Cartridges of the World: A Complete and Illustrated Reference for Over 1500 Cartridges

I have read most of the reviews here on this publication and two things strike me as odd. First are the reviews that complain about everything in this book and end up saying that it is basically trash. Second are the ones that bow to it as if it is the holy grail and praise it as the best thing since sliced bread. What is the truth?? Well, let me say this about that. We need to be aware (constantly aware..) that these reviews are opinion pieces. They are highly subjective in nature and as such must be read and assimilated with an open (and reasonable..) mind. If you are to have faith in a review it must be credible, and still allow for the possibility that another opinion may be different. As a writer and an editor, my mantra has always been "a reasoned response from a reasonable mind." And you, the reader, should take what is written and use it....along with your own reasoned thoughts....to form your own opinion. So,....the truth?? The truth is that both sides of this argument have merit, and a reasonable conclusion puts the "correct" rating somewhere in the middle between them.I started reading this type of book in the early 1960's. I read a lot of them...every year. This book is definitely one that should be on your list of books to own...especially IF you don't already have a prior issue. If you have an earlier one, then maybe you should wait...I purchase this 'encyclopedia' about every third issue. I find that is frequent enough for my use.Before I started writing this review, I went back and reviewed a couple of my earlier issues of COTW. I was hoping to find out where specific errors originated. What I found is a mish-mash of errors and editing boondoggles existed in the earlier volumes as well. So,...Is this one worse than previous issues?? I think the problems are slowly getting worse (or at least more visible..). The main reason for this, the more often something is read and written, and re-written, and re-edited, the more chances for additional errors to creep into the work. So, as some others have noted, things that in past issues were not notable have devolved into problems...largely editing errors. Some of these things do not really bother me that much. Misplaced photos, spelling errors, grammatical inconsistencies, and "lost" pages, all fall into this category. Sure, they detract from the overall experience, but in the larger context these are usually not fatal errors. The way I look at it is this: Imagine the time and effort required to get a book this large ready to go to press----and since it is largely fact based, not an opinion piece, the error checking protocols must be tremendous......To even imagine a complete re-write of this book boggles the mind.What is needed here is an effort to re-write the parts that need it and edit carefully....the whole book. This would require the efforts of proof-readers for text and readability, and others familiar with the content for fact checking and inclusion. This would be a BIG, BIG effort!! Would it be worthwhile doing?? I don't know. But it IS needed.Having said all of that, this book remains one of the authoritative works on firearms cartridges. This is largely because most of the work was done earlier and only "updates" have happened since then. This is also why this work needs to be renewed. I like this book. I always have. I enjoy reading it (even if it does give me a headache sometimes..). AND, there is a tremendous amount of useful information inside this binding. It is just getting a little harder to sort through it all.So, if you don't already own one of these books, you should probably get one. If you already own the 10th or 11th edition maybe you should skip this one. If all you have is an early edition, then this new edition will definitely add some value to what you already have. As a point of general interest, I have recently taken to reading a new publication  Ammo Encyclopedia, 3rd edition . I have found it to be a rather nice counterview to COTW and well worth reading. I notice now that there is a newer version available as well..  4th Edition The Ammo Encyclopedia . If you own one of these in addition to COTW, you will probably have everything you will ever need.So, 3 stars for the book COTW. With proper editing and more attention to detail would be 5 stars.

I'm sure the older editions of this book contained some unsubstantiated opinions here and there, but at least they were readable and reasonably well organized. This latest edition is screwy both for what has been changed, and for what hasn't been updated. As others have noted, some of the pages are out of order, and possibly missing. The handgun cartridges are now divided into "current" and "obsolete" sections, OK, but the "current" section lists such popular numbers as 8mm Rast-Gasser, 8mm Lebel and .455 Webley Automatic while the "obsolete" section has the ancient .221 Fireball and .357 Maximum.I noted a few of the cartridge illustrations were wrong. Most astonishing was the .378 Weatherby Magnum photo heading up the .38-40 info.It seems to me that some cartridges that were in my older edition are missing now... the Finnish 6.3mm rimmed sporting cartridge being one. I want MORE information, not LESS.I think the time has come to honor Frank Barnes for his past service, fire Layne Simpson as editor, and totally re-write this entire book with a new author.

If you reload for rare or obsolete cartridges, you NEED this book. The authors have done an admirable job collecting and cataloging data or these cartridges, including powder charges, bullet weights, velocities, even powder varieties and chamber pressures (when they are known). It makes load development and duplication much easier and quicker.One word of caution: my book had one page of 8mm Mauser data that was 25 or so pages away from the rest of the proper section. This misprint made this part note book very confusing and was an obvious printing error. Hopefully this was fixed in subsequent editions.

Layne Simpson has filled the shoes of Frank Barnes well in this edition.Only tiny missing matter would have liked sectional densities and ballistic coeffiecients for modern bullets at the back where details are given of cases-many interesting details like Sharps Gun company went bankrupt same time as buffalo went extinct almost--and everlasting cartridges intrigued me with the name--meant to be hardened cases that would live forever,(not to be confused with Jesus who gives life everlasting).Cases only often have 4-5 reloading chances---a must have for reloaders,inspite of the various name brand manuals.

When I started learning about guns and ammo, my friend told me of this book. I searched for it and found it here. This book has soooo much info on ammo that I won't be able to remember half of it. That's why it's in my library so I can refer back to it when needed. For what you get and the price, you can't go wrong. This information could sell for $50+ but we're lucky that it doesn't here. I would recommend this to anyone wanting to learn about the ammo they're shooting.

As a Owner of Revolvers mainly british. with a few colt's and french revolvers. this booksit's on my Reloading table. very well written. and easy to follow.

Did you know that the 338 Lapua was designed hear in the USA and not were it carries the name and the 6mm Bench rest Norma.was actually was a 6mm br remington if you or should I say the desiner doesent pay to have the Sammi spec done enyone that does can have the cartridge name changed look at the 300 Blackout which was designed by JD Jones of SSK formely called the 300 wisper.

I bought this book for reference purposes. That means I like to look up specific cartridges from time to time. However it's very frustrating trying to do that with a Kindle book that has no index and a book that has no page numbers.Overall I should have bought the print version.

An extremely useful book that must not miss in the library of hunters, shooters or professionals. Particularly useful the Chapters 4, "Wildcat Cartridges" and Chapt. 8, "British Sporting Rifle Cartridges." This one, especially, gives a strong help in identifying the cartridges, also of scarce availability and obsolete, to shoot the British rifles for Africa. The resurrection of the manufacture of cases and bullets for the rifles of old Africa (e.g. Kynoch) with the renewed interest by the collectors and sportsmen on the subject , gives to this chapter an invaluable source of reference.Also needs a mention the Chapt. 13, "Cartridges Identification by Measurement", for an immediate identification of cartridges of uncertain origin.Historical notes and General Comments of the ammunitions, synthetic but effective.Book of rational layout, taking into consideration the amount of info and data covered, and of easy consultation.Strongly recommended.

Anyone wishing to study firearms in the UK is like a blind man with an arm tied behind their back. It is nigh on impossible to carry out any kind of comparative testing or make realistic judgements based on experience. Most of us here will never fire any of these rounds but if we want to understand firearms beyond what we see on the TV then a book like this is essential reading. Perhaps if the UK public had any concept above nil of firearms and ammunition we would never have encumbered our forces with the SA80. Good book, written by people who know what they are talking about.

An excellent reference piece. While there is the ocassional mistake or ommission the book is updated periodically. It can be used for reference, research or just general knowledge.

I was very excited that it was now possible to carry this tomb around, but and a big but, it is hard to find the cartridges and the index of all the cartridges it contains has gone!!!!!!also when you turn the page it does not start a section for each cartridge they just all flow together.

excellent