The gear package seen above is already gone. I gave it away to my first Patron as a “thank you” for supporting my reviews and tests. With further trigger, muzzle device, flashlight, and other objective tests planned plus non-stop reviews in the queue, I need your support, too. Here’s why (and how) . . .
TTAG maintains its editorial independence by avoiding advertising dollars from the firearms industry except under specific (and rare) conditions. Therefore, the budget for payroll and such is smaller than you might think given the site’s solid traffic numbers. Traffic that we earn, of course, through our honest reviews and reporting. Truth and independence is the brand.
As TTAG’s Testing & Reviews Editor I am paid a small salary, but it doesn’t cover the rent on my notably cheap place even before tax. Basically, this is a hobby. A labor of love. But love doesn’t pay the bills (don’t go there) and it doesn’t pay for the kinds of gun and gear testing I’d like to do much more of.
So this is where I’d like you to step in.
On New Year’s Eve I launched a Patreon page. In fact, I did it after a handful of commenters on my YouTube channel and here on TTAG strongly suggested it.
Patreon allows you to become a Patron of someone who’s doing something you want to support. You choose the recurring monthly amount (which you can change at any time) and Patreon forwards it, minus a small cut, to that someone.
That someone can choose to give back to their Patrons in all sorts of ways. For me, I’ve created various tiers of Patrons with increasing likelihood of receiving boxes of free swag and gear like what my first Patron is receiving. I’ll be doing live chats, providing early access to content, creating Patron-exclusive content, providing direct access to me for making special requests, inviting you to join me at the range or just to chat when I’m on the road, and more. I think for most of y’all, though, the reward of this support will be more and better content from me.
My short-term goal for Patreon is to offset or completely pay for the cost of more comparison testing. I have the tools to do more roundups like the extremely popular muzzle device and trigger roundups I’ve already done, but don’t typically have the resources to purchase the quantity of products necessary for a thorough shootout. Yes, we have some success at getting these sorts of things donated or loaned by the manufacturers, but many want nothing to do with being legitimately compared to their competition. Our independence and willingness to expose the truth doesn’t always lead to cooperative relationships.
The next step is for Patreon to fund my ability to perform more scientific testing for you. Testing optics for proper mechanical tracking, light transmission, aberration, etc. I’d like to make ballistic gel testing a regular TTAG feature. I’d like to improve accuracy testing via tools like a Ransom Rest. I’d like to ramp up a small photo studio at TTAG HQ to improve our photography game, plus upgrade the low-end video camera, audio equipment, and editing software I use for my YouTube videos. I’d love to add some slow motion video capabilities.
Ultimately, if enough of y’all choose to sponsor this work with a few bucks a month, I’d like to do this full time. Create a lot of top-quality review and testing work for you. Multiple reviews every week plus technical articles and far more comparison buyer’s guide type roundups.
It’ll be a different world from today, where I’m TTAG’ing during the limited time I’m not working 50 hours a week and traveling 35% of the time for my “real job” in the tech industry. Or spending time with my 5- and 3-year-old daughters (and the wife), which has priority on my free time. In fact, it looks like the “real job” won’t allow me to attend SHOT Show this year, which is a big blow and another impetus for attempting this Patreon thing.
So, there it is. The pie-in-the-sky goal of producing valuable, entertaining, meaningful, regular content for you as a full time gig. Your patronage — whether $1 or $3 or whatever it is per month — will be hugely appreciated and will be turned right around as better content. At some point, if a point comes where I can pay the rent with it, a lot of better content.
Much obliged,
Jeremy
https://www.patreon.com/JeremyGunsGear
Well you ever wanna review a Mossberg 464 rimfire, Savage Rascal, Armscor M1911A1 GI Full size, old Ruger mini 14 in a Choate folding stock, Mossberg 500, or Century WASR 10 I’ll loan you mine. You provide the ammo after the first mag though.
Write your own review and send it to Dan.
If it doesn’t suck, he may put it up as a free article submission from a loyal reader.
🤠
That’s the problem. If you’ve read my comments I generally SUCK as a writer. Sure I can get the point across but my writing lacks a certain jene se paux that makes it interesting for readers. So I’ll leave the reviews to the professionals and I’ll stick to sometimes making an intelligent comment.
Thanks for the offer! 🙂
The fun and interesting stuff in reviews is second to covering the facts, functionality, performance, etc. RF can always work with you to add in some humor haha. Guest reviews are certainly welcome, especially on things you’ve owned a long time, have shot a whole bunch, and have lots of long-term use and durability experience with, etc. “High mileage” reviews and follow-up reports are other things I’d like to see and do more of.
the Mini, AK, and Mossberg are definitely high mileage judging by the amount of black gunk that seeped out the first time I hit them with Hoppe’s 9. As for exact round count it’s very hard to discern it’s enough between cleanings that Hoppe’s cried uncle and I had to use some polish, PB Blaster, and a very stiff toothbrush on top of soaking them in a tub full of Hoppe’s just to get shiny parts back to shiny and restore some manner of smoothness to the actions. Other than the Mossberg needing a new extractor spring (well Mossberg don’t like you taking their bolt apart so you have to buy the whole bolt) and hence not ejecting spent rounds sometimes they’ve thus far been 100% through anywhere between 200 rounds (mini) and 600 rounds (WASR).
“Remember Her? Take A Deep Breath Before You See What She Looks Like Now”
Yeah, I’d have to believe y’all ain’t making much $$$ off those various jokers…
🤠
The ads on TTAG have become so intrusive I’m reading 1/2 the articles I used to on the site because it is just so frustrating. I used to read essentially every post, but now I quickly pick and choose and skip those (and the intrusive ads) that aren’t REALLY interesting to me. And now you expect us to pay your writers directly as well? Sorry, but I don’t think that is the business case I want to support. There are too many other good sites, and some days I think that TTAG has gone the way of Google (from “do no evil” to “everything you have is mine and I’ll make money off of it”).
The higher ups are working on alternatives to that presently.
perhaps make and sell your very own TTAG SWAG? maybe auction off donated test subjects (if the company will allow you to do that sort of thing). Personally my favorite would be doing a raffle periodically for a gun if you can get it donated. Although, the raffle may run afoul of gambling laws so you may wanna research that and loop back to TTAG SWAG.
Har. Google ALWAYS sucked.
Yeah right. I have two or three friends who had an idea or a passion and went out and made it happen. They did it without begging friends and family and even worse complete strangers for money to make it happen. You want ttag readers to pay you to do reviews that we can get elsewhere. And to make matters worse you try to make the case that you and ttag is the only credible source for reviews of everything firearms related which is unmitigated arrogant bullshit. Poor baby can’t make the rent. You’re pathetic.
I appreciate your feedback and understand the sentiment. I had rejected the idea of Patreon since its inception because it felt “icky” to me, but after enough commenters urged it I figured I’d give it a shot. Not because I can’t continue doing what I’ve been doing since 2012 without it, but because the funds would allow for an improvement in quality at first and possibly quantity at a certain point.
I’m comfortable with my full-time real job’s income, but not so comfortable that I can afford to spend money out of my own pocket to fund equipment and gear for reviews. The wife indulges my ability to spend time doing this as my hobby of choice, but I’m not supposed to be going [much] into the red, monetarily, to make it happen. Patreon funds will be used for producing better content, not supplementing my lifestyle. Except for, yes, if for some shocking reason the Patreon thing takes off and I can scale down to living on ramen noodles and produce content full-time and quit my real job, then I’m doing it.
I did not mean to imply that TTAG is the sole source of credible information in this industry. Sorry if something I said seemed that way.
Jeremy,
I would like to give you an honest thank you. As someone who is paid to do training and logistics, I understand how helpful donations with no (or very little) strings attached can be. I thoroughly enjoy your reviews and videos. As the newly minted training and admin sergeant, I would love to do them myself. It isn’t easy to be tactical or pursue hobbies with a wife and young kids at home. Well, without getting divorced anyways.
I’m also disappointed that so many gun owners just seem like straight up A-holes sometimes. I figure that we are on the same team, ought to vote pro-gun, and shouldn’t have time for a lot of the needless bashing and intermittent douchebaggery that happens on these pages.
Don’t sweat the unrealistic expectations.
“I have two or three friends who had an idea or a passion and went out and made it happen. They did it without begging friends and family and even worse complete strangers for money to make it happen.” … This is the most asinine statement I’ve heard in awhile. Most businesses start with a person with a passion and that person asking precisely friends, family and/or strangers (i.e. the bank) for money to start that business. This is exactly what Jeremy is trying to do. If you don’t see the value in it then go to the next article or go to a different blog. Jeremy is trying to see if there are enough people that do see the value in it so that he can produce higher quality and quantity videos. Not to mention he’s doing it at the recommendation of others. Just like any other business it may or may not pan out but that doesn’t mean he shouldn’t try. Patreon was created specifically for this type of effort; someone who has the creativity and technical knowledge but needs a platform to operate off of. So keep the vitriol for those who are interested in your mindless babbling.
Soooo. Jeremy is “starting” TTAG? Really?
I would love Robert to comment on why an employee is being allowed to grovel for money like a peasant on his site.
Unless of course, he’s not an employee, but the chump that’s allowing RF to cash out. We all know what’s left of the wreckage of TTAC….
“My short-term goal for Patreon is to offset or completely pay for the cost of more comparison testing.”
Goodness, that certainly could go a *long* ways to filling an ever-expanding series of new gun safes…
No shiite. Who TF is running this site anyway? Is RF cashing out ala TTAC, leaving a perpetually less capable cast of dipsht knowknothings in charge? The help gets to go begging for alms? Really? On the company blog?
I know not what to think of this beyond what experience has taught.
Well, congrats, your my first ever patron pledge.
I’ll chip in, because frankly, I really like this site and the content that is produced. Keep it up.
If I like a musician’s work enough, I’ll go buy a CD or pay for a download.
I guess I’ve gotten a few bucks worth of entertainment out of this site… I’ll throw in a few bones too, Jeremy.
🤠
Thanks, guys! I won’t let you down. Muzzle brake test #4 (with additional testing equipment) and AR-15 trigger test #2 will be the first two things that will happen as a direct result of the Patreon support.
Thanks for finally doing that. I was feeling like a free loader in your case.
I’m definitely going to check out your Patreon, Jeremy. I don’t want to sound like a dick to the other guys, but you’re the only writer here whose reviews are consistently high-quality enough that I’d be willing to give you money for them. Best review writer on TTAG.
Speaking of TTAG’s “solid traffic numbers”, why’d you guys stop publishing those quarterly traffic stats articles? Those were very interesting, providing some insight into what the other users of the site were interested in.
“It’ll be a different world from today, where I’m TTAG’ing during the limited time I’m not working 50 hours a week and traveling 35% of the time for my “real job” in the tech industry.”
Jeebus. A whole 50 hours a week, and 35% travel? Can’t wait ’til your actual bosses learn of your “dedication” to what they’re paying you for……
I don’t get your point. TTAG is my passion and hobby. It happens after the corporate work that pays the bills happens. I’m good at my real job, but I do it to make money, not because it’s something I love doing. The realistic goal of this Patreon stuff is to increase the value of the TTAG and video work I produce when I get the time to do it. It’s about better, more valuable content through better, more thorough testing. Equipment, procedure, scope, etc. If it doesn’t work…if people hate the idea of it like you do…that’s okay. It won’t change the current situation. It either provides more resources or it doesn’t, and I think my content (the blog stuff more so than the video stuff, for sure) from the last few years has been solid. But I know it can be better. This will make that possible, if it’s successful. If not, don’t worry, I won’t turn into a pumpkin.
My point was that you’re obviously just putting in time at your “real” job. That’s fine, and lucky for you there’s currently a tight labor market in tech. Not everyone is truly committed to what actually pays the bills, you’ve been fed the “follow your passion” nonsense so long you actually believe it. Sorry, they really meant well, but those teachers taught you a whole bunch of nonsense real life is going to disabuse you of.
The larger point is, what the hell is going on here? Unless I missed it, RF is still running this show. In the real world, employees don’t go out and ask for a Patreon account to support them doing their job. Robert may not wish to use his own funds to develop his hobby business any further, I get that. But just tell us, you know, the truth.
Having a writer, beg for money so he can buy supplies, is rather pathetic. Especially when said writer doesn’t actually own the publication.
Well maybe he’ll chime in and I certainly don’t want to speak for him. But I think it was clear enough with what I said in the post. The budget doesn’t exist to get some of the equipment and parts and such that I want to. But there’s an obvious benefit to TTAG if I’m making better and/or more content. Content is king. RF approved this post because I’m not going to drink, eat, or smoke the money, I’m going to produce for him.
The whole concept of Patreon is weird, I get it. You’ve been around here reading reviews and commenting on them for many years, and please keep doing so. This won’t change anything about your experience. Except there will be now be more trigger models in the next roundup.
“Well maybe he’ll chime in and I certainly don’t want to speak for him. But I think it was clear enough with what I said in the post. The budget doesn’t exist to get some of the equipment and parts and such that I want to.”
You may think it was clear, but I’m having some trouble. Do explain again. That the budget isn’t what you think you “need” to do what you want tells me you have never had to actually function within a budget, and “make do” with something used, adapted, or “rigged”. Oh well, I guess Uncle Sugar (in the form of Patreon) will provide.
“But there’s an obvious benefit to TTAG if I’m making better and/or more content. Content is king. RF approved this post because I’m not going to drink, eat, or smoke the money, I’m going to produce for him.”
Content is king, with a whole lotta caveats. If I’m expected to fund ‘Jeremy’s Scientific Findings’, my expectations are vastly different than if I’m viewing a website that simply purports to offer “The Truth About Guns”. I’m OK with your smoking, drinking, mainlining, or insufflating some of that money, if you produce your own content, under your own banner. As someone who can’t make those things happen given the budget you have, well, there’s a lot of science done with 4 year old machines…
The whole concept of Patreon is weird, I get it. You’ve been around here reading reviews and commenting on them for many years, and please keep doing so. This won’t change anything about your experience. Except there will be now be more trigger models in the next roundup.
Weird? Yeah, your server is asking for money to buy a bigger peppermill, and your car wash attendant wants more microfiber towels….
Well, 16V, I have to hand it to you. All those opportunities to stop being an insufferable jerkwad, and you blew right past them like a monster truck going over speedbumps.
You’ve had your 15 seconds of glory…now go home and tell your mama she wants you.
Properly testing flash/weapons lights is going to get goddamn expensive really, really fast.
Properly measuring the the light output of a flashlight is not a cheap or easy thing to do.
No problem. Just send even more of your money his way!
The question in the back of my mind is, why do I and others have to pay for YOUR new toys, when I can barely afford my own? Seems like you make out way better then the rest of us sheeple.
I appreciate your cynicism. I do! This isn’t for toys for me, though. First is testing equipment. Doing things like renting a proper dB meter for the next muzzle brake test. That’s data people have specifically requested, repeatedly, but there has not been a budget to collect it. Then if, for example, I have to purchase certain AR triggers for the next roundup because I’m not successful at borrowing them from individuals or companies, those will be given away to Patrons after the testing is done. If you choose not to believe that, fine. But we’ve been giving away the gear that accumulates here for years and I’m not keeping gear that Patreon funds unless it’s gear used regularly for producing content (blast gauges, lux meter, optics testing rig, video editing software, etc). Gun parts will continue to become prizes, giveaways, etc.
F the haters, love your write ups glad to help out and signed up as a patron. Have always appreciated TTAG and all other gun writers. I too work 50 to 60 hours a week plus typical family issues, if I can make it easier for you then I am glad.
RF might consider the same model if all the internet supported firearm content then such requests would not be required.
Jeremy I am impressed with your work.
And am trying to give you a one time donation (so my wife doesn’t kill me in my sleep)
Your demand for technical and accurate testing is something I really appreciate.
P.S. let them complain, it’s all they have.
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