Customer Reviews

Gun Digest 2009: The World's Greatest Gun Book

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Short of trade-only publications or, heaven help us, collecting every available catalog from every manufacturer, Gun Digest is the best compendium available. Typically thought of as a sort of compressed catalog of gun makers' offerings, Gun Digest actually has several major sections, including a good selection of articles, recaps of the year's major changes and highlights in each category (e.g., handguns, reloading and components, etc.), a reference section, and more.

I don't typically buy Gun Digest every year, but it's not a bad idea, if for no other reason than the update sections. I did buy the 2009 edition.

Why four stars instead of five? Two reasons: inherent limitations of the format, and omissions.

Inherent limitations include (necessarily) over-brief descriptions of each offering, minimal photo quality, and the fact that not all makers are represented, and not all guns are pictured - even major items in some cases, like the new Winchester Model 70. The decision on which guns to picture almost seems random.

Coverage is generally good, but there are whole categories of omissions - smaller makers, non-cataloged guns, custom-shop guns (manufacturers custom shop models, that is, not custom makers), and distributor specials, that account for a lot of guns that you will routinely see in any major gun shop. While it might not be practical to list each in its own entry, as with stock guns, some sort of coverage is warranted, even without specifications, perhaps in the annual recap pages or in a preface for each manufacturer in the catalog section. The smaller and niche makers deserve some sort of treatment as well.

Gun Digest will occupy any gun enthusiast for hours at a time - again and again. When it comes time to get down to brass tacks, however, you'll still need to go to the real catalogs and/or manufacturers websites to validate and get more complete specifications. I.e., this book functions best as a comparative starting point when it comes to actual purchase decisions.

This product has so much information about guns in general. I thought it would probably have some things about prices.... but no it has EVERYTHING!!!! It will help you figure out what you should look for for your arm length and strength. I would recommend this if you're a new person to guns and want to not look stupid when buying one for the first time.

"Gun Digest 2009" is an OK review of firearms. My main disappointment with the book is the lack of coverage on certain manufacturers (one main example is the almost nonexistant listing of Rock River Arms).

I wouldn't recommend this as "The World's Greatest Gun Book" as it is described, more like an average gun book.

I looked through it once and gave it away.

It's good but blue book is definetely better, some gun manufacturers missing, good for beginners and if you're not that picky.

This is an excellent place to see the new guns that came out in 2008 and see how they might fit into your collection of firearms.

This is pretty much the same as all other issues of the Gun Digest over the years --firearm and accesory listings, ballistic info and articles on the new and improved. Would like a little more info on rimfire ammo and results of tests, as it's very heavily geared to hand guns and center fire rifles.

This is a great book for any shooting/hunting enthusiast. Includes most up to date information on any gun you might be considering and has most informative articles by knowledgable authors.

There is no more comprehensive source for info on contemporary firearms than Gun Digest, and the 2009 edition maintains the tradition of excellence. This is the kind of book that serious shooters, collectors, and firearms enthusiasts of any stripe want to unwrap on Christmas, or as a gift anytime. Even more so because it is not necessarily the kind of book that we would buy for ourselves...we'd read it in the store, really wish we had it, but say its too expensive, we got bills to pay, etc.

The diversity of firearms out right now is astounding, and this book presents a tremendous overview of what is out there, what it does and who is making it, and what calibers it can be found in. I was particularly interested in all the "black rifle" photos, just to see who was making what.

Since I was in the market for a new bolt action- I was looking at Steyrs, Kimbers, Sakos and Tikkas (finally settled on a Rem. 700, though) McMillans, etc. Before I started the the endless internet searches, and then the even more endless gun store visits and telephone searches, I flipped open Gun Digest 2009, and just started dreaming - it was my first stop in the search, and that is one practical use of the book for anybody. Beyond that though, it is any gun person's wish book, a windowshopping tour that makes for hours of dreaming - like I imagine the old Sears catalogs were for people who lived on homesteads in the middle of nowhere - windows into possibility, alot of "what if I could afford that?" And a lot of fun.

Hal Herring

author of: Famous Firearms of the Old West: From Wild Bill Hickok's Colt Revolvers to Geronimo's Winchester, Twelve Guns That Shaped Our History]]

Gun Digest is one of the two or three best handgun, rifle, and shotgun reference works in the world.

First off, I do own Rugers and they're fine guns. But, come on! I get my copy and what do I see, rugers on the front and rugers on the back page and in the middle. I hadn't even read table of contents and I said to myself gee I wonder how many ruger articles on their products. Suprise! Yeah, I'm going to beleive your reviews. I haven't bought Gun Digest in 5 years so what I want to know is information on smaller less known companys and pictures. I know what a ruger blackhawk and smith & wesson model 10 looks like! Don't be so lazy next time.