Top 25 Gun Magazines In 2025

At present, I subscribe to two firearms magazines: American Rifleman (comes with my NRA membership) and Guns & Ammo.

If I should happen to see a gun magazine I don't subscribe to that has interesting articles shown on its over, I may buy it. But that hasn't happened since I moved to New Mexico. Magazine racks are somewhat scarce around here except at Safeway and Albertson's supermarkets.

FeedSpot has posted a list of the top 25 gun magazines for 2025. 

They begin with:

The best Gun magazines from thousands of magazines on the web ranked by relevancy, authority, social media followers & freshness.

Here are 25 Best Gun Magazines you should follow in 2025.

To see what they are, go here. 

Gun Owners of America Steps Into The Spotlight

The National Rifle Association may be in the midst of the biggest load of problems in its long history, but I wouldn't count the organization out just yet.

If the NRA enacts reforms that a recent article in Guns & Ammo advocates, the organization can fully recover.

In the meantime, another pro-Second Amendment organization is filling the void.

According to the Washington Examiner (some snippets):

A Virginia-based gun rights group that had operated in the shadow of the National Rifle Association is quickly rising in rank, growing to more than 2 million members and committed to taking down lawmakers who show any sign of compromise on gun control. 

The Gun Owners of America, which has been around since 1976, has seen a spike in membership following the NRA’s recent fall from grace. 

The NRA was the most powerful gun rights group in the nation for decades but lost hundreds of thousands of members following allegations of fraud and abuse. To deal with the mass exodus, the organization also cut programs that were popular with its members, such as gun training, which led to more people leaving.

On top of that, the organization and its longtime head, Wayne LaPierre, were found liable by a Manhattan jury in a civil case earlier this year. Jurors agreed LaPierre had “violated his statutory obligation to discharge the duties of his position in good faith” and that his actions cost the organization $5.4 million.  

“The NRA is little more than a shell of itself after hemorrhaging hundreds of millions in legal fees,” Joshua Powell, a former top NRA official who settled with the state before the trial, told the New York Times.

GOA waiting in the wings

The GOA proudly pitches itself as the “no compromise” gun group and spent more than $3 million last year on lobbying efforts. It has capitalized on the NRA’s financial and legal woes and emerged as a power player in politics. 

“Obviously, there is going to be overlap, but what I think is unique about Gun Owners of America is that we are the ‘no compromise’ lobby group in D.C.,” Erich Pratt, senior vice president for GOA, told the Washington Examiner. “We have never supported gun control, not even so-called ‘gun control-lite’ like other groups have. Whether we are fighting in the courts or lobbying in the halls of Congress, we are opposing all limitations on our Second Amendment rights. I think that’s what really makes us unique in this.”

To read the full article, go here. 

Chaos At Facebook and the NRA

This morning, Facebook crashed. Bigtime.

Nine hours after the crash, Facebook said that the problems have been resolved. There's only one word for that: BULLSHIT! 

This afternoon, following our coffee/breakfast gathering down at Denny's, I spent over two hours trying to resolve my login problems. I have been a little more successful with my phone in logging in. But, once I got in, I tried to make a post and immediately got bounced out. So nothing's really been resolved.

Luckily, the latest issue of Guns & Ammo arrived in the mailbox this morning. After giving up (for now) on Facebook, I did some non-stressful reading.

One item caught my attention. It was an article in Keith Wood's "Spent Cases" column. Wood is a longtime member and former employee of the NRA and, as he put it, is "rooting" for the NRA following Wayne LaPierre's departure. But he recognizes that the organization is currently "on life-support". 

He names several things the National Rifle Association needs to do in rebuilding trust. 

Fundamental changes include:

Leadership: Seek out and hire a qualified CEO who has a background in turning companies around.  The NRA needs a CEO with integrity and willing to do whatever is necessary. Handing out pink slips on the "executive floor" would be a good start, Wood states.

Transparency: A "top to bottom audit" by a credible third-party with the results posted online and shining a light on past wrongs. The NRA should create detailed quarterly reports and make them available to the membership. 

Relocation: Move the NRA headquarters and legal charter to a more appropriate location (a gun-friendly state). Unless unencumbered with debt, the sale of the NRA headquarters in Fairfax, Virginia would generate much-needed capital into the organization's budget.

Board Reform: He stated one of the "fundamental flaws of the NRA's structure is its 76-member Board of Directors." The Board's size ensures that the "members' power is too diluted to be effective." Apple, the world's largest corporation, has nine members on its Board and General Motors has 13, he points out. There is no need for a 76-member Board of Directors.

I totally agree. These steps are vital for a stronger-than-ever NRA.

Smith & Wesson Model 1854

The latest issue of Guns & Ammo (March 2024) arrived in today's mail.

While thumbing through it, one item caught my attention. It was an ad for Smith & Wesson's new 1854 lever-action rifle.

Here's the ad:

My curiosity aroused, I went to the Smith & Wesson website for some details. The rifle comes in two versions: Model 1854 and Model 1854 (Limited Edition). The regular edition has a synthetic stock, while the Limited Edition has a wood stock. 

According to Smith & Wesson's website: 

In 1854, Smith & Wesson patented their first lever gun, the Volcanic lever-action. Honoring that historic milestone, the classic American lever gun is reborn as the Smith & Wesson 1854 Series, the first to incorporate the feel of our revered large-frame revolver's smooth, crisp action, and clean craftsmanship. Experience the perfect blend of heritage and innovation - experience Smith & Wesson Smooth™

The rifles are only in 44 Magnum. I wonder how the kick is. 

The MSRP for the rifle are $1,279 for the Model 1854 and $3,499 for the 1854 Limited Edition. 

Of the two, I would go for the Limited Edition. But, the price is a bit more than what I would want to pay. I guess I'll stick with my Winchester 1894.

To read more, go here.

Appendix Carry IWB Holsters

When I saw the above ads in Guns & Ammo and in other gun magazines, my immediate thought that these kinds of holsters can "geld" the wearer in an instant. I, personally, would not use these Inside The Waistband (IWB) holsters if I had a concealed carry permit. This is called "appendix carry".

Naturally, these types of holsters are more appropriate for women, for obvious reasons. (Some could crudely say, "there's nothing to shoot off".)

An article also mention IWB holster dangers in Bravo Concealment:

The biggest risk of appendix carry is the impact that a negligent discharge could have on the gun owner. Negligent discharges can happen in any carry position, but when they occur from appendix carry, they could impact a critical area of the body that includes the groin and the femoral artery. A negligent discharge from this position could easily be life threatening. 

A secondary, but related, concern is where the gun points when holstered on in the waistband: Toward the groin area. This positioning would seem to violate one of the central rules of gun handling: Never point a gun at something you do not want to destroy. 

For individuals who want to use appendix carry, the risk of injury during negligent discharge and the direction the gun points are often deterring factors. But, should it be? There are some reasons to think that appendix carry is really not that dangerous, particularly for responsible gun owners who take the time to mitigate the risk. 

All gun handling carries risk. 

 To read more, go here.