Old/vintage books on rifle shooting

[Eddie Parks]

Can anybody recommend some good older classics on rifle shooting?

Eddie

[clintonhater]

Question's too vague to provide an intelligent answer.

[Eddie Parks]

OK, how about books on both the technical aspects and the practical aspects of target rifle shooting published between 1900 and say 1950.

[Sunray]

"...between 1900 and say 1950..." Books published between those dates are only useful for historical purposes.
However, The Accurate Rifle by Warren Page is a good read. So is The Hunting Rifle, by Jack O'Conner. Both are available in your local gun shop or Amazon.

[JimF]

Here’s one from the past . . . .

“Mastering the Rifle” by Morris Fisher

My copy says “Copyright, 1940, by Morris Fisher” . . . so I guess I have a first edition. (I bet there never was a second!)

He was a hell of a shot with the M1903! —Jim

[Roadkingtrax]

The Canadian Military had a good training book in WW2. You may be able to find a copy.

Its called, "Shoot to live". The fundamentals never change.

[clintonhater]

OK, how about books on both the technical aspects and the practical aspects of target rifle shooting published between 1900 and say 1950.

Even that's too broad, because between 1900 & WWI (when fanatical German-hater Woodrow Wilson demonized everything relating to Germanic culture), Schuetzen competition was the most popular form of target shooting); only after the war did modern position-shooting become predominant.

Best examination of "technical & practical" aspects would almost have to be one of the manuals written by champion shooters like recently deceased Lones Wigger, who evidently took his secrets to the grave, unfortunately. I once had an outstanding one written by the most famous European shooter of the '70s, a German, but I gave the book away to a younger shooter, & damned if I can remember the author's name. For such specialized publications, I think the NRA might be your best source for recommendations.

[Eddie Parks]

"...between 1900 and say 1950..." Books published between those dates are only useful for historical purposes.

Exactly!! Thats what I need.

[clintonhater]

Exactly!! Thats what I need.

For that, the list would be long, but two of the very best would be Crossman's Book of the Springfield and Military & Sporting Rifle Shooting, published in the '30s, but both reprinted many times.

[Sandpebble]

A little later perhaps but my 1963 copy of " Small Bore Target Shooting by W.H. Fuller " is a worthy read

[Eddie Parks]

A little later perhaps but my 1963 copy of " Small Bore Target Shooting by W.H. Fuller " is a worthy read

Thanks, I had a look at my favourite second hand book site (Abebooks) which lists a second edition of that at £1,168.51 + £56 for postage from the US. Fortunately it also has a first edition for £20.76 inc P&P!!!

Eddie

[clintonhater]

Thanks, I had a look at my favourite second hand book site (Abebooks) which lists a second edition of that at £1,168.51 + £56 for postage from the US. Fortunately it also has a first edition for £20.76 inc P&P!!!


One of the bizarre & inexplicable facts well known to anyone who does a lot of on-line book buying is the absolutely crazy inconsistency of pricing--cheap modern reprints priced far above fine original eds., for ex. It's very obvious that many of these dealers pull their prices directly out of the air, without the least attempt to research average values. Would be very confusing if book search services didn't list titles cheapest prices first.

[Eddie Parks]

Yep, I agree. I always take a look at what the most expensive option is! In this case the 2nd most expensive is in excess of £700. I do find that Abebooks is really outstanding for finding rare and unusual titles and frequently at pretty good prices too.

[Richard Turner/Turner Saddlery]

You can also check out: "The American Rifle" : A Treatise, a Text Book, and a Book of Practical Instruction in the Use of the Rifle, by Colonel Townsend Whelen (1877-1961). Colonel Whelen wrote many books on small arms, marksmanship, and hunting.

Richard

[free1954]

You can also check out: "The American Rifle" : A Treatise, a Text Book, and a Book of Practical Instruction in the Use of the Rifle, by Colonel Townsend Whelen (1877-1961). Colonel Whelen wrote many books on small arms, marksmanship, and hunting.

Richard



you can read quite a bit of that book here. https://books.google.com/books/about/The_American_Rifle.html?id=MAoZAAAAYAAJ

[Dolt]

Can anybody recommend some good older classics on rifle shooting?

Eddie

Most of the American Rifleman magazines before about 1970