Range Officer’s Handbook, Book Review by Arms & Militaria Collector Magazine
Book Review by Arms & Militaria Collector Magazine of the ‘Range Officer’s Handbook.’
BOOKSHELF with Syd Wigzell in the Arms & Militaria Collector No. 27
The Range Officers Handbook
This book is outside our usual domain for reviews in the ‘Collector’, however Ron Owen is a well-known firearms identity in Australia and with so many more enthusiasts shooting historical and collector rifles today, it is also more relevant here.
Chapters define the criteria which are much wider ranging than one would expect, from just judging by its title. These are: The Club, a Range officers duties and responsibilities, Acting as instructors, Bullet performance relative to understanding its flight, Shotgun patterns and Safe carriage.
Chapter four introduces Cleaning, Bore blockages, Climate affecting shooting and ammunition, Muzzle-loaders, Recoil, Accuracy, Shooting positions, Handgun and shotgun applications, Eyesight and sights, Optics, Windage and drift, Reloading, Signs of pressure, Propellants, Cartridges, Cases, ballistics, Wind, training and fitness, Air powdered arms, Various British makers and Old for New Information.
And after all of this reading, eight chapters, there is a comprehensive glossary followed by a massive index of 18 pages. Perhaps it would be more aptly titled as a Firearms Encyclopaedia.
Ron Owen has never been noted for being politically correct and this is reflected in some parts of the text along with captions. The reader’s interest is maintained with so many useful tips from a lifetime of shooting experience. Some chapters digress in their subject material and tend to take off at tangents, but the index logs the subject matter anyway.
Ron emigrated to Australia from England decades ago; much of his wry Celt humour is evident in this entertaining compilation. With all sales and proceeds donated to the Queensland Indoor Air Rifle Association, a dual purpose is served in getting your own copy order via www.owenguns.com
Retail Price $75.
plus Australia Wide Postage $10 as it weighs over 2 Kg.
Range Officer’s Handbook Review in Guns Australia
Range Officer’s Handbook Review in Guns Australia by Nick Harvey
Book Review – Guns Australia October/December 2009
Hard-bound 200x303mm, 523 pages, well illustrated with line drawings and photographs, index, glossary and list of contents.
The name Ron Owen is well known to the majority of Aussie shooters as an indefatigable fighter for shooter’s rights and as a firearms retailer and importer.
Ron Owen has a comprehensive background in the shooting sports starting in England when he was 12 years old. He joined the British regular army at 15 and competed in the regimental rifle team at Bisley and Pirbright. By 1967 he had settled in Victoria and was a founding member of the Bonang Branch of the SSAA. Ron has shot every different discipline on ranges in many countries around the world, reaching A grade in National competitions and coached shooters who competed in the Commonwealth Games. After 49 years in the shooting industry, with those credentials and a background like this, who better to write a firearm textbook!
The Range Officers Handbook is an omnibus of firearms and ammunition and their use. The author has condensed a tremendous amount of information into this volume’s pages. The book is a neat and handy compilation of reference data that any technically oriented gun enthusiast will want in his library. You name it and it’s got it – everything about rifles, handguns, scopes, handloading and air arms history and use – and much more.
Did I learn anything? Yes I did, and I’m sure you will too as it contains lots of sound advice about every facet of the art and science of firearms, shooting techniques, and just about everything there is to know about firearms Ron Owen’s book comes as close to being all inclusive as any I’ve seen.
It has:
90 pages of information for Range Officers
239 pages on Coaching to Win
110 pages on Air Rifle History and Training
33 pages on Hitting Clay Targets
34 pages on Reloading Ammunition
34 pages of old into new, (Chronological history of firearms)
23 pages of glossary of terminology on firearms and Optics
Over 1000 drawings and photographs.
The retail price of the book is $75, and the book can be obtained from the QIARA office at 24 McMahon Rd, Gympie 4570. Trade and club prices on application. You can also order by phone on (07) 5482 5070.
Australia Wide Postage is an additional $10.00 as the book weighs over 2 kg.