Cartridges of the World

This is a wonderful book to just sit and read for pleasure as well as being a great reference resource. The history of each cartridge is discussed, as well as the author's personal thoughts on each cartridge. The author is a clear, concise writer without being dull, and the range of cartridges covered is very complete. I have used it often. I am currently reading Peter Hathaway Capstick's book, "Death in the Long Grass", which tells of his African hunting experiences. Capstick mentions several dangerous game cartridges, such as the .375 H & H Magnum and the .470 Nitro Express. I looked both up in this book and read about their histories. One very cool thing about the book is that each cartridge is pictured actual size. These big game cartridges are as big as cigars and go about 300 to 400 grain in weight (compared to one of my favorite cartridges, 30-30 win, which is usually about 150 grain). Included in the book are obsolete cartridges and those fascinating wildcat cartridges, such as the author's own creation, called the "thermos bottle" which must be seen to be believed. If firearm cartridges interest you for any reason you should have this book.

Pretty much THE standard firearms reference text. For the beginner the task of choosing and recognising a cartridge can be a tad confusing at best ( A simple example will suffice- this round is a .22 rimfire. Is it a .22 short? a .22 Long? A .22 Long rifle? a .22 shot cartridge? a 5mm rem. Magnum? a .22 Win. Mag?- you get the idea. Lets not even start on .30 Cal. Magnums!)This is the authortive guidelines on every cartridge ever produced, with short history, ballistics and so on. Handloaders, and collectors must have this- hunters might manage to live without.There are some opinions scattered throughout the book, but nothing in those is particully worrying- there is certainly no opinion that I would consider dangerous or worrying. And even if there are opinions which you might disagree with, gentle reader, this is still the only book that I am aware of that goes into such depth on such a range of cartridges. Recommended. Grade: A

This book provides extremely useful information to the avid firearms user and those just beginning. Cartridge description covers dimensional, reloading, history and sporting/military firearm background. The book is a must for anyone looking to build a custom rifle, pistol or shotgun as the description of wildcats and obselete calibres is reasonably wide and varied. The author manages to focus well on the task at hand, making the book a pleasure to read and money well spent.

Mr Smith of Pahrump Nevada, who reviews this book negatively above, is just too close to his subject for balance. Personally, I have ardently wished for a book like this with its simple goal of comparing cartridges by size, applications, and history. It is such a confusing topic to the relative beginner -- like me -- that its a wonder such a book has not been available and updated every five years since the first brass cartridge was produced. I now see clearly where before I could not easily grasp the differences between a 308, 30-30, 30-06 and 7mm Magnum, or between a 22WMR, 222, 223, 22-250, 25-20. I know now, and its easy! Mr Smith, we know you know a fair amount about ammunition, but we also sense you would be a bore writing on this topic. Leave it to others. And by the way, the word is "hogswill"! My advice to anyone interested in ammunition -- get this book and all questions will vanish. Note: I have no link whatsoever to publisher or writer.

Doing research on an old cartridge, ANY old cartridge, is greatly assisted by this volume. I've been doing such research on loads for an obsolete handgun known as a .401 PowerMag which was available around thirty years ago from Herters Inc. This volume had the cartridge in it and included old loading information. Wonderful.