Airgun Magazines/media

[PeskyWabbits 464]

My big clear out at home has stalled a bit as I have all these magazines. Spread across 20 years. As I sort them, I have digressed into reading them, you know how it goes....

 

Anyway. There are big inconsistencies with the quality of these things. I have decided that the modern Airgun Shooter is probably the best overall magazine. The quality and accuracies of articles and balance of spring, PCP, hunting etc.

But a magazine is only as good as its writers.

 

I think Ian Barnett is probably a close equivalent to the late, great John Darling. Ian's articles are well written and incorporate nature observations along with field craft and hunting technique. And he explains his reasons that we have covered in our http://www.thehuntinglife.com/forums/topic/355400-what-do-you-get-out-of-hunting-shooting/ in every article.

 

I think, like newspapers, magazine sales are dwindling and i know you can get a lot of stuff online, even the publishers offer and e-copy. I will be sad though if these publications vanish completely. It is always good to have something tangible, some dog eared book or magazine to re-read for the hundredth time.

 

[moxy 617]

I haven't read any in years. Not since they became catalogues. Two thirds advertising and the rest bias reviews and the odd write up.

A mate has just started writing for AGW. I wish him the best and hope that those who buy and read these mags enjoy his stuff.

[mackem 29,573]

Good topic,i used to devour john darlings articles as a kid,and rod lyntons,and wasnt there a short lived airgun magazine edited by Jim Tyler?? he had a lurcher called kai and plummer used to write formit and gave him a lurcher also?

[PeskyWabbits 464]

I think they devalued themselves by saying every gun was good. So you couldn't differentiate between a £100 plinker and a £400 masterpiece.

 

The technical articles in the modern ones have really come on and the pictures are clear, not taken at the bottom of the sea like in the early mags.

[pianoman 3,589]

The mags come in for a lot of stick and it's true what Moxy says about them becoming more and more like catologues. But, to those of us who were around well before the internet and computers came along, these were the only tangible link to what was going on and what rifles were getting the spotlight in reviews and in the articles.

 

I remember Rod Lynton (HW35E shooter) and John Darling's (HW80 shooter) features in Airgun World and Airgunner , both of them Weihrauch spring rifle men. Those two writers got me onto buying my first Weihrauch rifle, one of the first HW80s' and a beautiful Feinwerkbau 124 Sport .22 (Or was that the 127???) Anyway. Those two set me on a lifetime of German springer hunting where shooting outings with my dad left off.

 

And in this digital tablet/E-Book era, it's still a nice pleasure to sit back in a comfy chair with a cuppa and a magazine in your hands you can enjoy at your leisure! Even if you don't agree with what the reviewers are saying in them!

[mackem 29,573]

Pianoman,rod lynton was also into the sharps innova,and he might have done a hunting article on the sharps ace,and i remember John Darling also hunted in the early days with his feinwerkbau.

[mark williams 7,568]

FWB Sport 127 - .22 cal`

 

FWB Sport 124 - .177 cal`

 

I often think about getting another 127. I shot this rifle exclusively from 16 yrs of age to very recently.( nearly 40 yrs).

Only the HW 100`s could take me away.

 

Never had my head out of Air Gun World as a kid and still read it today.

 

 

atb

[tomburras 2,730]

I know exactly what you guys mean - I stopped buying them for the reason they are full of adverts and every gun tested has a positive review and after owning them finding out they where shite lost belief in them.

 

In the olden days it was the only way to stay connected to airgunning having no shooting enthusiast friends as there was no internet.

 

I do hope they continue getting printed in paper format the the Digital era is hitting the print industry hard. In fact iv not seen one in a shop for ages so may get a postal prescription and have another go reading them.

[tomburras 2,730]

The best bit was always John darling and the best gun had to be the HW80. Combined their tales where epic!

[PeskyWabbits 464]

In my local WH Smith, Air Gunner or Airgun World (same publisher/same mag different cover?) are sold as a buy one, get one free deal with the second being the last edition.

Airgun Shooter seems to have the edge, from a balance of subjects, even though many of the writers are familiar.

 

Looking through the old mags, the hunting articles are still relevant.

[tomburras 2,730]

Loved the one where john darling had a car headlight on a strap mounted to his forehead, imagine what he would think to todays technology!

[barrywhite 282]

Loved the one where john darling had a car headlight on a strap mounted to his forehead, imagine what he would think to todays technology!

i read that , i dont know when but i went out shooting with a few pushbike lights on my head in the early 80s for sure . i wonder if i read about the light carry on in the late 70s

[tomburras 2,730]

FWB Sport 127 - .22 cal`

 

FWB Sport 124 - .177 cal`

 

I often think about getting another 127. I shot this rifle exclusively from 16 yrs of age to very recently.( nearly 40 yrs).

Only the HW 100`s could take me away.

 

Never had my head out of Air Gun World as a kid and still read it today.

 

 

atb

Used to have an HW85k then and what a gun!

 

Never hear of them now sadly.

 

EDIT: read it properly and didn't realise how long ago you guys mention but feel cheeky contributing to this - im only 31 so still a mere beginner to you guys! but in my youth (late 90,s) it was ay HW85 for me.

[random 659]

One of the things,of a few really,that puts me off is any time they criticise anything they instantly make the criticism seem not worth mentioning,one particular article I remember was hw97 v tx200,all the points were gone over and described then after a ten minute read end with,whichever you choose you won't be disappointed,could of told you that before I'd even seen the bloody article!!

 

Sometimes still get the odd good article or story and like most of us say its nice to actually have the mag in your hand...

[tomburras 2,730]

After watching the airgun show on YouTube Matt manning is the editor of the mag now a days some great vids on youtube. After reading stuff on here he uses the same camo net and ambush tactics as mark Williams of of here? proper fieldcraft fair play!