Varmint Hunting - Firearms - Reference Books and Magazines Discussion

[Eric M]

After KiwiShooter mentioned some books that were in a picture, I thought it would be nice to see some collections. I have a lot of books and old magazines. I use them for reference when writing articles for Varminter Magazine, etc. I also enjoy going back and reading the old articles. In addition to a full set of Varmint Hunter Magazine, I also have a full set of Precision Shooting magazines from the 1950s & 1960s. In the pictures below, you will also see a bound collection of American Rifleman magazines from 1929 to 1975. I bought those at a local Estate Auction of a Doctor that passed away. There are notes on the binder here in Boise. He was meticulous in choosing the fonts, color, etc. It’s a great resource!

What do you guys have in your collections?

 

[Bob the nailer]

Ha, Love that book end on the sierra box! Great collection too!!

 

[Eric M]

Thanks! A gunshop owner friend of mine gave those boxes to me.

 

[kiwishooter]

That's a great collection of books and magazines, I have a collection of Precision Shooting from the early 80's to the last one, not a complete set but pretty close. Those PS magazines were what got me into Benchrest shooting. There is a collection of PS magazine in digital format on the web

Internet Archive: Digital Library of Free & Borrowable Texts, Movies, Music & Wayback Machine

archive.org

While i came across Small Caliber News well after the first issue I did manage to get a full set, I also have a full set of Gunmaker, not all in hard copy since they stopped posting them Internationally

I have a few of the books you show plus a few more, I will try and get a few pics this weekend. Charles Landis book Twenty Two Caliber varmint rifles is a good read and so is Wood Chucks and Wood chuck Rifles and Hunting with a .22

Thinking about it I probably have more rifle books and gunsmithing books than varmint hunting books.

Kiwi

 

[kiwishooter]

Managed to get a few pics today of some of my books, until I get the basement finished and some more bookshelf space the rest are in boxes

Since it isn't easy to go prairie dog shooting or varmint/predator hunting all we can do is arrange something or read about it

Kiwi

 

[kiwishooter]

Somehow I couldn't fit all the photos in the previous post

Yes I have got the Sensational 17's, the two copies I originally bought were dated on my birthday, I loaned the terrific twenties to a relation, never to be seen again so I bought another set off Todd

 

[kiwishooter]

Has anyone bought any of the Varmint Rifles & Cartridges magazines?

Books, Media, Magazines, Art - Varmint Issues - Wolfe Pub

www.wolfeoutdoorsports.com

Kiwi

 

[Rick in Oregon]

Has anyone bought any of the Varmint Rifles & Cartridges magazines?

Books, Media, Magazines, Art - Varmint Issues - Wolfe Pub

www.wolfeoutdoorsports.com

Kiwi

Over the years I've purchased more than a few of them, but don't much now as it's pretty much a re-hash of material most of us already know.

IMO, there's much more to gain by re-reading articles in old issues of Small Caliber News, Varmint Hunter Magazine and Precision Shooting. But that's just me. Many print magazines now are going out of print I've noticed.

 

[kiwishooter]

Over the years I've purchased more than a few of them, but don't much now as it's pretty much a re-hash of material most of us already know.

IMO, there's much more to gain by re-reading articles in old issues of Small Caliber News, Varmint Hunter Magazine and Precision Shooting. But that's just me. Many print magazines now are going out of print I've noticed.

Thanks for the reply Rick, the only thing I’ve noticed is a few articles on newer cartridges, most of the gun magazines I didnt bother buying because they didn’t contain information I was interested in, precision shooting was one of the most informative and interesting magazines that used to available.
Small calibre news was also interesting and informative as it dealt with cartridges and firearms main stream magazines didnt, and provided information that I was interested in.

I’ve noticed those varmint rifles and cartridges magazines have a few cartridges and rifles that don’t seem to be main stream ,218 mashburn bee, 219 Donaldson etc

My thoughts about a varmint hunting firearm library, the books give a view into the past, cartridges, rifles scopes equipment used etc, the current magazines articles give information about what is currently being used, new equipment etc although the forums also contain this information.
Books were printed in the thousands so are available to many even if a book or two get burnt, information in the forums is only available while the forum is available, I wish I had copied and pasted a lot of information from Saubier, we lost all that information that wasn’t printed elsewhere.

Kiwi

 

[Rick in Oregon]

Kiwi, like you, I've got beaucoup old varmint shooting magazines, and still refer to them. In my library, I've got 40+ years of Gun Digest. Great reference for out of production guns with prices listed, and some very good stories to boot. My oldest one is from 1946 with a couple of articles written by Elmer Keith.

The collection would be quite heavy, so it makes me wonder where they'll end up when I'm pushin' up daisies, as shipping cost would be brutal. We spend our lives reading about our favorite subject, but when "that time" comes, what to do with that library?

 

[kiwishooter]

Rick, I've got Gun Digest from 1944 to 2019 and they have been very handy in researching several firearms, plus they have some pretty interesting articles. The historical value of these when researching firearm related things is immeasurable, I also have Handloader from 1966 to 2022.
Instead of having Gun Digest and Handloader in hardcopy I have those in digital format so they don't take up too much room.
When it comes to pushin up daisies nobody will probably want them and they will probably be sold for cents per lb or given away, but I will be past caring I will have had the enjoyment.

Since I have 2 of these If anyone wants Gun Digest from 1944 to 2018? in digital form let me know.

Kiwi