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best book to buy?
- Thread starter etays69
- Start date
Three of the classics are:
No Second Place Winner, Bill Jordan
Fast and Fancy Revolver Shooting, Ed McGivern
Sixguns, Elmer Keith
I prefer Jordan and Keith's style, but for thouroughness and detail, in particular with relation toward training techniques, I have to give the edge to McGivern.
All three books are written with a definite slant toward revolvers, but I think that much of the information can be translated to other forms of handgun shooting fairly easily.
The great thing about these books is that anything reccommended in them is gleaned from thousands and thousands of hours of real practice, esp. in McGivern and Keith's case. Both men make mention of trying a particular technique, sometimes for years, before either adopting or discarding it.
I believe that the Jordan and McGivern books are in print. Sixguns, I believe, is out of print and may come at a premium.
No Second Place Winner, Bill Jordan
Fast and Fancy Revolver Shooting, Ed McGivern
Sixguns, Elmer Keith
I prefer Jordan and Keith's style, but for thouroughness and detail, in particular with relation toward training techniques, I have to give the edge to McGivern.
All three books are written with a definite slant toward revolvers, but I think that much of the information can be translated to other forms of handgun shooting fairly easily.
The great thing about these books is that anything reccommended in them is gleaned from thousands and thousands of hours of real practice, esp. in McGivern and Keith's case. Both men make mention of trying a particular technique, sometimes for years, before either adopting or discarding it.
I believe that the Jordan and McGivern books are in print. Sixguns, I believe, is out of print and may come at a premium.
For reloading, "The ABC's of Reloading" by Dean Grennell is a must read. Though, sadly, the book has been out-of-print for a long time now, I still see editions of it at gun shows for reasonable prices. I'd also recommend two of Henry M. Stebbins' tomes, "Rifles: A Modern Encyclopedia" and "Pistols: A Modern Encyclopedia"; Jack O'Conners classic, "The Complete Book of Rifles and Shotguns"; "The Accurate Rifle" by Warren Page; "The Modern Rifle" by Jim Carmichel; "American Hunting Rifles" by Craig Boddington; "Sixguns" by Elmer Keith, "The Double Shotgun" by Don Zutz; "Shotgunning Trends in Transition", also by Don Zutz and "The Art of Handgun Shooting", by Charles Askins, Jr.
There are, of course, many, many more fine books on guns and reloading but I suggest the aforementioned as indispensable classics any well-rounded firearm's library should have.
There are, of course, many, many more fine books on guns and reloading but I suggest the aforementioned as indispensable classics any well-rounded firearm's library should have.
Yes.
Books. The Pistol Shooter's Treasury by Gil Hebard.
The NRA Firearms Fact Book.
Jack O'Connor's "The Hunting Rifle"
Bob Brister's "Shotgunning: the Art and Science"
Maybe Thompson and Oberfell's "The Mystery of Shotgun Patterns" - if you are into SGs.
"Cartridges of the World"
The USAMU Pistol Markmanship Guide (free online)
There are a number of important books about target shooting and cartridges but they are specialized.
Pete
Books. The Pistol Shooter's Treasury by Gil Hebard.
The NRA Firearms Fact Book.
Jack O'Connor's "The Hunting Rifle"
Bob Brister's "Shotgunning: the Art and Science"
Maybe Thompson and Oberfell's "The Mystery of Shotgun Patterns" - if you are into SGs.
"Cartridges of the World"
The USAMU Pistol Markmanship Guide (free online)
There are a number of important books about target shooting and cartridges but they are specialized.
Pete
The best book out there to learn the fundementals of pistol marksmanship is the USAMU's Pistol Marksmanship.
It teaches you the fundementals that apply to all pistol shooting, learn the fundementals before you move to combat style shooting.
You could buy this book through the CMP Bookstore, or you could PM me with your e-mail address and I will send it to you in .pdf format.
FREE:
I only request that you share it with any others interested in learning about pistol marksmanship.
It teaches you the fundementals that apply to all pistol shooting, learn the fundementals before you move to combat style shooting.
You could buy this book through the CMP Bookstore, or you could PM me with your e-mail address and I will send it to you in .pdf format.
FREE:
I only request that you share it with any others interested in learning about pistol marksmanship.
orionengnr
New member
In the Gravest Extreme, Mas Ayoob
No Second Place Winner, Bill Jordan
The AAMU manual is also a great choice, as are any reloading manuals.
I also like the Kuhnhausen manuals for the S&Ws and the 1911s.
No Second Place Winner, Bill Jordan
The AAMU manual is also a great choice, as are any reloading manuals.
I also like the Kuhnhausen manuals for the S&Ws and the 1911s.
Niner4Tango
New member
As was mentioned above!
Maybe not the "best" but a must-have: a good reloading manual so you can learn more about the other half of the firearm system. So many questions shooters ask (or mistakes that are made) are covered in a good reloading manual. The Speer used to be a good one, I haven't seen a recent printing.
Maybe not the "best" but a must-have: a good reloading manual so you can learn more about the other half of the firearm system. So many questions shooters ask (or mistakes that are made) are covered in a good reloading manual. The Speer used to be a good one, I haven't seen a recent printing.
I can't recall the name of it, but I have a very old copy of a *pamphlet* put out by Jeff Cooper many years ago. It put everything he taught for so many years after into about 12 pages.
I doubt you'd every fins a copy even if I dig up the name...not many were printed.
Concise, precise and deadly.
Major two thumbs up on Bill Jordans No Second Place!
I doubt you'd every fins a copy even if I dig up the name...not many were printed.
Concise, precise and deadly.
Major two thumbs up on Bill Jordans No Second Place!
Single Six
New member
The Gun Digest Book Of Combat Handgunnery,6th Edition by Massad Ayoob. Overloaded with great,reliable info. I got mine at Books-A-Million in the Sports section. Also,every year he puts out an annual magazine,The Complete Book Of Handguns. He writes every article in it,and has been doing so since the early '90s.It comes out in January;you should still be easy to find this year's edition in stores.
Sixguns..by Keith
Mostly revolvers, all aspects of shooting: fast draw, long range work, reloading; it's all in there. Also a good discussion of various models. Keith was no
shrinking violet...his likes and dislikes are legendary.
Hatcher's Notebook...Hatcher
Ballistics, manufacturing details, US military arms developement, reloading, and much more. If you want to advance your knowledge of small arms, start
here.
Pistols a Modern Encyclopedia...Stebbins
Covers nearly every make of hand gun built prior to 1964, foreign and domestic...chapters on target shooting, gun fighting, long range work, leather,
military use, and handloading. A good place to start if your thinking of collecting or enjoy the historical aspects of hand guns.
Fast and Fancy Revolver Shooting ... McGivern
THE OLD MAN of fast work...fast draw (and actually hitting his target), long range work, timing, training, aerials. He was the best there ever was. Full of
pictures, this book will open your eyes to what's possible. The new "masters" were preceded by this old man by over 30 years.
Pet Loads .... Ken Waters
The best reloading book of really great loads in existence. 45+ yrs of research covering nearly any caliber you can imagine, rifle or pistol. I usually start
with a review of what Water's had to say on a caliber before I begin working up a load for a particular gun.
The Pistol Shooter's Book...Askins
Covers in depth: bullseye target work, gun selection, grip, stance etc. A very outspoken man; National Pistol Champ in the late 30's. You love him or
hate him. Askins was a pistolero of note.
No 2nd Place Winner...Jordan
The best, in my opinion, of the law enforcemet how to books. Jordan's advocacy for the K frame S&W firing a .357 Magnum round led to the Model 19.
A talented man with a revolver, Jordan was famous for his witnessed shooting feats. It's a great read whether you're "on the job" or just a civilian. He
pulls no punches. My father in law was an active participant in Jordan's vignette regarding the new guy and the night shooting at the canal. "Best
case of justifiable homicide ever witnessed!"
Reloading...NRA Manual
Good coverage of most calibers with a great "how to" section for beginners. Ballistics, cartridge, and chamber dimensional drawings, you'll find them
from a reliable source with no ax to grind.
Cast Bullets...NRA
Sadly now out of print, this book, primarily written by Col. Harrison is the basis for most of our advanced cast bullet shooting knowledge. A great
jumping off point for discovering this fascinating aspect of our sport.
Reloading for Competition...Zediker
I may have the title wrong. This book is for advanced reloaders or those interested in getting the last full measure of accuracy from their loads.
He covers all of the high end gadgets available to the bench rest crowd, (and to the rest of us for that matter), and what they can do for your
group sizes. His description of the reloading process may change the way you approach loading...it did mine. He also discusses practical accuracy,
what is really possible using the best of components and a process proven for success. Zediker is no internet ranger, he''s a top level hi-power
competitor and speaks from experience. Results...all he's interested in. This is a rifle book with broad applicability to hand gun loading as well.
There are others, Taffin for one if you're into custom sixguns, but these are a good start towards a hand gun shooter's library. The writers above differ markedly from those now familiar to most younger shooters. For the most part, those listed above, spoke their minds. You'll find their individual prejudices throughout their work. None of them could ever be accused of being shills for a brand and that attitude of "show me" is clearly reflected in their writing. Reading the last 30 yrs of gun magazines, you'd think that each and every gun evaluated was an absolute tack driver, fitted and finished to a Kings delight. I much preferred those older and maybe wiser scribes whose purple prose made me think, made me laugh, and occasionally p----d me off.
My opinions of course...your's probably differ...but frankly, Scarlett...I don't give a d--n Rodfac
Mostly revolvers, all aspects of shooting: fast draw, long range work, reloading; it's all in there. Also a good discussion of various models. Keith was no
shrinking violet...his likes and dislikes are legendary.
Hatcher's Notebook...Hatcher
Ballistics, manufacturing details, US military arms developement, reloading, and much more. If you want to advance your knowledge of small arms, start
here.
Pistols a Modern Encyclopedia...Stebbins
Covers nearly every make of hand gun built prior to 1964, foreign and domestic...chapters on target shooting, gun fighting, long range work, leather,
military use, and handloading. A good place to start if your thinking of collecting or enjoy the historical aspects of hand guns.
Fast and Fancy Revolver Shooting ... McGivern
THE OLD MAN of fast work...fast draw (and actually hitting his target), long range work, timing, training, aerials. He was the best there ever was. Full of
pictures, this book will open your eyes to what's possible. The new "masters" were preceded by this old man by over 30 years.
Pet Loads .... Ken Waters
The best reloading book of really great loads in existence. 45+ yrs of research covering nearly any caliber you can imagine, rifle or pistol. I usually start
with a review of what Water's had to say on a caliber before I begin working up a load for a particular gun.
The Pistol Shooter's Book...Askins
Covers in depth: bullseye target work, gun selection, grip, stance etc. A very outspoken man; National Pistol Champ in the late 30's. You love him or
hate him. Askins was a pistolero of note.
No 2nd Place Winner...Jordan
The best, in my opinion, of the law enforcemet how to books. Jordan's advocacy for the K frame S&W firing a .357 Magnum round led to the Model 19.
A talented man with a revolver, Jordan was famous for his witnessed shooting feats. It's a great read whether you're "on the job" or just a civilian. He
pulls no punches. My father in law was an active participant in Jordan's vignette regarding the new guy and the night shooting at the canal. "Best
case of justifiable homicide ever witnessed!"
Reloading...NRA Manual
Good coverage of most calibers with a great "how to" section for beginners. Ballistics, cartridge, and chamber dimensional drawings, you'll find them
from a reliable source with no ax to grind.
Cast Bullets...NRA
Sadly now out of print, this book, primarily written by Col. Harrison is the basis for most of our advanced cast bullet shooting knowledge. A great
jumping off point for discovering this fascinating aspect of our sport.
Reloading for Competition...Zediker
I may have the title wrong. This book is for advanced reloaders or those interested in getting the last full measure of accuracy from their loads.
He covers all of the high end gadgets available to the bench rest crowd, (and to the rest of us for that matter), and what they can do for your
group sizes. His description of the reloading process may change the way you approach loading...it did mine. He also discusses practical accuracy,
what is really possible using the best of components and a process proven for success. Zediker is no internet ranger, he''s a top level hi-power
competitor and speaks from experience. Results...all he's interested in. This is a rifle book with broad applicability to hand gun loading as well.
There are others, Taffin for one if you're into custom sixguns, but these are a good start towards a hand gun shooter's library. The writers above differ markedly from those now familiar to most younger shooters. For the most part, those listed above, spoke their minds. You'll find their individual prejudices throughout their work. None of them could ever be accused of being shills for a brand and that attitude of "show me" is clearly reflected in their writing. Reading the last 30 yrs of gun magazines, you'd think that each and every gun evaluated was an absolute tack driver, fitted and finished to a Kings delight. I much preferred those older and maybe wiser scribes whose purple prose made me think, made me laugh, and occasionally p----d me off.
My opinions of course...your's probably differ...but frankly, Scarlett...I don't give a d--n Rodfac
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