I just lucked into a couple of old American Rifleman magazines, one from 1957 and one from 1964. I don't want to return to the "good old days", but they did do one thing that I'd like to see more of. Both of those magazines, one at 120 pages and the other at 128 pages, concentrated almost entirely on the application of guns, historical guns, and the understanding of types of guns. Very little was spent on reviewing new guns and gear. In fact, each issue only reviewed one gun, and then had some product announcements.
I would like to see more editorial space dedicated to the application of guns. For example, they had one long article about how target shooting is done in Sweden. It was fascinating to read. It's much more interesting than the current way of doing things, where much space is spent on new guns, new powders, new moulds, new this, new that ad inifinitum.
Am I an anachronistic dinosaur waxing sentimental for a time I never knew or do you share this sentiment?
By the way, one of the two guns reviewed is a dead ringer for the Beretta Neos, which is supposed to be so futuristic in appearance. I think it was the 1964 issue that had that. Haven't read much yet. Some of the details are interesting, though, like the 700,000 memebers in 1957 (vs. 3.5-4 million today) and the statement on the masthead that said that NRA membership is available to reputable citizens who are referred by people who are already members.
One thing hasn't changed, though: gun banners. Back then apparently the IRS was the bureau of concern because of a push toward registration they were making. I think this alcohol and tobacco bureau in IRS may have been a precursor to BATFE. Can you clear that up for me?
