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A review: Ammo Encyclopedia by Michael Bussard
Published by Blue Book Publications Inc. MSRP $29.95. paperback
At the Shot show last month I ran into Mike Bussard an industry friend of long standing whom I had not seen in some time. We chatted about what we were doing and in passing he said, “I’ll send you a copy of my new book.
It came last month and has occupied a great deal of my time. It’s a big thing with 912 pages. As you would expect it has a thorough listing of cartridges old and new with typical specifications and such including a drawing with basic dimensions.
But the real treasure here is good explanation of all parts of the ammo manufacturing process with brief segments on the manufacture of all the components and illustrations of equipment. One thing I learned in many visits to ammo plants is they don’t want to show too much of their equipment since much is of a proprietary nature so instead there are drawings to show the various types of loading machinery.
The industry doesn’t like to tell you how many rounds they can- or do make- or how fast the machines run but there are chapters discussing the manufacturing worldwide and a detailed estimate of the abilities of companies both here and abroad including estimates of the numbers of the various loading machines and their capacity. It is fascinating stuff and information that simply is available nowhere else.
And as a point for the board’s discussion I’d like to exercise the reviewer’s perogative of quoting briefly from a very interesting section with the author’s prediction of short and long term trends or developments.
“The .40 S&W cartridge will eclipse the 9mm Luger cartridge in popularity for law enforcement and civilian applications.”
“The following pistol cartridges will be retired by many ammunition makers: .30Luger, 9x21mm, .38 Super Auto, 10mm Auto, .41 AE, .45 GAP, .45 Winchester Magnum and .476 Wildey Magnum.”
“Ammuntion makers will retire the following revolver cartrdiges: .32 Short, .32 Long, .327 Federal, .41 Magnum, .44 Special, .460 S&W Magnum and Special and .480 Ruger.”
Ed. Note: there may be a typo there…
I don’t know that there are any big surprises here and some have probably already come to pass but they provide food for thought.
Bussard has done an outstanding job of studying and explaining the complex and often secretive ammo business.
Published by Blue Book Publications Inc. MSRP $29.95. paperback
At the Shot show last month I ran into Mike Bussard an industry friend of long standing whom I had not seen in some time. We chatted about what we were doing and in passing he said, “I’ll send you a copy of my new book.
It came last month and has occupied a great deal of my time. It’s a big thing with 912 pages. As you would expect it has a thorough listing of cartridges old and new with typical specifications and such including a drawing with basic dimensions.
But the real treasure here is good explanation of all parts of the ammo manufacturing process with brief segments on the manufacture of all the components and illustrations of equipment. One thing I learned in many visits to ammo plants is they don’t want to show too much of their equipment since much is of a proprietary nature so instead there are drawings to show the various types of loading machinery.
The industry doesn’t like to tell you how many rounds they can- or do make- or how fast the machines run but there are chapters discussing the manufacturing worldwide and a detailed estimate of the abilities of companies both here and abroad including estimates of the numbers of the various loading machines and their capacity. It is fascinating stuff and information that simply is available nowhere else.
And as a point for the board’s discussion I’d like to exercise the reviewer’s perogative of quoting briefly from a very interesting section with the author’s prediction of short and long term trends or developments.
“The .40 S&W cartridge will eclipse the 9mm Luger cartridge in popularity for law enforcement and civilian applications.”
“The following pistol cartridges will be retired by many ammunition makers: .30Luger, 9x21mm, .38 Super Auto, 10mm Auto, .41 AE, .45 GAP, .45 Winchester Magnum and .476 Wildey Magnum.”
“Ammuntion makers will retire the following revolver cartrdiges: .32 Short, .32 Long, .327 Federal, .41 Magnum, .44 Special, .460 S&W Magnum and Special and .480 Ruger.”
Ed. Note: there may be a typo there…
I don’t know that there are any big surprises here and some have probably already come to pass but they provide food for thought.
Bussard has done an outstanding job of studying and explaining the complex and often secretive ammo business.
