ANOTHER GREAT BOOK FOR AFRICAN HUNTERS-

"AFRICAN DANGEROUS GAME CARTRIDGES" by Pierre van der Walt, South Africa 460 pages

I have recently received my copy of Pierre's new writings and it is simply fantastic for new or old Dangerous Game Hunters! I have been fortunate enough to visit the Dark Continent 10 times to date (two cruise/photo only) and 15 separate safaris and I feel I am still learning...and this book has been very enlightening to say the least. I would like to share my comments with you.

The title of the book would lead one to believe it is only about cartridges and maybe handloading. Well, not the case....over 30% (first 135 pages) of the book is dedicated to the rifles, clearly a controversy between bolt and doubles to begin with!! He begins with Terminology, ie Big and Dangerous game, caliber and bore sizes, velocity classification and threshold, then ventures into recoil and physical response to it, enough, fitness, etc. From there Pierre covers optics and alternative sighting systems, even scopes on dangerous doubles. Then into bullets and Nick and Flip theory, supercavitation, stabilization...things I have never really thought of directly...some I have learned by observation but clearly not understood the technical side...makes sense completely when explained as he does....and something to think about too...like needing a tighter twist for stabilizing dangerous game bullets!

From there, Pierre dives into all aspects of handloading for Dangerous Game, even regulating for Doubles and powder burn rate, and then into loading the 48 Transition Bores, Large Bore, and finally Super Bores (.465-600) cartridges covered in depth with a plethora of loading data for each! He begins with the 9.3x62 and wraps up with the 600 NE. There are several pages on each and every cartridge and a format on each that covers Cartridge History, Characteristics, Performance, Optics and Sighting, and finally Handloading with often a couple of pages or more of specific loads. Simply a treasure trove for handloaders for Dangerous Game Rifles!!

Pierre is South African born, a Lawyer by education (we can't hold that against him!!), a former military officer, PH and one of the founders of the Bigbore Association of South Africa (BASA). He is the producer of the AIM Show, the premier sporting show held in Johannesburg every year. He has incredible experience in the field as his credentials would suggest and he writes from an African PH and personal hunter perspective, ie with experience of what can and does go wrong in the field...not from the clients (limited, relatively) perspective that most always has the PH for back up when the chips are down. His writing is very witty as well as technical, and he has a bit of a delightful twist to his dialog as his mother tongue is NOT English, ie he is translating...so we get a bit of a SA flare of that too.

This is a delightful book that I will be keeping by my easy chair and on the loading bench when working there. This is a coffee table sized book, close to 5 lbs with many, many great pictures of fine rifles, hunting shots and of course interesting people. The book critics are calling this book a potential sequel to John Taylor's African Rifles and Cartridges...I would add 'on steroids' with all of the color pictures and loading data!!

I am told this book is nearing a sell out of the First Printing, already...so don't wait, if you think you want this great book!! I believe Safari Press has a few copies here in the States. Incidentally, I received my copy as an incentive for extending my subscription to African Hunting Gazette for 4 years...a great bargain, in my opinion, and also a great quarterly magazine if you are not already subscribing (you should!)....and mine, an autographed edition signed by the author and Richard Lendrum, publisher of AHG. It is advertised in AHG and African Hunter, Safari Magazine, etc.

I thought y'all might enjoy this book as I am...and not to be missed. It goes far beyond any other book presently available on African Dangerous Game Hunting-guns and ammo, in my opinion!! I have nothing to gain here, I am just sharing my thoughts on a great book so you don't miss it....

Enjoy!!

Thanks for the great review. Can you copy and put it in the Books, DVD's forum as well?

Pierre van der Walt,is one of the persons with more experience in the world in heavy calibers hes book is the best of the best ,and he has the patient to respond any question .Ill visit him next year for a bit of shooting and drinking .

Dogcat-I sure can give it a try...didn't know there was a Forum on Books!!.... always learning!!

Great book. I got a signed copy included with my African Hunting Gazette subscription and didn't have to wait until Safari Press got its resupply of books.