Books!

[Archie]

One of my favorite soap boxes is possession of books. I have always liked books for various reasons. However, at the moment, I'll limit this to 'firearm related' books.

Reloading books. For a reloader, of course. I have a shelf on my current 'small' book case (26" wide, tall enough shelve to fit most anything smaller than a 'coffee table' book, five shelves and deep enough for most books) for current reloading books and the collection (so far) of Cartridges of the World.

In addition there are old editions of reloading books, These are useful for reference of trends, less used cartridges and the introduction and appendices are quite varied. Lots of information. I have a couple 'vintage' reloading books, like Phil Sharpe's and P. O. Ackley's books from the early 1950s.

Gun Digests of several years. Shooter's Bible, too. They show 'new' guns of the time and trends. Possibly trends re-occuring trends popularly thought 'new'.

All sorts of personal books regarding things like the late Elmer Keiths observations of his experiences with firearms and game, 'how to shoot' books by several people and groups (NRA and Army shooting team); histories of famous and infamous firearm users, and so on.

Reference books of firearms manufacturers - companies - including history and historic arms produced. Proof mark collects, cartridge history books and era specific books.

I admit to being somewhat of a nerd about this. However, the career history of Walter D. M. Bell of African fame is just as interesting as most mystery novels. Certain better than a Harlequin romance. The story of the "Lions of Tsavo" and J. H. Patterson is as good a nail biter as any modern suspense story.

My point is to stir interest in good books on the subject. Certainly concentrate on one's interest at least to begin. Loaders will gravitate to one sort, collectors to another and hunters toward another. What is YOUR interest. Know anything about it other than one's own limited experience?

 

[Pudge]

Bloodties by Ted Kerasote is an interesting view on hunting and environmentalism. Well written with subject matter worth thinking about.

 

[Deanimator]

I've got 1 1/2 seven foot IKEA bookshelves with gun books, from multiple editions of Small Arms of the World to Collector Grade books on the Vickers gun, Maxim gun, and other machine guns.

 

[Bill Wright]

I had a friend(passed) that used to haunt the gun shows with me. He knew everything there was to know about Mauser
Rifles. I asked him early in our acquaintance how he knew so much. He said “ what you do is buy all the related books,
Read them cover to cover…then you’ll know most everything you need to know but especially you’ll never find the guns pictured in the books because they’re all in somebody’s collection “
I like books partly because they’re easier to maintain than the guns!

 

[Riomouse911]

I read every night and I did go on a classic firearms book kick for quite a while. Sadly, many of the standbys referred to over the years as must-reads are so dated that they have become a lot more of a history book than a resource guide. (Sixguns, No Second Place Winner, African Rifles and Cartridges, etc.)

That being said; if you go into reading the classics with that in mind there is a lot of personal insight and a fair bit of wisdom to be gleaned from the author’s experiences during that time or era.

Stay safe.

 

[thunderbyrd]

anyone here into Stephen Hunter? if not, get his first novel, "The Master Sniper" and you will be hooked.

 

[DustyGmt]

I read some on WDM Bell, very interesting figure. I've forgotten most of what I read, it was some years ago. I know he liked to harvest elephants almost exclusively with a 7x57 iirc.

 

[J-Bar]

Unless I am doing technical research, I want good writing and good stories.

Robert Ruark’s “The Old Man And The Boy”, and “Horn Of The Hunter” have been read numerous times, and I’m not done with them yet.

Michael Z. Williamson’s sci-fi novels are saturated with details of weapons and military strategy. Sample “Freehold” if you haven’t already. Larry Correia is another weapons oriented sci-fi writer. His “monster hunter” novels are wonderful diversions.

Anything by Stephen Ambrose if you prefer real history.

edit:

One more—“Shotguns And Shooting” by Michael McIntosh. Almost sensuous.

 

[PapaG]

About the only one I want but can't find (under a C note) is "Field, Cover, And Trap Shooting" by A.H. Bogardus. The father of "shooting flying".

 

[theotherwaldo]

I'm a librarian.
Ten years ago, the library where I was working got a new library director - from New York City.
The collection was immediately weeded to remove all non-fiction that was related to guns and hunting, said books were to be sent directly to the dumpster.
I intercepted most of them and now have a rather large collection... .