With all the coverage here on TFB as well as on other sites concerning the recent NRA Annual Meeting (NRAAM) this particular announcement  seems timely. You may have heard that Shooting Illustrated was recently named as the third in what will become a trifecta of Official Journal of the National Rifle Association magazines. American Hunter and American Rifleman have long since taken up the roles of publications available only to NRA members, in fact you could chart the progression of my life as a hunter by when I switched from American Rifleman to American Hunter. Those two magazines basically handle two aspects of the gun world: politics and hunting. (Yes it is true they each consider various issues, but those are accurate descriptions of their overall content.) Now, with Shooting Illustrated added in, members will be able to sign up for a magazine specifically dedicated to the shooting sports, training, and related gear. So why am I telling you this now?

Right now the June issue of Shooting Illustrated is on the newsstands, and it’s the last one of its kind. After this issue, all future issues of the magazine will be accessible only to NRA members. Members can choose the magazine as their sole subscription choice or add it to their existing selection for an additional $9.95 per year. I admit I snagged a few copies off the newsstands for various reasons, one of those reasons being it is marking a turning point for what has become a major gun magazine.

Considering Harris recently had to close their doors entirely, it’s interesting to see another publication leaving the shelves even if it will still be in circulation by other means. I live in a small (small) town, and Shooting Illustrated is one of the few industry magazines found in all kinds of stores all over the place. Yes, I still read magazines. It is true that the future of media is online – not that everyone wants to admit it – but there is something to be said for holding the pages in your hand.

So if you’re like me and enjoy the feel of a freshly printed book or magazine, and you also have a penchant for collecting commemorative-type issues, keep an eye out for the June issue of Shooting Illustrated. (I cannot be the only one who collects this type of thing, can I?)