Mike’s New Book

by
posted on November 13, 2012
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
wiley-clapp.jpg (1)

My buddy Mike Bussard has been rattling around this industry far longer than I have and I’ve been at it quite a while. In the process of working at various jobs, Mike has amassed virtually encyclopedic knowledge of ammunition, which makes him very well-suited to write books on the subject.

Blue Book Publications has published three prior editions of the book at hand, but this new 4th Edition Ammo Encyclopedia is a quantum step forward with 972 pages, selling for $34.95. Everything good about the earlier editions remains, but much more has been added.

For one thing, the earlier, sometimes confusing, layout has been improved. Beyond that, there is simply much more information that arrives in more charts, graphs and tables. Bussard is a student of the cartridge and the history of this gunpowder stuff. Mike is a steady, solid scholar, but his impish sense of humor creeps into the text now and then. For a host of reasons, this is a commendable book and a necessity on the shelf above my computer.

Latest

Hk G36 22Lr 1
Hk G36 22Lr 1

Gun of the Week: Heckler & Koch G36 .22 LR

Due to Germany's strict firearm-export laws, along with U.S. firearm import laws, the closest any HK fan could get to owning a real G36 was in the form of the HK SL8. Now, though, Heckler & Koch has introduced its G36 .22 LR, which, profile-wise, is a G36 in all but chambering.

The Armed Citizen® July 17, 2026

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

A Visit to the New Smith & Wesson Academy

Let the training (re)commence at Smith & Wesson's new Academy in Tennessee.

New for 2026: Leupold LCO Pro F2 Red-Dot Sight

The optic giant has updated its flagship red-dot sight with a host of upgraded features.

Rifleman Review: Heckler & Koch CC9

When Heckler & Koch USA launched its micro-compact CC9, it proved to be one of the most robustly built micro-compact handguns yet made.

Beyond the Headlines on Armed Citizen Stories

Concealed carriers in the U.S. commit almost no crimes with their lawfully owned firearms. Armed citizens do, however, stop a lot of crimes.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.