Book Review by David R. Chicoine 7/31/03
2002 MLV Enterprises. Softcover, 8-1/2 x 11, 285 pages, b&w photos. retail price in softcover is $30.00. A limited numbers of hardcovers are available at $40.00. Postage in U.S. is $4.00. From MLV Enterprises, Dept. BNP, P.O. Box 914, Livingston, MT 59047 mlventurino@ycsi.net
Among the most colorful and exciting types of weapons that has come to us from the old west, indeed, the stuff that legends are built on, are the guns called buffalo rifles. These powerful guns were large caliber, generally heavy-barreled, single shot rifles that were carried by the men who hunted the American bison, the buffalo, for a living on the great plains of the American west. As a rule, those big rifles were considered capable of superb accuracy over long distances.
At first the white man hunted these magnificent animals in small numbers for meat; in order to feed families, travelers, expeditions and military camps. Later, the buffalo were tragically slaughtered outright, almost to the point of extenction. This mass slaughter took place due to a demand for their hides from back east and in Europe, but the U.S. Government didn't object at all, mainly because the slaughter offered a means to remove the main food supply from the plains Indian tribes. Since the killing was being done almost entirely by civilians for monetary gain, the U.S. Army could afford sit back and wait without worrying about getting blamed for the carnage, that is; if anyone were to object. Thus, the military outcome of the period in history we today call The Indian Wars was assured, not by the soldiers, but by the buffalo hunter and his trusty rifle.
If you are like myself, when someone even mentions the name Sharps I drift back 125 years to the Dakota Territory. Whatever their legacy, the term "buffalo rifle" at once conjours up visons of huge herds of animals that number into counteless thousands, wandering free on the open plains of the American west. Even amid the slaughter legends were born, perhaps even a hero or two.
The old master, and one of my personal favorite writers; Mike Venturino, has truly outdone himself with this, his latest offering, a new book titled, appropriately, Shooting Buffalo Rifles of the Old West. In his comfortable, colorful style, Mike explains for us in great detail not just the history of these rifles and the men who used them, but of his own life-long love affair with these heavy caliber, tack-driving rifles.
As the title implies, this book tells you how to effectively load for, shoot and care for buffalo rifles of all types. The famous Sharps, Remington Winchester, Ballard, and other rifles are well covered here, as well as something that has been lacking in many previous works; there is an excellent chapter on the sights used on these long-range wonders. These great rifles were also offered in a wide variety of calibers, many of which were developed especially for the purpose of long-range game shooting and the big-bore cartridge enthusiast will find his bag filled with terrific information on the specific big-bore "buffalo" calibers. On top of that, I believe that Mike has written what is probably the most practical and easiest to understand general reloading information that I have ever read.
Whether your interest runs toward original 19th century weapons, or to our modern made reproductions of them. Whether you are a target shooter, a hunter or both, or simply an affectionado of the old west; you will find a wealth of wonderful insights and solid, useable information in Shooting Buffalo Rifles of the Old West.
I enjoyed this new book very much, but likely the best compliment I can pay to Mike is that I am finding it very useful as a tool that is helping me frequently with my own shooting. Honestly, I don't know how I ever got along without it!