Over the years I have read most of the popular gun related magazines. During that time I have had writers that I trust more or perhaps were more interesting to read. I will start off with my favourites.

Jon R. Sundra
John Wooters
Rick Jamison
Bryce Towsley
Bob Robb
Craig Boddington
Layne Simpson
Clair Rees

Do they have to be alive and currently writing, Savage? If not, I would put Skeeter Skelton, Elmer Keith, Bob Miluk, and maybe Jack O'Conner on my list. Of the guys who are still with us, Jon Sundra, Layne Simpson, Craig Boddington, and probably Rick Jamison. - Dan

Savage:

I noticed you used the word, "trusted." Do you think outdoor writers today can be "trusted?"

kk

Dan, by all means. I would like to hear about any writers from any period.

kk, every writer in every magazine whether it's guns, cars or what have you are more believable than others. But I don't want to get into that on this topic. So, who are your favourites? And if anyone wants to get into why they are your favourites, feel free to do so.

I don't really trust any of them that much. Not in regaurds to rifles anyhow. If they don't say the newest thing from the factory is the greatest thing to ever come along well then the company won't be sending them a early prototype of the new guns coming out for them to write about. Funny now that the RUM and WSM have been out a little while they are no longer the greatest thing to ever come along. Just the same old thing in a new package with a new name.

Although Sundra does leave it for you to read between the lines to pick out what he doesn't like about new products.

I do like Jim Shockeys hunting articles though. Not much of a hunting mag reader though just the odd rifle mag.

Everybody has his or her own favourites. Some readers like the eloquent style, others the honesty and the personal approach, still others the depth of knowledge and erudition...

Here is my list of favourites, in purely alphabetical sequence:

Hans Aicher
G�nter Fr�res
Robert Field + (Pseudonym for Lerchenfeld)
Werner Reb
Wolfgang Seel
Albrecht Wacker
Heinrich Weidinger

And my list of dislikes:

Norbert Klups
Roland Zeitler

Regards,
Carcano

Carcano, that was excellent. I wasn't aware that there were similar magazines overseas. How shortsighted of me. Wow, this opens up a whole new wealth of information.

Early on, Jon Sundra wrote an article calling the 30-06 a has been. I figured he did not know his ass from a hole in the ground, and that opinion sticks to this day.
Trusted gun writers? Damned few.
Elmer Keith? A considered maybe. Jack O'Connor? Another considered maybe.
Ken Waters? Absolutely.
Wayne Van Zwoll? Possibly.
Ron Spomer? Maybe.
Charlie Askins? Not sure.
Townsend Whelen? Yes.
Clair Reese? I've heard some stories about him.
Most are readable, but trustworthy? I don't know. I've met a few and some were outright snobs, and others were perfect gentlemen. I won'y name the snods, but one writer was about the nicest person I've ever met. Hal Swigget. Hope I spelled his name right. Met him at an NRA convention in Phoenix AZ, and we had about an hour long conversation while standing by the Colt display.
He was the epitome of a gentleman.
Paul B.

[ 06-22-2003, 01:13: Message edited by: Paul B ]

Charles Askins didn't pull any punches. I don't know why, but I always liked his use of the word 'moribund.'

I certainly trusted Finn Aagaard.

These are the ones I like (and trust.)

Finn Aagard.
I doubt he would ever tell a lie, or be misleading.

Ross Seyfried.
His knjowledge seems to be encyclopedic...The articles about very old guns he has been writing as of late are interesting enough for me to read, although I have no desire to own any guns of this type.

John Barsnes.
Always interesting, tells it like it is, excellent knowledge of optics, and a experienced hunter.

Ken Waters:
Well, we all know about him!

Ken Howell:
Probably forgotten more than I will ever know about ballistics.

I like alot of the BC writers as well, like Jim Shockey, mostly because it is about where I live. Shockey is funny too...

Jack O'Conner is always a good read. So was Capstick.

I don't like Layne Simpson. He had a recent brown bear in Alaska story that was a bit odd...maybe even illegal??? A bit egotistcal IMHO, but I've never met him

Gates, I don't know about that grizzly hunt but I've been told by a couple of other writers that he does some scary stuff with wildcats. I was left with the impression that he does not work up very safely. The occasion of that conversation was just after he developed the .358 STA.

Gentlemen

My favorites are:
Jack O'Conner
Ross Seyfried
John Barness
Finn Aagard
Ken Howell

I hope Ross is sitting at home writing a book or two..Boddigton could be one heck of a writer, far to manny articles are not soo good, too much brown nose about certain new products, companies or persons...

The pile of shit writers can be very high, and who really cares who they are and were they are from. The publishers can stick the articles in their starfish

I read Hatari times and double gun journal. I much rather get books about hunting, rifles etc. than magazines. There are a lot of good books to be found

/ JOHAN

[ 06-22-2003, 21:36: Message edited by: JOHAN ]

Gents,
Mike Venturino seems to be in the same groove as I am when talking leverguns and such.
Bob Milek was a favorite years back as well as Hal Swigget.
I am not enthralled with most of todays writers either however back in the 9mm VS 45ACp days it was certainly pathetic writing to rehash the same ole' wondernine again and again. Perhaps that has left a lasting distaste for glocks to this day.
I prefer steel and wood in my pistols thanks.
45nut

Finn Aagard and Boddington are my favorites.

I like Jim Carmichel alot, but he just writes one short column a month. I used to pore over his "Book of the Rifle".

I like Wayne Van Zwoll and John Barsness very much. Seyfried certainly knows alot but writes on alot of obscure stuff I'm not always interested in.

Liked Milek, read all my dad's O'Connor and Keith stuff, Warren Page and Larry Koller too.

Never been nuts about Sundra, Simpson or Jameson but they all write some interesting stuff from time to time.

You see a lot of posts on the subject criticizing the writers and the magazines. Our hobby/passion seems to generate very strong opinions, so there is a lot of hair-splitting, and all the debates about this and that are healthy for the sport. Sure, you see the same articles over and over a few years apart, but I keep reading 'em and usually learn something new.

Matt

My favorite one Living, is Ross Seyfried. He writes about the old obscure stuff. I like the obscure stuff. Besides he is first rate at what he writes. On his say so, I bought a 300 WSM. I have not played with a .30 cal in a very long time. Since he is so good at what he dose, I bought one. In less than two years, its become a favorite. Dose everything he said and then some.

My favorites are all dead (Milek, Page, O'Conner). I no longer subscribe to any Gun Rags because the writers write roses when they should be writing bullshit. There are posters on this Forum who I trust more then the stack of them combined.

I can't believe no one has mentioned Jeff Cooper. I do NOT trust or think to much of Mr. Jamison as when I was taking my gunsmithing course I tried several of the loads he was reccommending and found many of them wouldn't even fit into the case. I don't remember the actual incedents but I also noticed a few glaring discrepancys in his tecnical info as well. JMHO,for what little it's worth. derf

I have never liked boddington as he is too much of a mouthpiece for the manufacturers.

As a very young marksmanship instructor for the Air Force in San Antonio, TX, I got to meet Col Charles Askins through a mutual friend. Cantankerous, caustic, and stubborn, but always honest. He taught me more in less time than anyone I've met since. I was honored to know, hunt with, and learn from Charlie Askins.

I'd put in a word for Jeff Cooper too. While he thinks the Styer .376 is the greatest rifle ever, he is honest in his opinions of other products, rifles, etc.

Another one that I remembered was Gary Sitton. I used to enjoy his articles on wildcats and lever actions. I haven't seen anything from him lately, anyone know if he's still alive?

JLHeard, I like Jeff Cooper too. I met him at a SHOT show a few years back. He is a gentleman and very well spoken. I always found his written word a little flowery for my taste. Not a criticism but very much the way writers wrote many, many years ago.

Savage,

Good post.
Ken Waters, Wayne Van Zwoll, John Barsness, Gary Sitton,( glad he was brought up) God Bless Finn Aagard. Use to not like Ross Seyfried in his younger days, but he has gained a lot of wisdom in his older years.

John Sundra does a good job, and designed a great stock via Boyds, as I have about 6 of them on my rifles.

None mentioned Parker Ackley!

Mike Venturino!(WVA/Montana boy, a dam good combo)

I like an writer, that gives me his honest opinion, not what will make him popular with a manufacturer. Or is too full of his ego.
Those I call Gun "Righters", they always act like they are the gospel. However that story changes with the next issue, when they have to highlight something else.

Not to knock his accomplishments, but I use to like Craig Boddington, until it became Gen Craig Boddington, USMCR!! He is no longer one of the boys, he is one of the " 10,000 dollar guided hunt people" ( where even Hillary and Diane Feinstein could stalk a trophy animal)

Please guys whatever you do don't stereotype. Kind of reminds me of the ranch/landowner that won't let anyone hunt his place because some other hunter screwed up. You know if the old addage "One bad apple ruins the barrel" were really true, there wouldn't be any good barrels around anywhere. There are some writers that do it because it's their passion also, same as anything else in life. And even the best of them/us screw up sometimes.

Oh yeah-- almost forgot. Bob Bell, Norman Johnson, Boyd Mace (Precision Shooting Mag.)-- wherever he's at these days, Gerry Blair, Shockey for sure, Judd Cooney, Jim Corbett, and probably my favorite writer is Jim Dougherty. One other guy that knows his varmint cal. tech. stuff like few others, but got blackballed all too early in his career is Blaine Eddy (Small Caliber News).

I am surprised that I was the only one to mention Bryce Towsley. I always found his stories interesting to read but got the impression that he was considered a maverick amongst publishers. He seems to be very independant in his opinions and not conforming to the "company". Actually I found that refreshing. Anyone else have stories about Bryce?

i know Gary Sitton got sick and hasn't been heard of fro a long time.

I miss him too.

Speaking of gunwriters, which mags do you guys subscribe to/buy regularly. I read Outdoorlife/Perfect Hunter/Rifle Magazine/Petersen's Hunting/Magnum magazine.
I think Rifle has the best technical info, whilst OL has too many short columns and facts, not very in depth. Overall petersen's and perfect hunter are more of daydreams than actual learning experiences as you read everyone's account of "this is my trophy and this is how I shot it"...despite criticism I still read them the day they hit the coffee table!
Any suggestions for more (I want another african paper....)

I use only 4 these days-- Precision Shooting, The Accurate Rifle, Varmint Hunter, and Small Caiber News.

None of those mentioned really impressed me, as they were the second stringers when I was devouring magazines and books. I refer to them as Yuppy Puppies, they haven't lost that 'Gee Whiz Mommy aren't I great?' manner of writing. The current crop of writers, for me, are interchangable, they are homogenized. The TV news people are all pretty and have as much on screen difference as one penny in a roll of pennies has from another penny. The same applies to the gun writers. I suspect that the editorial/corporate policy has set this up so that if one writer gets too uppity he can be replaced without a wobble to the magazine.
Guns and Ammo's editorial policy was tolerated to read a few of the writers, Keith, Cooper, having senior moment. Otherwise after the first year of reading I noticed that it was a repeat. Golly Gee the 22 mag is great for shooting field mice to next years Field mouse hunting with new Krupp rimfire
Shooting Times was educational and fun with Skeeter Skelton, Bill Jordan, after three or four years I bought the mag just for Skelton and the editors Dumb Crook of the month. Still buy it from time to time, maybe once every couple of months.
Gun World was good really good, sort of a diary of the main writers.
The best of the bunch was Rifle and Handloader . But no more, these two fine mags are no different then the other mags at the news stand.
The American Rifleman very seldom brought me much of anything other then polical news.
I bought bunches of books from different writers, How to repair, customise, restock, etc. firearms.
The best and most prolific writer was Maj. George Nonte. In the short time he lived, he must have been an insomniac, because the volume of books, articles, he could not have wasted much time sleeping. I would bet there's a book or article by Nonte that tells how to make sizing dies out of a stack of washers and what potions in the medicine cabinet make good sizing lube.
The magazines are for promoting the sale of shooting goods, nothing more.
Jim