Home Forums Birds & Dogs Shotguns Best book(s) on shotguns/shotgun shooting?

My oldest son is currently deployed and wants to research over-and-unders (he likes them) with the idea of buying one when he gets back. I know next to nothing about shotgunning, so I suggested he take a wingshooting course, get a stock fitting and consider their gun suggestions. He wants something to read while he's away, so I'd appreciate a title or two that would help get him off to a good start. Doesn't have to be about over-and-unders [/i]per se[i]. Thanks!

Shotgunning, The Art and The Science by Bob Brister is about the best book on shotgunning that I have read. Give your son my thanks for his service to our country.

Regards, Fezant

Two good ones below. Bristers is older but IMO still one of the best. Barsness's is more current, with a lot of common sense info and great photography.

"Shotgunning: The Art & Science" Bob Brister

"Shotguns For Wingshooting" John Barsness

Best book I ever bought concerning a shotgun, shooting and everything related:

Stock Fitter's Bible by Rollin Oswald

I laughed when it was recommended to me. It actually improved my shooting skill afield, scores on the various courses and total enjoyment of the sport and hunt.

Thank you all!

I think of these books as essential:

Technical
Brister
Gough Thomas aka GT Garwood (the guy Brister quotes). Shotguns & Cartridges, Shotgun Shooting Facts, Gun Book.
Michael McIntosh - Shotgun Technicana

Lore, Light Technical
Gene Hill - any and all.
Michael McIntosh - any and all
Steve Bodio - Good Guns Again (great all around gun book)

Another vote for anything written by Gene Hill.

"The Double Shotgun" by Don Zutz, Winchester Press, 1978. "The history and development of the world's most classic sporting firearms."

Shotgun technicana is a great book... took me about two years to find a copy... see some seriously high prices on that book but a great break down of the evolution of all of the different types of SL and BL actions as well as multiple types of extractors, ejectors, and single triggers.

Guessing it will be even harder to come by now that MM has passed though David Trevallion is still working hard and I talked to him at one point not too long ago and he mentioned possibly republishing the book.

+1 on this book. The info has helped my understanding and scores.

JMHO, but the best 'lessons' in shotgunning is found on a range with an instructor; whether trap, skeet or clays... And for some - you either 'got it' or you ain't 'got it', and not much one way or the other will do much to change it..

Only my .02

That pretty much sums up my opinion too Redneck. All mentioned are good reads.

"Shotguns" by Keith.

+++1!

The problem with books is that they put to much info for you to think about between your ears. Anytime you start using that thing between your ears your shotgun shooting scores will go down.

Agreed.. The only exception, IMHO, for true newbies is to get the proper stance totally ingrained so that you don't even think about it at the line.. That takes a while..but once it's done, the rest is the result of instinctive hand/eye coordination and knowing your firearm..

As an example - I started playing pool at about age 12.. Played for about 15 years and thought I knew the game.. Did ok, but knew I was missing something.. Found a teaching pro in the Twin Cities and paid for lessons.. The first week, I learned one of the most basic things I was missing - the proper stance and angle of body/cue position.. That alone raised my game.. I was determined to be the best I could be at this game and took every lesson to heart - practiced sometimes 6-8 hours/day, six days a week.. After a few months the stance was automatic - never had to even think about it..

I applied the same techniques to trap/skeet...and the results were similar.. Much better overall scores and averages.. IMVHO, the stance is critical to good scores in shotgunning..

YMMV...

If you have any interest in vintage guns, particularly vintage British guns, Diggory Haddock's book "Vintage Guns for the Modern Shot" is an excellent resource. It's geared toward getting old guns shooting again, rather than being a collector's guide, and I learned alot about evaluating old shotguns from reading it.

I love shooting pool. Specially straight pool, which not too many people play. 8 and 9 ball is the most popular round here. Some oldtimers at the bars will play 3 ball which is always fun. Back in my 20's and 30's I played everyday.

Same here - especially for singles.. Team play is usually 8-ball.. Never did that one (unless you're talking about billiards (one red, two white balls)..

About five decades ago some of the locals would play golf (never did figure that one out) and snooker.. You wanna learn how to be accurate in pocket billiards - snooker's the game to play.. Those pockets are TIGHT TIGHT TIGHT... And the dang table's so big, it has a horizon..

Love snooker and Billiards. You don't see many places atleast around here with either a snooker or billiards table. I know of one billiards table in the state at a pool hall.

3 ball is a gambling game. Three balls racked in a triangle your break counts as your first shot. Person to sink all three balls in the fewest shots wins. In the case of a tie, all players are still in for for the next round, everyone re-anties up. Continue until there is a winner. Then start again.

I have seen one person run all three on the break once. My best effort ever has been a lot of two's.