Is it just me, or do you good folks get sticker shock at the prices of firearms hawked in hunting magazines as being a bargain or affordable? Listed below is a letter that I sent to Outdoor Life. I really doubt they will print it. Just the idle thoughts of an idle fellow. All the best...
Gil


I read with interest Mr. John Snow's article "Whitetail Rifle Bargains" in the October 2013 issue of your magazine. His selection of low cost rifles was right on the money and one cannot dispute that they represent quality and real value. One the other hand, the article appears to be too brief and certainly incomplete. In these tight economic times, many hunters and shooters cannot easily afford even bargain priced rifles. Many of us no longer work 40-hour weeks or have been forced into retirement and live on fixed incomes. I believe that Mr. Snow should have written that these same referenced rifles are often available on the used gun racks in many gun shops for a fraction of the cost of a new rifle. I have recently brought three of the same mentioned rifles in excellent used condition for about half of the M.S.R.P. of a new rifle. Alas, Mr. Snow's article reminds me of a description I once heard regarding the Platte River as it crosses the American plains; it is a mile wide and an inch deep. I really do not expect you to print my letter even though I have been reading you magazine for decades. Thank you.

Gil Martin
Schnecksville, PA

Yea it would be nice to read an article that wasn't a promotion for profit. Especially when you expect to find out about affordable and bargain.


Suz

Nope these magazines are set-up to sell newly manufactured equipement and they support existing writers who have contracts to test this equipment. They won't print articles from someone not on the list. That is why I joined HuntingNut.

In the good old days, Outdoor Life and Field and Stream were worth reading. They now have some useful information but are mostly advertising and I no longer subscribe to either of them. Sports Afield is still a decent magazine but I preferred the older version.

The day of the magazine is pretty much done. Even those that have jumped online are living on borrowed time. The internet has a different economic model. I can find several well written segments on almost any topic in less time than it took me to write this comment.

BTW I have noticed that the prices of used firearms around here are getting relatively closer to new prices. I sold a like new Marlin for pretty much what I paid for it and the scope. I threw in a sling and half box of ammo so I probably took a $60 loss overall. I listed it online on Sunday and the guy picked it up on Thursday.

Let all my mags expire without renewal years ago !!!

I receive only one magazine these days and that comes as part of my SSAA Membership, otherwise I don't buy magazines these days. Another factor is the lack of professionalism amongst many of the writers...they write what they are paid to write or say. I simply do not trust journalists...they never let the truth get in the way of a good story or money.

+10, reviews on magazines sux..
when writers can be sued for defamation by the manufacturer, they capitulated and smile all the way to the bank.

we have a few good hunting mags over here...but the rot does set in at times. take all testfires/reviews with a grain of salt.

Case in point: Last month's issue of Rifle magazine featured two articles on Weatherbys (you know, those bargain rifles with ammo costing from $30 to $80 per 20 rounds) at $2,400 to $2,700, and a real bargain...a custom Hill Country rifle costing a mere $4,395. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy reading about rifles I know I have little chance of owning, but how about more articles on real-world rifles?

And how about optics? Why is it that the only scopes worth mentioning are upwards of $1,000? Really? There aren't good, serviceable scopes that don't cost more than that rifle you bought on a good deal?

As to buying good used rifles; two of my best rifles were used. One is a Ruger #1B in .22/250 that I had an FFL friend buy for me on an online auction site for $250. A lot of cleaning and some TLC on the stock and metalwork and its most recent group was .375" for five (5) shots.

The second is one of my .17 Remingtons that I bought for $500 complete with Timney trigger, an HS Precision stock and Leupold base. The really good buys are out there and paying retail isn't always the only option.

I only get one gun rag and that's only because I am a NRA member. I don't read very much in it either.

I still get a few. "Rifle", "Handloader" and "Successful Hunter" are pretty good, especially "Handloader". I agree that the magazines have a lot of articles about things most of us couldn't afford. I might spring for a $1200 rifle (if it was really cool) but no way am I buying a $3000 1911! I mean, is it REALLY five times better than my Ruger?

And I'll stick with my Browning A-bolt .30-06 I bought for $365. It was a demonstrater and had a few scratches on the stock. Whoop-tee-doo.

Some rifles are just too pretty and too pricey for me to take in the woods. As far as I'm concerned, those rifles are best left in between the pages of gun rags where they can stay pretty in perpetuity.

I have no appetite for wall hangers and safe queens. If it is too expensive or too pretty to shot it belongs to someone else.
(or left in the pages of the magazines to look at)