I just finished watching Guns and Ammo TV. As always, their last segment was the unbelievably lame "Torture Test" where they abuse some firearm by: dropping it in the mud and running over it with a jeep, barbequing it, curing it in cement, then chipping it out, etc. I hate that part of the show.
It got me to thinking though. If the firearm they chose, failed to function; would they show the segment? I also got to thinking, have I ever read a really bad review of a firearm in a gun magazine? Oh I've read minor criticisms here and there. This gun would be better if...or I didn't care for...but I don't think I've ever read a review that ended, "save your money, this is a piece of sh%t!"
The most negative reviews always seem to end on a positive note, something like: "While there are better values out there, this is a good, reliable handgun." or "Although I was annoyed when the rear sight fell off, the pistol still function relatively reliably..." Car magazines don't do this. If they don't like a car or truck...they say so!
The December issues of most gun mags include the wish lists of their readers. Things like, "What I'd like to see is a Ruger Flattop chambered in .416 Rigby; it'd be just the ticket for California boar hunting in thick cover." Here's my wish. Give us honest evaluations of the guns you test. I'm tired of reading paid endorsements that pretend to be objective testing and critique.
It got me to thinking though. If the firearm they chose, failed to function; would they show the segment? I also got to thinking, have I ever read a really bad review of a firearm in a gun magazine? Oh I've read minor criticisms here and there. This gun would be better if...or I didn't care for...but I don't think I've ever read a review that ended, "save your money, this is a piece of sh%t!"
The most negative reviews always seem to end on a positive note, something like: "While there are better values out there, this is a good, reliable handgun." or "Although I was annoyed when the rear sight fell off, the pistol still function relatively reliably..." Car magazines don't do this. If they don't like a car or truck...they say so!
The December issues of most gun mags include the wish lists of their readers. Things like, "What I'd like to see is a Ruger Flattop chambered in .416 Rigby; it'd be just the ticket for California boar hunting in thick cover." Here's my wish. Give us honest evaluations of the guns you test. I'm tired of reading paid endorsements that pretend to be objective testing and critique.
