Choice is an essential part of any healthy relationship. As Americans, we are free to select our mates, determine the size of our families, decide where and how to live, settle on our vocations, vote for our governmental representatives and buy the material goods that suit our needs and desires. Within that last category exist more than 7,400 print consumer magazines, and the one you hold in your hands has recently been ranked as high as 19th among them in terms of its circulation. That’s a powerful statement as to the choice that Americans continue to make regarding the importance of firearms, optics, ammunition and related gun accessories in their lives.
Each month, American Rifleman testifies to the breadth of choice that Americans have when it comes to guns for self-defense or sporting pursuits, and this issue is no exception. It begins with the corporate choice that publicly traded Sturm, Ruger & Co.—started in 1949 as a partnership between Alexander Sturm and Bill Ruger to build an inexpensive rimfire pistol—made to acquire the storied Marlin brand, which is now more than a century-and-a-half old. Editor Emeritus John Zent, Senior Executive Editor Kelly Young and Executive Editor Evan Brune explore that significant development through: “Marlin Reborn: Ruger Resurrects A Legend,” “In The Field And On The Range With Mayodan-Marlins,” and “Opening Shot.” Choice in firearms these days includes deciding not just on brand but on country of origin. In his test of the new Canik METE SFx, Field Editor B. Gil Horman examines the ins and outs of the latest model from Turkish manufacturer Samsun as imported by the familiar U.S. firm of Century Arms—which has been offering Americans a wide variety of choice in military surplus arms since its founding in 1961.
For those who appreciate classic guns from the heyday of Connecticut Valley gunmaking, we have a first-hand report by Field Editor Justin Dyal titled “A First-Year Magnum: Shooting The S&W Pre-29.” And, as always, even more choices fill this month’s “Dope Bag”—our longstanding department dedicated to laying out expert “Data & Comment” relevant to all sorts of new rifles, shotguns, handguns, optics and accessories. This month we evaluate an Officer-size M1911 pistol, an Eastern Bloc-pattern sniper rifle and an electronic training aid.
Our entire staff consists of committed firearm enthusiasts and Second Amendment advocates who choose to work hard every month to deliver NRA members the pre-eminent magazine in the marketplace for informative, entertaining coverage of firearms and related gear—a tradition that dates back 137 years. We hope you will continue to choose to be part of this relationship—we want to hear from you through our nrapublications.org and americanrifleman.org websites. We’ll use the most interesting communiques and those with the broadest reader interest in our “Readers Write” and “Favorite Firearms” columns. See them in this issue for guidelines on how to contribute.
Finally, we encourage you to communicate your enthusiasm and support for firearms to your family, friends and coworkers and to the businesses and governmental entities that serve you. Together, we can preserve the great American tradition of choice—expressed most effectively through individual liberty, which is buttressed by firearm ownership.
