Dangerous-Game Rifles

Terry Wieland has been my favorite gun writer ever since I read his fabulous Book "Spanish Best," so I eagerly snapped up this book as soon as I saw it. After reading it, I am very impressed. I have read other great books on the subject; such as Craig Boddingtons's fine book "Safari Rifles," but none that apply as much critical thought and intellect to the subject as Terry Wieland has put forth here.Now I not only know who is making the best dangerous game rifles--both double and bolt action--but I know why. I also have a better understanding of the Mauser 98 bolt action, the regulation of doubles, the most important cartridges for dangerous game and an in-depth appreciation of what makes a good bullet for animals that run both ways. He even explains how to load down big cartridges for "practice rounds." If you like rifles, you will love this book.

This book is the pinnacle of seven decades of collective experience and sound theory in dealing with the biggest and baddest critters on hearth. It comes from a fine genealogy of big game hunting literature starting with John Taylor and "African Rifles and Cartridges" in 1948. The standard reference for anyone interested on big game in Africa in the first part of the XXth century. Four decades later "Safari Rifles" by Craig Boddington in 1988 came as a reflection that throphy hunting was back in vogue. A new wave of interest created a market for big game rifles and cartridges again. Then, "African Rifles", by Gregor Woods in 2002, delivered in print the hard won experience of an African born Professional Hunter, improving and summarising a century of knowledge.Wieland's "Dangerous Game Rifles" comes now as the ultimate treatise on the most specialised type of firearms ever produced to hunt big animals: those that can fight back either by goring, trampling or bitting the hunter. His novel triad of cartrige+gun+optics sets a helpful criteria for introducing newcomers and experimented hunters in a workable approach for assembling a useful dangerous game hunting kit. Rifles, cartridges and bullets are dealt in depth as well as a good description of adequate practice and performance that a trophy hunter should achieve before starting a safari in Africa, Australia or Alaska. Wieland's book is good literatute as well as helpful advice. It is a must for those that choose to practice ethically and effectively one of the most dangerous and exhilarating sports.

First of all I feel that I have to let it be known that I am not a hunter. I am fascinated by double rifles and other large caliber rifles of all different mechanical designs. However those rifles (especially the doubles) are far beyond my personal economic lifestyle. I spent many years of active duty service in the United States Army. So many years in fact that I now have absolutely no love of "roughing it" in the great outdoors. I like my creature comforts such as air conditioning and hot and cold running water. So even if I could afford to go on an African safari I'm not sure I would want to. Insects, heat, and all that don't you know.However I am a firearms collector, an enthusiastic amateur historian, an avid reader and one of the most fearsome armchair warriors that you'll ever meet.So ,having said all that, I believe this book is suitable for both the realworld dangerous game hunters and the armcahir warriors like me. It's well written,handsomely illustrated with both color and black and white photos, informative and it never talks down to the reader who may not be as well versed in the arcane world of rifles and ammunition as the author is.Terry Wieland has extensive experience with hunting dangerous game and has used many of the rifles and different loads covered in the book. Shortly after starting the book I concluded that Mr. Wieland knows that are many individuals (like me) who might never get beyond handling a double Merkel or Heym at their local Cableas gun library, but nevertheless want to know more about the world of dangerous game rifles. He appreciates this fact and does an outstanding job of covering the many myraid details.This is important to me. In the past I've read articles and books in which it soon became obvious that the writer was writing for the few with a background in the dangerous game world. The writer was not taking the layman into consideration. I don't have any use for snobs and I certainly don't have any use for snobs whose articles are published in popular "mainstream" publications. My feeling is if they have their nose stuck up into the air that much why did they bother writing about the topic in the first place? They should just go to the next Safari Club convention and visit with their fellow DG hunters.Mr. Wieland is not a snob. I can imagine running into him a local gunstore and ,after approaching him, finding him to be down to earth and more than willing to talk to a simple "gun-guy". Well at least that's the image I have of him after having read his book. Yet whatever the reality this is an outstanding book and will make a very nice addition to your gun library whatever your firearm interests and experience.

I know I'll never go to Africa to hunt the Big Five and I very much doubt I'll ever manage a trip to Alaska to hunt brown bear but as a firearms enthusiast I found Wieland's book fascinating. He is a talented writer and he really knows his rifles. Anyone interested in double or bolt action rifles could do much worse than this book. I especially like that he doesn't pull any punches. If a product or design is just so-so or of inferior quality he says so and says why. That is a refreshing change from the many articles one might read in the various gun magazines whose authors have apparently never seen a gun they didn't like.

Very good book, blk and wht pics but does have all the cartridges shown.all of the big game cartridges are here from the old black power days thru most of the last centry. The author is knowledgeable and experianced at shooting most anything that would make a big bang. However all of the newest short fat mags from Rem. and Win. are missing due to the fact the author is very much married to the older and terribly British developments and their rifles. That really doesnt diminish this well writen book, could easily be supplemented with ballistic tables from many sources for the newer cartridges.

This book is addressed only to the American hunters. An example: the Sect.12 "Big Bore Lever-Actions." Who, in fact, would think to go to a Safari in Africa using a lever action rifle? How many, also among the American hunters, are prepared to risk the life hunting dangerous games, armed with this type of rifle? Also the Sect.11 "Single-Shot Rifles", of moderate interest from the historical point of view, concerns a weapon that would be absurd to bring on the field. Why, therefore, to discuss about weapons that don't have a real use? Besides, we have to keep in mind that no PH would escort a client armed with these weapons, considering the risks for the safety of all the hunting party. Other points are debatable, example: the Chapt."Building a Big Bore Rifle", where the Sect.13 "Granite Mountain Arms and The Mauser 98" seems a marketing article, considered that speaks only of this Firm, even comparing quality and price with the Mausers of Obendorf(!) . The assertion of page 312 is self-contradictory: "As a hunter I refuse to "test" a bullet on a game animal......." To take an untested bullet. .....is unethical.", when in the following pages and particularly at page 341 we read: "In 1990, during our bullet-testing safari in Tanzania and Botswana, Finn Agard. .... ".This is not a book for an experienced hunter. True, there is always something to learn, but is necessary to be more fair in expressing his own beliefs, avoiding to resort to the innumerable opinions of PHs and others individuals to sustain his own opinions. If this rule is fulfilled, the book can be really helpful and give guidelines to a beginner.From an expert like the author, I expected more than done.

First class service.

This is a great book even for the experienced weapon enthusiast, it has lots of nice high-quality pictures including some of real "working-rifles" not only studio pictures of unused rifles. Well worth its price and arrived as promised.

This book is accurate , and informative, a must have for any Big Game Rifle enthusiast, full of very sound advice.

I bought this book expecting it to be about cartridges and rifles and actually it quite different than this. I have hunted a reasonable amount both in NA, Africa and Asia but I am a long way from being an expert. I found this book to provide a wealth of insights not about the "benefits" of a particular cartridge but rather it covered the logic behind what makes a good dangerous game rifle. What features are important and those that are not. Some of the rather arcane information is about wood structure and why some types of walnut is better than other for a heavy calibre rifle. Yes cartridges are discussed but little time is devoted to talking about foot-pounds of energy or bullet drop and instead the author explains what makes some cartridges reliable feeders in bolt action rifles or why the simplest sights are the best. The entire book is really devoted to explaining what makes a reliable rifle and why if you want to hunt dangerous game you should leave the gimmicks behind and stick with the basics. I learned a great deal from this book and I owe the author a great deal for having taking the time to explain the logic behind every recommendation.