Guns & Ammo

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

Guns & Ammo

Editor	Eric R. Poole (2013–present)
Contributors	Mike Anschuetz, Tom Beckstrand, Craig Boddington, Dave Emary, Mark Fingar, Brad Fitzpatrick, Robert W. Hunnicutt, Garry James, Joseph Kurtenbach, Kyle Lamb, Lukas Lamb, Richard Nance, Alfredo Rico, Phil Schreier, Jeremy Stafford, Keith Wood
Former editors	Jim Bequette (2009–2013), Richard Venola, Scott Rupp, Lee Hoots, Garry James, Kevin Steele (1994–1997), E. G. "Red" Bell (1985–1994), Howard French (1974–1985), George Martin (1967–1974), Mike Kessee (1965–1967), Buzz Fawcett (1964–1965), Tom Siatos (1959–1964), Ken Bayless (1958–1959)
Categories	Firearms, Outdoors, Sports
Frequency	Monthly
Circulation	420,000 (print)
Publisher	Chris Agnes
First issue	1958; 67 years ago (1958)
Company	Kroenke Sports & Entertainment
Country	United States
Based in	Peoria, Illinois
Language	English
Website	www.gunsandammo.com
ISSN	0017-5684
OCLC	59807780

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.^[1]

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."^[1] 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" and "castle doctrine" issues.^[2]

Guns & Ammo is published on a monthly basis.^[3] Its annual circulation is 5.3 million copies. 97% of readers are male; readers' average income is estimated at $102,000.^[4]

History

Guns & Ammo was founded by Robert E. Petersen in 1958 and has featured famed gunwriters such as P.O. Ackley, Craig Boddington, Jeff Cooper, Garry James, Bill Jordan, Elmer Keith, Bob Milek, Patrick Sweeney, Col. Townsend Whelen and John Wooters.^[5] Charlton Heston, former president of the National Rifle Association of America authored a gun rights column for the magazine titled "From the Capitol" until 2007.^[3]

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).^[6]

The magazine was involved in controversy over the dismissal of one of its writers, Dick Metcalf, in 2014. According to The New York Times, 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.^[7]

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."^[8][9] Venola was charged with second degree murder, but two separate trials resulted in deadlocked juries. Venola died in 2021.^[10][11]