A number of my favourites have already been listed by other members - I'll try and list some who haven't:

Wilfrid Ward
Rob Adam
Ian Hogg
Holt Bodinson (a particular favourite since I wrote to him some time ago and he sent a very informative reply)
John Amber
Ken Warner

And yes, the senior members on AR - I guess I'm not the only member who has learned more here than by reading dozens of books and magazines!

Old timers who are no longer with us:

Jack O'Connor
John Jobson
Warren Page
Les Bowman
Elgin Gates
Townsend Whelen
Harold L. Petersen
John Amber

Current writers:

Jim Carmichel
Ross Seyfried
Craig Boddington
John Barsness
Dave Petzel
Robert M. Lee
R.L. Wilson
Brian Pierce

I have to say, if you really knew Jim Carmichel and knew the true depth of his knowlege and experience in all things rifle-related plus hunting; and if you ever had the chance to read and enjoy his hunting stories in-depth, he just might be the most qualified candidate for the "greatest gunwriter of all-time" award.

That's my opinion, anyway........

AD

You know i don't think i've ever heard a bad word about Carmichael, but i've heard many good ones. I remember when he hooked up with Fred Huntington to develop the CHeetah. I remember reading the article in Outdoor Life, I believe it was, a long time ago. Man it sure had an impact on the varmint hunting fraternity back then.

No mentions for John Wooters?

I have to mention...

Jim Carmichel made a number of disparaging remarks about internet forums such as this.

If he was smart, he would use these as a tool, but he seems to view them as a threat...

Even old crusty bastards like Ray Atkinson (no offense, Ray ) have figured out that the internet can be used to benefit hunting and spreading knowledge-

..but Carmichel wrote a scathing article in OL about how all us 'web wackos" screw things up...

Frankly, I'm more than happy to see all the opinions of these 'web wackos' But I'd like to see all the opinions of all the gunwriters I listed as welo...

There are a bunch of 'gunwriters' that i respect, but when I ask a question here, it get's answeredm directly, with a number of opinions..

Sav... G Sitton is retired, he's gone on to other things. This from a gun magazine I read, but can't remember which.

Past favorites...
Bob Milek
Finn Aargaard

Current favorites...
Ross Seyfried
Ken Waters
Brian Pearce
Mike Venturino
Ken Howell

Haven't read much, but do respect...
Elmer Keith
Jack O'Connor
Bill Jordan
Skeeter Skelton

Favorite magazines...
Rifle
Handloader

Read for entertainment...
Guns
Guns & Ammo
Shooting Times
Gun world
Shooting Illustrated
any others I can get my hands on
~~~Suluuq

How 'bout Havilah Babcock? I really don't want to shoot an elephant. Also, remember "Shotgunning with Robert Stack"? Was his column in Guns magazine?

Savage,

Jim Carmichel gets my vote, "Book of the Rifle" is the best book on rifles I've ever read.

I ran a poll on gun writers on MarlinTalk Big Bore Forum and, no suprise, Elmer Keith was most popular. I always considered him a big bore.

As for the ones I like, I would say

Bob Milek
Rick Jameson
Phil Spangelberger (sp)
Gary James
John Wooters
Massad Ayoob
Bill Jordon
Finn Aagaard
Dick Metcalf
Hal Swigget
Bob Robb
Kathy Etling

I used to like John Barsness until he started treating readers like they were dirt with rude comments like, "that's my opinion and if you don't like it, go cry in your beer." I don't read him any more.

Ones I don't care for much:

Craig Boddington
Jon Sundra
Ross Seyfried
Jeff Cooper (hate that one)
Askins
Layne "I won't write about it unless I can take credit for it" Simpson

My favorite is Ross Seyfried, him being a "been there, done that" guy- amusing writing style backed up by a wealth of knowledge and practical experience. Plenty of other god ones but there's only room for one "favorite". Does anyone know of any books that he's authored? I can't get enough of his material.

I have no idea what the guy's like in person, but he has experience to back up what he writes- IPSC World Champion, PH in Zambia?, guide in Oregon, protege to Elmer Keith, etc. He may be opinionated, but I prefer that to the "please everybody" style of most other gunwriters. I like reading Boddington's work and respect him, however, he's very unlikely to take a strong stance on anything.

I have some regard for Jim Carmicheal for a couple of reasons. First, he is an experienced gunsmith. Second, he is a good competitive shooter. I also think he's a decent writer.
I liked Bill Jordan's writing as well as that of Skeeter Skelton. I liked Warren Page, again because he was a good competitive shooter.
I have to kind of admire anyone who writes reasonably well. I figure they're one up on me! Regards, Bill.

I grew up reading Jack O'Connor's stories of hunts in far away places like Arizona and British Columbia. I couldn't wait to get a 270 and hunt where he wrote about. It saddened me greatly when he passed away. I have learned a lot from reading Boddington's articles of World Wide Hunting and Jon Sundra's articles ferom Africa. I aquired an Sports Afield magazine when I was a kid and remember the storie about Cape Buffalo hunting. I will realize that childhood dream in the next year or two. I'm thankful for all trhe writers that took me to the far away places and gave me the desire to work hard to go there when I grew up.

I have a very high regard for Seyfried's comments, and he seems to get better and better as time goes on. Just about everything he recommends makes sense, and his experience shows in everything he writes up. He's hunted a lot; he done a lot of shooting and reloading; plus he's amassed and incredible understanding of fine firearms. He doesn't seem to feel the need to pander to the manufacturers either, which is really refreshing!

AD

I, unfortunately, got away from shooting and reading about it some years ago only to return to "the fold" in the past four years or so. I recall Page, Keith, Askins, etc. somewhat from my early years, but should keep my comments to the more-or-less current batch.

The late Finn Aagard
Ross Seyfried
John Barsness
Craig Boddington

Sundra, Simpson, and Weishun in particular seem like pimps to me. A while back when I was laid up I read everything in the house I could get my hands on and only picked up a Weishun article when I finished reading the cereal boxes.

I like:

Jack Lott
Ross Seyfried
Elmer Kieth
Richard Akehurst
Gregory Boothroyd
John Taylor

It doesn't matter if they are alive or dead, nothing new has been said for the last 40 years anyway, just restated.

Jim Carmichael seems like one of the self styled experts who thinks that because you don't agree with his opinion you must be too stupid to understand the question.

Too many of the current crop are product whores and are afraid to have an opinion.

Not to change the subject too much, but does anyone know where I could buy a copy of Jack O'Connors "Sheep and Sheep Hunting"?

Some great ones listed. I really like the old ones though. Have enjoyed much of what Van Zwoll says in his Bugle articles - he makes a lot of sense.