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Summary: Magnum
Review: The best look at modern rifles and today's African scene there is.
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Summary: The most important rifle reference on the market.
Review: This is a superb book on the subject of rifles, and supplants John Taylors works as the definitive work on African rifles. It is usefull, not only for those who wish to Safari in Africa but for the hunter in any of the rest of the continents. I have had my copy for three years and it is coming apart at the the seams. I have probably read, reread, and cross-referenced more with this book than with any other. Boddington covers all calibers, not just the huge African ones, from .22LR to the .600NE. He also covers rifle actions, what caliber is suitable to hunt certain types of game, rifles and calibers for differing terrain, what hunters used in the Golden Days and what Pro's use now, and what professionals suggest clients bring for their modern safari. The focus is on Africa but Boddington gives applications for other species of game that are more familiar to the North American hunter. The book is readable and rereadable. The effort put into this is amazing. He has pulled together a hunting career spanning decades, dozens of his safaris, letters from men in the field, 48 different rifle and hunting references, and loading data and offers it up in a clear, detailed, and entertaining manner. It would take someone a huge effort to learn all that the has organized. This is a book that is neccessary for anyone who hunts, likes rifles, or is an Armchair Bwana.
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Summary: Informative and entertaining
Review: This is a terrific book. Early on I arrived at the conclusion the 1992 publication date did not pose an obsolescence problem, and the selections offered by the author were all still completely valid. There have been few significant firearms developments that would apply to safari hunting, and the new products released during the past couple of years have probably not produced enough empirical data to recommend their use over more mature selections for use on dangerous game. Unlike many safari books, this is not a collection of hunting stories with vague references to firearms and cartridges, it is a detailed guide to the selection of firearms that would be appropriate for a safari, a description of the type of game that would be taken with each gun and the underlying reason for the selections. Supporting that information are: collections of pictures and tables, firearm and cartridge use surveys of professional hunters, professional hunters' firearm and cartridge recommendations to clients, ballistic tables for all cartridges noted, and sources for large bore double and bolt action rifles. There is even a section on preparation and transportation of firearms and the design and customization considerations that should be made for heavy recoil rifles. The book is well organized with sections divided into: Big Game Cartridges, Safari Rifles, Guns for Game, and a concluding chapter to summarize one, two and three gun battery selections from the perpective of the professional hunters. I'm very happy I purchased this book. It's enjoyable, interesting, factual and useful.
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Summary: The definitive modern book on the subject
Review: This is the complete work on the hunting rifle in Africa, period. This and Boddington's "American Hunting Rifles" make a two volume masterwork that completely covers the modern hunting rifle in all its forms. This book is unique in that it includes a fascinating poll of modern African professional hunters, what they use, what they want their clients to use, etc. etc. Fascinating statistics. Essential reading for Africa. Also essential in its own way is John Taylor's "African Rifles and Cartridges", and you need to read both.
Rating:
Summary: The definitive modern book on the subject
Review: This is the complete work on the hunting rifle in Africa, period. This and Boddington's "American Hunting Rifles" make a two volume masterwork that completely covers the modern hunting rifle in all its forms. This book is unique in that it includes a fascinating poll of modern African professional hunters, what they use, what they want their clients to use, etc. etc. Fascinating statistics. Essential reading for Africa. Also essential in its own way is John Taylor's "African Rifles and Cartridges", and you need to read both.
Rating:
Summary: The definitive modern book on the subject
Review: This is the complete work on the hunting rifle in Africa, period. This and Boddington's "American Hunting Rifles" make a two volume masterwork that completely covers the modern hunting rifle in all its forms. This book is unique in that it includes a fascinating poll of modern African professional hunters, what they use, what they want their clients to use, etc. etc. Fascinating statistics. Essential reading for Africa. Also essential in its own way is John Taylor's "African Rifles and Cartridges", and you need to read both.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent reference book
Review: This is the very best book on rifles for African game I have read yet. The author has a great deal of experience with African game, and it shows in his writing. I can not disagree with the conclusions reached in this book, because the author has used his experiences to illustrate the reasons for his conclusions.
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