handgunsmag.com A recent issue of Handguns.
Though print journalism largely remains in the financial doldrums, there’s at least one sector that’s maintaining its buoyancy in these days of political ferment and latent social unrest: gun magazines. AdWeek recently reported that four separate firearms publications saw significant circulation boosts over the first half of 2013. American Rifleman and America’s 1st Freedom, both published by the National Rifle Association, saw circulation increases of 14 percent and 8 percent, respectively, compared with the first half of 2012. Guns & Ammo and Handguns magazines, both issued by the publisher InterMedia Outdoors, saw respective jumps of 16 percent and 7 percent. These numbers are especially impressive when compared with those of other magazine sectors; fashion magazines and celebrity weeklies all reported reduced single-copy sales.
What makes these magazines so popular? The obvious answer is that a lot of people like guns. (End of blog post—thanks for reading!) But is there anything else to it? I went to a bookstore and bought the latest issues of Handguns andGuns & Ammo to see what I could find. I also picked up a copy of Rifle Firepower, a newer magazine that is all about—you guessed it—rifles and the firepower they so ably provide.
My main takeaway is that these are all essentially car magazines. They feature money shots of various guns, plenty of product reviews, and geeky, unbridled enthusiasm for their subject matter. They rarely stray into politics. If you don’t own a gun, there’s no real reason for you to read them.
Could that explain it, the fact that the gun magazines don't go into politics? First of all, I don't believe it. Without even looking at them, I can't believe they don't have articles about the 2nd Amendment and about freedom and about government oppression. But, regardless, I reject that suggestion.
Gun owners, being made up of mainly old, fat, white men, could it be that a significant percentage of them are computer illiterate? Obvioulsy that would exclude the fanatical pro-gun commenters who come around here, who will certainly respond with their usual contentious hurt feelings, but is it possible that at large, many gun owners either don't have computers at all or are so uncomfortable with them that they still reach for paper publications?
What do you think?
1. Paper is not inferior to Internet magazines.
ReplyDelete2. There aren't enough fat old white men to sustain this level of interest in gun magazines. Face it, Americans love guns.
3. The NRA publications do go into politics, but the others are aimed at gearheads.
"Guns & Ammo and Handguns magazines, both issued by the publisher InterMedia Outdoors, saw respective jumps of 16 percent and 7 percent. These numbers are especially impressive when compared with those of other magazine sectors; fashion magazines and celebrity weeklies all reported reduced single-copy sales."
ReplyDeleteMike, your posting here brings up some possibly useful data. It's no secret that gun sales have been increasing in recent years. And many on the pro-gun side have pointed at this to contend that popularity of guns is on the increase. Some on the anti-gun side have suggested that the percentage of households with firearms continues to shrink and that the increase in gun sales is the result of already existing gun owners buying more guns.
So now we're showing an increase in sales in gun magazines. While not definitive, the argument could be made that this increase could support the claim that the number of people owning firearms are increasing. After all, how many people buy multiple copies of the same magazine?
As for whether gun magazines delve into politics, I'd have to say that depends on the vision of the publication. Some deal in hunting, target shooting, defense, etc. Some decide to deal in purely technical issues which would mean they don't spend much time on second amendment issues.
Though an old (so say my kids and soldiers) white guy. I don't know if I qualify as fat, though I meet army standards. I would suggest that the percentage of the computer illiterate is falling rapidly just because of the usefulness of this medium. I believe that trying to classify the typical gun owner as computer illiterate is a mistake.
Just because I consider myself to be computer literate also doesn't mean I don't enjoy relaxing with an old fashioned paper type book or magazine either. Bookstores are a major distraction for me.
Good point about the magazine buyers representing the increase in gun owners. That could be it, if in fact gun owners have increased. And my theory about computer illiteracy was mainly a joke.
DeleteMaybe the magazines in question changed the way they promote their product. Maybe they opened up some hitherto untapped markets.
That sounds more likely to me.
Ah, yes. Your theory that you presented as a possibility and explained for a paragraph was just a joke. Right.
DeleteAs for changed promotion, my father gets 1st Freedom. It hasn't changed. The magazines look pretty similar to the way gun magazines looked in the 80's.
Sorry, Mike, but it's a symptom of increasing numbers of gun owners and increasing interest in guns. Some folks go to the magazine section at the store and grab a couple of magazines to read up on a model of gun they're considering buying so that they can learn the answer to questions like which manufacturer is most respected, what are the quality levels, etc.
There are more gun magazines at my local Safeway than there are magazines for kids (outnumbered at least 3-to-1), and that doesn't even count the hunting mags. It's disgusting. I make myself stomach flipping through them once in a while, and, of course, some are peppered with political commentary and pro-gun slogan nonsense, though that is rarely the main focus of the articles. It seems most of the lead articles focus on the most extreme of the extreme in weaponry, stuff that should only be in the hands of soldiers in special units -- of course, nearly all of it is available to run-of-the-mill citizen lead-heads with no training, for the right price (including the full-auto versions, with permit).
ReplyDeleteBO says,
Delete"It seems most of the lead articles focus on the most extreme of the extreme in weaponry, stuff that should only be in the hands of soldiers in special units -- of course, nearly all of it is available to run-of-the-mill citizen lead-heads with no training, for the right price (including the full-auto versions, with permit)."
Oh the horror BO, it CANT be true, Frankenstein said so Its illegal to own a full auto weapon. Its illegal to own a tank. Its illegal to own any military weapons, even those that just look the part but in no way functions like one.
But BO, your admitting that all you need is a permit to own one?? Hell, sign me up! Wait,,,,,, it just not a permit, is it? Its not that easy to get that permit for NFA items is it BO?
And tell me this BO, just how many spree killers are willing to spend the time (9 months to 3 years+) to get approved for a NFA arm and spend $20,000.00 to $500,00.00 or more for these full auto weapons? Besides the fact that any full auto weapon made after 1986 can never be sold to the public even with a NFA approval for a full auto weapon?
So these mags are full of news and advancements in the military world. Its interesting news, but hardly something anyone could buy with a "permit".
It interesting news of new advancements in civilian weapons markets for what ever need. They also publish other things besides guns, like hunting law changes, gun law changes and lots of specials ads. Industry changes and new accessories for older firearms. On and on the info goes.
But for you BO, you just focus on one thing and lie about it.
Oh NO! How HORRIFYING!
DeletePoor Baldr is scared and offended by my ability to own a poodle shooter.
"It's disgusting. I make myself stomach flipping through them once in a while,"
DeleteI think I've heard this line in a few cheesy movies where the teacher or preacher forces themselves to look at them, just so he can better protect the children you know. Your dedication is, er, commendable.
Not just by your ability to own it, but by magazines. "High capacity" as well as high gloss.
DeleteOregonian, you're offended? Let us all call the whaaaambulance to come to your rescue.
DeleteHere are some facts:
1. Adults are the ones buying th magazines. What a shock that more are aimed at adults than children. Or is it the fact that they are for sale in a SAFEway that bugs you?
2. As Texas explained, a legal full-auto gun is a hard thing to come by. It can be done, but the cost and red tape are prohibitive.
3. What you call weapons that should only be in the hands of the military are standard firearms that many Americans own. We all know the goals of gun control freaks, but we're doing what we want anyway.
4. Gun magazines are pro-gun the way car magazines are pro-car. Shall I list out any other obvious things to shock you about?
One thing nobody is mentioning is the pornographic-like quality of those magazines. Pro-gun guys even refer to cool pictures of guns as "gun porn." It's about the fetish attraction, the sick obsession with an inanimate object of desire as opposed to a flesh and blood one. Same shit.
DeleteThere you go again, Mikeb, psychoanalyzing without a license. Many guns are aesthetically pleasing, but calling them gun porn is a joke. Too bad you didn't get it. Really what we're doing is laughing at you. That's not with you, in case you missed that point.
DeleteAre you saying there isn't any kind of shiny bobble that you like to look at Mike?
Delete"pornographic-like quality of those magazines"
Sex sells Mike, always has, always will. Publishing something that appeals to the public is nothing new. Car mags, gun mags, home mags, wedding mags I mean come on Mike. Surely you can do better than that.
Ah, and we're back to reading WAY too much into the term "gun porn" and accusing people of having sick, sexual attractions to guns.
DeleteI suppose car magazines are a symptom of people wit similar sick obsessions with inanimate objects and that Top Gear is a disgusting, pornographic exploitation of this?
Anyone ever buy a car mag just to look at the girls sitting on the cars, not looking at the car itself? Lols! I don't buy them, but I do glance thru them from time to time when the wife and I are at the grocery store.
DeleteWell least I TRY to glance thru one until the wife catches me and yanks it out of my hand. My ear still hurts from two weeks ago!