<< 1 >>
Rating: 
Summary: Armchair Tactical Operators Unite!
Review: Kokalis's Weapons Tests and Evaluations is an interesting read for armchair tactical operators. The book is a collection of various stories and weapons reviews that Kokalis wrote during his tenure at Soldier of Fortune magazine. As a collection, the articles date from 1982 to 2000, with many of the articles coming from before 1990. Because of the dates of when the articles were originally written, Kokalis skips many newer designs. At the time, Kokalis professes to be the first or one of the first to review some of the systems (AGS-17, etc). It is somewhat difficult to review the book without commenting on Kokalis's blatent disregard for journalistic or scientific integrity. As a 'journalist', he tought courses in small arms handling and secured ammuntion and parts. Kokalis makes much ado about following military specifications for the M16A2 evaluation, but admits to changing the specification to evaluate other critera. The book is a good read, but should be taken with a grain of salt or two. Kokalis isn't shy about his opinions; by the end, it's obvious that he has an axe or two to grind. For most of us, the closest we will ever get to many of the weapons reviewed is in the pages of Jane's Infantry Weapons. If we're lucky, we will see it in a museum. Kokalis provides useful qualitative information that most of us simply don't have access to about the weapons he reviews. So often, gun reviews gush over every product. Kokalis, especially in his early reviews, isn't afraid of calling a spade a spade.
Rating:
Summary: Armchair Tactical Operators Unite!
Review: Kokalis's Weapons Tests and Evaluations is an interesting read for armchair tactical operators. The book is a collection of various stories and weapons reviews that Kokalis wrote during his tenure at Soldier of Fortune magazine. As a collection, the articles date from 1982 to 2000, with many of the articles coming from before 1990. Because of the dates of when the articles were originally written, Kokalis skips many newer designs. At the time, Kokalis professes to be the first or one of the first to review some of the systems (AGS-17, etc). It is somewhat difficult to review the book without commenting on Kokalis's blatent disregard for journalistic or scientific integrity. As a 'journalist', he tought courses in small arms handling and secured ammuntion and parts. Kokalis makes much ado about following military specifications for the M16A2 evaluation, but admits to changing the specification to evaluate other critera. The book is a good read, but should be taken with a grain of salt or two. Kokalis isn't shy about his opinions; by the end, it's obvious that he has an axe or two to grind. For most of us, the closest we will ever get to many of the weapons reviewed is in the pages of Jane's Infantry Weapons. If we're lucky, we will see it in a museum. Kokalis provides useful qualitative information that most of us simply don't have access to about the weapons he reviews. So often, gun reviews gush over every product. Kokalis, especially in his early reviews, isn't afraid of calling a spade a spade.
<< 1 >>
| 
