I was surprised by the large number of letters received regarding the article “How Many Internet Users Actually Own Guns?” and by the consensus regarding the underlying problems described in the article. As a result of all of the antigun rhetoric floating around, the effects of consolidation of many firearm publications, writer sharing, and Wal-Mart operations replacing many smaller and friendlier gun shops, there are just fewer places for people to learn about or discuss firearms. Yes, it was generally agreed there are some good message boards, but it was also established in is difficult to integrate experienced and inexperienced shooters into the same group; experienced shooters had little patience and inexperienced shooters did little to build a foundation of knowledge so they would better participants within group discussion.
I’ve tried and retreated from having message boards in Real Guns. The last couple of times I attempted to exercise that option, I ended up being a referee and the board proved to be not much of a resource. Someone would show up and try to establish themselves as the commander and chief of the group; sparing followers personal insults while berating others. A clique would form, people perceived to be outsiders would be left out of discussions or ignored and irrelevant ads would begin popping up all over the place. On the other hand, the Real Guns’ mission is to expand positive representation of firearms and firearm related activities beyond my experience and expertise….that would be just about any topic. So to that end –
If you are a talented writer with an interest in firearms, frustrated with the politics of firearms magazines and are willing to work for peanuts to help inform a new generation of firearm enthusiast, have we got an opportunity for you! The Site Contacts page covers the details, including process and compensation. Briefly, some welcome topics are:
Rifles, Handguns, Shotguns, and related accessories
Handloading and related tools and equipment
Competitive shooting and related events
Gunsmithing and How-to articles
Hunting
Review of Gun related products & books
It is important that the author is writing with first hand experience and has substantial basis for the article. As an example, it would be great to see an article on brown bear hunting with the .222 Remington, if in fact the author had accomplished such an objective, however, we would probably decline a piece written by members of the surviving author’s estate pieced together with scraps of physical evidence or an eye witness recount. Well, actually that could be pretty interesting, I just wouldn’t want to see a piece written on cartridges for African Big Game written from a dorm room on a boring Saturday between exams.
Manufacturers or services are welcome to submit application pieces on products, as long as they are written as application pieces and not a thinly disguised advertisement. Micro observation of process is welcome, i.e. progressive measurement of wall thickness of cartridge brass when multiply subjected to n levels of pressure. Competition insight; reports, preparation or culture would be great. A lot of people stay away from excellent events because they lack any insight. i.e. Does Cowboy Shooting actually involve shooting cowboys, which might seem a little self limiting to the novice.
Weird gunsmithing projects are also outstanding; converting a cap and ball revolver to cartridge use and THEN converting it back again. “How to replace that butt ugly Winchester Black Shadow stock” would be particularly appreciated. Experimental work, unique work, that has an objective and organized process would be neat. I would prefer to avoid working up a favorite load where load data is presented and process and procedure is not the focal point.. Humor is always good, and I could use a few examples to help temper my own work.
What do you stand to gain? Mostly a few dollars, a chance to influence others and maybe even an opportunity to send newbies off on the right foot. What do you stand to lose? Maybe a little time and effort. I believe we can handle approximately 12 article each year, and we are prepared to wait for good ones. If something is declined, we will attempt to explain why, which at least allows the author to decide if there is something to be learned, or if we are just a bunch of jackasses who can’t recognize art when it jumps out and bops us on the head.
08/15/04
Thanks,
Joe
Email Notification