[alyeska338]

Two volume set published in 1946 by Samworth books, Col. Whelen leads us through the technical aspects of ballistics in layman's terms. The good colonel begins with interior ballistics, ways of determining pressure and velocity, through exterior ballistics, through wind deflection, and wounding effect and killing power. Col. Whelen wrote this after spending years working in military arsenals and firearm ammunition manufacturing industries. Though some information is quite dated, the theories and formulas can still be applicable provided new information of powders, primers and pressures are used. Definitely a must for those concerned with ballistics or historical perspectives of firearm developement and design.

 

[William Iorg]

I agree it is a great two volume set.
The NRA's Firearms Classic Library included it in their series which makes them affordable.
I really enjoy the discussion of individual cartridges and the chapter on barrels.

 

[alyeska338]

Guess I pretty lucky. Several years ago while rummaging around an old used book store, I uncovered a first printing, first edition set for a grand total of $8.95. Yeah, the cover is a little dirty, but there's no breaking of the threads. Spine and all pages are in really good shape, though some of the pages have yellowed through the years.

I picked up the copy of the Accurate Rifle by Warren Page there also. While not as old, it is great shape other than edge tears on the dust jacket. $4.95 was the price on it.

This is the same place I picked up a 1835 surveying manual from the Virginia Military Institute. That one was in worse shape, most of the original leather cover was gone, but all pages and spine were in excellent shape. $1.50 was what that went for.

 

[William Iorg]

You realy lucked out!
I do a lot of "book storing" and you get luckey sometimes!
One of the best areas for used book stores is the Tucson/Phoenix area. This is a good area for paper also. That is, instruction sheets and advertising envelopes.
The Advanced Book Exchange and Bibliofind have changed everything in buying used books but they can never replace the fun of walking down the isle and discovering a dusty "treasure!" If you have never purchased a book from Powells.com you are also in for a treat, very nice folks and some of them are very knowladgeable on guns and gun books.
Too few of us realise the vaule of the contents of old books.
Are there any Richard Haliburton fans out there?