Review by John Markwell | Contributing Editor
AMMO ENCYCLOPEDIA 5th Edition, by Michael Bussard: edited by John B. Allen, David Kosowski, and Charlie F. Priore, Jr. ©2014, Published by Blue Book Publications, Inc., 8009 34th Ave. S., Suite 250, Minneapolis, MN 55425: phone 800-887-4867. Large 8½x11”, soft cover, 1008 pages. MSRP $34.95. Also from online book sellers.
About the time you figure you have a pretty good working knowledge of any subject, something happens to burst your bubble and expand your horizons at the same time. Such was the case when we received a copy of the 5th Edition of the Ammo Encyclopedia. Now we’ve been around firearms and ammo for a more than a few decades and thought that our knowledge of ammunition was pretty complete. Man, were we ever wrong!
The Ammo Encyclopedia is divided into 103 chapters. Early in the volume there are chapters on cartridge definitions, types and families, as well as some interesting history of propellants, bullets, ignition systems, cartridge cases and calibers. Interspersed with the facts on these subjects are many side bars that offer obscure details about cartridges: like a note about the Dreyse Needle gun cartridge, a wire cutting round, or the one on the 45ACP GI shot cartridge.
There is a complete discussion of manufacturing processes for everything from rimfire ammo to shotshells as well as recent developments in the industry. Even the causes and effects of the current ammo shortages are addressed. For those interested in ballistics there are chapters on interior, exterior, and terminal ballistics as well as detailed discussions of loading procedures; both commercial and hobby oriented.
Often discussed in shooting circles is the interchangeability of certain cartridges. This topic is addressed in detail. More importantly Chapter 41, Dangerous Combinations, is five detailed pages of cartridge combinations to be avoided at all costs.
Most of this huge volume is devoted to cartridge profiles and charts of ballistic data. The cartridge profiles are broken down by category; centerfire handgun and rifle, rimfire, shotshells, wildcats, exotic cartridges and air rifle pellets. Both the profiles and ballistic charts are broken down into sporting and military sections and there is also extensive coverage of obsolete ammunition. If one is looking for the history of any given round, past or present, this is the source. There is a complete discussion of each cartridge including technical and dimensional details as well as a schematic of each.
To be honest, there is so much cool information of interest in this book that it is hard to even begin to go into all the details in a simple review. This is a book that every serious shooting enthusiast should have in their library. We haven’t had our copy all that long but the Ammo Encyclopedia has earned a place in our gun room where it is easily accessible. It seems we are constantly picking it up, even for just a casual perusal. The Ammo Encyclopedia is going to be a constant source of shooting information for us from now on and we highly recommend every shooter get a copy.
