Boston's Gun Bible

Rating:
Summary: Must read for all levels
Review: Boston's Gun Bible is great, regardless of your comfort level with guns. It is informative for those who have no clue, and deals with the attitude as well as the equipment. It is invaluable for those who have been around guns for years, even decades.

I'll not say I agree with everything in the text, but a large part of it for certain. There are some bits of opinionated difference, as to be expected. He won't just say "Do this because I said so", Boston will say "Do this because of these reasons:", and that's the greatest benefit of this book. A thinking individual can read the book, decide he doesn't like the recommended equipment, but will be able to find something else that will do the job just as well, because Boston will explain why he recommends what he does.

Get the book.

Rating:
Summary: Must read for all levels
Review: Boston's Gun Bible is great, regardless of your comfort level with guns. It is informative for those who have no clue, and deals with the attitude as well as the equipment. It is invaluable for those who have been around guns for years, even decades.

I'll not say I agree with everything in the text, but a large part of it for certain. There are some bits of opinionated difference, as to be expected. He won't just say "Do this because I said so", Boston will say "Do this because of these reasons:", and that's the greatest benefit of this book. A thinking individual can read the book, decide he doesn't like the recommended equipment, but will be able to find something else that will do the job just as well, because Boston will explain why he recommends what he does.

Get the book.

Rating:
Summary: Inspiring careful reflection and considered action
Review: Boston's Gun Bible, written by Kenneth W. Royce, is scholarly and philosophical, as well as passionate, political and technical. It is no accident that Mr. Royce cites the ultra-science fiction/political satire, Neal Stephenson's Cryptonomicon, as "one of the five best novels I have ever read". Like Stephenson's book (Stephenson is postmodern Melville) Royce's "Bible" is a collage, a pastiche, a rich simmering brew of humor, ideas, opinions, cant, rant and instruction.

Given the book's patchwork style, I think it best to review it according to themes. There are three I will consider: 1. Technical Aspects of Firearms; 2. Philosophy of Firearms;
3. Politics. Other themes which are thoughtfully developed in the 848 page book are on the laws governing gun use, women and guns, self-defense, tactics and training, combat rifle history and how to become a rifleman.

The Technical discussion is one of the strongest sections. I came to this book as a complete newbie as far as firearms are concerned. But the technical part of the book rewards careful reading. It is a complete and meticulously considered course on firearms - how to buy them, how to evaluate them, how they work, how to keep them working, etc. Of the 46 chapters in the book 22 are devoted to this one topic. In his sections evaluating various rifles and pistols, Mr. Royce, using a system he devised, rates dozens of rifles and pistols. His system employs "63 criteria...to rate the controls, features and specifications of combat rifles." And while it is true his full system is deployed only against rifles, the system itself is an extremely useful tool for evaluating any firearm, and also comparing firearms among themselves within distinct classes

The Philosophical aspect of the book is as difficult and convoluted as the Technical part is straightforward. On the one hand, this is in the nature of philosophy. On the other, the difficulty has to do with the purpose and meaning of guns in human culture. This topic has no Socrates (unless it is Nietzsche), and Mr. Royce in this book provides what is only a rudimentary outline. (In his other books, none of which I have read, he may articulate more fully his philosophical arguments.) Mr. Royce's view of human society is that it consists of a very large number of sheep-like beings, who are preyed upon by a few rapacious predators and/or bad governments. He seeks to lay out a third position: "those who refuse to be either", and offers as an example, "an armed libertarian".

The core values of the Third Way are the values of the Warrior, and in any number of ways, Mr. Royce drapes the term Warrior in the full regalia of an ancient and venerable tradition. By denying the Warrior as predator (Mr. Royce's Warrior is no berserker, no pirate, no storm trooper and no imperialist) he evokes a sterner, more finely tempered kind of life, where honor, personal responsibility and concern for others hold pride of place. Human life is intrinsically a life of struggle, and in Mr. Royce's view, a person can accept the reality of this and learn to fight, or he can flee this responsibility, outright by becoming prey, or indirectly by delegating his role to other "protectors". Unfortunately, as any reading of history will attest, the protectors all too often themselves become the predators. Only the Warrior, living a value imbued life that explicitly eschews violent domination of others, can move beyond the predator/prey cycle. The state for which the Warrior strives is that of liberty, and the life of liberty in human societies is moved by four forces, symbolized as the soap box (discussion), the ballot box (formulation), the jury box (interpretation) and the cartridge box (decisive action). In the real world, the first three do not exist in a substantive way without the fourth. And for that reason, firearms - "liberty's teeth"-are the necessary though not sufficient conditions to resist servitude.

The Political themes of this book are the most passionate, and the least organized, of all.
Royce very rightly champions the second amendment as not only the safeguard of the right of each individual to keep firearms but the major bulwark against evil doers and tyrannous governments. Scattered throughout the book are many statistics concerning the relationship between gun ownership and crime. Just in case you are wondering, when a society is armed, there is less crime. Any society which disarms its citizens AND maintains a low rate of crime, does so only by sacrificing many of what we still regard as fundamental human rights (i.e. Japan).

With respect to tyrannical governments, Mr. Royce's arguments are not convincing, at least to me. Certainly, he does have history on his side. "Death by government" was a central motif of the twentieth century, and many previous centuries as well. People would do well to be wary of governments. They would do well to be prepared to take action against tyrannous governments. The question is, Do Americans now face such tyranny? Has the time come to step off the soap box, batten down the ballot box, burn the jury box and open the cartridge box? Mr. Royce is convinced that such a time is imminent, but his arguments in this direction are flimsy. The Political side of the book does not answer to the Philosophical side.

This is a strong book, which I recommend most highly for anyone who is interested in firearms, and who wishes to learn more about any of the themes I have outlined. Owning and using guns is a method which, in mature use, inspires careful reflection, as well as considered action.

Rating:
Summary: Quite the way to mangle what is heralded as "excellent info"
Review: I am a woman who is interested in becoming a first time gun owner, and I bought this book because of all the glowing reviews here.

This book is such a mess, and I'm only a few chapters in. I can't even tell you how many pages, because the author has his own system of numbering chapters and section. The book starts off with a glossary of made-up words and explanations of why he doesn't believe in things like US currency. He invents all sorts of new-speak, from USSA ("United Socialist States of Amerika"), to two kinds of "Patriot", which are differentiated according to italic font or quotes.

The horrific writing style is like being accosted by a homeless nutcase who wants to yell at you about the dangers of homosexuals and rock music. (Which have both been addressed early on by "Boston T Party" early in the book.) Things are capitalized, bolded, underlined, italicized, or all four, and there are just way too many exclamation marks all over the place to understand what is supposed to be emphasized and why. Someone should run this book through a grammar check, or at least put it all in one font, one size, and plain text.

There might be a wealth of knowledge to be had in this book, but the ranty stream-of-consciousness writing style, new speak, and tangents make it a difficult to read for this potential gun owner.

Rating:
Summary: It's not about guns!!
Review: It's about being a Patriot and returning America back to the land of the free.

Off course there is a vast wealth of knowledge in here covering many, many weapons and all the correlating ammunition. Use it to wisely choose a weapon or three. There are defensive tactics, gun safety issues, politics, philosophy, some necessary ranting and a few attitude adjustments to boot. This is a must read for all Americans, not just us members of the gun culture.

The overiding theme of the book for me was preparedness. BUY THIS BOOK, use the information to learn as much as you can about guns and related issues. Take heed, and stand tall.

Rating:
Summary: All the info you'll probably need
Review: Just finished reading Boston's Gun Bible and found it to be as good and well researched as his other books I've read. He really goes into great detail on many different types of firearms and his expertise is apparent. What I particularly liked was his comparisons and opinions on firearm choices based on one's own personal situation. He also offers some good insight into many of the other issues related to the owning and using of firearms. Whether or not you agree with his opinions and views, he has the ability to make you think about the things he writes about. I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in firearms.

Rating:
Summary: BUY THIS BOOK!
Review: This book is absolutly the finest, most comprehensive book about all aspects of shooting and gun ownership ever written. It has priceless information for people of all skill levels from beginner to expert rifleman. I have read this book from cover to cover 4 times and I still carry it as a reference book. I could never be as consise and well spoken as Boston is, so I end up just handing the book over and saying

Rating:
Summary: The #1 Rifleman's Book for Anyone Who Loves Freedom
Review: This book is nothing short of awesome! It's great stuff from beginning to end and you'll hardly notice it's somewhere around a thousand pages thick! Boston manages to cover all aspects of the battle rifle, basic defensive pistol use, battle carbines, and more.

Boston's huge amount of experience and field use of these weapons really shows through and the data and rankings of those rifles is spot on. He goes into a lot of things that many of those who are considered "gun nuts" miss and makes fun of one of my favorite kinds of person: the over-accessorizer; the guy who has a fine rifle and then fills it up with extra grips, a too-large scope, an integral bipod, laser pointer, interchangeable buttstock, etc., etc... Yet can't hit a fifty-cent grouping at 50 yards...

Boston also includes a lot of great political commentary and information. He gives (no doubt accurate) predictions of what the lobbyists and gun-grabbers will go for next and how they'll succeed first in the near future. He explains definitively why we need to be armed and TRAINED in those arms to effectively defend our nation, way of life, and especially our liberty.

By far one of the most informed patriots and easily one of our nation's most learned gun nuts, Boston is worth reading.

Rating:
Summary: The Only Book You Need
Review: This is the last book you may ever need to buy. Part gun book,part political,100% American. If you have ever wondered which guns and gear you need and why then get this book. Mr. Royce is the modern day Thomas Paine. Get this book and see why.

Rating:
Summary: If you like wasting time, don't buy this book
Review: Whether you are an experienced shooter or a neophyte to the world of arms, this book has something important to say to you.
A substantial portion of the book is meticulously prepared testing and evaluation of handguns,longguns, and ammunition, EXPLAINED in concise, real world context. Boston has done all your basic homework for you. All that is left for you to do is to decide what features apply to your needs, make some intelligent purchases, and start DOING. There is more relevent "how to" information contained in this book than any book in my library. Want to become a rifleman? Have trouble deciding on the right caliber of pistol for self defense? Don't know how to talk to the gun control crowd in a meaningful, factual manner? Can't decide on the kind of optic to put in front of your aging eyes? Boston has the answers that only an experienced shooter and firearms instructor can offer. I have given this book to several friends and will continue to do so. Most of them have gone on to purchase and enjoy other titles by Boston, particularly "You and the Police"