Good/Classic Books

[Ed N.]

Anything by Gordon Macquarrie, Havilah Babcock, Corey Ford, or Robert Ruark are worth reading. And if you like Corey Ford, you should read Doc Hall's Journal by the real-life Doc Hall.

Bob Brister's book Shotgunning: The Art and The Science is a classic for serious shotgunners.

If you're looking for humor, all of Patrick McManus' books are good. Ed Zern's book, To Hell With Hunting, is hysterical, though some of the 1940s era references aren't always clear to contemporary readers.

 

[jmace57]

Man-eaters of Kumaon by Jim Corbett. Absolutely thrilling!

 

[481]

"Shooting to Live" and "Get Tough" by W. E. Fairbairn are also classics worth consideration.

 

[sniper58]

Seeing "Hunter" , by John Hunter made me dig my copy out again. Started reading it last night.
Just finished "Pondoro" by Jonh Taylor

 

[T.R.]

You'll probably enjoy reading and learning from these books.

TR

 

[Harvie]

DE SHOOTINIST GENT'MAN by Nash Buckingham (Bo Whoop)

 

[kayak-man]

One of the first gun books that I read was "Fireworks: A Gunsite Anthology." By Jeff Cooper. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Two more that I think are pretty good are "The Heart And The Fist" by Eric Greitins which talks about how and why he became a SEAL and "Assault On Norway" which is an account of the commando raid during WWII by Norwegian volunteers. I know they aren't really "gun books" but I consider them adjacent works, and think you may enjoy them.

 

[MountainBear]

I always enjoyed Green Hills of Africa by Hemingway. Any of Teddy Roosevelt's hunting books are also good. I prefer Capstick's books where he recounts the deeds of past famous hunters rather than where he talks about his own exploits.

Being a gunsmith and gunshop owner, the majority of my books are a bit more technical. Custom Rifles in Black and White is a good book for some gun porn. When you want to go back to a more technical subject matter book, Hatcher's Notebook is a treasure trove of knowledge and information as well.

 

[CajunBass]

Anything by Keith, O'Connor, Skelton, Jordan, Ruark, and Capstick, Ford, Warren, as all the others have said. Capstick and Ruark I read over and over and over. They never get old.

Another one I've got that I really enjoyed, but I think is long out of print, is "Blue Steel and Gunleather" by John Bianchi. Holster design and theory of course. Somewhat dated today, but still good reading. Also "In the Gravest Extream" by Massad Ayoob. Again, somewhat dated, but there is supposed to be an updated edition soon, if not already.

A couple of years ago, I started to look for some of the books I had read years ago but had let get away from me for one reason or the other. Two of them were "Sixguns" and "Hell I was there" by Elmer Keith. I found them on Amazon.



Sixguns was new, but "Hell I was there" was a used book. There were several copies listed, so I ordered the least expensive one. The description in the add stated that "Someone he apparently hunted and camped with has written in it." Other than that, it was said to be in good condition. No big deal to me. I just wanted to read it again.

I was surprised when I got it and found this was what was written in it.



I think I'll keep this one. Now to find a copy of "No Second Place Winner" that Keith signed.

 

[Pofficer]

I enjoyed reading From Out of the Yukon by James H. (Jim) Bond. Long out of print, but I have seen it listed on Amazon. Don't know if many libraries would have it.

I met Mr. Bond and his wife Mary many years ago, when I was a young police officer. They were then long retired, and have since passed. They were lovely people and I kept an eye out for them as the neighborhood in which they lived had become pretty rough.

In his younger years, Jim hunted extensively all over North America (and possibly elsewhere in the world... I don't recall as it has been many years since I visited with him.) He also did game surveys for the Canadian government, and I think was involved with Boone and Crockett and other organizations.

Anyway, I found his stories very interesting.

 

[hot chili powder]

Must read books!

Read everything by Ruark and a must read, reread and reference book is the never outdated "The Rifle Book" by "Cactus" Jack O'Connor.

 

[Milkmaster]

"The Old Man and a Boy" is a great read.

 

[Legionnaire]

Bob Brister's book Shotgunning: The Art and The Science is a classic for serious shotgunners.

I'll second that. Another good one is Clay Harvey's, The Rifles, the Cartridges, and the Game.