In 2005 a friend introduced me to a displaced cowboy. his name was Dave Campbell and he was the editor of what was at the time, an up and coming NRA publication known as Shooting Illustrated. We visited for a spell and Campbell gave me a few assignments. I guess he liked what I submitted and I think later on it was over a bottle of Wild Turkey – I know it was not while we were turkey hunting – I convinced Campbell to do something never been done in the history of firearms journalism: to create a column in his magazine dedicated to nothing but bullets.
It was a kind of a big deal, and not just for the shooting press. Not only was it something that had never been done, for a hillbilly from West Virginia it was a career changer. For about a year I wrote things about bullets that had never been published before and then Campbell decided he was going to not be displaced anymore. He moved to what he now refers to as CowBleep, Wyoming. Guy Sagi, the new editor, was faced with budget restraints and had to cut the column. Guy however was a true gentleman and like Campbell was true to his word. When finances permitted he called me up and we kicked off the column again. This time it was focused on ammunition of all types. It was another first for a gun magazine.
As the demographic of the gun buying public began to change, Shooting Illustrated evolved from a general interest firearms magazine into a publication dedicated to the modern shooter. The content transitioned from hunting and recreational shooting to personal protection, self-defense, and topics of a more tactical nature. This boosted sales but it also changed the focus of the ammunition column. Under the leadership of a fine editor and friend named Adam Heggenstaller, Shooting Illustrated started to get the attention it deserved. And, after Adam stepped over to American Hunter the reins at Shooting Illustrated were taken up by Ed Friedman who continued to modernize the magazine.
The primary difference between Shooting Illustrated and other NRA publications like American Hunter and American Rifleman is that Illustrated is a news stand magazine. The only way you can get it is to go to the store and buy it. For years I’ve been telling industry professionals and shooters this was the magazine to watch; that it would one day be the standard by which modern gun magazines would be judged.
Well, that has finally happened. Starting in June 2016 you will be able to select Shooting Illustrated as one of your membership magazines. If you’ve been getting American Hunter or American Rifleman through your NRA membership, in June you can switch to Shooting Illustrated or add it for less than $ 10.00 per year . And yes, every issue of Shooting Illustrated still contains the Ammo Column I’ve been pounding out for almost 10 years. It’s something you won’t find in other gun magazines.
At a time when some firearms publications are closing their doors, thanks to a cowboy who relocated to Virginia for a few years and the gentlemen who followed his foot steps, Shooting Illustrated is perfectly positioned to be one of the best monthly periodicals for shooters. And, I’ve been fortunate to be a part of this magazine’s rise to stardom. Mostly by writing about the one thing you must have, understand, and appreciate to make your guns work – ammunition and bullets.
