BOOK REVIEW: AFRICAN MEDIUM GAME CARTRIDGES
BOOK REVIEW
AFRICAN MEDIUM GAME CARTRIDGES
By Pierre Van Der Walt
A number of years ago, the late Dr Don Heath who was research and development manager for Norma Ammunition in Sweden invited Pierre Van Der Walt and I to visit their plant in the charming little town of Amotfors; Pierre wrote up the story for MAN Magnum, and I for African Hunter. It was the first time I had the pleasure of meeting Pierre, and his company added a lot to the experience: firstly his vast knowledge on all things firearms-related, his appreciation for history and quality craftsmanship, and especially his keen sense of humour.
A couple of years after that, I was privileged to write a review of Pierre’s classic tome, African Dangerous Game Cartridges, which has become the definitive bottom line in modern African ballistics. And about a year ago, Pierre let it be known that the follow-up volume, African Medium Game Cartridges, was in its final stages. Needless to say, I have been looking forward to getting my hands on a copy ever since.
Apart from the vast wealth of knowledge that both books contain, they are conspicuous by their high-quality format and hundreds of colour photographs. Certainly anyone who keeps a library of Africana with hunting and firearms titles will be looking for that information in a well-presented, easy to read and lasting format – such as will appreciate in value over time - and Pierre’s books do not disappoint.
African Medium Game Cartridges is the second in a planned series of four titles, which will span the subject from big bore to small bore, and it is also the first comprehensive reference book on Africa’s medium calibres ever attempted.
This book, like its predecessor, is not limited to a basic overview of cartridges. Pierre starts out with subjects such as application ranges, bolt action lengths, bullet, cartridge, and propellant classification, correct nomenclature, optimum impact velocity bands, velocity to charge ratio, and many more topics that we all need to learn more about. He covers characteristics of expanding bullets and terminal ballistics, and explores terminal performance, from Taylor’s Knock-Out Theory to controversial ideas like hydrostatic shock and the energy dump theory. Pierre’s extensive knowledge is such that we have a definitive “mythbusters” exploration of what is and isn’t.
Want to know about secondary projectile explosion effects, Ackley’s Bridging Theory, Kvale’s Bullet Hesitation Theory, Steiger’s Propellant Abuse Theory, and many other ballistic phenomena? Read chapter five.
The book then examines, in depth, 39 cartridges that have been used on Africa’s medium game species: from the 6.8 Remington Special Purpose Cartridge to the 7.65 x 53 Argentine Mauser. Each calibre is meticulously studied from a number of complimentary angles: the history that led to its inception, the unique characteristics that make it noteworthy, ballistics tables, reloading tables, advice on handloading the calibre, and application bands for the different bullets available. To cement its place as the reference book on these calibres, Pierre’s reloading data encompasses African, American, Australian, and European propellants.
Interspersed throughout are a plethora of load data summary tables for the different cartridges, cartridge diagrams, and 380 full colour images.
African Medium Game Cartridges is 478 pages of history, data, and and experience from the man who gave us the .458 African, and to whom even the cognoscenti turn for information and advice about African firearms and ballistics. The glossy presentation, hard cover format, and crystal clear illustrations make it as much a coffee table book as a reference manual, and
It is a must-have for any real library on Africana, firearms, ballistics, or hunting.
African Medium Game Cartridges is available for US$75.00 plus shipping from Pathfinder Book Publishers, info@pathfinder-publications.com, or visit the website www.pathfinder-publications.com.
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