Past tense, Skeeter Skelton, Finn Aagard.

Books, Dr. Mann and Harold Vaughn. Actually, I detest Vaughn's personality and style and disagree with many of his conclusions yet still give him high marks -- 'cuz he made me think. We need more Manns and Vaughns.

Boy, this really dates one.

Jack O'Connor was a must read when I was a kid.

I really enjoyed George Nonte. He really knew his stuff when it came to reloading. When he wrote for Handloader, it was the magazine on reloading. I was just starting, and learned much from his articles and his book. Ken Waters is another writer whose work I also enjoyed and found informative.

Bill Jordan was fun to read, and his lessons on where your head needs to be in a gun fight were to the point.

Finn Aagard was a jewel, and quite a man. His book is dog-eared and bookmarked from my repeated references to it.

The current crop of gun writers are not too good. I have seen somethings in Handloader and the other pubs that just make you wonder: seven shot Garands, bragging on a custom 30-338 that shot 1.5" groups @ 100yds, etc.

Maybe Peterson's sale of these magazines will result in different stories being written, rather than the same one being re-published several times in different mags; and some new blood in them.

The topics, opinions and "articles" here are much more informative and helpful, and mostly we aren't trying to sell anything. Kudude

I like reading Bryce Towsley's articles on firearms, as his opinions seem to be formed from actual investigation rather than just repeating some mantra that the manufacturer conjured up. Some of his opinions seem to run against the grain of popular opinion, but he gives reference to why he comes to his end conclusion.

My choices for best :

1) Bob Milek
2) Craig Boddington (some times)
3) Finn Aagard
4) John Barsness

My choice for worst :

1) David Fortier (good for transcribing catalogs...and a warrior wanna-be...laughable at least)

quote:

My choice for worst :

1) David Fortier (good for transcribing catalogs...and a warrior wanna-be...laughable at least)

I couldn't agree more.

I'd say my favorites, not in any order:

Bob Milek
John Wooters
Masaad Ayoob
Bill Jordan
Finn Aagard

roger As a young adult Elmer Keith, with Bob Hutton as a close second for most enjoyable.Ray Atkinson fits in there some place.

Most informative would go to Warren Paige, Bob Milek and Ross Seyfried.

Significant contributers would be again Warren Paige ,Fred Hunttington, Frank Barnes and Vern Speer for his early loading manuals. roger

Elmer Keith, Col. Charles Askins, Finn Aagard,Jeff Cooper, Skeeter Skelton, and Bill Jordan.

Gidday Guys,

I reckon these are all about equal:

Nick Harvey
Finn Aagard
Bob Milek
Peter Hathaway-Capstick
Elmer Keith

Some for the information they impart, Some for the dreams they engendered and all for the entertainment they gave.

Happy Hunting

Hamish

BOb Milek Varmintshooting
Ross Seyfried Doublerifles..english guns
Elmer Keith Cowboys & Indians yeehaa...
Jim Carmichel Technicalstuff
Finn Aagard Mythkiller.just facts...

Craig Boddington

Finn Aagard

Tom Turpin ( very pretty rifles)

Terry Wieland

Ross Seyfried

Jack O`Connor

Elmer Keith

John Taffin

Peter H Capstick



These are on my 1 place ,

Ken Waters and his pet loads have been a favorite for years. Bob Milek was another, and who could forget P.B. Sharpe. Of the modern ilk, Carmichael is about the only one I can read to the last page.

skeeter skelton, dean grennell, elmer keith, ken waters, bob milek, ross seyfried, finn aagard; for ability to write and information and entertainment.

#1 is; Townsend Whelen!
Very good are; Jack O'Connor, Julian Hatcher, Elmer Keith, Jim Carmichael, Ross Seyfried, Finn Aagard, Franklin Mann.
I have learned more from reading Townsend Whelen's books than the rest combined.
Doug

Tough call...
Greener
Hatcher
Whelen
Taylor
O'Connor
Keith
Nonte
Cooper
Ayoob
Aagard
Taffin
Fadala
Simpson
Seyfried
Boddington
Barsness
Robertson
Woods
...how's a fella to choose?

Easy:
Warren Page
Finn Aagard
Bob Milek

Hmmm, don't have any living favorites, all seem to be peddling the latest and greatest. Does make for interesting reading though!

Pat McManus

Jack O'Connor - I wanted a .270 and to go sheep hunting before I had a drivers lics.

Skeeter Skelton - I felt the need to owne a .44 Spl. and live on the border. If you have not read the Me & Joe stories you are missing some thing in your life.

Bob Milek - I felt I could trust the man.

Pat McManus - I am certain I did most of what he wrote about as a kid (or adult for that matter) POOF - NO EYE BROWS

Most informative: P.O. Ackley- Handbook for Shooters and Reloaders Vols I and II.

Enjoyed- Col Charles Askins- What a S.O.B. he is!!

Guess these two kind of date me huh?

Ron

What, no John Amber? The custom gun makers and knife makers owe him a heap. How about Major Charles Askins? Althoughlong dated Burrar's shotgun books were a good read.

Whoops, damned arthritis, make that Burrard.

Not in any particular order.
Mike Venturino
Ken Waters
P.O Ackley
Bob Milek

I like accurate, somewhat technical evaluations, and John Barsness is the only gunwriter I trust to have tested and thought through any issues about firearms in which I have any interest.

There have been writers whose writing I have enjoyed who invented facts or hunts (Jeff Cooper, Russell Anabel, etc), or who were very knowledgeable, but whose writing style I could not read (Elmer Keith, for instance), or were good writers about topics in which I have no interest (Ross Seyfried, for instance).

Jaywalker

quote:

Originally posted by rwsem:
Most informative: P.O. Ackley- Handbook for Shooters and Reloaders Vols I and II.


Ron

Hands down the most informative reading I've ever done on the subjects presented.

quote:

Originally posted by Scout Master 54:

Pat McManus - I am certain I did most of what he wrote about as a kid (or adult for that matter) POOF - NO EYE BROWS

LMFAO @ GSP7 and Scout Master 54.
Only laughing because it goes at least double for my childhood.