Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters John Haviland

Okay, what have you guys done with John Haviland? He’s missing from the last two Wolfe mags?

He retired from Wolfe.

Did he retire completely or can he be found in other magazines?

He's going to continue to write articles for American Rifleman, both the paper version and e-articles.

Thanks, John.

Don’t you go running off anywhere just yet. Some of the new guys are okay, but I can pretty much tell the stuff you and Pearce write by the tone and phrasing, and I’m kinda used to it.

Agree with Pappy348

I always enjoyed JH's writing. Is there somewhere to buy his articles? A book compilation, maybe?

John has never published a book.

I will miss him and his writings from handloader and rifle mags. I wish him well!

Many years ago an older hunting, fishing and (occasional) gun writer named Charles F. Waterman told me that old writers in our business rarely truly retire. Instead they just write less. That was certainly true of Charlie, who some here might remember reading. He passed away at 91, and was still writing at least one regular column.

I 'm about a year and half older than Haviland, and started my own process of downsizing a couple years ago, when I "retired" from GUNS magazine, where I'd been writing a column and feature in every monthly issue for a dozen years. This is one advantage of freelance writing: We often write for several markets, so can start "semi-retiring" by dropping individual markets, rather than retiring entirely from a single
company. My retirement fund is doing well enough that I'm about to drop another regular column as well--though still will be writing for Rifle/Handloader, Sports Afield and www.riflesandrecipes.com. My ultimate goal is to just write for the website, but that won't happen for a while yet.

Glad you're staying with the Wolfe mags, and especially Sports Afield. I look for you, Craig, and SDH before I read everything else.

Thanks!

I tend to read Craig and Steve first as well, partly due to knowing them both very well--and consequently respecting their opinions.

I never cared for John's (H) writing style, just bland. Typically his load data was conservative relative to what other sources offered.

Well I'll miss John H's articles because he seemed just like a regular guy, probably a cut way above a regular guy mentors kids , women , takes the wife hunting. Shares his knowledge with those close to him and readers. He takes you with him to the hunt or the range. Mb

Magnum Bob,

John is exactly as you guess, always taking various people hunting. In fact years ago I sold him a 6,5x55 I built cheaply on a Mauser 95 action, with a used barrel from a local gunsmith and a take-off walnut stock, which I'd refinished and checkered. As I recall the price was around $200, which is what I had into it, because he wanted it for a "kid's rifle." He long ago lost count of the kids who used it to take various animals, including elk.

Doubt he ever "takes the wife hunting." She grew up hunting, and knew how to hunt, shoot and otherwise deal with defunct big game very well. I know this from having hunted with Gail.

John Havilland used to post under "Elk" here at the Campfire, IIRC.

Yep, and in fact was the guy who introduced me to the Campfire.

And you're still friends?

Good observation....

I’ll miss him from the Wolfe mags. I enjoyed his work, it was practical stuff.