Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters A tip of the hat to Gil Sengel

Being new here and finding a lot of fans of the "Rifle" magazine trio, I did a quick search for Mr. Sengel's name. Four hits going back a year. One of which was "Who is Gil Sengel???"

Gentlemen and ladies, I offer the opinion that this may well be the guy with the toughest job on the staff. There is a fair amount of griping about old information, fluff pieces, and "what? another 30-06 piece?" that gets thrown towards magazine writers. Mr. Sengel writes an article about the .30-06 and teaches us something new or, at least, reminds us of something we have likely forgotten. Other articles use stories to convey their information. This is a good thing, I buy the magazine to be entertained. On the other hand, it is refreshing to have Mr. Sengels "just the facts, ma'am" style of article as well.

I don't notice that Mr. Sengel generates a heck of a lot of mail or creates much stir. In my line of work that means your doing your job so well that it can be taken for granted. I am, for one, glad he does it just that way.

Well said.

I agree. His series on the .223 has been excellent.


Travis.

My thoughts exactly.

His articles are always one of the first I thumb to.

Gil was at my home a couple of days ago.He comes up every year to visit a mutual friend and they always stop by.Seems to be very sharp,and a great guy too boot.

Nice to know that your impressions of a person from reading his/her stuff for several years are born out in person.

Bright guy; great writer.Knows his stuff.

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He is certainly an asset to the magazine. I enjoy reading his work.

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I very much appreciate Mr. Sengel's honesty in his writing. I remember when he opined that it is not only less than intelligent to blow up guns in the name of "research", but it is also less than intelligent to lionize those who do.

Gil is one of the best under-appreciated writers.

Or one of the most woefully under-appreciated good writers.

Yep, and usually brings me back to what is, , when others claim isn't !!!

The .22s usually don't interest me, but Mr. Sengel's article about the .223 and it's developement was very interesting reading, and he did a supurb job of explaining it.

That is one way I form an opinion of writers. I might not be interested in the subject, but the way the writer puts it in print is what holds my interest. There are writers who could write a very interesting and attention holding article about grass growing or paint drying, and then there are others who put me to sleep after a few sentences on any subject.

Mr. Sengal falls into this first catagory, along with Jim Corbett, Peter Capstick, Mule Deer, Jack O'Connor, and a few others.

To expand on what you said - there are others who could be relating the second coming and make it seem like paint drying. Best, John

Patrick McManus leads the pack of living writers who can write captivating prose about anything � or nothing.

Ken - Pat's story about a shack full of naked boys having a hot stove pipe come falling toward their laps left me more or less helpless on the floor. Best, John

Or a whole story on various ways of falling. I can still picture a 3 point bounce off the back of a pick-up.

The funniest one I have ever read was by, I believe Patrick McManus, in a Field and Stream about 6 or 7 years ago.

It was about a boy who went on a date with the prettiest girl in town, and unknown to the boy, his dog slipped into the car. The dog had just eaten something that caused horrible gas, and both the boy and the girl thought the other was doing it.

I wish I had kept it. I would like to read it again.

When I was a kid, we had this cat that would sneak into the house and sleep on its back between the back of the couch and the wall. This cat also loved raw liver, which Dad would bring for it whenever there was some in the butcher's "dog-bone box". The pertinent order of events went like this: Saturday night - Dad brings home liver. Sunday noon - cat dines on liver. Sunday evening - folks have people over for coffee after vespers at church; cat sneaks in unnoticed among the guests and takes up position behind couch; coffee and cookies are served; poisonous yellow-green cloud wafts out from behind the couch - people politely attempt to ignore the obvious; Dad catches on and unceremoniously grabs cat by the scruff of the neck and deposits it outside. How we got from Gil Sengel to this is what makes this place so great. Best, John

As 5sdad said, I also appreciate Mr. Sengel's honesty in writing and I very much agree with other posters who enjoy his work.

As an aside... sorta. I THINK that Sengel is refering to numbskulls who overload firearms but would NOT be refering to guys like PO Ackley and others who really were doing research.

Now on to something completely different.

"Not a real member - just an ordinary guy who appreciates being able to hang around and say something once in awhile."

I think from the number of post 5sdad has made since 1/22/05 that he is a "real member". I enjoy many of his post and replies etc.

Carpe Diem. (Ebonics for...em carps fishs die)
Dew