Guns Books

I recently ordered this for my husband. He saw an ad for it in one of his gun magazines. I looked it up on Amazon, and it was much cheaper.

He refers to it often and thinks it is one of the best that he has.

This book is a waste of paper:
I just received and opened it: The introduction lets you understand you're going to learn the different guns. Page 1 is full of photos of diverse handguns. One is dubbed: "French Flintlock Pistol". The photo shows a back action percussion lock. Hmmm. I jump to "Swiss Military Rifles" (I'm a Swiss collector). Two rifles are listed: First a Mod. 1871, cal 10.5 mm. The caption is a Mod. 1869 and the right caliber is 10.4 mm. Second a 1891, cal 7.63x54 Russian caliber Mod 1891... same as Moisin Nagant. From 1889 to 1890, the Swiss Army caliber was 7.5x55. From 1889 to 1957, the rifles were Schmidt Rubin or derivates. There NEVER was a 7.63x54 cal. Moisin among the Swiss Military Rifles. I shut the book down. I had to put a star to review the book, but it's worth none. It's for sale, new, quarter price.

Very interesting, but not exactly what I was looking for. Still a very informative book.

Any who buy, sell or trade in antique firearms needs to know identification, firearm specs, and how to value one: Shooter's Bible Presents Antique Guns: A Collector's Guide provides everything needed to do all of this. Color photos introduce the topic, but the heart of the title isn't color: it's black and white photos paired with caliber, barrel, weight and model specifications. Year of introduction or making and current valuation creates an important collector's reference.

Any who buy, sell or trade in antique firearms needs to know identification, firearm specs, and how to value one: Shooter's Bible Presents Antique Guns: A Collector's Guide provides everything needed to do all of this. Color photos introduce the topic, but the heart of the title isn't color: it's black and white photos paired with caliber, barrel, weight and model specifications. Year of introduction or making and current valuation creates an important collector's reference.

Having read all of his Royal Navy saga WWI & II works it must be said they are all very good. Fullerton mixes historically based story lines with realistic character development, love interest and technical details to make a great story. My advice is to start with the first novel, The Blooding of th Guns and work through his chronology.

Good action story. The personal lives story was a bit contrived, and boring. Fortunately very little of the book concerns this. Once the battle begins hold on. The battle sequences are very accurate. I gave this book to a retired naval destroyer commander, and he loved it.

The Blooding of The Guns is a historical/fiction story about the biggest sea battle of World War I, The Battle of Jutland. The main character is Nick Everard who is a sub-lieutenant in the Royal Navy (not a submarine LT; about the same rank as an American LTjg (junior grade) aboard the DD Lanyard. Nick has several family members who are also in the service. Nick's brother David, is the Navigating Officer on the CA Bantry. Nick's uncle, Hugh, is the Captain of the BB Nile. Also, Nick's Dad is a Brigadier General in the army.

75% of the story was boring to me. It starts out slow, and slowly starts to build up to the Battle. The last 3-4 chapters is full of excitement. While in the middle of this book, I was under the personal belief that I would not purchase the next book in this nine book series. However, with the last 3-4 chapters, it made me think twice about my overall view. This book is full of great details of describing the different stations aboard the ships that the main characters are on. The descriptions of the battle and of battle damage is really good. The main draw back to the story is the number of people in this story. There are three main ships in this story; Nile, Lanyard, and Bantry. Trying to keep up with the story and trying to remember who is on what ship was so difficult that I had to start a list of personal for the three ships to help me keep track. The author does not tip you off when the action goes from one ship to the next. So that is where my personal list came in handy. Just one example of the number of names aboard just one ship is as follows. Aboard the DD Lanyard, the ship that Nick is on, there are several LT's mentioned including 2 sub-LT's, with one being the Navigator. There is a Captain, Surgeon, several Petty Officers, a few Chiefs including a Chief Engineer, a Leading Seaman, a gunner, a Leading Signalman, and a steward. Not to mention a few that I left out. The BB Nile and CA Bantry has even more personal. That's a lot of names to keep track of!

So now to conclude: Yes, this book had a very strong ending. However, I'm not planning on following up with this series. In my view, having 50 different people to remember is too much!!!

Action aplenty. Alexander Fullarton writes with authority,knows his subject and has an eye for history.It is without a doubt the best narrative of The Battle Of Jutland by any author or historian in the business.

At first blush, the Everard family doesn't look like much on which to base a series of heroic sailors. Hugh, drummed out of the service before the war in some unnamed scandal but pulled back in because of the emergency, is in love with his brother John's wife. John, a general in the army in France, does not make an appearance, but his sons Nick and David do. Nick is feckless and irresponsible, just one step ahead of being drummed out of the Royal Navy himself, while David is more professional if somewhat dull. That in the course of the book, one's opinion of everyone changes 180 degrees is a tribute to the author's skill at both showing character development and also at revealing a character's past layer by layer, like peeling an onion.

The criticism commonly made about this book merely shows the inability of some critics to appreciate the intent of the book they are reviewing. Yes, the book is choppy and yes, it is hard to follow the course of the action. One's initial impulse is to wish for maps and an appendix, but then you realize that this is the whole point. Fullerton's goal is to present to the reader exactly how fighting the Battle of Jutland felt to those who were there. Jutland was a confusing battle and it was many days before those who were there had the foggiest notion of the sequence of events. Fullerton has studied the battle carefully and everything that happened in real life happens here at exactly the same time. But you can't construct a coherent whole out of the narrative, just as even Lord Jellicoe wasn't able to do so. For that, you need to consult another book (I would recommend Rules of the Game by Andrew Gordon, which is not only the finest description of the battle, but one of the finest works of military history), but do it after you read this book, so that you get the full flavor of the writer's intent.

Very few writers capture the fog of war as well as Fullerton does.

Book received fast and as described !! Saved a lot on a brand new book !
Excellent transaction, don't get any better !!

I use this book for reference to find gun values and information on makes and models. This one was not packaged properly and the front cover and first dozen pages were damaged in shipment. Wish you had been more careful in your packaging!!!!!!!

Was able to find just about everything I wanted to look up. Loads of info and pictures!

Great reference document but prices are not near up to date. Book contains about everything in Rifles and Pistols..Recommended for the Hunter or Collector.

For good or for bad "The Blue Book of Gun Values" still is and will continue to be the bible in the used gun business. They do their best to take as much of the subjectivity as they can out of the grading process, but one person's 98% may still be anothers 90%. Small differences in percentage can mean a big difference in values.

That said it is still "THE" book most used in the business. The reader also needs to be cautioned that prices listed are RETAIL prices and not what you can expect to get from a dealer if you are selling a used firearm. Also understand that while this may be a "National" standard, real values can be dramaticly different for the same gun from one part of the country to the next. Sometimes as little as 50 miles can make a significant difference.

Overall it is a great book with tons of useful information. A must for every gun collector and dealer. Just take the prices with a grain of salt.

Boston's on Guns and courage is well written. Many quotations from John Ross' book Unintended Consequences, as well as from patriots going back to the revolution of 1776, frame a nice discussion of the authors thesis, namely that the second amendment is the final guardian of the rest of the constitution. I myself think that constitutional rights are like muscles. They get flabby and weak if not used.

Boston also explains something about current gun laws, which is a confusing and fast moning topic, and a moving target hard to hit.

I thought the chapter on woman and guns to be of particular potential interest to the woman's lib types who don't agree with the usual anti gun agenda.

Overall , there is more on hardwear than on philosophy or tactics, which is perhaps as it should be. Buy 'em. Then have someone teach you to use 'em.

A really nice review of available hardware, some of the prices a little out of date and low. Mr. Boston likes the .308 and the FAL, admits his bias, gives his rationale. I can live with this.

Personally, I think the .308 is fine, and if loooking for a weapon with some long range accuracy potential, I'd prefer the M1A(M14)-bettter sights, I like the traditional stock better, less need for meticulous cleaning, and face it-put a small mag in, and w a walnut stock and blued finish, looks more politically correct.Easy to scope too, which this weapon cries out for.

That not withstanding, the FAL is just fine, and his info on the AR-15 pattern weapons out there is just fine. Next edition should cover red dot type sights.

Overall-good book, to recommend to those who have decided to own firearms and what to learn before they buy. The author puts in his predjudices, but admits them up front. If nothing else, you will probably go out and buy Unintended Consequences.

Boston, Mr. Royce, is entertaining and informative. I have this book and the follow on volume, and both are excellent. His views are field tested, and perhaps best of all, he admits his prejudices, says why he thinks what he thinks and then leaves it to the reader to make the decision for her/him self. A true libertarian. He talks the talk, but also walks the walk. I had the privilege of meeting him at a show once and he impresses me as a man you could leave your teenage daughter or your wallet with him and they would absolutely be safe upon your return. This personal integrity shows in his writing style and approach to life. Hooray for this book.

Great book, I'd recommend it for anyone concerned about the gun crackdown soon coming to a town near you! However, he mentions a movie called "The Pallax View." That I can't seem to find anywhere. If anyone can help please e-mail me. jdwilliams@thegrid.net

Oh, so that's why I bought my FN-FAL. Good to know I'm so smart. Most of what you ever wanted to know about buying a gun or three or thirty for that "rainy day" sprinkled with a heavy dash of pioneer spirit. Very practical information, sound advice.

I grow flush with fever as I move onto the next chapter in the book, "Women and Guns." Mmmm good.

I like this book because of it's no compromise content regarding the 2nd ammendment. The content is straight forward and offers solid insight. It is thought provoking in that it challenges you to make the choice NOW as to whether you are going to give up your weapons easily when the blackboots knock, or whether you will shoot them through the door. The author is correct. If you are going to own firearms - you better know how to use them AND have the courage to use them if the time comes.

I gave the book 4 stars, however, because when discussing the actual weapons, the author is quite biased and doesn't discuss or consider any of the weapons he doesn't like. His advice is good but weapons are a personal choice. YOU have to be comfortable with what you are shooting. NOT Boston T Party.

Overall a good book.

As the daughter of Bill Pogue, one of the Game Wardens murdered by Claude Dallas, I know the true story of what happened that day. Jack Olson did a wonderful job of interviewing almost anyone involved and investigating the lifestyle of Claude Dallas that led to this tragic event. I learned as much from reading this book as I did sitting through the long and frustrating trial.

A very compelling story told nicely in one of the earlier books of true crime writer Jack Olsen.

The story is fairly and dramatically presented and the author does of good job of giving the reader charachter background to make the story matter.

This book was extremely well written, and I would recommend it to anyone, regardless of their particular interests or hobbies. I know it is a cliche to say that "I could not put this book down," but it fits here. Olsen's writing style is easy and flows well. The whole story is so tragic, but I think the author does a good job of analyzing the events surrounding the murders of two Idaho fish and game wardens. Claude Lafayette Dallas, Jr. is clearly a murderer and yet he also has some sympathetic qualities that the author brings forth. It's a shame that the book is out of print, but if you look hard enough you can get a copy (thankfully, Internet searches will make it easier for you).

Read "Outlaw" by Jeff Long as well. He interviewed several key people that Mr. Olsen did not include (most declined to be interviewed at the time). All in all a fairly accurate and factual book and if you lived in the area at the time it stirs strong memories and emotions. Those who lived close to the events cannot forget Bill Pogue and Conley Elms.

In getting to know Claude via correspondence for several years,I believe that I can make a fairly accurate assessment of Claude's true character. Therefore, I believe I can fairly assess the book's veracity and plausibility. The book was interesting, entertaining, and exciting. Mr. Olsen presented the story in as truthful a manner as he could-considering he did not know Claude. In my opinion, overall, a very good book!

Dewey Lambden is a C.S. Forester with a sense of humour and sex. He makes OBrien seem wordy and Alexander Kent seem pale and prissy.

Lambdin marries Lewrie off, but he still can't keep it in his pants. He covers the period and the action well, but for some reason our Alan is always chasing women for the movie cameras (or is Lambdin writing for them?).

Excellent descriptions of the scandals of the Carribean before the Fench Revolution.

IF YOU HAVE NOT MET EITHER LAMBDIN OR LEWRIE IN EARLIER BOOKS, YOU SHOULD FIRST READ The Kings Coat, The French Admiral, The Kings Privateer or The King's Commission BEFORE YOU READ The Gun Ketch. I issue this caution because you cannot possibly appreciate the shock of learning that Alan Lewrie is married (!) without first reading at least one (preferably all) of its predecessors. I was HORRIFIED to find in the opening pages that LT Alan Lewrie was being married on the first pages. But then, so was he! (The author shares with you the thoughts of Lewrie -- which is what make him charming.) The story that follows is a delightful story of the sea, pirates, good (and ACCURATE) sailing descriptions. Alan Lewrie is lovable because he is so real and down to earth. He is more of a person than Hornblower or Bolitho, although I commend to anyone either of their authors (Forester and Kent, respectively). I note with interest that a previous reviewer has the same opinion (see RPE01@AOL.com from Cleveland, below.), although we would differ on what the "Trilogy" consists of. In any case it doesn't matter. This is good, solid writing; well-researched, greatly peopled with colorful characters that you come to care about, and the sea adventure is unparalleled. THIS IS GOOD STUFF!! READ IT. You won't be disappointed. And I think you will come to like Dewey Lambdin, as well. I suspect there is a bit of Alan Lewrie in him.

For those with in interest in tall ships and the sailing navies, this novel covers a time period not well covered by other authors, i.e., the period between the American Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars, when most of the British Navy was laid up out of service and pirates roamed the West Indies. Lambdin does an excellent job researching the information for his novels. While this book is one out of a series about the naval and amorous adventures of Alan Lewrie, the main plot stands alone and Lambdin fills in the reader with any incidental information on events from earlier books. A highly recommended book for filling in that time period of history.

Lieutenant Alan Lewrie is enjoying a few weeks in England, in between the completion of his anti-pirate adventures in the Far East (as recounted in The King's Privateer) and taking up his new assignment in command of the gun ketch ALACRITY as part of the Bahamas Squadron. Such a small vessel doesn't ordinarily rate more than one commissioned officer, but on the Navy's books it's a "sloop," so Capt. Lewrie finds himself with a first officer, the rather prim but engaging Arthur Ballard, who actually is Lewrie's senior in terms of naval experience but seems to harbor no jealousy about their relationship. (In fact, the two soon become friends as well as trusting colleagues and it's apparent Ballard is destined to become "Bush" to Lewrie's "Hornblower.") Alan spends much of his time ashore with the Chiswicks in Surrey (the family he helped rescue in _The French Admiral_) and is dismayed to find that Caroline Chiswick, for whom he has a soft spot, is being matched off by her uncle to the swinish heir of the local baronet. Suddenly, Lewrie finds himself doing what he never expected: getting married. And, rather than leave his bride in Plymouth, he allows her to talk him into taking her to Nassau with him. Naval novels set in peacetime sometimes have to go far afield to find an entertaining plot, and Lewrie's domestic adjustments, together with a struggle against another set of pirates (and the corrupt civil and naval officials with whom they are in league) make for an engaging yarn.

However: The author seems not to understand the distinction between an exclamation mark properly used in dialog ("Kill them!") and its thoroughly annoying, rather gushing use in narrative (He killed them!). Though perhaps that's just sloppiness after the initial success of the series. And while he has become quite good at descriptive passages, especially those of the sea around the Bahamas (where he obviously has spent some time sailing himself), he also seems too willing to limit most of his principal characters' conversations to the same period slang, used over and over again. Lewrie is brighter than that. (I'm getting awfully tired of "ram-cat" and "caulk" and "putting the leg over" and "buttock-brokering" and "heel-taps" -- that one always in quotes, for some reason.) I don't much care for the smugness of Lambdin's Introductions and Afterwards, either.

Still, it's a good series with good plotting and (mostly) good character development and excellent detail on ship operations and tactics of the period, and I shall certainly keep reading.

I have the music book and now I'm a geart piano player because of this book. Must buy for any piano players out there.
Guns N' Roses Rock!

Frederick Johnnie

The book is pretty good but there are some details it doesn't cover like the piano background solo in civil war

This book is only good for those people who wants to play the whole tune with the piano. If you have a vocalist, a guitarist, a bassist and you want to accompany on piano then this book is not recommended. It doesn't provide you much on the background piano as what you have heard from the album. Not even 20% of it. But you can use this book as a guideline to find the exact background piano played on the album.

This book is VERY good. Although not stricly what is played on the albums, it does have the solos transcribed for piano so you don't have to be playing with Slash! Also has that f@*king great piano solo that Axl plays in Estranged!!

If you play the piano you must buy this book, regardless of whether you like GN'R or not.

Are you sick of playing the piano for your parents? Don't want to practice anymore? this book is the ultimate cure.. Get back to those days when playing the piano was FUN! with titles like November Rain, 14 Days, Don't Cry.. and more this book is EXCELLENT! As soon as I got it, I went to my friend's house, picked up the guitar, my friend came over, and we played songs from this book over an hour. Thank you Guns N Roses and Thank You Mark Phillips who made this book fun and easy to use.

Song List:

Knockin' On Heaven's Door
Live And Let Die
November Rain
Don't Cry (Original)
Yesterdays
Dust N' Bones
You Ain't The First
Civil War
14 Years
So Fine
Estranged

P.S guitar solos are arranged for the piano

This is definitely the first book an aspiring firearms maker should read to get the basics of design and function. A gun works with some very basic principles, and this book helps the beginner truly understand that process. Seems to me to be a truly underrated book on the subject.

i built the weapon discribed in this book, it works. i decided on .410. have not tried the gunpowder recipies in the book.

I picked this book up for a friend at some random variety shop. He is a big time gun buff. He read the first 4 pages and told me to throw it away - its a book on how to comit suicide. I read it thinking it was cool, and that the guy seems to know what he is talking about...I mean he had charts. Then I started noticing that his percentages in those charts were off, that the finished products looked like bent up peices of junk ('just bend it until it works' construction attitude) and since I do dabble in a little chemical explosives know how - his recipes would never work well enough to fire a projectile effectively. You can do the math yourself from any gun enthusiast mag or book instead of going through the proccess of making one of those things. Now, while he does clarify that the gun is for "hunting", he hints that it can be used for defense... but you have to unscrew the end of the barrel to put each round in, then screw it tight to fire. Like I said, interesting read, but impractical. I have it on my coffee table and guests pick it up...I like their reactions. Thats the only reason I havent thrown it away.

I made a double barrel 12-gauge gun with the information in this book. All from parts found at local hardware stores. Total price was a little under forty dollars. Also has lots of information on making powders, primers, and loading old shells. This might be a problem if you don't have any old casings or shells but never fear, build a muzzleloader! The book has a section on making a musket which I might build after I finish my 30.06 rifle. That's right, it has a section that explains what size hardware and drill bits to use for most any size ammo. Remember to remote test fire each weapon you make a few times and if noise is a problem with the neighbors you could build a noise suppressor for it. The beginning of the book explains the different types of guns and the different sizes of bullets for those of you like me who might not know all that much about the subject. I've bought a few books on this subject recently and if you want something that you can actually make with only hand tools stop looking. It doesn?t take long at all to put these together but I suggest you take your time and enjoy this great do it yourself project.

To start of this is a great book with deatailed step-by-step plans to show you exactly how to make a 12 gauge shotgun from a pipe,a muzzleloader dubble barrle rifle and yes even a gun completly made of wood witch I was not game to use but it does work. also shows you how to make basic gunpowder witch is poinless since even cavemen know how to make it.Also how to make basic primers.An allround good book for emergency and time of need.When there is no more gun stores and no factorys to make ammunition what will you use to protect the ones you love or will you revert to sharp sticks.

I do not know why anyone would buy this book. The author's views are just ultra right-wing. He makes Ron Paul look like a moderate. I hear this author on NH radio and he is SICK! Save your money.

I have been listening to this guys radio show for a couple of months now and have also checked out his web page [...] and really find this man to be thinker who is completely outside the box. In reading this book Mr. Goldsmith discusses current political events in an entertaining way while pointing out just how far away our government has moved away from the very document in which our country was founded. I think the people who dispise this book or who try to label it as extreme right wing are people who don't fully understand the principles from whichg this country is founded on. For the record this book blasts both Democrats and Republicans for the unconstitutional bills which they create and taking away of OUR LIBERTIES. The main message I got from this is that it's still WE THE PEOPLE who can take back our country if enough of us wake up and choose to so. I challenge anyone to read this and feel the spirit of his words---the words of our forefathers echoing through him for us.

I am very pleased with this book. The mix of essays keep the political banter confined to small chunks. Perfect for someone like me who prefers entertainment. Which is also offered at the end of the book.
A must read for those who want a glimpse into some liberty issues in the state of New Hampshire.

As a response to some of the comments, this book and the author are not "right-wing".
It is about freedom, true freedom. Politics is more than just left or right. Freedom is not confined into political parties or government. Live free or die, most Americans are choosing a slow socialist death.

Today I saw a bumper sticker that said, "Silly me, I thought we were free." I laughed and then it made me a little sad because I realized once again that we are not free. Gardner G. is certainly doing his part to promote and protect true freedom by putting together a smorgasbord of entertaining and enlightening stories that will help you understand and appreciate our current state of affairs. Buy this book, read it, and loan it to a friend when your done.

While on a road trip, during a visit to a friend's apartment in Colorado, she had a new copy of this book lying around, and I decided to pick it up and read it since she was at work and I had nothing else to do. Gardner Goldsmith is an excellent writer, and I love all of his and his father's essays. I didn't get to the fiction section of the book (I was only able to read the first 250-300 pages), but I'm sure it was just as excellent as the rest of Live Free or Die.

I may or may not be joining Gardner up in New Hampshire. I'm still on the fence with the whole Free State Project thing, but Gardner's book has done nothing but push me a little further onto the side of the FSP. Thanks, Gardner.

The telling of "Machine Gun Kelly's Last Stand" is at once fast-paced, eerie and suspenseful. Stanley Hamilton's eccentric characters are plucked from the pages of history to recreate their nefarious deeds. Truth really is stranger than fiction, and Hamilton fills every keystroke with tension.

I wrote my masters thesis on the Urschel kidnapping case and spent a year reading thousands of related books, articles, historic documents and public records. Hamilton's book was by far the most exhaustive and most accurate account. The few errors in the book are errors that actually exist in the public record (Kathryn Kelly's eyes were green, not hazel; her middle name was not Mae, and a few other minor facts.)

In addition to being accurate and complete, it was also well-written and interesting to read. It's novel-like qualities included excellent character development and conclusions about each player that helped "close" the story. If you want to know the Machine Gun Kelly story, this is the book to read.

BTW: A few interesting facts were not included in the book, such as: 1)the Urschel kidnapping trials were the first in U.S. history to be recorded on moving camera; 2) the Kelly trials were the ONLY federal criminal trial EVER to have news cameras in the courtroom; and 3)Kelly's accomplices were the first criminal suspects ever transported by airplane.

Stanley Hamilton's account of the Urschel kidnapping is very good in this book. He has some new information on George "Machine Gun" Kelly, which has not be published previously. This book is good reading and should be in your library of crime books. A great job!

Mike Koch, author of "The Kimes Gang."

Stan Hamilton has written a great narrative history in which there are surprises, odd twists and unexpected heroes. It is a fine well-written book in which neither Kelly nor his foil, J. Edgar Hoover, are the most fascinating charcters' but rather that role is reserved for the smartest of victims, Charles Urchel, and the powerful, conniving Kathryn Kelly. I will not give this one away, but will tell you that this book delivers one first rate couple of evenings of reading which not only tells a strong story but gives an insight into the world of 1933 --gangsters and bootleg gin. You will love this book!!!!

Having read many books on gangsters you come across some real turkeys but Stanley Hamilton's account of Machine Gun Kelly's crimes was very well written without the usual padding out that some writers tend to use.

It is a very informative account of the kidnapping and aftermath which kept me gripped until the end.

The book's ending was, for once, a surprise and I would recommend this title to readers who like True Crime to be based on facts and not the fiction.