The Hunter's Guide to Ballistics: Practical Advice on How to Choose Guns and Loads, and Use them Effectively (Paperback)

~ Wayne van Zwoll (Author) "Ballistics is the study of hurtling objects..." (more)
Key Phrases: roundnose bullets, paper shotshells, normal hunting ranges, Ultra Mag, Winchester Magnum, Fail Safe (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Now for the first time, here is a book written specifically for hunters about the guns and loads that they use. In this complete and fully illustrated digest, you'll read about such diverse topics as: how to improve your long-range shooting; how to shoot accurately in winds of any speed or direction; how to solve the problems associated with shooting up and down hills; what causes mirage and how to read it; why some bullets shoot tighter groups farther away; how gunpowder is made; why bullets that move left also rise; which cartridges are suitable for everything plus comprehensive ballistics tables.

From the Back Cover

Now for the first time, here is a book written specifically for hunters about the guns and loads that they use. In this complete and fully illustrated digest, you'll read about such diverse topics as: how to improve your long-range shooting; how to shoot accurately in winds of any speed or direction; how to solve the problems associated with shooting up and down hills; what causes mirage and how to read it; why some bullets shoot tighter groups farther away; how gunpowder is made; why bullets that move left also rise; which cartridges are suitable for everything plus comprehensive ballistics tables. (8 1/2 x 11, 288 pages, b&w photos, charts)

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: The Lyons Press; 1st edition (September 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1585743755
• ISBN-13: 978-1585743759
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #928,956 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good General Text, September 22, 2004

By	Michigan Rifleman "ndjamena" (Lansing, MI) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

A good general text on the use of rifles with a couple of short chapters on the shotgun. It really does not address the use of handguns. Mr. van Zwoll is a good writer and an experienced shooter.

He does not provide specific formulae for doing your own ballastics calculations, but he does provide useful guidelines for choosing guns appropriate to various tasks. I respect van Zwoll's advice because it has been borne out in my own experience. He is not a rabid fan of magnum cartridges, but he does appreciate what they can do. He is realistic in his assessment of the needs of real hunters who (like me) are not professionals and cannot spent weeks every year practicing 500 yard shots.

Unfortunately this text was written just as the new "short magnums" were coming on the market. So only the first of the new high powered short catridges are delt with here. But all of the old favorites are. There is also a good history of firearms and their ballistic capabilities going all the way back to the era of the bow and arrow. Overall, this is another contribution to good gun literature. Much of what this book contains will be familiar to anyone who has read other gun books. But van Zwoll does it better than most.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great for the long distance shooter, September 8, 2005

By	M. Middendorf - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This was a pretty technical review of ballistics. If you're interested in a quick read with immediate results, this one's not for you. It was definately written with the long range shooter in mind.

5.0 out of 5 stars A fun and helpful read for every hunter, October 20, 2009

By	A READER (USA) - See all my reviews

Of all the hunting books I've collected this is one of my favorites and a great read. There is history, but also what to use for what game. I even bought my first chronograph after reading this book so I could test my bullet speed. If you are a hunter the section on zeroing in your gun (i.e. how far you want the bullet to fall if you shoot further than your zero point where the gun is right on) is important. Overall a knowledge of ballistics will help not only your hunting skills, but your enjoyment of hunting. Check out The ABC's of Reloading too.