The Guns & Ammo Network

Black Guns Bad?

by Robert W. Hunnicutt • September 15, 2011 • 20 comments

I got an e-mail message from an unsatisfied SGN reader today. He will remain unidentified for his own privacy. He said the following:

“I don’t understand why you don’t change the name of your magazine to Black Gun News. I noticed there are no usual guns in the first 99 pages and the rest of the mag is 99% Black Guns. I know you make money selling ads but I think you make some by selling magazines. To me and my friends this has come to be a worthless fish wrapper. You have no real guns. Only Black Guns. I know me and my friends not subscribing any more won’t hurt you any. Its like putting my hand in a bucket of water and pulling it out to see how big a hole I leave. But, I wonder if there isn’t several thousand that feel the same way and just don’t say it. I think you should have at least a few things not in the Black Gun Category. The younger generation is interested in being blasting blow it up heroes and see themselves as saving the nation with their rat-a-tat Black Guns blut, for the average person they are not practical for hunting or regular shooting. Just for puting in the closet for an imagination of being a hero. I am pro gun all the way but just can’t renew my sub to a total Black Gun Mag.

I remember when this was a pretty good mag.

Thanks for reading my opinion.”

I responded to him as follows:

“I think you will agree we are not in charge of what advertisers choose to advertise. Black guns, like ‘em or not, are what is selling these days, and even makers like Ruger are busy cranking them out.

That said, Sarco runs 300+ pages a year in SGN, and very little of that is black guns. Advertisers like Hunter’s Lodge, IMA, Kamabee Keep, Samco and various others primarily deal in wood-and-steel guns.

So far as the editorial aspect is concerned, Paul Scarlata has an article on historical guns every month. The gunsmithing pieces by Steve Matthews and Reid Coffield are almost entirely about guns from the pre-plastic era. Dave Fortier is primarily a black gun man, but even he had a piece on the French Mle. 1892 revolver recently. I think the stories in SGN are very well balanced between historical and modern arms.

If you are looking for pieces on fine English doubles, we’re not going to have them in SGN. If you’re looking for pieces on flintlocks or Old West lever guns, ditto. We don’t try to be all things to all people. I spent 20 years on the American Rifleman, and trying to be all things to all people there was very tiring.”

Robert W. Hunnicutt
General Manager
Shotgun News

What do you think?

1. I love black guns, let’s have more of them!
2. The mix in SGN is just right for me.
3. Bring back the lever guns!

In Culture & Politics, Long Guns, Uncategorized • Tagged
  • Greg

    This sounds to me like someone who hasn't tried using an AR to hunt with. Certainly sounds like a "The 1911 is the only pistol design out there that matter, if it ain't broke don't fix it" kind of guy. I have lever guns, side by sides, NFA stuff, AR's, SIG's, Glock's, you name it they all have a place and they all have purpose. The AR design has proven itself in many fields of use. I think you guys have a good spread but people have got to realize that technology changes quickly, and with guns it's usually a good thing (Think Chiappa Rhino…a .357 with almost no muzzle flip). just sounds to me like someone is frustrated with "all them damn kids and their rock and roll, black rifles and "double action" pistols".

  • Jeremy

    Sounds like the lonely voice in the wilderness screaming, "cater to meeeeee~!" I have a lot of different interests, from antiques to the latest Evil Black (or OD, or blue, or pink) Plastic rifle. SGN keeps a pretty fair balance going.

  • SvenFrost

    Zumbo, is that you?

    Apparently, this guy takes his definition of "usual guns" directly from the Brady campaign. Thankfully, the pendulum has swung, and "usual guns" and "real guns" include modern firearms as well. This change is what will allow us to overcome the decades of over-regulation of firearms that came about because of the need of people like this to conform.

    I give him two points on a ten point scale for: (1) mis-defining terms, including "usual guns" and "real guns"; (2) attempting to control the dialogue; (3) divide gun owners; (4) attempt to manipulate; (5) use of the word "feel" in an attempt to persuade; and (6) convince others that he has "friends".

    Since he prefers wood and steel, I guess he's an AK guy.

  • Scooter Johnson

    Im guessing hes an Obama/Kerry/Gore/Clinton voter, and probably sits down to pee.

  • Rodolpho

    Caution More Caution Obama, Gore, Clinton,Kerry, Jimmy Carter and Others Dictators of Democract Party.

    South of American Transformation for Hell culpably for governants and my nation decadent

  • Thomas

    I say keep the black guns in. I think everyone born in the USA should of been issued one at birth anyway. At least the true Americans I know should of been.

  • Rodolpho

    Caution for Comunists and Dictators Marxists of Democratc Party

  • Rusty Shackleford

    Who cares ? Black guns, Commy guns, Ruger guns, hell even Chinese guns are cool ! I mean, I do not like the M4/M16 family of weapons too much, but I can agree that black guns are just as real as an ak or a mosin. They can mame/injure/kill in the right hands, just as well as any weapon out there. Hasn't he read the articles of the Soviet weapons ? Obviously he is very simple minded to judge a book by its cover. :3))

  • big Kahoona

    Im younger guy and i agree with him I use black guns on the job and to be honest how much more can you write about them and all the new and overpriced gadgets. I think the firearms market is not advancing much because of Ar family all the new ones coming out are not really new at all new extractor new gas system new forearm with rails hell I d rather see a article about a vietnam era M16 those were cooler

  • Harrold

    I would like articles on how to keep our ranges open and how to build electric guitars but I think Uncle Ted has that covered.

  • Robert R. Boggess, J

    I have been reading SGN since early 90's back when I was an FFl holder. The times change and so does the Evolution of Firearms. I enjoy the articles and I feel the wide range of advertisers are good. I never got the impression it was a Black Gun Rag. Don't change anything.

  • pieter potgieter

    FUDD or a libtard…maybe a bit of both.

  • will williamson

    I think we oughta pull the stick out of his arse and shove a "black gun" up it instead

  • Ed Dvorak

    I have read and enjoyed SGN for more years than i would like to to admit to. Of late I have also noticed more ads for "black guns". However, I think that is because of the increase in popularity of the type. There are also a lot of ads for "wood and steel guns" Maybe not as many as there used to be. I think that is because there are fewer to be found and fewer people in the business of selling them. That being said SGN's articles are still some of the best gunrelated articles in the business. Especially for collectors and those of us concerned with the politics of gun ownership. My only Complaint is that it seem to be getting a lot thinner…..
    That's my 2 cents worth

  • Rob

    I have seen many articles involving pistols, beautiful engraving, and classic guns. This guy needs to buy a "Black Gun" because when he does it will be the only gun he needs beside his 1911! I am an avid outdoorsman and hunter, I have a Tikka bolt gun, a Remington semi 30-06, but my new gun in the woods is my AR15 .223 shooting 124 gr Hornady GMX. And it will lay a deer down! He does not know what he is missing.

  • Poe Dunk

    I will say I agree with him on one note, it would be cool to every so often have an article about a lever gun. Just to change the pace or throw people a curve once and a while for the fun of it. I myself have most every kind of gun from black powder shotguns and WWII 1903's to tricked out AR's and tacticle shotguns. As a whole I think the mag is a top notch publication and could go on without change but if there were a wild card to be played I think the occasional lever would be nice to see.

  • Steve

    i love black guns as much as the next guy…but something needs to dethrone the AR platform and i dont mean something similar like the SCAR or the ACR…they are very different guns yes but they still look fairly similar and thats my main complaint. there needs to be some new firearm eye candy out there that is completely different from what we currently have available …this is not sgn's fault its just that the AR has been everywhere since the 70's…i'm just ready for something truly new but that still uses common fairly priced ammo so that we can all enjoy it

  • Bret Smith

    I dunno…I've grown up in the modern era. It's not about the rat-a-tat-tat, it's about the fact that the police scanner goes all night long, with one robbery after another, and no one trusts the federal government…and our state politicians aren't any better, because honest men don't want the job. Guess what? Black guns are MODERN guns. I find gun shows where there's one rack after another of nothing but trap guns and Mauser-based bolt guns to be a complete waste of my time and money. I have to not only hunt with it, I have to defend my home with it, and yes…probably someday my community from my own corrupt government. Personally, I love the articles and the columns, and find the number of ads SUFFOCATING. If I could suggest anything, it would be to have some of the folks who comment on this website write some articles…I LOVE reading their perspective, and think they should be brought into the print…after all, SGN is the working man's gun magazine, and I love it.

  • Bud Campbell

    I LOVE black guns, spending 8 yrs. in th Marine Corps has something to do with it, but I think I would love them anyway! I also have a Henry .22 and Rem. mod 1100 and so on. I see plenty of variety on your site and in your mag. The author of the anti black gun e-mail has every right not to subscribe to SGN, that is what freedom is all about, but I think your mag. has a great variety of guns featured!

  • http://www.facebook.com/dennis.callahan.961 Dennis Callahan

    like the mix as it is now