I have begun rereading "African Rifles and Cartidges" by John Taylor. This must be at least my third time though it over the past 10 years. And it always amazes me how little has changed in meaningful firearms technology since this book was penned in 1948.

Taylor recommends good optics on his rifles, other then the stoppers, good quality softpoints that hold together and penetrate, the importance of quality solids and so on. Quality in his rifles was also important.

One section I just finished relates his glowing reports of the 375 H&H and the 375 H&H rimmed(as a medium bore), and how he had 5 different rifles in this caliber. With one of those rifles he fired over 5,000 rounds at game and the other 4 nearly as much. It is possible that he shot 20,000 rounds of 375 caliber at game! Amazing to my mind.

And he documents his results well and with decent method. Yes, he was a poacher, operating illegally much of his career, but for firearms wisdom just as valid today, there is nothing that compares.

BigBullet

Second that!

I have been looking for a copy of this book for some time. Have a standing order in on Amazon but they never seem to have one in stock. I have heard that the book is great and that his experiences with various bore rifles are quite interesting.

My father, John Taylor, exaggerated to no end, but you are right, he was right about rifles, cartridges, and ballistics.

Not much new since his time.

quote:

Originally posted by ROSCOE:
I have been looking for a copy of this book for some time. Have a standing order in on Amazon but they never seem to have one in stock. I have heard that the book is great and that his experiences with various bore rifles are quite interesting.

ROSCOE, I just checked http://www.safaripress.com and They have one copy $39.95 Do a search by name TAYLOR, or by book title, in the upper left hand corner of the home page!

Taylor's book is my favorite "toilet read." I read something in that book everyday.

Great stuff!

I don't think I have been to a gun show in the last two years where at least one used book dealer didn't have a copy.

465H&H

quote:

Picture of Will

Posted Jan 11, 6:44 AM
My father, John Taylor, exaggerated to no end, but you are right, he was right about rifles, cartridges, and ballistics. Wink

Will, could you elaborate or illucidate or ruminate on this comment?
Thanks
Frank

I have had his book, Africa Rifles and Cartridges for years, still love it, still read it, still think Taylor had it on the ball, great hunter and very intelligent. Wish we had another John Pondoro Taylor.

I do think some of his writing was a figment of his imagination. But he lived in great times and truly nothing that he said then is not valid today.

Perhaps better bullets make all the difference but not much else!

"Pondoro" was many things and not all of them acceptable in good company, however, his wisdom and experience in the small arms and munitions for game is unmatched. The tome "African Rifles and Cartridges" should be required reading for any would be hunter, regardless of continent! Men are still men, and beasts ar still beasts (thank God) and what worked then will work now.

Stories about the Lion say that Taylor was gay.
Could this be true about a man that made his living amoung the dangerous beasts? I don't want to beleive this. He is one of my heros.

My only problem with Will's Old Man was that he didn't write enough! He was then and remains today, in a class by himself.

It's too bad how (that I read at least) his last years in London ended.

I too am a big fan of John Taylor.
I suggest ya'll read "Big Game and Big Game Rifles", Pondoro, Last of the Ivory Hunters,
And his Shadows of Shame.

quote:

Originally posted by 577NitroExpress:
Taylor's book is my favorite "toilet read." I read something in that book everyday.

Great stuff!

Remind me to never borrow or buy a safari book from 577NE!

quote:

Originally posted by Will:
My father, John Taylor, exaggerated to no end, but you are right, he was right about rifles, cartridges, and ballistics.

Not much new since his time.

Will,
You and ole "dad" must of had one hell of time living under the same roof, with his high recomendation of doubles as a personal preference in firearms for use on game and all.


Double rifles being a "romantic fantasy" in your mind.

Greg

John Taylor is beyond a doubt my favorite author on big game hunting. His analysis and findings are simply priceless even today. Only a handful of men who've ever lived have exceeded or even come close to his level of experience in the field. Whether you like his style in certain things or not, you cannot discard his TREMENDOUS knowledge and experience afield. He literally LIVED in the bush year 'round for most of those 30 years he hunted. He dropped game by the thousands and had a intimate knowledge of the habits and environment of those animals that few have ever had.

Taylor was simply amazing and he was and still is one of the all time great big game hunters, IMHO. He's definitely in the top five of the all-time greatest dare I say...

I've read all his books several times and never tire of them. When reading Taylor it's like being right there with him when that lion or elephant is in full-charge from just a few paces away! I particularly am amazed at his coolness to DROP TO ONE KNEE to take the shot at a charging lion... I would think kneeling down would be the last thing I'd want to do but I can see where he's coming from because he's getting right down there at eye level with it and is far less likely to put the shot over his back if the lead is incorrect!

Re the inquiry about Taylor's orientation....I think Capstick wrote a bio of him, which I read, and he deals with all this. Taylor was expelled from at least one African country for his 'predilictions" and they were well known.

I am sorry I cannot cite the bio, or the sources, as I am away from home, but upon my return I will update this comment.

I am not a Taylor fan at all. I have read his books and find him prone to exagerate. On his comments on guns and cartridges, he is accurate, but he says little more than other contemporary writers of his time. He wrote to sell books and fund his exploits in Africa and then back in England when he "retired". I am not sure that a large part of what he wrote was for public consumption.

I see Capstick a little the same way.

I find Teddy Roosevelt, Corbett and Selous to be better and more authentic for my liking.