In the course of my weekly trip to Barnes and Noble in Reno, I ran across a book that I had not seen before. In the Reno store, gun books are just across the aisle from military history, so I usually spend a half hour of relaxed browsing in one spot. Last week’s visit produced a new gun book that all revolver enthusiasts need to know about. Titled Gun Digest Book of the Revolver and written by Grant Cunningham, the book is primarily concerned with revolver characteristics and how to manage the various models and makes. While the title might suggest another dreary survey of everything in production, it is far from that.
This little volume begins with concise descriptions of the major functions of today’s DA/SA wheelguns. Cunningham gets right to the point early on and starts talking about the subtle and not-so-subtle differences in the trigger action. Most of all, he presents individual techniques for each, including such gems as the return trigger stroke is just important as the backwards one. That is almost worth the cost of the book, particularly in view of the fact that he offers a sharp, well-reasoned opinion on why it is true.
There is material here on tuning the various guns, reloading them quickly under duress and even proper cleaning. It seems certain that Cunningham developed his material by personal experience as well as studying the works of other trainers. Although I am sorry to say that I was unaware of this author’s earlier efforts, I do believe this book is worth the $23 price tag. I commend it to you and almost regret that I have to temporarily put it down because duty calls. It is on the shelf next to Nichols, Winans, Pollard, Mason and Fitzgerald—all true revolver shooters.
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