If you write, create videos, or are any kind of media, you’ll constantly hear your peers say, “Don’t read the comments.” That can be very valuable for your mental health if you’re a content creator. I’ve gained a bit of a thick skin, so I wade into the comments here and there, and I’ve learned a thing or two about portions of the gun community that leave a comment. Enough to make a few generalizing statements about these fine folks.
Revolver Guys Read the Entire Article
Say what you want about the wheel gun bubbas, but they read the entire article before commenting. One of the things that drives me crazy is people making comments without reading the article. I don’t have to worry about that when it comes to revolvers. The revolver guys will read the entire article, and if they disagree, they tend to leave a reasonable, well-thought-out comment.
My pop-psych view of the situation is simple. If you are a revolver guy (or gal), you likely have a nuanced view of your firearm and are aware of its strengths and weaknesses. You think about the gun a lot, so you don’t rush to the comments section to scream into the void. You have thoughts, opinions, and reasoning you’ve taken the time to explore.
PCCs Are Great Rage Bait
If you want engagement with your comments section, vaguely suggest that a pistol caliber carbine could be a great home defense weapon. In short order, you’ll have tons of comments about how dumb PCCs are and how you need an AR in 5.56. If you claim you want a gun that’s easy to suppress, those same people will scream about the .300 Blackout, ignoring the price difference between 9mm and .300 Blackout as a whole.
Pistol caliber carbines are a little silly for home defense, especially straight blowback designs. It’s not that these people are wrong; it’s just that they’re annoying about it. They remind me of the advanced version of the guy who rages and foams at the mouth when someone says clips instead of magazines.
Shotgun Guys Are Either Super Dumb or Super Smart – No In-between
As a shotgun guy, I often wonder where I fall in this category. I assure myself I’m not dumb, but I also dated a stripper when I was 19. Luckily, I tend to stay out of comment sections, and this article is making generalizations about comment sections. The dumb side of the shotgun guy world will talk about using birdshot for home defense, Dutch-loading rounds, rock salt, and how red dots are dumb on shotguns!
The super-smart guys will talk about patterning, how buckshot terminal ballistics work, engagement angles, wads, buffering material, plated shot, and more. Some shotgun guys have spent a very long time thinking about how these guns work and the best way for them to work. Those guys leave great comments explaining why you’re wrong or what you don’t quite understand.
Handgun Red Dot Hate Will Continue (Until Morale Improves)
If you want to drive engagement in the gun world, there are two solid strategies. First, get something minor wrong, and the comment section will correct you. Second, put a red dot on a handgun you’re reviewing. That seems to drive a certain crowd wild, especially if it’s a small handgun.
You’ll hear claims of how useless they are, how iron sights are more reliable, and how you don’t need crap attached to your guns! This could expand to WMLs, but at this point in time, there is a huge focus on handgun red dot hate. It’s a nutty situation that seems to bring out certain people who can’t stand red dots on handguns for one reason or another. (Bonus points if it’s a revolver.)
AR Guys Cannot Take Criticism Of Their Platform
I will tell you right now that the AR platform is the best semi-auto, intermediate cartridge rifle on the market. It’s reliable, lightweight, accurate, ergonomic, and beyond. However, nothing is perfect. I’d call myself an AR guy; if I had to go to war, I’d grab an AR. However, AR guys in the comment sections cannot take any criticism of their platform.
Mention how the AR tends to be gassy when suppressed, or that the Marines swapped to the M27 because piston guns handle extended full auto fire longer, and you’ll bring out the AR guys. It’s as if you were insulting them directly. It’s almost rageful, and they treat you as if you were cursing Eugene Stoner himself.
Remember that this article is about these types of people in the comment section. If you are an AR guy, and you’re not leaving comments, it’s not talking about you. The comment sections in the gun community can be absolutely poisonous and brutal. I see why people stay out of them. But I can’t help it sometimes because every so often, you learn something, and knowing is half the battle.
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