Old American Rifleman magazines: Keep 'em or pitch 'em?

[kaschi]

Do you guys keep your old AR magazines (the reading kind!) or do you throw them away? I'm debating on whether to pitch 'em or not but can't make up my mind. I've decided to keep the earlier ones as well as some Guns & Ammo and Shooting Times (all from 1976 to 1981). The reason I'm keeping those is 'cause it gives me a chance to relive my youth a little, plus I like several of the authors from that era (Jeff Cooper, Charles Askins, Jack O' Conner) to name a few.

In 1981 I moved to Germany for several years and dropped my membership. In 1993 I renewed my membership, became a Life Member and have been receiving AR ever since. That's 18 yrs worth of reading which translates to over 200 mags total.

AR does have some interesting stuff for sure, but it doesn't get me as excited as much as in the earlier years. So, how do you guys feel about old firearms publications?

[okdee]

I keep mine.
Sometimes I think that I might toss afew, then I thumb through em and decide, I best hang on to them.
There will be a time, in the future, when reading back issues, brings back good memories!
OkD

[Griff]

I used to keep my old issues, then about 5 years ago my wife had my son cleanup the garage... I was not consulted. So about 35 years of both American Rifleman & Hunter were tossed.

[3leggedturtle]

I'll take them. or find a gunshop and leave them there .

[Blaine]

I'm about to toss a ton of old mags, and I currently bring in the AR to work, sans address, and put it on the lobby table. It always goes someplace If I want to know something, I'll ask here, or google it...I'm surprised the NRA does not make old copies available online. I'd agree to a paperless AR if they made the old copies available to view online, as well.

[765x53]

Older, full year sets will readily sell on e-bey.

[yooper2]

I keep most of my old shooting magazines and actively collect some (particularly "Handloader"). If there is something I think will be useful for reference or a couple of particularly good stories they stay. In the 70's "Handloader" had a column in the back called "Yours Truly" by Harvey Donaldson in which he talked about the early days wildcatting with smokeless powder and even some of the "semi smokeless" powders like Kings. Some of the best reading a gun guy could ever get their hands on.

Eric

[t.r.]

I cut out articles that I'll be reading again and file 'em. Use a razor box cutter for best cutting.

TR

[jcw]

I used to keep my old issues, then about 5 years ago my wife had my son cleanup the garage... I was not consulted. So about 35 years of both American Rifleman & Hunter were tossed.

Would consider tossing both wife and son......

[awp101]

I used to keep my old issues, then about 5 years ago my wife had my son cleanup the garage... I was not consulted. So about 35 years of both American Rifleman & Hunter were tossed.

Would consider tossing both wife and son......

He's probably got too much invested in them. It'd be cheaper to replace the magazines one at a time though the message boards and auctions...

[Batman1939]

Whenever we get through with old magazines, like National Geographic for example, we always give them to interested friends or take them to the local Senior Center (or other suitable venue). While things do change in the "Gun World"--the basics tend to remain the same. Used magazines, if they're worth buying in the first place, are too good not to recycle them to other readers.

[kimwcook]

Personally, I dump mine. If I kept all the magazines I get I'd be out of house and home in no time. Just don't have the room for them. Now I'll keep something if I think I need it, but the rest of it has to go.

[Sixgun]

It depends on how old you are. I have 'em (and many others) from the sixties on up. As knowledge grows, you will not find a need for them for reference, besides, there's not much reference in any gun mag except Rifle/Handloader so............10-15 years years ago I trashed several hundred pounds worth. Now, I just keep 'em for a few months, then down the road they go. I do keep Handloader/Rifle though as I'm always playing with different rifles.

Funny thing, I was in the attic a few months ago and low and behold, there's this box of Playboy magazines from 1957-1961----just about complete----I remember putting them there in the mid-70's Somethin' how some things don't get thrown out. I think I'll turn these into a case of primers.----------Sixgun

[Dave]

When I get a pile of them I cut my name off them and take them to work and sprinkle them around. If I have an appointment at a doctors office or something I will leave one or two there hoping some little boy will find it and take it home.

[Hobie]

I cut out articles that I'll be reading again and file 'em. Use a razor box cutter for best cutting.

TR

Dittos. Griff is a nice guy. My first wife did something like that. Note that I said "my first wife"...

[Mike D.]

Read 'em, toss 'em. Saving old magazines isn't my strong suit.

[Blaine]

I figger if someone asks for the AR, I'll tell them to join the NRA.....I'd be silly to enable them not to join....need all the members we can get.

[spaceman spiff]

Funny thing, I was in the attic a few months ago and low and behold, there's this box of Playboy magazines from 1957-1961----just about complete----I remember putting them there in the mid-70's Somethin' how some things don't get thrown out. I think I'll turn these into a case of primers.----------Sixgun

spaceman

[AJMD429]

When I get a pile of them I cut my name off them and take them to work and sprinkle them around. If I have an appointment at a doctors office or something I will leave one or two there hoping some little boy will find it and take it home.

Best way to do it, in my opinion...!

I figger if someone asks for the AR, I'll tell them to join the NRA.....I'd be silly to enable them not to join....need all the members we can get.

Good point, but hopefully, the previously 'unexposed' WILL become members once they've thumbed through a few back-issues...

[kaschi]

Interesting posts and somehow I was suspecting there would be pros and cons to this issue. Actually, I have to admit that when I was receiving Rifle Magazine for a while (or buying shooting related mags at the local news stand if the contents promised articles about certain guns, etc) I would cut out the articles knowing they would be read over and over. These I've decided to keep and most, btw, are about lever guns and their cartridges!

So, I'll think this all over and maybe will do the same with the AR mags: cut out the "good" stuff!

Thanks for your input.

[awp101]

I'd be interested in articles on US service rifles and trainers (Krag, 1903, 1917, Garand, Springfield .22s). Maybe I can send you some back issues of Rod & Custom or Muscle Car Review in trade...

[Pitchy]

I have three boxes of them in the huntin cabin along with a bunch of Easyryder mags from the 70`s. If i get something new i like to dig them out and look for right ups about them.

[Charles]

I cut or tear out the articles that have lasting value and pitch what is left. After 50 year with numerous magazines I have quite an archive of files. Fills two file drawers.

[Streetstar]

I was in the same boat last month -- http://www.levergunscommunity.com/viewt ... 82&start=0

I pitched most of mine -- they went into a paper recycling box next to an elementary school . Literally enough pounds of magazines to sag the springs on my 1/2 ton truck.

It was a good experience for me and began a couple of weekends of other clean up projects around my house that i needed to attend to. Anytime a small stack builds up now - i plan to toss them too -- life is too short and i have better things to do than be a caretaker of old magazines

[JB]

I toss them unless there's some reference article I just really want to keep. I have far too many books and magazines stacked up already.

[Borregos]

In the end I toss them all into the recycling bin

[Griff]

... Griff is a nice guy. My first wife did something like that. Note that I said "my first wife"...

TOO nice. She came closest when I came home & found my '55 Chevy on some guy's flatbed, with her in the yard wavin' a check like she'd just won the Publisher's Clearing House sweepstakes! We still have it, & an understanding about whe it'll be sold. The boy... well, the SECOND time he wrecked the wife's Camaro, it was a good thing he was in jail.

[Ysabel Kid]

I keep them. I remember finding a box of my Father's AR magazines. This was in the early 80's, and the issues were from the 60's. Awesome reads. Hopefully Y2K will enjoy these someday. Though I imagine, most of his reading 10 years from now will be on electronic means.

If the NRA could digitize all the past issues, and make them searchable, I think they could sell this for big bucks. Same with all the other shooting magazines.

[Cimarron]

If the NRA could digitize all the past issues, and make them searchable, I think they could sell this for big bucks. Same with all the other shooting magazines.

+1,

I have cut way back on the number of magazines that I subscribe to because of the cost and the fact that I can't throw them away. It's always interesting to go back and read old articles.