B5 Systems

Harris Publications Ceasing Magazine Production & Closing Their Doors


Harris Publications is the largest publisher of magazines in the United States, or should I say was the largest. Earlier today we found out that they are ceasing production of their hard copy magazines, closing their doors, effective tomorrow citing the “rapid ascendence of digital media”.

This is a major blow for those of use who have enjoyed their print coverage of the firearms industry. 

However, a newly launched business plans to keep the websites, www.tactical-life.com and www.personaldefenseworld.com running.

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18 Responses to “Harris Publications Ceasing Magazine Production & Closing Their Doors”

  1. Wow just saw this!! That is really too bad but a sign of the times.

  2. SN says:

    Not surprised.
    I cut back on magazines because of cost and space.
    Hopefully they can produce a Kindle version of their magazines.

  3. Dellis says:

    Um….so why did they take my 2 year re-renewal?? WTH??

  4. Grump says:

    Reading magazines online sucks. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

    • P.J. says:

      Agreed.

    • Geoff says:

      Depends. Certain ones do a really good job. Recoil is basically like scrolling thru a print mag which can be a pain. Golf Digebt though has a killer version. Very readable. More should be this way.

      And I’m surprised this took as long as it did. So many mags with so many similar topics. I stopped reading when them only reviews were of super tricked out guns that all seems to shoot sub MOA.

  5. Strike-Hold says:

    I call bullshit on their claim that the internet killed them. It looks to me more like bad management and/or bad strategy and too many titles that all had too much overlap across target audiences, combined with content that didn’t really have anything meaningful or in-depth to offer, and magazines that were also clearly more about selling advertising space than anything else.

    • NP says:

      The fact that you’re commenting on an industry blog *online* as well as maintaining your own blog *online* is proof enough.

      Additionally, magazines don’t make money on subscriptions, they make money from advertisers. With advertisers choosing digital medial as their medium of choice (due to better rates, more targeted reach, ease of implementation, etc.), traditional publishers are hurting.

      The successful publishers today survive by maintaining a digital presence that typically supersedes their print circulation.

  6. tazman66gt says:

    Unfortunately the whole gunzine market is tired. All they are are puff pieces, there is no hard journalism going on. I have never read an article that actually was critical of a firearm. Think I read one that the firearm was so bad that they had to send it back, but of course the replacement was the greatest thing since sliced bread. Kind of like car magazines, they talk about how lacking a certain vehicle is but then they make sure and kiss the makers ass so they get more vehicles to play with.

  7. MiamiC70 says:

    Magazines another industry full of companies that do not innovate and adapt to progress and instead blame the internet for thier failure to evolve.

  8. Blue2Green says:

    Even some Army TMS are digital only now. BTW Air Force library have special links with usernames etc for access to download hundreds of digital magazines with an app.

  9. Blake says:

    I really liked survivors edge, we sell it at my store. The articles mostly seemed really solid and had some good advice in my opinion.

  10. Pat says:

    Sad times. I can’t read online at work, but I can bring magazines in. Hope some good ones keep coming out.

  11. AGL Bob says:

    I enjoyed many years of Harris’ “Tactical Knives”. They had some solid writers in the beginning, but tapered off towards the end. The editor was a little wacky. At least with digital magazines you have them with you most of the time – laptop, tablet, etc.

  12. Whit says:

    I had to cut back on buying magazines because of the cost.

    Also, many articles in gun magazines left a lot to be desired. They seemed to be very shallow. One that I read recently about an AR-15 pistol didn’t even mention barrel length, overall length, MSRP, etc – all the details that you would want to know.

  13. Chuck Mac says:

    Yes. Take note of this to all you wannabees in cargo pants, untucked short sleeved button downs, who talk with both hands in the interview position while making air guns: You are no longer useful either !