''Guns & Ammo'' is a magazine dedicated to firearms, hunting, competitive shooting, reloading, and other shooting-related activities in the United States.

Content and Circulation

The magazine offers reviews on firearms, ammunition, optics and shooting gear. Also included are historical articles, gun collecting, self-defense features and celebrity interviews. In addition to monthly department columns on specific topics, each issue contains several featured articles and profiles of the firearms industry, as well as technical evaluations and new products. Guns & Ammo also publishes news and information relating to gun politics. As one journalist has stated: "Politics is implicit in cover-story headlines (“Ready to fight”) and explicit in the “politics” section of the Guns & Ammo website." Its annual assessment of "The Best States for Gun Owners" analyzes each U.S. state's laws, court decisions and positions on "

stand your ground A stand-your-ground law, sometimes called a "line in the sand" or "no duty to retreat" law, provides that people may use deadly force when they reasonably believe it to be necessary to defend against certain violent crimes (right of self-defense ...

" and "

castle doctrine A castle doctrine, also known as a castle law or a defense of habitation law, is a legal doctrine that designates a person's abode or any legally occupied place (for example, an automobile or a home) as a place in which that person has protection ...

" issues. Guns & Ammo is published on a monthly basis. Its annual circulation is 5.3 million copies. 97% of readers are male; readers' average income is estimated at $102,000.

History

''Guns & Ammo'' was founded by Robert E. Petersen in 1958 and has featured famed gunwriters such as P.O. Ackley,

Craig Boddington Craig Boddington is a professional hunter, TV show host, author and Marine. Biography Craig Boddington was born in Kansas, U.S.A., in 1952. As a teenager, when not involved with hunting and shooting, he spent a lot of time pursuing Boy Scout ac ...

Jeff Cooper John Dean "Jeff" Cooper (May 10, 1920 – September 25, 2006) was a United States Marine Corps officer and firearms instructor. He is the creator of the " modern technique" of handgun shooting, and an expert on the use and history of small ...

, Garry James, Bill Jordan,

Elmer Keith Elmer Merrifield Keith (March 8, 1899 – February 14, 1984) was an American rancher, firearms enthusiast, and author. Keith was instrumental in the development of the first magnum revolver cartridge, the .357 Magnum (1935), as well as the la ...

, Bob Milek, Patrick Sweeney, Col. Townsend Whelen and John Wooters.

Charlton Heston Charlton Heston (born John Charles Carter; October 4, 1923 – April 5, 2008) was an American actor. He gained stardom for his leading man roles in numerous Cinema of the United States, Hollywood films including biblical epics, science-fiction f ...

, former president of the

National Rifle Association of America The National Rifle Association of America (NRA) is a gun rights advocacy group based in the United States. Founded in 1871 to advance rifle marksmanship, the modern NRA has become a prominent Gun politics in the United States, gun rights ...

authored a gun rights column for the magazine titled "From the Capitol" until 2007.

Staff

Currently, ''Guns & Ammo'' magazine carries columns written by Eric R. Poole (Editorial), Garry James (Gun Room), Richard Nance (Gun Tech), Jeremy Stafford (Handgunning), Tom Beckstrand (Rifles & Glass), retired SGM Kyle E. Lamb (Lock, Stock & Barrel), Dave Emary (Bullet Board) and Keith Wood (Spent Cases). The magazine was involved in controversy over the dismissal of one of its writers, Dick Metcalf, in 2014. According to

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

, an article by Metcalf took a stance on gun laws that prompted two major gun manufacturers to state that they would no longer do business with Guns & Ammo if Metcalf continued to work there. Among other things, Metcalf's article stated: "The fact is, all constitutional rights are regulated, always have been, and need to be." Metcalf was terminated soon after. In 2012 Richard Venola, the magazine's editor from 2007 to 2009, was arrested for shooting and killing a friend who was reportedly visiting his home. The weapon was said to be a "high-caliber rifle." Venola was charged with second degree murder, but two separate trials resulted in deadlocked juries. Venola died in 2021.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Guns and Ammo 1958 establishments in the United States Monthly magazines published in the United States Sports magazines published in the United States Firearms magazines Hunting and fishing magazines Magazines established in 1958 Magazines published in Illinois