If the truth must be known:
American Rifleman, because I'm a Benefactor Member
American Hunter, because my wife is a Benefactor Member
Guns
Guns and Ammo
Shooting Times
Firearms News (formerly Shotgun News)
The Firing Line (Calif. Rifle and Pistol Assn., Life Member)
Assorted outdoors catalogs such as Midway USA, Sportsmans Guide, etc.
Yes, I agree, after many years of learning and repetition, passing of good writers, changes in what is covered, much of what these publications have to offer isn't worth reading-- and I don't. I mostly skim read them, ignoring repetitive articles, especially those about plastic guns. I continue with them because I'm largely snowed in during the winter months and they provide reading material. Once in a while I'll uncover a jewel, but it's less and less frequently. Right now I'm about 18 months behind in reading them.
I joined the NRA around 1964 or 65 (long time ago-- exact date and memory fades) and then as my interests in the wonderful world of firearms and reloading expanded, so did my subscription list. Like many others, I saved all back issues. Some of them offered custom binders for their magazines, but I purchased 3-ring binders and a big hole punch that would easily punch 3-ring holes in a thick magazine. I had boxes and boxes of binders, and storage became a problem, not to mention the chore of moving which I did several times. Heavy! Finally, in 2016 I was faced with what I hope was my last move and I offered them here on the Forum for shipping only. No takers, and my son-in-law convinced me that the only practical answer was to place them in the large dumpster I had sitting in my driveway for other excess and unwanted items that wouldn't be making the trip. I was really regretful about doing it and lay awake that night considering if maybe I should remove them again. As fate would have it, it rained heavily, and the next morning they were a soggy mess. Now, upon the rare occasion when I find something worth saving, I cut the pages out of the magazine and put them in one of three binders designated "Firearms, Reloading, Gunsmithing" which, after 8 years of the new system, are only at medium thickness. The rest of the magazine, usually all of it, goes into the trash can.
There... the tale of my magazine odessey.
DG
Originally, I had thought that keeping all of those back issues would prove a great reference source, especially as most of the magazines publish an index of their articles at the end of the year. But I was forced to be honest with myself and admit that there had only been a very few times over the years that I had looked something up, and that 99% of them were just wasted paper. I've noticed a few times, not many, here on the Forum that a member will request an article from the past, and that sometimes other members who have saved their magazines will oblige. That is a good thing, but having done it a couple of times before I disposed of my collection convinced me that it is a big chore to ask someone to perform, and that one might do better by seeing if the publishers of the magazine in which the article appeared could supply it.
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