YouTube kind of sucks, right?
Sure, it has a great user interface, decent algorithm, and provided tons of value to my life.
I wouldn’t have been able to fix my lawn mower without YouTube. But, if you are into guns, it can really suck.
YouTube has never been very friendly to guntubers. Videos featuring guns are often quick to be demonetized, which means the creators make nothing from all their hard work.
At one point, companies like SilencerCo, Ammoland, and Recoil had their channels outright deleted. Brandon Herrera and Kit Badger have both lost videos, with Brandon’s being taken down just because he attached a suppressor on camera.
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Trying To Play By The Rules
YouTube’s official policy on firearms is the following:
“Content intended to sell firearms, instruct viewers on how to make firearms, ammunition, and certain accessories, or instruct viewers on how to install those accessories is not allowed on YouTube. YouTube shouldn’t be used as a platform to sell firearms or accessories noted below. YouTube also doesn’t allow live streams that show someone holding, handling, or transporting a firearm.”
That’s about as clear as mud. No accessories can be installed? You’re telling me Caleb Savant from the Brownells channel can’t show me how to install a muzzle device?
YouTube tries to explain it in more depth below with mentions of building firearms or turning a gun into a machine gun, or even how to reload ammo.
While they establish these rules, they are enforced beyond what’s mentioned. You never know exactly what you can and can’t post. That is why YouTube sucks.
So what’s the alternative? It’s tough to take on the behemoth that is YouTube, but it’s not like we can’t try! With that in mind, there are a few alternatives that deserve your support.
Best YouTube Alternatives
1. Utreon/Playeur
Utreon, or Playeur, as it’s called now, is a YouTube alternative that is better for both the creator and viewer.
The platform combines aspects of content creator support like Patreon with a video interface like YouTube.
It’s the best of both worlds and allows users to directly contribute to their favorite creators while easily accessing their videos.
Ian from Forgotten Weapons and others like Administrative Results, TFBTV, 9-Hole Reviews, and more have Playeur channels.
Playeur seems to be the current most popular YouTube alternative for guntubers. The ability for easy contributions ensures demonetization isn’t an issue because they are no longer reliant on advertisements to drive funding.
It also mixes in some of the rewards a Patreon can offer. For example, I can watch all of 9-hole Reviews videos for free, and if I subscribe, I have access to Patreon-like tiers.
There doesn’t seem to be nearly the same amount of restrictions on gun videos either. You can find plenty of videos of guns being assembled and even a literal ‘Reloading Podcast.’
2. Rumble
Rumble seems to be the most popular YouTube competitor. It’s not solely about guns and features gaming, streaming, car repair, and other genres.
This platform has also attracted several big Guntubers, like Mr. Gunsngear, Colion Noir, Forgotten Weapons, and many more.
Rumble allows for immediate monetization of content, no more need for 1,000 subscribers, and 4,000 minutes of watch time. Just create your channel and start making money. It’s creator-friendly and seems to be dedicated to free speech.
They don’t care about the content you’re posting regarding guns, and it shows. Plenty of creators are posting unedited videos you wouldn’t find on YouTube.
Rumble’s UI is easy to use, and the search engine works nicely, giving you both creators and videos based on your keywords. I have grown to like Rumble because I watch a lot of gun content, but I also watch lots of the other content there.
It’s nice being able to watch LockingPickingLaywer and Mr. Gunsngear on the same app. We often forget that guns are a niche topic, and a nice variety of content will likely be the key to a new system succeeding.
3. Gunstreamer
As the name implies, Gunstreamer is aimed at content creators who like to stream their videos, but they also host standard videos as well.
Gunstreamer is a part of the website GunCritic, so they have no qualms about gun content. The website allows for streams, videos, and whatever else you want.
YouTubers like Hickok45, ActiveSelfProtection, Forgotten Weapons, HonestOutlaw, InrangeTV, and more are now hosting content at Gunstreamer.
The rules seem pretty simple, no nudity, nothing illegal — that’s it.
There is even an option for creators to import videos from YouTube, making the transition, or at the very least, the supplementation of YouTube videos easier.
A frustrating feature I disliked was the search engine — it’s broken! This forces you to jump through channels and trending pages to find content. I’m not sure what the deal is, but it needs to be fixed immediately if they want to last.
4. Patreon
Patreon isn’t your traditional streaming website. It’s a system for supporting creators.
You pay a certain amount per month, often broken down into tiers, with prices set by each content creator. YouTubers often use Patreon to support their work and post exclusive content.
This allows you to see unedited, uncensored videos and sometimes provides direct access to the creators. The various tiers can offer you something beyond just video content, including discounts, patches, private streams, Q&As, and more.
Beyond the typical content creator, we’ve also seen firearms instructors use Patreon to teach and still make a little money for their wisdom. Tom Givens is on Patreon, as is Paul Howe with CSAT, and many more.
There is a good amount of content on Patreon, but the UI is limited. You can build playlists of your favorite videos and surf one channel at a time. Plus, each channel has its own membership fee.
It works fine and is very functional, but it’s not exactly a YouTube alternative. The real value comes from supporting creators you enjoy and accessing firearms instructors.
5. Full30/Juxxi
Full30 was a YouTube alternative that was founded by Tim Hansen of the Military Arms Channel.
The idea was to create a video-sharing website dedicated entirely to firearms. He seemingly sold the website in 2020, which is now known as Juxxi.
Juxxi hosts way more than gun content now, but the Full30 section has been preserved. Uploads continue with users like Student of the Gun and CloverTac being active.
Full30 allows for any and all video content related to firearms — no rules on reloading ammunition, attaching suppressors, and certainly no random enforcement of said rules.
Users get a fairly easy-to-use interface that makes it simple to watch videos, build playlists, and leave comments. The Full30 forum and blog both remain open for conversations.
The problem is that it’s been largely abandoned after the transition to Juxxi. Sure, some uploads are still continuing, and it still offers firearms freedom and hosting, but it’s just not that active anymore.
It’s last on the list for that reason, but Full30 deserves mention because it was one of the first purpose-built video-sharing websites designed for gun-based content creators.
Final Thoughts
I really love alternatives to mainstream websites. Competition is healthy, although it is difficult in an age where certain titans have become so dominant in the internet landscape.
It’s tough to get away from YouTube, but it is possible.
I suggest trying your hardest to watch your favorite content creators across a spectrum of alternative places. The more support they can get at Utreon, Rumble, etc., the more likely they will stick to those channels.
Do you have a favorite YouTube alternative? If so, let us know below. The more we share, the more we grow. Have a website you like but not a content creator? Check out our article on the Best Gunfluencers!
The post YouTube Sucks. Here’s Where To Go To Watch Gun Videos These Days appeared first on Pew Pew Tactical.
