Guns Books

A must have for anyone buying or selling a firearm

Several of the pictures do not match the firearm listed. Incomplete discriptions, it apparently wasn't proof-read.

This is the book for you! It has great pictures of each model. I have used it to help identify firearms and it comes in handy for grading firearms.

Overall I feel this is a good buy as I have identified several older model weapons without much trouble. However, trying to find more recent model guns has been dismal. For example try to find any of the new Sig Sauer pistols or any of the new Derringers! Anyway, I have identified a couple of H&R pistols (pretty neat trick, good black and white photos helped tremendously) and a couple of rifles (one a Winchester rifle and you know how many flavors of those exist!) again by picture then description. I like how the book is broken into three sections (pistol, rifle, shotgun). The pistol part is broken into semi-auto then revolver for each company presented. I would have liked to have a more comprehensive breakout of new weapons (as I mentioned before) and more information on the various companies (some had nothing but an address...if that), but all in all a must have books for my library. A good buy.

This book is a good, quick reference for most available firearms, and has some particularly good sections on older arms, such as the early 20th century Luger pistols. It does seem to be missing some of the more common retail products (for example, finding and identifying the rifles sold at most Wal-Mart stores was difficult, or they weren't included...yet these are more likely to be found in circulation than a pre-64 Model 70). There were good black-and-white illustrations of many guns, but some guns had no photos and this is a drawback...especially if you are trying to identify an old family gun or the like.

Overall, it is still worth the price, and I recommend it as a supplement to some of the other more exhaustive works.

I own a retail firearms store and am always looking for books to suggest to my customers. An ok book if you are only a upland / small game hunter, but could be a bit broader in it's scope. A bit limited on reviews of guns that are available.

Fairly basic information, I was looking for some more technical information. Its a good book for review of basic information

Well written and easy to read, I finished the book in two sittings. This book will entertain and inform you on all the basics plus a fair portion of advanced topics as well. All material is fresh and timely, unlike books written 5 to 10 years ago. The book is nicely illsutrated with high quality color photos. The guns, loads and accessories discussed are avaialable today and on retailer shelves for your inspection.

A wise man once told me that when his skill set started to suffer, he got back to basics; a return to the fundamentals that form the foundation of so much of what we do. While this is a book of basics, the breadth and depth of the author's experience base facilitates its appeal and utility far beyond that of the beginner. Actions, chokes, loads, anecdotes, wit and witticisms- all this and more to instruct the beginner, and remind the know-it-all, of that which is important to the upland hunter: a good dog, enough gun, and days afield to reflect upon that which is truly seminal to this sojourn we call life.

Upland bird hunters,it has been said, are the staunchest traditionalists in the world outside of the Vatican. While that may not be strictly true, no well-educated modern ballistician can doubt that that many bird hunters are under grave misapprehensions based on incorrect information.

Examples? Well, shotgun shells are commonly marked on the box in DE (Dram equivalent). This refers to drams of black powder,which has been out of general use for a hundred years. This reviewer knows an experienced shooter who always shoots cylinder choke if allowed the choice, because he read in an article once that choke is an "outmoded concept".(He refuses to shoot with me at Trap for money.) How many times have we all heard that a gun is "hard-hitting"? And what errors might even we smart guys be making based on untrue information? And pass on to others?

Now comes a new author to the world of shotgun sports. Terry Boyer is first of all a good writer. Clear, easy-to-understand, entertaining, and at times downright humorous. Secondly, he has vast personal experience of his subject-- upland hunting over dogs, and the shotguns that are used for that purpose. Thirdly, however, he combines these qualities with a logical scientific mind willing to do independent testing of gun, shotshell and product performance. He attributes this to "30 years of law enforcement which", as he says, "focuses on results rather than theory". I think he's just a smart well-educated logical man who is a darn fine writer.

This slim (208 page) book is remarkable in both the comprehensiveness of the subject matter,and how interesting it is. He covers all types of upland game, shotguns for the field, shells, shot sizes, choosing a shotgun, learning to shoot it(or to improve your shooting), clays games for hunters,dress in the feld, altering the gun to make it shoot better for you,care of the shotgun, (concise) hand loading, carry and safety of the gun in the field..it just goes on and on. I thought I'd blow through this book in an hour or two. Nope. There is just so much good information here, without ever becoming tedious.

The pictures help too. This book is extensively and nicely illustrated with four-color photos of modern guns,shot, shells, boots,and nice upland shots. Do pictures help? Well, to pick an example, when was the last time you saw a picture of the amount of oil need to properly lube a semi-auto? Everyone SAYS "don't use too much oil"; Boyer shows you. Brand names are mentioned and pictured beautifully.

It really is hard to fault this fine new book. The guns pictured and discussed are the full range of normal upland guns,some quite attractive, but not glorious British art objects. But more guys shoot semi-autos or even pumps than Holland & Hollands.

If you know ANY upland hunter, but especially a newer one..get him this book. It is remarkably interesting even to experienced shooters (and mandatory for new ones), comprehensive of its subject, nicely illustrated and enlightening. Can't see how you could do better on this subject.

This is a very well written and researched account of a tragic event of the nature we encounter too often in the daily news. At the same time, it illuminates the tragic and absurd situation in which the country has placed itself on the subject of gun control.

Being aware of the real life events of the book, I can say that Lethal Passage is accurate and honest. Mr. Larson exposes the cracks in the gun control system and shows the ease with which a boy could purchase an automatic weapon and murder in cold blood. The murder story can make one cry in sorrow and in anger. His purpose in writing was to make a point in order to keep similar tragedies from occurring again. Unfortunately, up to this point, no one has listened.

When I read Erik Larson, I know I'm in for a treat, and this was no exception. This book not only tells the story of how a bullied boy takes his anger out using a gun at school, but the story of the inadequicies of gun legislation and the winding road the NRA has taken interpreting the 2nd Amendment. The one irony I found that Larson points out is that it's harder to get a driver's license than it is to get a gun in the United States. What I like most about the book is that Larson provides a solution to the gun problem and outlines a very reasonable and comprehensive bill regarding the use and regulations of guns. But I have to agree it would be impossible to get through legislation, not because it's unworthy, but because our current government is a messy monolith of a bureacracy where nothing gets done due to poor representation, egos, and political shortsightedness--in my humble opinion. Our forefathers would roll over in their graves if they could see what has become of our sacred 2nd Amendment. Excellent book by an author who does his homework.

This is a reasonably well written, but undeniably biased tale. The statistics are slanted and untrustworthy, and the rhetoric is tough to wade through for anyone on the pro-rights side of this issue.

Larson does show that straw purchasers of handguns contribute to crime. He spends little or no time on the contributing factors for such gun purchases. He does not address guns obtained by theft, or illegal sales or the lending of firearms within extended families, gangs or circles of acquaintances.

If your mind is already made up, you'll like this book.

I would recommend

Complete AR-15/M16 Sourcebook: What Every Shooter Needs to Know (Paperback)
by Duncan Long

as an additional title you should check out if you are interested in the subject.

I'm just getting started around the AR type rifles. I picked this book up after reading the fine reviews. I wasn't disappointed. It contains a very good history of the weapon, lists of variations, and details of the working mechanisms. It also shows, in easy to understand pictures and text, how to break down the weapon, dissasemble and clean it. It also shows how more detailed pieces, not normally taken apart for a cleaning, are put together. All-in-all, well worth the money spent. If you're getting started with one of these fine rifles, like I was, or are just interested, this is a great reference for you. If you're already an expert, a different source is probably the place to go.

When I first recieved the book I was concerned that it was thinner than I expected, only 134 pages. After review the book, I was extremely pleased. The book covers every thing from a part by part description to complete breakdown. The only hinderance is that it is black and white, but has tons of photos and diagrams to make up for it. Joe Poyer (the author) did a great job of covering history, laws that affect use, different manufacturers, ammo, options, and troubleshooting. I'm surprised that this book isn't more readily available, it should be standard issue with each rifle. I'd give it 6 stars if I could.

Good book, very imformative and detailed, would recommend.

This is a nice, little primer to whet your appetite for a more complete resource. The information is good, but with many gaps.

For instance, there is a complete table of models, but it does not include dates of manufacture or serial number info, which renders it useless as a resource for collectors or even first-time buyers.

Also, many details are missing and some things go unexplained altogether, which may be fine for those who already are experts, but this book seems aimed more at the novice.

Still, it's an interesting read, which did answer many of my questions.

In _Oscar Caliber Gun_ a petty mind devolves into darkness. Like Holden Caulfield in _Catcher in the Rye_, the protagonist Ray is upset by the petty concerns of the world. He shares Holden's sense that people are phony and trite.

Holden is ultimately redeemed and humanitarian in spirit.
But Ray is a more postmodern character, one who is adrift and bitter. As the novel progresses, Ray becomes darker. He seems misguided at first, then suddenly beligerant and homicidal. I was perplexed by this transition--it was an awkward and poorly executed part of the book.

While following Holden's path was rewarding in so many ways, Ray's route is just awful. Although the first half of the novel--the jaded, miguided Ray--was a page-turning success, the second half spirals and sputters. By the end I was glad to be done with Ray and with the novel.

For a much more rewarding descent into the beastly side of society, try Denis Johnson's _Angels_. While _Oscar Caliber Gun_ is a nice try, _Angels_ is a masterpiece.

Henry Baum's Oscar Caliber Gun is a teriffic insight into the mind of a psycho -- who goes too far (or does he?). The story is told from the perspective of Ray, who is a disgruntaled 20-something that bounces from job-to-job, relationship-to-relationship and is fed up with the celebrity driven culture that we live in. It follows Ray's actions, as he slowly downspirals and his behavior becomes more and more dangerous to himself and others. (I don't want to give too much away)

The story, which is fast paced, is interesting, because although Ray is obviously nuts, the reader (or at least I did) empathizes with why he acts the way he does and supports his crazy actions.

I loved this book and couldn't put it down. It was a great action adventure and unique insight into the downfalls of celebrity-driven culture.

Once you start reading you can't put it down. Strong stuff.
Henry Baum is the real thing. It would make one hell of a motion picture. Can't wait to see what else this writer does. A natural. I gave it the highest rating and highly recommend it.

WhenI read this book, I was amazed at how the character,Ray, even though he was pshychotic, had thoughts so similar to mine.And though I didn't sympathize with the character, I was on his side. We could all end up like Ray... H. Baum has a lot of good novels in his future. I can't wait!

Baum has written the nineties version of Jim Thomson's Killer Inside Me. Unsparing, direct and without condescending to his main character, he captures a mind reeling from boredom and outsider status. A brave book.

A must have for serious students of history. This book is a no nonsense tresis on standard infantry weapons from an "operator's" viewpoint. The book helps the student to understand the advantages, disadvantages and quirks of each weapon. The remifications of these instruments upon history can then be more fully appreciated. This book is not a "scholarly" work. If the details of the development and deployment of these weapons are needed, then other sources would need to be sought. It is thick enough as it is! This book should be considered a reference of overview and not an in depth analysis of each rifle or machine gun. The text is excellent and the photos appropriate. It would be a worthy addition to any library. I highly recomend it.

I'm not sorry I bought this book, yet I was a little disappointed by it.

First the good news:

This is a nice thick book that really does cover a lot of weapons from many different countries. The author appears to have begun shooting and collecting military firearms shortly after birth and has actual military combat experience, so his opinions ought to be considered carefully. And he certainly deserves credit for rounding up so many oddball guns in shootable condition. Except for the ordnance museum at Aberdeen Proving Ground, I'd have no idea where to find so many even to look at them in glass cases.

And now the bad:

1) This book contains a lot of silly errors. Words spelled wrong, sentences that don't make sense, photographs mislabeled or printed in reverse.

2) The book's "testing" didn't really amount to much. I had imagined - perhaps unrealistically - that these guns were going to be dragged through mud, submerged in water, buried in sand, and frozen in blocks of ice. In reality, Mr. Mullin seems to have borrowed many of the weapons from his rich collector buddies and couldn't treat them so badly. And uniform accuracy testing procedures would have been nice. Most of the test firing appears to have consisted of informal plinking on warm sunny days, leaving many questions unanswered.

3) The overall organization of this book leaves a lot to be desired. I would have liked to seen separate sections for combat rifles, sniper rifles and light machineguns, with tables in each section comparing such vital statistics as length, weight, magazine capacity, caliber, bullet weight, muzzle velocity and accuracy test results. This would be handy for comparing the different designs intended to fulfill the same role. Instead, Mullin goes by country, jumbles the different types together, gives no tabulated information, and if you're lucky he might happen to mention in the text how much the gun weighs or how long the barrel is.

4) In the absence of any real testing, this book basically boils down to one guy's opinion of how these guns "felt" in his hands, or how they measure up overall to his personal concept of what a fighting rifle ought to be. In many cases I tend to agree with his opinions. I never felt that French and Italian guns were total junk. I never was all that impressed with the M1903 Springfield. And the original M60 surely was about the most stupidly designed machinegun ever. On the other hand, Mr. Mullin repeatedly places great importance on rapidity of fire with bolt actions while not seeming to give any special credit to the semi-auto designs. My own personal idea is that the semi-auto's ability to fire multiple shots without attention-attracting arm movements is a priceless advantage for grunts and snipers alike. Opinions are like bellybuttons - everybody's got one.

Anyway, I think the reader should regard this book more like a stoveside chat with a respected buddy than the last word on combat rifle reliability. And I highly recommend getting the book "Cartridges of the World" along with "Small Arms of the World" or Smith and Smith's "Book of Rifles" to fill in some of the missing vital statistics.

If you like to !shoot! rifles and want to buy military surplus rifles, this is the book for you. The author covers very practical details - are the sights easy to use, is it well balanced, what is the minimum range on the sights. You might be tempted to buy a wonderful WWI rifle only to discover the minimum distance on the sights is 400 yards!

This is not a 'for collectors only' book with details about how to interpret the serial numbers or the three different types of sling swivels, this is about how they feel to shoot.

Very helpful for the shooter / collector - those with Curios & Relics licenses, or for those shooters who wonder what it was like for soldiers in a particular time period with regard to the weapons they were issued.

This could have been a really great book on testing current and past military rifles and light machine guns. Unfortunately it is marred by a few glaring errors that place it well down the list of books I think important to the rifle or military enthusiast:

1) To me, the reviews are quite inconsistent in nature. For example, once in a while a rifle's accuracy at 100 yards may be given, while other rifles aren't tested at all. So when the author describes a certain rifle as 'accurate' you usually have no idea what he means by that term. More seriously, the author sometimes praises a rifle's features in a test, then, in another section of the book, criticises those same features.

2) I thought the reviews utilize historic background in a selective manner. For example, the author repeatedly praises the M1 carbine and its cartridge as a suitable offensive weapon, and mentions 'real fighting men' subscribe to this viewpoint. But he completely leaves out the carbine's horrible record of malfunctions and poor stopping power during the Korean War conflict, a record that started a intensive Army investigation and ended with the carbine being phased out of service (not to mention continuing problems with poor stopping performance during the Vietnam War with the LRRPs). Presumably these soldiers were no less 'real fighting men.'

3. I think the book contains insufficient research. I know that the book is intended as a 'current test review', but nevertheless the author frequently wonders what a rifle's design or features must have been intended for, when in fact that fact is already known to history.

4. Some of the test reviews are just too much to swallow whole. I mean, who could think that the French Chauchat and its 16-round .30 U.S. counterpart (a cartridge that could literally shake the weapon apart) could be anything but a piece of junk, given the well-documented history and obvious design faults? The book shows a closeup photo of the Chauchaut magazine with its huge side cutouts, but there's not even a mention of what trench mud could do and did to cartridge feeding.

5. Some of the writing contains errors and the photos are really bad. The author needs to use a pro photographer who understands that not using fill flash in daylight for photos of rifles results in shadows and black darkness instead of details.

Mullins tests all the major rifles of WWI, II, Korea, and Vietnam. His rifle skill and military experience combine for a unique insight into weapon performance and what it must have been like to use them in combat

If you are in the financial services industry - this book is a must read!

The model Scott uses in his book concentrates the reader on effective time and client management. And gives simple "Rules of Engagement" with prospects.

If you want your business to grow then you need to read this book. It truly has helped my business.

This book has changed my life. I have done more business using Mr. Kimball's advice and experience. I have been implementing his business techniques with my own company and I have seen more results than ever thought possible. He really knows his stuff and thanks to all his information and knowledge my business has grown so much that I have been able to hire 3 more associates to help with all the overflow of new clients. Thank you Mr. Kimball! My family and I have truely benefitted from your expertise. MaryBeth Giles, Madison Ct.

Top Gun Sales was a rip roaring good book. The book will definatly light a fire under the sales professional. The material can be used to provide a long term sales system or a short term fix to various problems all sales professionals occasionally have.

It is a book to read and to use daily. I highly recommend it.

To say that there are many books available on sales techniques and motivation is an understatement. And I have personally read many of them. Anyone in the sales business is looking for that secret formula to getting more, bigger and faster results. Afterall, that's the name of the game. Most books of this genre give you just that... the author's path to "bigger". Scott Kimball's book is different. He tells us to forget about bigger and go after "better". A smaller book, more attention to fewer clients and closer client relations. I guess this makes him the Jerry McGuire of the broker business. But, I like it. What a relief to know that I don't have to run myself ragged to have the biggest roster of clients in the office. I'm quite satisfied to have the BEST roster of clients in the office, thank you very much. And with more attention and focus, my smaller book has become just that - the best in the office - by far. Top Gun Sales is a blue-print to success, clear and simple. You'd think that an easy-to-understand method of making more money is the best thing about this book. You'd be wrong. I got something more valuable to me than more money from Kimball's upbeat, humorous and jargon-free foray into the motivational arena. When Sunday nights come along these days, I no longer dread the thought of "having" to go to work tomorrow. I find myself thinking that I "get" to go to work tomorrow. You can't put a price on that kind of attitude adjustment.

This books rehashes every maxim that has been trotted out in the financial services industry, and anyone who has been in the business more than a year has heard them all. The bio on the back really doesn't offer any credentials for the author other than making it sound like he made some money speculating at the top of the market. I'd be interested in how he is doing now? Finally, the book is way overpriced. The content of the book would comprise two chapters in a regular-sized book -- this book is the size of a Reader's Digest with huge print. I don't know who the other reviewers are, but get the feeling they must be the author's friends.

I have read about von Richthofen and his squadren and his life, just not from this book. My review comes simply from the title, I would never read a book so obviously slanted to label people he killed in war as victims, they were there to kill people to and if they had the chance would have shot him, and eventually they did kill him. Civilians are victims in wars, soldiers are casualties. Richthofen killed soldiers, not civilians.

I have not read this book but I've read many other Red Baron books. I'm writing to correct the statement made by another reviewer that the term victim is inappropriate for a soldier killed in combat. My brother researches family military history and has aquired several war diaries and in each officially written unit history the US military refers to soldiers killed in action on both sides as Victims. Victim is the correct term and if anyone questions this do some research before becoming an expert on the subject.

This book is not only a treasure trove of historical information, it also manages to evoke the humanity of the Great War. The authors have tracked down tons of information on Richthofen's victims - where and when they were born, some tidbits of their lives, where they were buried and who they left behind (or what became of them after the war if they survived). The book seems to reveal two sides of Richthofen, too - sometimes, a cold-blooded hunter, other times, more of a sportsman who delighted in meeting his adversaries after defeating them.

The authors have also very, very carefully investigated each confirmed 'kill' to try to determine which Allied loss, if any, it was - and in the process exposed the difficulties and inconsistencies in identifying enemy aircraft, determining what happened to them, and recording all the information correctly. Not surprisingly, their research has revealed that some of the 'victims' may have made it home after all - and that perhaps Manfred did not claim every enemy he shot down.

The book is packed with wonderful photographs, of victims and aircraft and, of course, Richthofen himself. There are color paintings of ten of the victories, along with the artist's comments on some of the historical accuracies and liberties he took.

The only problem - and one that is easily overlooked - is some sketchy editing. Some of the text is not as clear as it could be, and some of the text is not well organized.

This book is pretty much the last word on Richthofen's 80 victories.Many previously misidentified "victims" are finaly correctly identified.Another great work from Norman Franks.

Massive amoumts of research were obviously put into this book.UNDER THE GUNS OF THE RED BARON recounts every single one ofRichtofen's eighty enemy kills, and, the death of the Baron himself. It also contains a short biography of the pilots who were shot down, and what plane the victims were piloting. Although this may not be your typical history book, it should be in every aviation enthusiasts bookshelf.

I believe authors John Taffin and Craig Boddington share a common trait; both have found a method and style of writing that conveys a great deal of detailed information, educates and holds the reader's attention. "Action Shooting Cowboy Style" is an excellent book for any firearms enthusiast.

I am not active in action shooting, but in a Hamilton Bowen / John Linebaugh frame of reference, I am a fan of single action sixguns. Like Taffin's 1997 book, "Big Bore Sixguns", "Action Shooting Cowboy Style" offers a good deal of insight into these types of handguns, making this information alone worth the price of admission. However, the new book goes much further in covering what is an incredibly popular sport, a sport perhaps more appropriately defined as a philosophy or life style.

I enjoyed the book very much.

While this book may not address the exact how-to's of CAS (cowboy action shooting) as much as some other titles, that in no way takes away from the value of the book. This book is a goldmine of information about single action pistols of all kinds. It also reviews the roots of CAS as well as clothing, gear, leather, loads and reloading components. This has become one of my very favorite books, and I find myself re-reading it about once a year. Taffin writes in an honest, straightforward style that makes the reader feel that they are having an informal conversation with a trusted friend. Even if you only have an interest in old west guns, and don't even shoot CAS, this book will be an excellent addition to your library. I consider this Taffin's masterwork, and it will be very difficult for any writer to ever top it.

...then this is the book for you. If you actually want to learn anything about cowboy shooting beyond shooting tests of some of the guns, then it's not. If you're looking for info on how to actually do the sport, then I'd strongly suggest trying Scotty Anderson's book instead. Shucks, Mike Venturino's article in "Popular Mechanics" about 5 years ago was more informative on the actual sport than this book...

Taffin does an excellent job of covering the various revolvers and calipers used in Cowboy Action shooting. While his coverage of the lever actions is not as extensive, it is still good and provides a great deal of useful information. He also covers shotguns, but not in great detail. This book is a good companion for Taffin's book on 'Bigbore Sixguns".

This a typical Compton novel that completes the saga of Nathan Stone. It is a good book except when the author continually puts Stone into actual events and attempts to re-write historical events such as the Gunfight at the OK Corral and Wyatt Earp's time in Tombstone.

His betrayal of Wyatt Earp as an evil force who bullied his foes into the OK Corral fight is so factually incorrect it is amazing that section of the book got by the editors. I teach American History and cringe when I see a published work rewrite factual history as Compton has done in this book.

Compton's attempt to make Ike Clanton and John Behan honorable citizens of Tombstone while painting Wyatt Earp as the villain is absurb. If an author chooses to write about historical events, it is his duty to present the facts without inserting his personal opinions. By the way Ralph, why did you omit Curly Bill Brucius, Johnny Ringo and H.F. Sills from your book. Curly Bill and Ringo were the most colorful and interesting characters of the Cowboys and Sills offered the only totally neutral testimony at the hearing about the OK Corral. Anyone who reads this book should also read the biographies of Wyatt Earp by Allen Barra and Casey Tefertiller. Both of these books were written in 1998 or 1999 and are well written and researched works. Without a doubt, they are the best biographies about Wyatt Earp.

Any reader, who is not well acquainted with the true story of Tombstone and Wyatt Earp should make a point of reading either Barra or Tefertiller books because Compton has presented a totally fictional story about Earp.

I have to agree with Ardell. I hear Mr. Compton has died, so it is too late for him to learn from these reviews, but this book did indeed seem like a farce as far as the Earp and Tombstone history went. Mr. Compton obviously chose the fiction side of writing far above the historical side. If you prefer a great book but one that sticks closer to the truth, turn to Kirby Jonas or Win Blevins.

I liked this Ralph Compton book except that the dialogue once in a while seems rather hokey and Compton displays no knowledge of clothing and gun and gun leather detail from the Old West. I can live with those details, but I'll tell you one thing: if you want to talk Louis L'Amour and Ralph Compton, you have come nowhere near the surface. The best western writer out there is Kirby Jonas, whom critics call the New Louis L'Amour. If you want some reading without equal, try Kirby Jonas.

The continuing saga of Natan Stone and the beginning of Wes, is one of the most gripping Novels I've ever read. I've been reading Louis LaMour all my life and have just begun to read Ralph Compton, but Compton can match Louis page for page. Ralph Compton shows wonderful knowledge and understanding of the west and it's way of life. You feel as if you're on the trail with them.