Gun Test Magazine

[gdr_11]

Anyone subscribe to Gun Test? Got an offer in the mail for a 1 year subscription for $24.

They claim no advertising and factual, no holds barred comparisons of pists and long guns in side-by-side testing.

Don't want to waste my $, but the concept sounds good.

[gunboat]

I had a subscription about 15 years ago -- Not a single ad in it --- Of course, I suppose the write ups could be considered an ad ----when comparing items they usually give a recomended buy - Then (1992) it was about 24 pages, the magazine has punched holes to store in a three ring binder -- I think it is worth while if modern weapons and accessories are your interest. Cost then was rather high $49. Why not ask for a sample copy ? My ha-penny

[ImOverHere]

Yes on Gun Tests

Anyone subscribe to Gun Test? Got an offer in the mail for a 1 year subscription for $24.

They claim no advertising and factual, no holds barred comparisons of pists and long guns in side-by-side testing.

Don't want to waste my $, but the concept sounds good.

Yes, I do. In fact, it's the only gun magazine I subscribe to (unless you count American Rifleman that comes with NRA membership). IMO, most other gun magazines simply recycle articles every few months and, of course, have never reviewed a firearm they didn't like.

Gun Tests, at least, will tell you not only the conditions under which they test their firearms, but will tell you why they did or didn't like one. You may, of course, not agree with their evaluation, or the weight they put upon certain factors, but at least you'll have a more comprehensive understanding of the pros and cons of something you may be thinking about buying.

I have years worth of old ones to help me evaluate used guns I may be interested in buying but am not already familiar with. A subscription will also provide you with access to their website, allowing you to run searches on both firearms and a whole host of accessories and ammunition.

Again, it's not the final say, but just another useful source of info., IMO.

[SanMiguel3]

I had one-year subscriptions on two different occasions. The concept is sound, sort of like Consumer Reports on guns. In reality, though, I found their criteria and reporting amateurish.

On the plus side, they did call garbage, garbage, and described the issues. Which is more than you get from your standard slicked up gun rags. You do have to read carefully at what they are griping about. Could be something you can live with.

Another problem was that the articles were not topical. You didn't get a timely report on newly introduced models at the SHOT show, for example. This may have to do with the fact that the magazine is not "in" with the industry and don't get a chance to get some "samples."

All in all, I thought the magazine was worth the money at the time. Certainly more objective than the other magazines.

[bruss01]

Anyone subscribe to Gun Test? Got an offer in the mail for a 1 year subscription for $24.

They claim no advertising and factual, no holds barred comparisons of pists and long guns in side-by-side testing.

Don't want to waste my $, but the concept sounds good.

I have taken it before, and enjoyed it. The scope is limited, but they offer a perspective that you don't find in the paid-advertising magazines.

If you subscribe, do it under an alias and pay using a postal money order. I've heard they "re-up" you for life if they have your credit card number. Just what I've heard. I used the MO and never had any problems. FYI

The thing I enjoyed most about it was the refreshing frankness regarding problems they had with a gun. If it didn't work, they told you in what way it didn't work and what was done to try to resolve the problem. If it was unresolved, they said so. That is something notably absent from the magazines which accept paid advertising. Like I said, refreshing.

[caldude]

I have a current subscription, and I like the magazine okay, but it's not quite as professional as other publications. They do report their findings truthfully, but they are also reporting on a sample of one. So if they have an issue with a particular gun, that doesn't necessarily mean all guns of that type are just as bad.

As others have said, one of the benefits to subscribing is being able to search their past reviews on their web site. I use it as another data point when researching something I am looking to buy.

[Can'thavenuthingood]

I think its a good deal.
Its there opinion of a gun they tested in there manner.
They bring up points and comparisons, things to look at, what may or may not be a concern to some.

Really its no different than asking for an opinion here on Calguns.

They get a gun and shoot the crap out of it and tell you their opinion. Just another source only they tend to be more objective than their shiny brethren since no advertising.

Like ImOverHere says, its a great index to have on the shelf for shopping.

Get it, I don't think you will be disappointed.

Vick

[NIB]

They can suck a fat one!

About 12 years ago they sent me a "sample" issue after sending in a card out of a gun rag for a sample issue. Didn't really like it so I trashed it. A month later I received another one and then another one followed by a letter saying that I have not paid for my subscription and it would be canceled and sent to collections and ruin my credit history if I didn't pay immediately. I ignored it and hope they pray to whichever gods they believe in that they don't send me to collections. I would have dismissed it all together but it turned out they were doing the same to many others.

[gun toting monkeyboy]

I used to get it. They were pretty honest about how the guns actually did. I just got sick of reviews on high-priced 1911 clones every month. They had a very limited scope of weapons they looked at, and spent way too much time looking at the high-end stuff for my taste. But they were brutally honest if a gun didn't work. And heaven help the company that supplied a gun with "issues". Even if they fixed it, they still usually got a failing grade for letting it out of the factory that way in the first place.

[ojisan]

I like it, I have subscribed since they started.
Not perfect but more realistic / truthful than Guns and Ammo, etc.
I have never had a billing problem.
Great for reference, take down info, items to be fixed / improved.

[maxicon]

I've subscribed several times, and am just letting my most recent subscription lapse.

It's probably the best gun mag out there (not saying much, as most of the rest suck pretty badly).

Their reviews are very subjective, they only have a single sample, and they often change standards a lot between different reviews, even in the same issue, but you can figure out how much you care about what they report on. Some guns they'll give an F for a minor failure, others they'll tinker with and bump it up to a B.

Still, they call it as they see it, and that's rare in the gun mag world. I like them enough to re-subscribe every few years when I get over the burnout from any mag subscription.

[Turbinator]

They can suck a fat one!

About 12 years ago they sent me a "sample" issue after sending in a card out of a gun rag for a sample issue. Didn't really like it so I trashed it. A month later I received another one and then another one followed by a letter saying that I have not paid for my subscription and it would be canceled and sent to collections and ruin my credit history if I didn't pay immediately. I ignored it and hope they pray to whichever gods they believe in that they don't send me to collections. I would have dismissed it all together but it turned out they were doing the same to many others.

Sorry, but if you don't like it, you need to tell them that you're not interested. Otherwise, no response is as good as acceptance.

I subscribed awhile back, the only problem I see with their tests is that they get a sample size of 1 and test that gun. Based on that limited sample size, they draw conclusions and give recommendations. You never know if they just got a lemon, or if the product truly is faulty.

Turby

[anothergunnut]

I have subscribed for many years and plan on keeping it. I am on the automatic charge to my credit card plan. They send an invoice every year so if you want to cancel you can.

It is the only place you can get unbiased results from professional testers who thoroughly test guns. The gun comic books have lots of pretty pictures but they are shills for the manufacturers. You get a lot of insight from people on the internet but you never know if it is true. Nobody on the interneet ever shoots 1 1/2 inch groups on average; it's always a three shot .001 group.

Gun Tests for the truth, G&A for pretty pictures.

[chickenfried]

I had a subscription for a year. Not really that useful. I liked the concept but my interests at the time didn't sync with the firearms reviewed.

Don't the other gun mags also review based on one sample? Plus, it's an off the shelf sample rather than a sample supplied by the manufacturer for review.

I subscribed awhile back, the only problem I see with their tests is that they get a sample size of 1 and test that gun. Based on that limited sample size, they draw conclusions and give recommendations. You never know if they just got a lemon, or if the product truly is faulty.

Turby

[JeffM]

Their reviews are very subjective, they only have a single sample, and they often change standards a lot between different reviews, even in the same issue, but you can figure out how much you care about what they report on. Some guns they'll give an F for a minor failure, others they'll tinker with and bump it up to a B.

They tend to change the standards based on realistic expectations. They might give a "plinker" a B when it has a few stoppages that don't detract from the fun of shooting the gun. But they will certainly give a gun designed or marketed as a defensive arm an F if it has a FTF/FTE.