Firearms & Weapons Books

American Rifle: A Biography

Alexander Rose

Amazon Price: $19.80 List Price: $30.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Delacorte Press Amazon Marketplace: 46 new & used starting at $18.05

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Subjects -> History -> Americas -> United States -> General
Subjects -> History -> Americas -> United States -> General AAS
Subjects -> History -> Historical Study -> Social History

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 9 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

American Rifle 4 out of 5 stars.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.

American Rifle: A Biography
I started shooting in 1934 and was active for many years with reloading and amateur gunsmithing, I was also deeply involved with the procurement of the M14 rifle and all the problems involved. This is the best book on the subject, comparable only to Julian Hatcher's Rifle in America which has long been unavailable. Phil Sharpe's is more like a catalog. It doesn't take a shooting fan to appreciate this very readable history of Americana.

Editorial Review:

Amazon Best of the Month, October 2008: Given the title, American Rifle is a book that many potential readers might dismiss without a thought. Don't do it: Alexander Rose's peculiar "biography" is not written for gun enthusiasts--though they'll certainly enjoy it--but for anyone interested American history from George Washington to the Wild West to Iraq. Drawing on original sources ranging from Samuel Colt to the soldiers who depend on the weapon the most, this book is an exhaustive history of the rifle's place in American culture, not only as an instrument of war, but also as a driver of technological innovation and advances in mass production that helped propel the United States into its role as both a military and economic superpower. Once you start, American Rifle will have to be pried from your cold, dead hands before you put it down. --Jon Foro

Blue Book of Gun Values: 29th Edition (Blue Book of Gun Values)

S. P. Fjestad

Amazon Price: $26.37 List Price: $39.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Blue Book Publications Amazon Marketplace: 31 new & used starting at $25.05

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Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Antiques & Collectibles -> Reference
Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Antiques & Collectibles -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 29 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Blue Book of Gun Values-29th Edition 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Extremely comprehensive and valuable tool for gun collectors who wish to determine value of a firearm for purchase or sale.

Blue Book Of Gun Values-Great Guide 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This is THE guide to have. It is very useful in showing the trend your gun may be making as time goes by. You need to know the specifics of the gun, and this is reasonably descriptive. Not always easy to find your specific model as it may be listed in other areas than you would suspect, but not difficult either. It is good at giving "ballpark" prices to expect, but as always you can't count on getting that price. You may see a great variance due to demand, or condition(many think their gun is in better shape than the buyer does--a gun in "as new" shape may be booked at say 550 bucks, but yours has lost a lot of bluing, and the stock is flawed a bit from rubbing shrubs and such, so it may be woth only 325. you need to be honest with yourself on the condition.). Also a particular gun may be in much more demand in certain geographic areas, as opposed to others.
Emotions will affect price also "I had one of those years ago" or "My dad/granddad used to have one of those". Thoughts like these may inflate the buying price greatly.
But, I get off topic. This is a good guide, and for the average gun it reflects the market quite well. Any collector, gun show enthusiast, or a person just wondering what is what would do well to buy this. It is a guide, not a Bible. Dan Wickham

Editorial Review:

This newest 29th edition of the Blue Book of Gun Values, with over one million books in circulation, once again sets the firearms industry standard for both modern and antique firearms information and up-to-date pricing. Now expanded to nearly 2,200 pages no other single firearms publication even comes close!

Gun Digest 2009: The World's Greatest Gun Book (Gun Digest)

Ken Ramage

Amazon Price: $19.79 List Price: $29.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Gun Digest Books Amazon Marketplace: 37 new & used starting at $18.25

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

GUN DIGEST 2009 3 out of 5 stars.
2 of 4 people found this review helpful.

Not all guns are in Gun Digest. I wonder why alot of guns that continue to be made are not put in these catalogs.

Gun Digest 2009 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 6 people found this review helpful.

A brilliant way to keep up with what is happening in shooting in America. I have most editions from the early 50's and find it compulsive reading.

EXCELLENT REFERENCE BOOK 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 3 people found this review helpful.

The 2009 edition of Gun Digest is an excellent reference book on firearms. It is probably "THE" best single publication for the gun enthusiast out there.

Editorial Review:

Three times larger than the closest competing reference, Gun Digest 2009 delivers a balanced mix of thoroughly researched articles about elements of shooting sports and new product reports, with a detailed and current catalog of firearms and accessories which outlines specifications and prices. All of that, plus a firearms industry directory unlike any you've ever seen is yours for the taking in this legendary gun guide.

Abc's Of Reloading: The Definitive Guide For Novice To Expert (ABC's of Reloading)

Bill Chevalier

Amazon Price: $16.49 List Price: $24.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Krause Publications Amazon Marketplace: 24 new & used starting at $16.49

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Subjects -> Professional & Technical -> Engineering -> Industrial, Manufacturing & Operational Systems -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 5 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

The best place to start 5 out of 5 stars.
21 of 21 people found this review helpful.

This is the book I used when I got started reloading about 10 years ago, and this book gave me just what I needed. When I first got the itch to load my own ammunition, I was overwhelmed by the amount of information and terminology involved in this fascinating field/hobby. It was very difficult to take all the individual pieces of information that I had and form it into an understandable process. I was snowed in under a blizzard of data that I was piecing together through chat rooms and web sites. Everyone was very helpful - basically shooters are the most helpful people I know - but still I was just getting fragments without a solid, complete overview. Phrases like "roll crimp", "seating and sizer dies," and "headspace" came at me in a blizzard. I could look up each phrase, understand each one as a piece, but still the whole picture was fuzzy. In essence, that is what this book will do for you: turn it all into a coherent, linear whole. The writing is very solid and clear, the illustrations are well done and helpful, and the information is very complete. After reading this book, the entire process made sense to me, and more importantly, I was fully warned about the does and don'ts of the reloading world. The coverage is very complete. Primers, powders, bullets and cases are explained with regard to nomenclature and history. All necessary tools and accessories are discussed and explained. This is just a great book. It won't make you an expert (only actual reloading for years will do that), but it will put you on the right road if you wish to become one. --Mykal Banta

Editorial Review:

Starting with the basics, this guide will lead the reader through the process of reloading handgun, rifle and shotgun cartridges with ease. Perfect for beginners and a great refresher for experienced reloaders, the book first discusses all the necessary tools and accessories needed to get started, then goes through step-by-step instructions and safety tips for loading metallic cartridges and shotshells. Helpful illustrations guide readers through each step and make the process easy to understand."The ABCs of Reloading" covers all aspects of the hobby, from benchrest loading techniques, to ballistic software, to competition and hunting loads and more. Readers will appreciate how the book makes a complex subject understandable and fun.

The Gun Digest Book Of Concealed Carry

Massad Ayoob

Amazon Price: $16.49 List Price: $24.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Gun Digest Books Amazon Marketplace: 29 new & used starting at $16.05

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Subjects -> Sports -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Thoughts on Massad Ayoob's Latest Book 5 out of 5 stars.
8 of 9 people found this review helpful.

As a long time reader of Massad Ayoob's writings I am always pleased with the way he can take information which he has presented before and present it in an informative, entertaining manner. There is not much that is "new" here but the presentation allows the reader to look at the familiar in a new way. I loaned my copy of "Concealed Carry" to a friend who is a concealed carry instructor and highly experienced shooter; he ordered his own copy after finishing reading the book. I think that that action speaks highly of the quality of Massad Ayoob's work.

Love it 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

This book is honest and full of the answers to hundred of questions I had about carrying a firearm for self defense. Having met the author, I can tell you that this is like having the guy with you, explaining little tidbits of his accumulated knowledge and experiences. This is a must have for anyone who has or is contemplating personal defense precautions.

Editorial Review:

In addition to tactical aspects of self-defense, practical information like choosing the right firearm and ammunition, used gun purchases, and all legal aspects of self-defense with a gun are also extensively covered in this complete and authoritative look at concealed carry.

Gun: A Visual History

DK Publishing

Amazon Price: $14.96 List Price: $22.00 Usually ships in 9 to 12 days By: DK ADULT Amazon Marketplace: 10 new & used starting at $14.21

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Subjects -> History -> Military -> Pictorials
Subjects -> History -> Military -> Weapons & Warfare -> Conventional -> Firearms
Subjects -> History -> Military -> Weapons & Warfare -> Conventional -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Beautiful photos 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I gave this book as a gift, and the recipient loved it! The photography is cool, the descriptions are great, and the collection as a whole is very informative.

Editorial Review:

Showcasing more than 300 guns, from rifles and pistols to machine guns and grenade launcher, this 800-year visual history is the perfect gift book for anyone interested in firearms.

2008 Standard Catalog of Firearms: The Collector's Price and Reference Guide (Standard Catalog of Firearms)

Dan Shideler

Amazon Price: $23.09 List Price: $34.99 By: Krause Publications Amazon Marketplace: 41 new & used starting at $20.78

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 9 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

2008 guide 3 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I have the 2000 and 2002 editions of this guide and was very impressed, but the the 2008 is a disappointment. The picture quality is very poor and the newspaper type paper and print are very displeasing.

Editorial Review:

The only illustrated firearms pricing and identification guide of this magnitude.

Standard Catalog of Firearms is undoubtedly the preferred desk reference to antique, vintage and modern firearms from around the world. With this super-sized firearms guide you gain access to more than 25,000 listings of firearms manufactured between 1838 and mid-2007. With bonus market reports and tips on how to find collectible firearms in the front, and an extensive reference section in the back, you'll quickly discover the bulk of this mammoth guide includes 7,500+ detailed photos and listings with realistic condition grade data, completely updated collector values, "sleepers" which identify models poised for a leap in value. Plus, new this edition, "value tracker" tables with actual, real-life auction results for specific model of guns.

The Gun Digest Book of Combat Handgunnery

Massad Ayoob

Amazon Price: $16.49 List Price: $24.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Gun Digest Books Amazon Marketplace: 35 new & used starting at $12.25

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Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Antiques & Collectibles -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 35 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

6th Edition is a reprint of the 2002 5th Edition 2 out of 5 stars.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.

Save your money. The 6th Edition is exactly the same book as the 5th Edition published in 2002, except for the cover. You can buy the 5th Edition (used) on this website for as low as $1.67. Gun Digest should have pointed this out when they published the 6th Edition. I am surprised that such a distinguished publisher would resort to this tactic to make a few more bucks.

Editorial Review:

Serves of smart training tips and planning for self-defense with firearms.

Equips firearm owners with information to not only survive a violent encounter with a deadly criminal, but also protect and prevail.

You quickly will discover potential life-saving information and practical instruction in the pages of this new edition of The Gun Digest Book of Combat Handgunnery, the essential guide to handgun self-defense. With 48 states permitting concealed carry of firearms the advice in this book, including how to keep hold of a gun if a criminal tries to grab it, defending yourself with a concealed pistol, and understanding the legal aspects of self-defense with a gun, can help you be more proficient in using handguns.

Shooter's Bible - 99th Edition

List Price: $24.95 By: Stoeger Publishing Company Amazon Marketplace: 6 new & used starting at $6.95

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Subjects -> Outdoors & Nature -> Hunting & Fishing -> Hunting

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

"Shooter's Bible" continues to be an essential, core addition 5 out of 5 stars.
6 of 8 people found this review helpful.

Stoeger Books is the premier publisher of reference books on rifles and pistols. First published in 1924, and now in it's newly revised and expanded 99th edition, Stoeger Books "Shooter's Bible" continues to be the preferred and comprehensive firearms reference guide covering new products, specifications, and prices on thousands of firearms and related equipment. In addition to informed and informative feature articles, this edition of "Shooter's Bible' covers handguns, rifles, shotguns, black powder, sights and scopes, ammunition, ballistics, and reloading. Superbly organized and profusely illustrated throughout, "Shooter's Bible" continues to be an essential, core addition to personal, professional, academic, and community library firearms reference collections. Also very highly recommended from Stoeger Books for firearms reference collections is the new 30th edition of their "Gun Trader's Guide" (9780883173442, $24.95).

Editorial Review:

Published annually for more than 80 years, Shooter's Bible is the most complete reference guide for new products, specifications, and up-to-date prices on thousands of firearms and items of related equipment. The 99th edition of Shooter's Bible contains a series of informative feature articles by nationally recognized firearms experts writing on subjects ranging from hunting and shooting to firearms technology and history. The Shooter's Bible contains up-to-date and comprehensive handgun and rifle ballistic tables along with extensive charts of currently available bullets and projectiles for handloading. Shooter's Bible is a must for anyone interested in firearms and shooting sports.

Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson (Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson)

Jim Supica, Richard Nahas

Amazon Price: $26.39 List Price: $39.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Gun Digest Books Amazon Marketplace: 47 new & used starting at $17.00

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 37 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Definitive Smith & Wesson identification and pricing reference, includes 350+ full-color photos for improved identification

Smith & Wesson is one of the hottest manufacturers of handguns, offering more new models than any other maker - 39 new products in 2005 alone

Comprehensive coverage of Smith & Wesson firearm line including the only handgun in the world in continuous production since 1899

Smith & Wesson outfitted some of the biggest and boldest gunfighters, both actual and fictional - including Wild Bill Hickock, Buffalo Bill and Dirty Harry - whose exploits are still legendary. Today a renewed Smith & Wesson corporation is back in the front of the pack. Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson, 3rd Edition combines full color photos with details collectors need to identify and better appreciate all Smith & Wesson firearms. For fans of Smith & Wesson firearms this book is a must-have, with its: *Expert authors who have unique, exclusive access to Smith & Wesson archival material *Easy-to-locate listings organized by model and year of manufacture help to quickly and accurately identify firearms *Rarely seen production and historical notes useful in determining rarity and value

With more than 775 models of Smith & Wesson guns and variations, including many models not found in other firearm-pricing guides, this is the one book for any Smith & Wesson gun-toting fan.