Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Standard Reference Work, though not perfect, April 13, 2000
If there is one standard handbook for cartridge collectors as well as for "everyday" users, this one should be named foremost. It covers a very large range of current and obsolete cartridge both from the metric and the "imperial" (read: British and American) measurement systems, civilian and military alike. A number of the better-known wildcat and proprietary cartridges are also treated. Almost all cartridges are illustrated (though mostly not with measurements, which are confined to some cumbersome tables at the end of the chapters). While this book is not "the bible" and still contains many (often just minor) errors and inaccuracies, it is infinitely useful, and the well-known new editor, M.L. McPherson, has already made improvements over the previous (7th) edition. I strongly recommend this book as a "must buy" for even a very small firearms reference library - you will end up using it daily.
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29 of 31 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good basics, but better choices for the experienced, January 15, 2007
artridges of the World, authored by Frank C. Barnes and edited by Stan Skinner, is always a fun read and generally a good reference book, however, I believe the franchise publishers may be getting a little impatient in releases. The 11th edition was released only 10 months after the 10th edition, while the 10th edition was released almost 3 years after the 9th edition and with more appropriate timing based on new cartridge releases. In short, there wasn't much new included that shouldn't have easily made the 10th edition.
In general, I noticed no particular attempt by the author to update or correct entries that appeared in earlier editions. The 357 SIG is still listed as a new cartridge , with the suggestion that time will tell if it will succeed. The 357 SIG is chambered in almost every performance non 1911 autoloader and in heavy use with Federal agencies including air marshals and the FBI. The 376 Steyr carries an association with the Scout rifle which has not been available in that chamber for years. The Remington SAUM line and the WSM line read like a new introductions. There are some showcase articles on sub .22 caliber rifle cartridges and the Chinese standardization on the 5.8 caliber, although I am hard pressed to know why as the information is of little practical use and of interest to a very limited audience. I would have been happier with a review of the concepts behind the past few years of cartridge releases and the prospects for the future.
Some of the categorizing or editing has gotten a little sloppy and there is a decent amount of redundancy in listings. Virtually every cartridge that appears under the military heading and has found its way into sporting rifle use, is also listed under "Current American Rifle Cartridges; the 7x57mm Mauser, 8x57mm Mauser, 30-06 Springfield, 7.72 NATO, etc. Usually this dilemma of listing is handled with the least appropriate heading get an "See under x Category". Things got a little more foggy with the inclusion of the 303 British under "Current American Rifle Cartridges" with text describing it as the "official British military cartridge until the adoption of the 7.62 NATO" then goes on to indicate it has never been popular in the United States. I am not sure what the term "Current" means as the definition offered by the book makes no sense at all. According to COTW, current cartridges include those where ammunition is still available, even if only by special order, and only if chambered in modern guns, although not necessarily in guns manufactured and sold in the U.S. I guess this also explains the 8mm Remington Magnum and 375 Winchester being listed as current. Under the "Obsolete American Rifle Cartridge Category" you'll find the 405 Winchester, even though ammo and a current rifle is produced, and the 358 Norma Magnum which is not an American cartridge. The 38 Casull is listed as a mainstream handgun cartridge, as is the 32 North American, the latter cartridge I am only aware of being available in the North American Arms Guardian pistol. The 440 Cor-Bon, however, is listed as a proprietary cartridge, as is the 475 Linebaugh, the latter which is chambered in a number of firearms and available outside of the originator as brass and loaded ammo. Proprietary typically means supplied by the manufacturer for use only in their firearms. Based on some of the COTW definitions, the 257 Roberts would be a proprietary cartridge rather than a commercialized wildcat. Where rifle cartridges have the designations "current" and "obsolete", handgun cartridges carry the page heading "handgun cartridges of the world and there is an in page break heading "obsolete" in the middle of the listings - something easy to miss and also inaccurate. As an example, I shoot a Russian Nagant 7.62 revolver with some routine. The cartridge is listed as obsolete, rather than military and I buy newly manufacturers Fiocchi ammo routinely from suppliers.
That said, if I didn't have an earlier edition of Cartridges of the World I would buy a copy of the current release. If I had the 10th edition, I am not so sure. It is a good general reference book and there are few that offer the same. It is just not a book of great detail and sometimes with uneven listing.
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21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great resource for any shooter!, January 31, 2003
This is a wonderful book to just sit and read for pleasure as well as being a great reference resource. The history of each cartridge is discussed, as well as the author's personal thoughts on each cartridge. The author is a clear, concise writer without being dull, and the range of cartridges covered is very complete. I have used it often. I am currently reading Peter Hathaway Capstick's book, "Death in the Long Grass", which tells of his African hunting experiences. Capstick mentions several dangerous game cartridges, such as the .375 H&H Magnum and the .470 Nitro Express. I looked both up in this book and read about their histories. One very cool thing about the book is that each cartridge is pictured actual size. These big game cartridges are as big as cigars and go about 300 to 400 grain in weight (compared to one of my favorite cartridges, 30-30 win, which is usually about 150 grain). Included in the book are obsolete cartridges and those fascinating wildcat cartridges, such as the author's own creation, called the "thermos bottle" which must be seen to be believed. If firearm cartridges interest you for any reason you should have this book.
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