I am kind of surprised that there is not a sticky in this section about reference books. I wasn't able to find an older thread on this, so I'm starting a new thread on reference books. I guess that if no one is interested in this that will be my answer as to why there isn't a sticky. 
I have been shooting a long time, but only recently started doing some of my own gunsmithing. In doing so I've started to collect a set of references for myself:
"Gunsmithing the AR-15", by Patrick Sweeny
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/gunsmithing-the-ar-15-vol-1-patrick-sweeney/1132231103
I like this book quite a bit. I am a beginner on the AR-15 and working towards intermediate, and this book fits my skills well. If you were an expert on the AR-15, this is probably not the reference that you'd probably want.
Things I like about the book:
- It's well organized and logical.
- Basic things are defined. For example, different amounts of oil/lube are defined in a way you can understand, and then he shows where to oil your AR and how much.
- The author has a lot of opinions, but he gives you the reasons he thinks that way rather than expecting you to accept it as gospel. He also does a lot of pointing out different options on your AR, and some of the trade-offs between the different options.
To give you a feel for what I've used the book for, so far I've replaced the trigger on one of my ARs, added sling swivels (had to remove the buffer tube), and de-California the magazine release levers. Plus of course detailed cleaning, etc.
Overall - recommended.
"The Colt .45 Automatic - A Shop Manual", by Jerry Kuhnhausen.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B010VXI7B...ywords=jerry+kuhnhausen&qid=1593564513&sr=8-1
This is supposedly one of the best reference manuals for the 1911. It's really aimed at gunsmiths, and I am not at that level on the 1911. OK, not even close to that level. Still, if you have a question of detail on the 1911 the answer is somewhere in the book(s). (There is a 2nd book as well.)
Recommended, with the caveat that the more you know about the 1911 I think that then the more you will appreciate this book.
So far on the 1911, my only work has been to drop in a precision trigger and test that it and all of the safeties functioned properly.
I am still looking for a good reference manual on Glocks and Sigs, so if there are any suggestions...
I have been shooting a long time, but only recently started doing some of my own gunsmithing. In doing so I've started to collect a set of references for myself:
"Gunsmithing the AR-15", by Patrick Sweeny
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/gunsmithing-the-ar-15-vol-1-patrick-sweeney/1132231103
I like this book quite a bit. I am a beginner on the AR-15 and working towards intermediate, and this book fits my skills well. If you were an expert on the AR-15, this is probably not the reference that you'd probably want.
Things I like about the book:
- It's well organized and logical.
- Basic things are defined. For example, different amounts of oil/lube are defined in a way you can understand, and then he shows where to oil your AR and how much.
- The author has a lot of opinions, but he gives you the reasons he thinks that way rather than expecting you to accept it as gospel. He also does a lot of pointing out different options on your AR, and some of the trade-offs between the different options.
To give you a feel for what I've used the book for, so far I've replaced the trigger on one of my ARs, added sling swivels (had to remove the buffer tube), and de-California the magazine release levers. Plus of course detailed cleaning, etc.
Overall - recommended.
"The Colt .45 Automatic - A Shop Manual", by Jerry Kuhnhausen.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B010VXI7B...ywords=jerry+kuhnhausen&qid=1593564513&sr=8-1
This is supposedly one of the best reference manuals for the 1911. It's really aimed at gunsmiths, and I am not at that level on the 1911. OK, not even close to that level. Still, if you have a question of detail on the 1911 the answer is somewhere in the book(s). (There is a 2nd book as well.)
Recommended, with the caveat that the more you know about the 1911 I think that then the more you will appreciate this book.
So far on the 1911, my only work has been to drop in a precision trigger and test that it and all of the safeties functioned properly.
I am still looking for a good reference manual on Glocks and Sigs, so if there are any suggestions...
