Author Topic: New Handgun Hunting book now avaiable (Read 1410 times)

Deaf Smith · « **on:** May 15, 2004, 09:22:07 AM »

Has anybody seen Clair Rees new book on Handgun Hunting? JD in the latest issue of american Handgunner called "The best book on Handgun Hunting ever published" I was wondering is anybody had read it as of yet. I have a copy but have not had a chabce to look at it (I am still reading Mark Hamptons book)
Jim L

palgeno · « **Reply #1 on:** May 15, 2004, 11:01:34 AM »

Have read both books to which you have referred----Hampton's is the better of the two. pg

Steve Pennington · « **Reply #2 on:** May 18, 2004, 03:42:24 PM »

I also have read both books and Mark Hampton's book is better. Post back and see what you think of it.

Questor · « **Reply #3 on:** May 19, 2004, 02:43:16 AM »

Hampton's book is the worst book on handgun hunting I've ever read, and I own all of them except the Rees book. There's very little practical information in it to help a shooter set himself up for handgun hunting, and very little material on hunting the species an American hunter will typically hunt. It's really just a memoir of of his personal hunting trips.

Buy Hunting for Handgunners by Jones and Kelly if you want a good one that's still in print.

Given the quality of Rees' usual work, I suspect that the praise given by reviewer is greatly exaggerated. I'll check it out anyway, though.

Deaf Smith · « **Reply #4 on:** May 19, 2004, 05:05:43 AM »

What are the titles of the books that you own? I was wondering if you have any that I do not? I have I beleave a total of 6. Please let me know thanks. Since I have both the Hampton & Rees books I guess I will see once I finish Hamptons book. I do have JD & Kellys book and consider it very very good and said as much to JD. JD tells me its no longer in print but I still see it for sale, so I don't know but I have mine.
Jim L

Questor · « **Reply #5 on:** May 19, 2004, 05:39:42 AM »

DeafSmith

Sixguns by Keith (kinda counts as a handgun hunting book)
Pioneering Handgun Hunting, by Goerg
Successful Handgun Hunting, by Johnston
Handgun Hunting, by Nonte
Hunting for Handgunners, by Jones and Kelly
Handgun Hunting, by Hampton

Is there anything on that list I need to know about? I'd like to have all of them in my collection.

If you get the Rees book, please put a post here letting us know what you think about it. If you like it, I'll probably buy a copy.

Graybeard · « **Reply #6 on:** May 19, 2004, 07:26:19 AM »

Ya know the strange thing about Rees writing such a book is that I honestly can't recall ever reading a magazine article by him where he was hunting with handguns. Perhaps he has written them and I just missed them. But I sure don't remember them. He certainly isn't who I'd think of when handgun hunting comes to mind.

GB

Questor · « **Reply #7 on:** May 19, 2004, 07:40:19 AM »

GB: I've seen a few by him, mostly with XP-100 class guns on prairie dogs. I think you saw the articles, but fell asleep reading them. I usually don't try to read his work any more unless I need a refresher course on uninformative equivocation, or if I'm suffering insomnia and I need something sure-fire to put me to sleep.

Zeus · « **Reply #8 on:** May 19, 2004, 08:07:25 AM »

I read an article by him once where he hunted some pigs with a Freedom Arms I think in CA. Best I can remember, he mentioned that he didn't hunt that way very much or something to that effect. So, this is fairly strange to me also. GS

Questor · « **Reply #9 on:** May 19, 2004, 08:37:02 AM »

I looked it up in amazon and the title is Ultimate Guide To Handgun Hunting. The summary indicates that it's about celebrity and semi-celebrity handgun hunts.

I wonder if this is another one of those T*ffin-esque books like Big Bore Handguns, where the word "bore" didn't refer to the inside diameter of barrel. I sent that one back for a refund because I didn't want to read a book substantially about the great times he's had watching television.

Deaf Smith · « **Reply #10 on:** May 19, 2004, 12:26:11 PM »

Quester, thats about all of them I have the entire list you mentioned including "Pioneering Handgun Hunting" which was one of the hardest to get. I did get lucky with Nonte & Jurras book I found a hardcover version about ten years after I bought the soft cover one and read it. since the HC version was only $10 I grabbed it (It pays to look in the discount bins at gunshops) I do have two that you don't have on your list but they are more like specuality magazine written by one auther with no ads in them. both are by Bob Milek "Handgun Hunting" & "Handgun Hunting across a
America" Not really book like but well worth reading if you can find copies.
I have a copy or rees book already I just hav'nt gotton to read it yet. Its on the list after I finish Hamptons book which so far I like (i just got to the chaptor on "Down Under") I will post a review after I get a chance to read it. I understand what you mean about rees I don't remember much about him doing a lot of handgun hunting I would think somebody like Larry Wishen would have written one befour Rees. But the field os so small we have to take what they publish. I really wish JD would do a full on full book in hard cover covering all the aspects of HH even is he only used Contenders it would be great. That many yeaRS EXPERIENCE would make for a helva book but he says he has no pland to do so at this time(I asked). Oh well all we can do is hope he will change his mind someday in the future. Tell me what did you think of Pioneering Handgun Hunting? and of Nontes book? Just asking how you felt about them.
Jim L

Questor · « **Reply #11 on:** May 19, 2004, 01:05:36 PM »

DeafSmith:

Pioneering Handgun hunting is the best of them all. Goerg really had it figured out and things haven't changed much since then. The guy really was a pioneer, and a darned good one at that. It's great to see such a historical work that still holds up after many years. We sure are lucky now to have such good scopes. I posted a very favorable review of it here one time and Mr. Goerg's son contacted me. We had a very nice correspondence. Unfortunately Goerg isn't given the credit that some others get. He really accomplished a lot.

It's hard to pick a favorite between Pioneering Handgun Hunting, Successful Handgun Hunting, and Hunting for Handgunners. They really are excellent.

I re-read Nonte's book every once in a while. I think they got a little carried away with their enfatuation with the automag, and spent way too much time on chapter on customizing a revolver for shotshell use. I found it to be typical gunwriter fare-- kind of out of touch with the real world. But at the same time that's the source of it's charm. It really is a bad beginners book, but I'm glad they did stuff like hunting with the automag, hog hunting with a 45ACP, and hog hunting with a cap and ball revolver. This expands our knowledge a bit, even if those practices never got off the ground. I can appreciate the kookiness of it now that I've got more experience. Kookiest of all was failing to realize the vital importance of the handgun scope.

HHI-7420 · « **Reply #12 on:** May 19, 2004, 04:51:30 PM »

The one that got me started was a small paperback that featured Thell Reed and a guy named Weaver. This was in the early 60's and really impressed me. Mostly javelena hunting but some deer. Anyway, at the time, I was impressed and the ball started rolling. Pat

CJ · « **Reply #13 on:** May 20, 2004, 06:22:07 AM »

Questor,
Your praise on the Goerg bookstarted me looking, does $50 sound fair or should I keep looking? Hate to spend that much on a book I've never seen, but I guess thats why the price is so high.

Questor · « **Reply #14 on:** May 20, 2004, 06:53:50 AM »

Holy SH*T CJ. Buy it!!!! $75+ if you can find it is fair.

Deaf Smith · « **Reply #15 on:** May 20, 2004, 09:19:11 AM »

I guess I should be glad I only paid $30 for mine.
Jim L

CJ · « **Reply #16 on:** May 20, 2004, 05:56:30 PM »

Just got the email, mine fell through. someone beat me to it. Oh well, the search goes on.

supermag 445 · « **Reply #17 on:** May 23, 2004, 11:11:02 AM »

questor, I see that you have read a lot of books on handgun hunting and I do have hamiltons right now and yes it seems to be a recount of his hunts but I do enjoy it some.

What I was wondering is do you know of a book that is dedicated to the revolver as the primary hunting arm. In hamiltons its a short rifle :wink: that is mostly used not much on revolvers. I want one that uses revolvers mostly or has a lot of good information on them for hunting.

As my handle states I am a Dan Wesson 445 supermag NUT.

Brian

Thanks for any and all help.

Deaf Smith · « **Reply #18 on:** May 23, 2004, 01:23:57 PM »

Nontes book covers the 45 auto black powder and the automag but nopt so much on regular revolvers Larry kelly & jds book cover revolvers a bit especually Kelly he likes 44 magnums especually customized by his shop. the book is well worth getting Hope this helps some. I just finished Hamptons book and found it quite enjoyable.
Jim L

CJ · « **Reply #19 on:** May 24, 2004, 05:02:25 AM »

supermag 445,
Not quite a hunting book, but Taffins "Big Bore Revolvers" might be a good read for you. Title kinda says it all, and there is a hunting chapter in the back. Got mine off ebay for $20.

Questor · « **Reply #20 on:** May 24, 2004, 05:52:57 AM »

Supermag 445: I think that Phil Johnston's book Successful Handgun Hunting is the closest thing to a revolver book for the hunter. He really emphasizes their use, including bullet casting, holstering, and configuring a revolver for hunting. You should be able to find it used. Try abebooks.com It's a reliable way to shop for used books. The book is very well written. I think it was written during the 1980's or early 1990s, but it's still current.

Deaf Smith · « **Reply #21 on:** May 24, 2004, 05:48:10 PM »

I have that one too you are right its got a lot of revolver stuff in it compared to some (most others)
Jim L

supermag 445 · « **Reply #22 on:** May 25, 2004, 05:12:32 PM »

thanks guys for the info. questor I will be looking for that one. Thanks for the help.

Brian

Deaf Smith · « **Reply #23 on:** May 25, 2004, 07:12:26 PM »

Well it seems he has done some Handgun Hunting. I found a book published by shooting times magazine(a thick magazine really) dated 1985 with an article on handgun hunting varmits with a 22 pistol, bu Rees in it. So he apprently does have some experience.
Jim L