Weird request from Mom: review two gun books for library

[Kharn]

My mom's a reference librarian, and yesterday she came home with two books for me to read and give her my opinion of their worthiness of being admitted to the library's system (someone donated the books to the library). (I'm sitting at home enjoying two weeks of vacation decompressing from four years of college before I start work)

One's 'The Game Rifle' by Bob Hagel, which shouldnt be too hard to review.
The other's the 'Speer Handgun & Rifle Reloading Manual #12', which I'm not quite sure how to review, I dont have a reloading press to try the information out, and I definitely dont have enough diversity of calibers to do a random sampling of the data.

I showed Mom how the book is mainly charts and numbers, she said to give it a look and give my opinion.

Anyone want to send me a few C&Rs and a whole reloading setup so I can try out a random sample of calibers? I wouldnt want to give a possibly wrong opinion on such an important subject.

Kharn

 

[PATH]

Suffice it to say that the Speer Reloading MAnual is a standard. It is of a technical nature and is an invaluable guide to the serious reloader. I would say it is a great addition to any collection.

 

[Don Gwinn]

The Speer manuals are great. The first time I met ArmySon, he gave me an RCBS Rock Crusher press and a Speer load manual. I haven't found a reason to replace either in the intervening years. Never would have thought of asking for a load manual at the library, though! My only gripe is that the Speer I have doesn't include 7.5 Swiss, but that's why we have the internet.

I'm not familiar with the Hagel book.

 

[HankB]

Current Speer manuals are very fine reference books. Early ones (such as the #8) listed some loads that would probably put off Elmer Keith as being excessive.

 

[DragonFire]

What would make the books unworthy? If they were buying them, I can see wanting to spend money wisely, but since they were donated why wouldn't/shouldn't they be added to the library.

I think my local libraries are pretty good, but they have some books I can see anyone ever wanting to use, like encyclopedias from the 1960's.

 

[Stebalo]

Make sure your Mom's library isn't circulating Bellesile's fraudulent piece of scholarship, Arming America as non-fiction.

 

[mainmech48]

IIWY, I'd tell her that the Speer manual is a reference book, and as such would be a valuable additon to that part of their collection.

You could also imply that it'd add some good ol' PC "diversity" to the place;-)

 

[Waitone]

I vote for the Speer manual to be in the library. It is a book based in FACT, a truly novel concept in today's education world.

When some teacher starts ragging against the AR-15 because it is the most deadly bullet shooter known to man, a quick trip to Speers should slap someone upside the haid and introduce them to reality.

I'm sorry! I love reality and have a hard time accepting people and organizations who are ignorant on purpose.

 

[Josey]

Speer manual goes to the reference section and IS NOT Loanable! I have had a few books grow legs. The Hagel book is OK. I see no reason not to add it. It was free. I wouldn't pay money for it though. The Gun Digest and NRA guides to firearms assembly and disassembly would be worth buying. I donated a set of Krause Publishing paperback firearms books to my local library.