Terry Wieland has written another masterpiece. His research was evident as his coverage of the subject was thorough and complete. Jim Garrett

The book is very interesting and certainly is a much better work than any of Craig Boddington's. It covers the subject of African Big Game rifles from every possible aspect, that includes the rifles themselves, cartridges, sights, bullets etc. What really annoyed me was a statement made by the author that "Americans build the finest bolt action rifles in the world, bar none, without exception, and without argument". I would expect this kind of misinformed and arrogant bold statement on a web discussion board, but I was dumbfounded to read it in a book that is supposed to be written by a subjective writer. I'd had no problem with him stating his opinion, but to tell us not to argue?? I appreciate the patriotism, but this is downright immature and a bit crude. As for the statement itself, well, I suggest that the author takes a look at bolt action rifles made by Hartmann & Weiss in Germany, Hambrusch and Fuchs in Austria, or James Purdey in England before making such misleading statement, then telling us not to argue!

3/5

A side note that has absolutely nothing to do with how I rate the book: the glue used to make the hardcover has a really strong bad smell. At the beginning I thought I was too fussy, but then two friends on two different occasions asked me "what stinks" in my book shelf. One of them could even pick it up from 10s of books as the source of the stench!!

Very intelligently written book, learned lots about rifles and the types of bullets needed for this type of hunting. Wish there were more pictures of the fine rifles that were described in the book. I felt that the author was very well educated on the subject matter.

Wieland is the firearms editor for Gray's Sporting Journal and unquestionably knows his subject matter. This is an in-depth look at both the history as well as current status of dangerous game rifles, including not just the doubles we think of when we think "dangerous game" but also a detailed discussion of bolt action rifles. There are informative bits in here from various individuals about their preferences in rifles for dangerous game as well as a look at the various manufacturers and their histories. I thought the book dragged in a few spots - at times I wasn't sure whether I was reading it for entertainment or as a reference work - in fact it serves both purposes. It is certainly entertaining in some parts but relatively dry in others. I recommend it for anyone who hunts dangerous game or enjoys the study of fine rifles.

Having been a game control officer myself in Zambia in the late 60's - early 70's, this book certainly brought back some wonderful and frightening memories of those times. Even though the book is really just about the tools we used, I could smell the dung, hear the whine of flies and feel the stinging drag of the wait a bit thorn against my skin, all over again. The sheer amount and detail of technical information is amazing and though I perused it all very carefully, I could find no obvious mistakes, which is rare indeed in such a book. For what it's worth, I'd recommend it highly. David White

If you're considering a rifle purchase so you can go after the big game, check out this book first. There's also a great history of firearms and cartridges.

Wieland's book is very informative and well written. Anyone condsidering the purchase of a rifle for dangerous game would have time well spent reading Dangerous Game Rifles.

This book is the best I've read on Guns, bullets, related to Hunting I've ever read.
Simply a very Valuable source of great information.
Highly recommended. Read it.
Tom

Great Book! Easy reading. Very informative. Great history on the firearms and catridges.Highly recommended to anyone interested in dangerous game hunting!

Excellent source for information. It was all I expected and more.

Terry Wieland is shooting editor of Gray's Sporting Journal and has contributed numerous articles to other shooting magazines, but his DANGEROUS-GAME RIFLES is an even more important survey and a top pick for any library including books on big game hunting. Packed with specifics about big-bore rifles, DANGEROUS-GAME RIFLES discusses legendary gunmakers, gun-making history, specs, and more, exploring their action, performance, and field applications. Descriptions include insights on developers of these notable rifles and offer a satisfying blend of practical field insights and historical notes, making this a 'must' acquisition for any serious hunting library.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

This book is very well written, but lacks some detail & seems to be biased. I do not agree with His comments on the feeding of cartridges from magazines. All weapons I have used [which number quite a few] wether guided like the Mauser or unguided like the Weatherby, when the action is opperated properly they chamber just as well. I enjoyed reading this book & the experiences quoted. Some of His facts regarding the English & European cartridges were questionable.

Very comprehensive, written by a person with real experience with bolt actions and double for dangerous game. The modern version of John Taylor's book Big Game & Big game Rifles and much more technically correct. This guy knows what he is talking about. Must read before you order that custom Safari Rifle or Double.

I admit it, I'll never take up a rifle and go up against the big African, or Alaskan game. I'm just an armchair affectionado. Still, I spent many an hour in the easy chair reading this book. I don't even have one of the really big guns that he talks about. The biggest gun that I have is a .375 H&H. (Mine is not nearly as pretty as some of the guns he shows. And I've got to say that I agree with him that shooting reduced loads in it is a lot more fun than full power loads. It's also much more accurate than I expected. With a solid lead bullet and some Unique behind it I can get 3/4" groups at 100 yards.)

What I especially liked about this book is the intense detail that he has about the subject. He discusses the history of Remington 700, the new Jeffery double rifle or the Dakota 76 with equal authority and detail. He brings personal experience to the table to explain why professional hunters don't use the Weatherby Mark V.

All in all, a delightful book, mandatory reading if you're headed out where the critters are big, an enormous amount of fun in front of the fireplace.

Like most firearm enthusiasts I enjoy reading about the big guns, but have found that most are written from an adventure novel perspective on double rifles rather than a more pragmatic view of an experienced dangerous game hunter. This clearly was not the case with this book. Dangerous Game Rifles is first about hunting dangerous game, and in this context addresses double and bolt action rifles and applicable cartridges. Single shot and lever action rifles are covered to a lesser degree as they were deemed not optimal for this type of hunting.

The book is very educational in terms of the mechanics of these firearms, the history of the same and insight into this type of hunting and the surrounding circumstances. The author is rarely vague, which made me feel confident with the information I was digesting. The author opens with the statement, "The era of the modern dangerous game rifle began in 1898 when John Rigby of London introduced the 450 Nitro Express (N.E.). Everything that came before was merely a prelude to this event- although it was a prelude that lasted almost 400 years". Very clean writing style, very concise; absolutes but not in the absence of understanding.

Approximately ten British double rifles are covered in historical and overview of design context. This is followed by extensive coverage of double guns from: Germany, Austria, Belgium, France, Spain, and Italy. The pieces are in historical context, company and firearm, but they are also about design and evolution of these firearms. The doubles section closes on "Buying new and used". The bolt action section began with the big Mauser and what amounts to a small club of competitors. This section is current through Ed Browns product line, A-Square, Dakota and of course Remington, Ruger, Winchester, and Weatherby. There is a section on European bolt actions for dangerous game, however, this wasn't fleshed out as well and I was disappointed a bit by not gaining more insight into some of the less known, but more distinctive and unique designs from companies like Heym, Sauer, Steyr, etc.

The cartridge section covers virtually every one that would conceivably be used for big and dangerous game; the big double rifle cartridges as well as the rimless bolt action cartridges. More than just showing pretty pictures of catalogued rounds and arts and charts of theoretical ballistics, the author covers bullet selection and performance in great detail, supported by anecdotal evidence of appropriateness of selections. The book offers much more with sections on custom rifles, handloading, developing hunting accuracy and skill...

This is not a picture book of expensive rifles. There is some color photography, mostly sharp black and white, no fuzzy reproductions of stock photos. The book uses pictures heavily where appropriate, but also can go on for a chapter assuming the reader can actually read and comprehend text. The paper is good stock and finish, easy to read for prolonged periods of time, and wrapped in a quality binding. Great book, excellent writing and organization. Finally, a book with contents to match its title.

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.