I just finished a week of fishing with a young Canadian guide who has developed an interest in buying a hunting rifle. He is a newbie, and I certainly shared my biases quite freely. He asked for a recommendation for an introductory book or two so that he might make more educated choices.
What do you guys suggest to introduce him to what sporting rifles are all about? He is truly starting from scratch.

Here are a few which are chock full of good information and readable:

The Rifles, The Cartridges & The Game by Clay Harvey

Lymans Guide to: Big Game Cartridges & Rifles by Edward Matunas

The Big Game Rifle by Jack O'Conner

The Hunting Rifle by Jack O'Conner

American Hunting Rifles by Craig Boddington

Hope this helps.

Pretty much any of the reloading manuals are awesome sources for information, even if the person isn't planning on handloading. I like the Speer, Hornady, Sierra and barnes manuals. Good unbiased descriptions of each cartridge. You can do quick comparisons of different cartridges. Chapters on external ballistics, glossary of common terms, and much more.

I've read my manuals countless times

I enjoyed Wayne van Zwolls books. The hunters guide to long range shootign and The Hunters Guide to Accurrate Shooting. Boddington's Shots at Big Game is also good for beginners.

Congorilla by Martin and Osa Johnston. roger

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I enjoyed Wayne van Zwolls books. The hunters guide to long range shootign and The Hunters Guide to Accurrate Shooting. Boddington's Shots at Big Game is also good for beginners.

Ditto!

This & the O'Conner stuff is excellent reading; interesting & informative. Those 3 writers give you the best of the old & new.

friar

Tell him to get on AR. There is a wealth of knowledge here (and a bit of BS ).

American Hunting Rifles by Craig Boddingon. I think that's the title. I also recommend African Safari Rifle by Boddington as well.

Plus One on the Boddington books...

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Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
Plus One on the Boddington books...

Agreed - as well as the Ed Matunas

Drop the Jo'C books until he knows enough to know when he's getting biased info.

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Drop the Jo'C books until he knows enough to know when he's getting biased info.

Is this a .270 Win thread?

+ 1 on Von Zwoll. Informative and easy to read.

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I just finished a week of fishing with a young Canadian guide who has developed an interest in buying a hunting rifle. He is a newbie, and I certainly shared my biases quite freely. He asked for a recommendation for an introductory book or two so that he might make more educated choices. What do you guys suggest to introduce him to what sporting rifles are all about? He is truly starting from scratch.

Can some one point out in the above where ANYTHING was mentioned about hunting in Africa???????????????

Come on folks, sounds like the young man is just getting interested in hunting and for God sakes he lives in Canada. Why not let him get a little basic information first before sending him off on Safari?

Jim Carmichel's "Book of the Rifle" is a pretty good read, in my estimation...

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Jim Carmichel's "Book of the Rifle" is a pretty good read, in my estimation...

There is a good suggestion. There are plenty of good books out there that will help the beginning shooter/hunter without overwhelming them with knowledge that they may have no interest in availing themselves of.

For many folks, simple base information will nudge a newbie in the right direction, while p[resenting too much info or info concerning things the new hunter may have no interest in may or will have a negative effect.

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Originally posted by AFRICAN LEADWOOD:
I enjoyed Wayne van Zwolls books. The hunters guide to long range shootign and The Hunters Guide to Accurrate Shooting. Boddington's Shots at Big Game is also good for beginners.

I just bought Wayne van Zwolls Guide to Long Range Shooting this past week. It has been a an informative and interesting book so far.

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Originally posted by AFRICAN LEADWOOD:

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Drop the Jo'C books until he knows enough to know when he's getting biased info.

Is this a .270 Win thread?

It would have been if we'd left Jack in. ANyway - a lot of Jack's stuff is very dated wrt to scopes and so on - a great read - just not current advice.

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Can some one point out in the above where ANYTHING was mentioned about hunting in Africa???????????????

Come on folks, sounds like the young man is just getting interested in hunting and for God sakes he lives in Canada. Why not let him get a little basic information first before sending him off on Safari?

I think Gregor Wood's "Rifles for Africa" is a great read in that case.

So Leadwood, your stance is that people in North America know nothing about guns or hunting?

I misread you post as asking where the Africa recommendations were and that you wanted some basic info before he went on safari.

I see you mean it the other way around. That you feel African hunting information was NOT required.

Look at my initial posts. I recommended Van Zwoll and Boddington on North American hunting. Several posters seconded my suggestions.

Either way, I don't see how you arrive at your final deduction that my recommended reading implies that someone knows nothing about hunting.

A recommendation for good reads was requested. That is what I gave. Those are good reads in my opinion and the OP can choose what is most appropriate.

This is a timley thread. I am taking a trip soon to see my son graduate from BT and was considering the same thing. I like the WVZ and JOC suggestions. Two of my favorites. How about Townsend Whelen? Any opinions on which is his best book?

Leadwood, my point is/was that the question concerned in essence a beginning hunter/shooter. I feel that it is too easy to give a person in this type situation, information overload and possibly do more harm than good.

In my opinion, and that is all it is, the older writers will provide better base/general information about guns/hunting, without getting too technical or too wrapped up in gear/gadgets. Yes O'Connor extolls the virtues of the .270, Elmer Keith, my personal favorite waxes fondly on the bigger calibers while Warren Page does get more into the technical aspects of the process.

The authors you mentioned are good. Other good choices have been mentioned by other responders. I just believe it is better to let a person gain the basics first and then move along at their own speed than swamping them with information that in their situation may not be useful.

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Originally posted by Marty:
I just finished a week of fishing with a young Canadian guide who has developed an interest in buying a hunting rifle. He is a newbie, and I certainly shared my biases quite freely. He asked for a recommendation for an introductory book or two so that he might make more educated choices.
What do you guys suggest to introduce him to what sporting rifles are all about? He is truly starting from scratch.

Books are great Marty. Joining a local hunting club might we a real contender for knowledge as well. These are also hunters just like you. Their experiences with various manufacturers should also hold some value. The more info the better. CB

American Hunting Rifles by Boddington would be my first stop. Even though I,m a Canuck.. Seems enough discussion on the relative merits of different calibers, application and whatnot to give somebody an idea what will work on the critters they,re likely to be after locally.

All the old "Rifle Magazines" from Wolfe Publishing. He can read the ones from 20+ years ago!

"Pet Loads" by Ken Waters.

I'd be reading the wind and holes in the paper. And for goodness sake, don't let him read these forums.......

I'd just tell him to buy a 270 Win, 7 Rem Mag , 30-06 or, if he thinks he needs the power and reach, and wants to deal with the recoil...a 300 Win Mag...in the bolt action stainless/synthetic rifle of his choice...

The time he would have spent reading could be spent shooting.

The first question should be what is his intended use for the rifle? Is he gonna be hunting in areas with grizzlies?
While everybody has some sort of exotic rifle to suggest, remember: the 30-06 is never a mistake. There is probably more BG killed in NA each year with a 30-06 than all the rest combined.

The art of the rifle by Jeff Cooper. great basic text on how to shoot.