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The American Rifle: A Biography
Here's an article, by its author (a military historian), on the early history of the NRA and military marksmanship. And here's the book, which I plan to order. [Update: no Rifleman review yet that I've seen, probably because the book is just out and Rifleman runs 60-90 days behind.]
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I'm reading the book now. I am up to the Indian Wars. The author has an Austrailan/British background, but if he is biased against guns, he hasn't shown it yet.
It is copiously footnoted and researched. One ongoing theme is the American penchant for accurate fire. Colonial-era shooters faced a need to conserve powder and lead. Some colonial-era rifle shooters would fire their flintlocks over a bedsheet or snow to see how much unburned powder came out of the muzzle. They would reduce the powder until the gun burned it all. That story reminded me of modern reloaders who work up loads their rifles or handguns prefer.
I plan on posting a review once I read it, but it has been good so far.
As promised, here is a review of the book
Denise
http://tenring.blogspot.com/2008/11/american-rifle-biography-gunnie-book.html
Has a review of this book been published in The American Rifleman ?