Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Al Miller?

It is not my intent to be rude, but why is this guy testing rifles?

In his own words, he says that he has a "bum hand" and "poor eye sight".

Every one of his gun tests end with the disclaimer that someone with better eye sight and stronger hands could probably shoot tighter groups than him.

Is the reader to assume that all of Rifle Magazine's tests are qualitative and not quantitative? Or maybe more perfectly put, is everything subjective?

To me, this is like Stevie Wonder working for Car and Driver.

I find myself to be of the opinion that an 'expert' (someone who makes their livng testng guns and their ilk) ought to be a better marksman than that of myself.

It could be that his results are consistent with what most purchasers will get; seems more realistic than a machine rest or what 22 year old Hawkeye P Gunwriter would get.

What ever Al Miller test, I'll read!

I queried a number of gunwiters sometime back about their thoughts on owning only one gun. It was for a Gunworld article that still has not been published.

Anyway, with regard to sights, Al's response was



I can relate to that.

I always read Al's stuff ... doesn't matter what the topic is. He's on my good guy list. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Anyone who frequently hunts with a Win88 can't be all bad--2MG

I enjoy Al's work. He is honest and up-front and has done a lot of valuable work with old military stuff that might otherwise get ignored. I think that the notion that perhaps he brings a perspective (through his age and decreased facilities) that parallels that of many of us is a good one. I guess it is always a good idea to read someone's work with his current capabilities in mind. This is one of the reasons that I would like more background on the writers that I read. I think that it would behoove (I know, they don't have hooves, they have tiny little footses) Wolfe to include biographical pieces on their main contributors. What I would really like to see is a yearly bonus issue (would be willing to pay for it) that has bios of the current crop plus ones for the older writers who used to be around but aren't around now. The reason for the older, noncurrent, writers is that I am constantly going back through old issues, so it is as if they are current for me. MD - perhaps you could throw a bug Scovill's way?

Al Miller is as nice a man as walks the earth. He was my editor at Wolfe for many years and Al was the most considerate editor a young writer could have ever wished for. He was my friend then and he remains my friend to this day.

Al mostly writes about things that interest him and sometimes the subjects are just a touch too exotic/arcane for the mainstream readers. Al loves 6.5s, 9.3s, rifles by Mannlicher/Schoenauer or Mauser and anything that even smells slightly military (he is retired military).

Nobody does finer, more in-depth research.

His hand? The legend is that he was shooting desert game (research) with a Spanish or Italian reproduction rifle and it blew up on him. Al walked out of the desert, bleeding at every step. My friend, Chub Eastman related the story to me, adding "Al has major balls....having your hand flayed and walking out must have hurt big time."

Al has the reputation for being a superb rifleman, by the way. But then, given his interests, being retired military and having a writer's shooting opportunities, this is quite easy to believe. I've never shot shoulder-to-shoulder with the man, but I could easily believe that he is an excellent shot. He has never bragged, but then fellas who are great never do.

And, as far as admitting that he isn't Tony Boyer or Walt Berger when it comes to benchrest shooting. Frankly, I'd rather read a writer who is humble than the ramblings of a braggart. Actually, I have also stated in print that I am not the world's finest bechrest shot and absolutely no one has ever criticized me on that comment.

Al will be remembered by his fellow gun writers and being a very nice, quiet, humble fella who actually knows more about firearms than any three of us. And his readers will remember him for those gloriously-researched 9.3, 6.5, Manlicher/Schoenauer and Winchester 88 articles.

Saskabush, in the long-run, if you don't like a writer, it is easy to avoid reading him. I'm that way with Jeff Cooper; his know-it-all style simply pisses me off, so I just flip the pages to another writer.

Steve

dogzapper - well said. I also agree with you on Cooper. I have always been a bit afraid to bring it up. Glad you were braver than I. Reminds me of high school. My friend Paul and I always had a line for each other when someone came up with "something" that "someone" ought to confront our principal about - "You make the motion and I'll second it." Best, John

Friend John,

Gotta be a personality thing. As much as we try to, we can't like everyone. For some reason, probably the bully and know-it-all aspects, I just have a problem with Cooper's stuff.

There are readers who simply adore this style and love each an every word they are blessed with. That's fine and I'm happy that it is available for them.

Hey, we're all human, we are all different and there is something in life for each and every one of us.

Steve

Jeff and I have visited back and forth, in his office and mine, several times. Everybody else I knew, who also knew Jeff, called him "squirrely," but I found him to be solid through-and-through (even when he startled me once by putting a monocle in his eye to read something that I'd handed him!).

With a lot of truly genuine folks, you have to be able and willing to look beyond the manner and see the man. Usually, when you do this, you find a lot more there than you could expect or imagine. This is true, in spades, with Jeff � who has always reminded me, in several ways, of General George S Patton.

Unfortunately, looking past the manner is difficult to impossible when your only encounter with him is by way of some of his published words.

.

Steve and Ken, nicely said on all counts!

Well said Ken, I meet Jeff Cooper and shot on his developing range several times. He was very warm (in his way) and treated this 18 year old as a peer and friend.

When I first meet him I had been working at Drake sandstone quarrys all day. I was soaked in oil head to toe from a jack hammer. I drove up to Jeff's place (Gunsite) got out of my truck and standing before me was the Guns and Ammo man
himself. He acted like he didnt even see how dirty I was or how I smelled. He stuck out his hand for a shake and we talked for the next hour. Jeff then invited me in for supper cooked by his lovely wife.

A real man's man, the genuine article in spades for sure, Up there in my book.


That said, I remember a gentleman who used to invite me over to watch John Wayne movies in his "bunk house"
He also is the genuine article. At the time he was the Editor of
Rifle & Handloader. If I remember correctly his initials are KH. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Ken - appreciate the insight. John

That is so very true...

Would seem the only people that are 100% objective about a subject are those that know NOTHING about it...........


I enjoy Mr. Miller very much.

I like Mr. Miller's writing style. His subject matter does not always strike a fancy with me, but I always enjoy the way his articles are written. Mr. Miller comes across as very down to earth, belying his knowlege and skill base. My only knock against him is the same problem that I have with Mr. Barsness, Mr. Shoemaker, and Mr. Scovill. They keep trying to trick me into thinking that I should be using low-powered scopes or God forbid iron sites on my rifles <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
Mr. Cooper gets under my skin. He comes across as arrogant, egotistical, insecure, and a little weird. I wish that I could resist reading his stuff <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Both men have something to offer. Keep reading and keep an open mind, but more importantly keep shooting and keep hunting <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
[bleep]

I was invited to work at the Refugee Relief International booth at a SOF convention. I met Jeff Cooper's wife and daughter. They both were wonderful and interesting people. I wish I had the chance to spend more time with them.

I learned a great thing from my grandfather... you have to allow your friends one major fault (within reason) and a multitude of minor ones.

Dad used to say that no single characteristic of a person is the totality of that person.

When I have time to play around with a sentence, I practice with it to see how much how much of it I can reduce to words of one syllable. My version of Dad's adage is No one is just one thing. This is the other side of my own Look past the manner and see the man.

These two personal rules have enriched my life and outlook in two important ways � by precluding a passel of bad feelings and by giving me some dang good friends.

.

I've got to admit, I read everything I can, regardless of the writer. As long as it entertains me, I can always get information. Then, it's up to me to decide whether it's useful or not. Al entertains and enlightens me on a broad front. And I wouldn't dis anyone who can shoot running jacks with a handgun.