Product Description

'Total Airguns' is the most comprehensive reference work of its kind. The author explains everything from rifle types - how they work and their uses, sighting systems, ammo choice, camouflage - pertaining to its use and fieldcraft.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #14210 in Books
• Published on: 2005-05-12
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 300 pages

Review
This is the most up-to-date and complete book available on air rifles. Highly recommended. --Gun Mart

The book includes advice on choosing a rifle, picking the right ammo, locating quarry (generally pigeons, squirrels, and rats), using four-wheel- drive vehicles on your hunt, and even advanced shooting techniques. If you consider yourself an airgun enthusiast, pick up this book to see how behind the curve you actually are. --Wyoming Wildlife

Gun Mart July 2005
This is the most up-to-date and complete book available on air rifles and their use for hunting. Highly recommended.

Countryman’s Weekly May 2005
Total Airguns â€" There is so much to learn from this book…a wealth of information for all levels of experience.

Customer Reviews

Very good but could be even more informative
This book is packed with useful information and anyone new to airgun hunting cannot fail to learn a huge amount.
I've found a couple of contradictions: ".177...can be affected by wind...A larger heavier pellet does tend to fly more true..." (p65), "...177...is lighter and flies faster...a light crosswind affects its smaller mass less." (p79). "...when targeting rats...a .177 pellet needs to go straight into the brain or heart...headshots are preferable and with the .177 calibre essential." (p149)
Diagrams and a little more technical information are lacking where they would sometimes be useful, e.g. Ballistics pp62-3, is a rather confusing discussion, whereas the simple observation that hitting power (momentum) is given by pellet weight multiplied by velocity would clarify things. A numerical example of the difference between .177 and .22 could then be given to demonstrate the momentum loss in .177 (along with the info on the flatter trajectory); Woodpigeon killzones, upper chest cavity shot (p158), a diagram definitely is required (I'm still not fully sure precisely what Pete means here - "the angle has to be right" - but what is that angle?)
Granted the book is not a pest control manual, but a section on how airguns can fit into the pest control spectrum would be helpful - how effective are airguns compared to poison in regard to rats? When to use which? Are they better than traps, and if so when? There is obviously a definite overlap between the use of airguns in hunting sport and their use from a purely pest control perspective, and Total Airguns would be a more complete work if there was an explicit section reflecting this overlap. Maybe this is wishful thinking on my part but it would be nice to see it all the same.
But overall a very useful book to have on the bookshelf.

The Complete Reference Book
Total Airguns by Pete Wadeson is an excellent one stop book. If you want to know how to hunt with an air rifle this book deals thorougly with every aspect of the sport and many aspects you hadn't even considered. It covers gun choice and handling, ammo, finding a shoot, the various quarrys, fieldcraft, accesorries, gun maintenance, food preparation and probably every other topic associated with air rifle hunting. Pete is right up to date with his knowledge of modern air rifles, equipment, cammo gear, etc, and crucial issues such as safety and the law are dealt with in the kind of clear language it is often difficult to elicit from members of our somewhat taciturn shooting faternity. In fact he cuts through most popular opinion with the kind of straight talking based on knowledge and experience that we should respect. This is a great reference book for dipping in and out of, is very readable and informative. My only criticism is that there should be more pictures, and all the pictures should be in colour, (come on publishers), more drawings and diagrams, eg; for hide building, gun cleaning and treatment of meat in the recipe section. Yes, the book could be longer! But all in all the most comprehensive, up to date, well written book currently available on the subject.

Up to Date Information
This book is essential for the serious Airgun hunter. The author is completely up to the minute with what is new in the airgun world and believe me rifles in particular have changed so much in the last few years. This gun helps you to choose the correct rifle for your needs and also the correct ammunition. I personally think that this can be very important, particularly as there are now restrictions on the power of the rifle.

There will always be the perennial debate regarding .177 or .22 and it is basically down to the individual which one you go for, or if you are a serious shooter with plenty of money you will probably go for both. For hunting I personally think .22 is the better calibre, but you can put up a good case for either.

The author gives the reader an insight into everything he needs to know about; What type of telescopic sight, when firearms certificates are required. The different type of quarry to go for and where to find them and most important of all the law regarding airgun weapons and how to stay within the law.

All in all an excellent and interesting read for anyone seriously interested in air weapons