Customer Reviews

Shooter's Bible: The World's Bestselling Firearms Reference

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There's good news for all shooting fans and gun owners from Skyhorse Publishing: "Shooter's Bible: 101st Edition" is back with all the old familiar features -- plus many new ones.

The 608-page large format paperback book retails for $29.95, a bargain price, considering how much information about rifles, shotguns, revolvers, autoloaders, black powder rifles and pistols, scopes, ammunition and all the paraphernalia associated with shooting is included.

The new edition, edited by Jay Cassell, includes a history of the publication, which got its start as a mail order catalog in 1923 for the Stoeger Arms Corp. of New York City. Stoeger Arms was acquired in 2000 by the Benelli Corp., which shut down Stoeger Publishing last year after only a limited number of copies of the 100th edition were produced, making it almost unavailable to shooters. Skyhorse has also acquired to rights to other Stoeger titles. Since it began publishing in its familiar form, an average of 100,000 copies of the book have sold every year, for a total of about 7 million. The Skyhorse Publishing 101st edition makes this an ideal holiday present for any shooter and/or gun collector.

Curious as to what a 100th edition would sell for, I checked Amazon.com and found three new copies listed, from $134.50 and three used ones from the same price point!

"Shooter's Bible" is simply the most complete reference guide for new products, specifications, and up-to-date prices on thousands of firearms and related equipment. This edition of "Shooter's Bible" contains a series of informative feature articles by nationally recognized firearms experts writing on subjects ranging from hunting and shooting to firearms technology and history. Also included are up-to-date and comprehensive handgun and rifle ballistic tables along with extensive charts of currently available bullets and projectiles for handloading.

New this year is a feature on the 50 Best Guns Ever Made, which is certain to be controversial, given how opinionated gun owners are. As a gun owner and shooter myself, I'm going to read this feature thoroughly. I noticed that the Ruger 10/22 rifle is included, a gun I've owned and enjoyed. I don't currently have a 10/22, but this will be remedied before the year is out! Somehow, when I sold my 10/22 a year or so ago, I kept one of the magazines. The only two military arms in the list are the Springfield Model 1903 and the Model 98 Mauser, two classic bolt-action rifles.

Since so few of the 100th edition made it to buyers, the editors of the 101st included the 2008-2009 new products section from the 100th edition. Also in the 101st edition is a 2009-2010 new products section. The history of the "Bible" is also reprinted in the new edition, as are facsimile pages -- complete with prices -- from the very first Stoeger catalog. How about $27.50 for a Luger or $80 for a Mauser sporting rifle? There's a new Mauser Broomhandle for $35.

Thanks to Tony Lyons, founder of Skyhorse Publishing, "The Shooter's Bible" is once again available. As the English poet Robert Browning -- no relation to gun legend John M. Browning -- famously wrote (In "Pippa's Song"): "God's in His Heaven, All's Right With the World."

This year's SHOOTER'S BIBLE offers a new edition covering all the new guns, ammo and optics and has been picked up by a new publisher after its long-time publisher Stoeger Publishing closed its doors. It offers the 2008-09 edition's New Products section, an article on "The 50 Best Guns Ever Made" and more in an outstanding 'bible' for any sports or hunter's collection.

WOW! This is one heck of a book. I'm not a gun person. I don't like them and I don't own one. I bought this book for my brother. Made the mistake of glancing through it. This book has so much information. I kept it a couple days before I gave to my brother.

The book arrived when on the day I was told it would arrive. It was packed well and arrived in perfect shape.

I'm happy with my order.

Ray Chanley

this is an excellent addition to any firearm aficionado from the enthusiast to the professional. It has page after page of essential details on a variety of weapons, and even includes a section for guns recently introduced, as of it's calendar year. The only draw back, if memory serves, is that it sometimes lumps weapon variants together, giving generic specs and failing to specify what detailed information goes with which variant.

A very good source of info on new products, features and approximate retail price. I always enjoy the articles as well. If you are researching a new purchase or just want to see what's new this is a very good resource. As usual I was very happy with Amazon's service and price.

Shooter's Bible arrived on time and in great condition. Being carefully protected since it is the last edition to be published. Will be passed down to grandchildren.

This a very good reference book i use it every day at my gun shop

These people were great in handling my order and shipping so quick. I have really enjoyed my book. Thanks

Even though I haven't read every word yet this is an outstanding edition of this publication.

Pictures alone are worth the price! Add some great articles and what more can you ask for.

My husband was disappointed that the Shooter's Bible contained information only on newer guns. He's a gun collector and was hoping to get some good info on the older more scarce guns in his collection.