Guns 101: A Beginner's Guide to Buying and Owning Firearms

I enjoyed the book, learned a few things, but if you did like me and spent some time searching around the internet and reading, this book might be a little too basic. Not a bad book at all, just wish it went a little deeper. For someone who's never heard anything about firearms, it's a great starting point.

Fairly clear and concise. Presents an idea and follows it through to the end. Enough detail to comprehend but not confuse. Good for trying to understand a new subject. Excellent

Decent intro book into firearms

Some perspective first: who is writing this review?I am an male adult, new to guns in general but I now very much enjoy “plinking”. I didn't grow up in a family that hunted or that had guns around. As such I had a ton of questions and was seeking general background on the subject. I wish to avoid costly and dangerous mistakes in my new hobby, and I don't want to appear ignorant when I interact with more experienced users, gunsmiths, and sales staff.Guns101 by DavId Steier is exactly what he promises, a base level education on the general subject of guns. It is not a complete guide to all things gun or even an in-depth guide to guns. Instead it is a general introduction to the categories of guns out there, how they work, and the advantages or disadvantages of each type in different situations.This book was is near perfect for my purposes. The author's writing style is informal but extremely informative. It's an easy read with lots of full color pictures and diagrams. And because of the large number of pictures and diagrams you may be surprised how fast the book reads. I was able to finish it in one afternoon. On this point kids should have no problems reading the text, both in length and writing level.This book would probably be of little help to a gun expert or even someone who grew up around guns. But if guns and the terms used around them are somewhat a mystery to you this book will be of a great help. Think of it like this, it's a starting point, not the finish line. If you have any doubts if this book is for you I encourage you to read the first five pages that are available in the preview. Once you do you will likely know your answer.Before I go further I want to mention the quality of the physical book itself. While it is a paperback the pages are heavy gloss paper and the color printing is excellent. It feels like a reference or school text book and I have no doubts it will last through many, many reads. I only mention this because I didn't expect a book this nice at less then fifteen dollars.On the downside, there were quite a few typos in this book. None affected how it read for me but it would definitely benefit from another trip through the spell checker and editor.The table of contents is available in the preview but I feel the author sells the book short by not giving enough information there. I think sub-headers should have been provided. So instead of the table of contents I encourage you to skim the index (also in the preview) as this will give you a far better idea of what exactly is covered in the book.And what is covered?The common types of guns: revolvers, pistols, rifles, shotguns, etc. And their sub-categories: single shot, single action, double action, semi-automatic, lever, pump, etc are described in detail.The general way each type of gun works internally is also covered. Not a specific hundred piece parts breakdown, but a general idea with the major parts and what role they play when the gun is loaded and fired. Think general overview here, it's not a service manual.He also covers ammunition, holsters, gun locks, gun safes, types of competitive shooting, lots common gun jargon, and more.For the most part I was very satisfied with the depth of coverage on the above subjects. Now with the broad strokes I know enough to ask intelligent questions at the range and can seek more information on the more specific subjects that interest me.What is not covered?First, the biggest over-site: “Assault Rifles” are only given a passing mention and not covered in depth like the other types of guns. I understand they are just specialized semi-automatic rifles but I would have liked to see more coverage on their specific features such as adjustable stocks and tactical rails.…So be warned, if you are looking for any information on “Assault Rifles” this book is a poor choice.Scopes and laser sites are not covered. Sure there is a passing mention of them here and there but no significant information on them is present. In fact the words scope and laser are not even found in the index. This isn't really a big deal but a few paragraphs on their basic features would have been nice.This book does not cover standing positions, grips, sites, or how to shoot. Not even in general. For this information you will have to look elsewhere. Common malfunctions are given a brief description but what to do when you gun malfunctions is not covered. Again, you will have to look elsewhere.I believe more emphasis and information should be given on how unload a gun and how to make sure it is unloaded. This is very important to everyone but especially important to beginners.While I would have liked to see the how to shoot basics covered but I suspect to cover them properly would double the length of this book. Also, this would probably create liability for the author so I understand why he chose to forgo coverage.And other things...The facts were well presented and appeared to be accurate to me. Since I'm a novice I'll leave the fact checking to the experts as I am not qualified.Not really a plus or a minus here but the author repeatedly mentions western shooting throughout the book, in fact he say he shoots in western competitions. So if this is up your ally you and the author may be like minded possibly making this a good book for you. For me it neither added or detracted from my experience but I thought it was worth mentioning.So In the end am satisfied with this book given its 101 title and low price. I took off one star for the missing information and multiple typos.One last thought....If you are going to buy, use, or carry a handgun after you read Guns 101 I highly recommend you read The Gun Digest Book of Combat Handgunnery, 6th Edition by Massad Ayoob (ISBN-10: 0896895254). This book covers a vast array of handgun related subjects in depth. I found once I read both books I had more knowledge about handguns in general then the average person I meet at the range and I could intelligently discuss involved topics with sales staff or other shooters with confidence and ease.***Update: It's been about a year since I read this book and I have a lot more experience with guns now. I reread my review and still stand by it. This book is a great place to start. I have loaned my copy to several people and all have given me positive feedback once they read it.

I have been shooting my whole life and while I don't know everything there is to know about guns I am no amateur. I knew this was a introduction to firearms book and bought this to help me teach others about shooting sports and firearms ownership. As the "gun guy" at work I often get questions from people interested in firearms and I am not always very good at helping them. I hoped that by buying this I could learn how to better help newer shooters with getting into firearms. I feel like this book delivered that very well.The author does not take a technical approach at all. While reading this I felt as though I was eavesdropping on a conversation between the author and a new shooter. It is well laid out and I read it in a couple hours easily. I am a huge fan of this book and am contemplating buying another so I have a loaner copy on hand.Whether you are a beginner, thinking of getting a firearm or even a long time enthusiast interested in learning how to better communicate your knowledge this book belongs on your shelf.