Shooter’s Bible: The World’s Bestselling Firearms Reference—106th Edition

Published at least annually since 1925, the Shooter’s Bible: The World’s Bestselling Firearms Reference provides a broad overview of the commercial firearm market, making it a particularly useful companion for the novice gun buyer. By no means an exhaustive reference book, the Shooter’s Bible—now in its 106^th edition - is intended to give readers a general spattering of what’s available. 

Within its 608 pages, the Shooter’s Bible catalogs hundreds of rifles, air rifles, shotguns, handguns, black powder guns, optics and ammunition types, all presented alphabetically by manufacturer. Entries include a picture and the firearm’s basic specifications, such as action type, stock material, barrel length, sighting system, weight, capacity, available chamberings and a short list of its features. Nearly all of the book’s entries also include an MSRP value – which can be very helpful, particularly since many firearm manufacturers do not elect to list any prices in their catalogs or on their websites. Listed prices are suggested retail, and will be marginally higher than real-world pricing.

Also of interest is the 108-page section devoted to new products. Laid out in the same manner as the rest of the book, the new products are presented with color photographs, whereas the rest of the Shooter’s Bible is produced in black and white. Included also are extensive ballistics tables of currently manufactured rimfire and center-fire cartridges, a directory of gun manufacturers and suppliers, and an easy-to-use Gunfinder Index. Although most helpful to those new to the gun world, the Shooter’s Bible is also useful for identifying smaller manufacturers that may fly under the radars of many seasoned gun enthusiasts. 

Although not comprehensive, the Shooter’s Bible: The World’s Bestselling Firearms Reference – 106^th Edition affords its readers with a tantalizing snapshot of the present offerings in the gun world, whetting their appetites so they can do more intensive research on their own. Price: $30. Contact: Skyhorse Publishing, 307 West 36^th St., 11^th Floor, New York, NY 10018; (212) 643-6816; skyhorsepublishing.com.