Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 8:06 am
by Don
This response is a little on target, and a little off target. The following is a list of books I have collected, or which have been recommended to me, over the years. Some are on high power shooting, some on international shooting, some on pistol shooting, some on the history of the shooting sports, and some on mental issues, not necessarily related just to shooting. Most, I have found to be helpful. No one has the one true path to enlightenment. Some rifle shooters have a better handle on mental management than pistol shooters, and vice versa.
I am double Distinguished; double President's Hundred; have two winning National Trophy (Dogs of War) medals; have Distinguished Skirmisher and Distinguished Revolver badges from the North-South Skirmish Association; and have the International Master badge from the U.S. International Muzzle Loading Team. I am also older than dirt. I found getting the pistol badges much harder than the rifle ones. Even on a good day, pistol has always been a struggle for me, where as when picking up a rifle I always felt that God was in his heaven and all was right with the world. Having said that, I think that cross training between arms and shooting disciplines is excellent training, and that each arm and discipline can teach the shooter something that the others do not. Once one has mastered the "basics" of shooting, mental management is THE universal issue in shooting, whether one shoots pistol or rifle, international or NRA. Entirely too many people concentrate on "technique," tools, and loading, rather than mastery of themselves, and then wonder why they do not advance in the sport. I became a competitive shooter when I wandered into the college rifle range and the ROTC sergeant strapped me into smallbore gear and let me shoot several targets. Since I thought that I was a "shooter," I was not happy with the results, and thought that I would come back until I shot a score that I was happy with. I'm still trying, and will probably still be trying until the day that I die.
Reading List for Shooting
(The items marked with an * I have and have read. The others I'm still working on getting.) Just because a book is dated doesn't mean that the author doesn't have something very interesting to tell you. The books by Ezekiel Baker (1823) and W. Milton Farrow (1882) are particularly interesting in this respect. Farrow probably understood the psychological game as well as anyone today does.
Books
* Anderson, Gary L.; Marksmanship, Simon and Schuster, 1972.
* Anderson, Gary L. (Editor); Highpower Match Rifle Shooting, (Clinic Transcript), Volume I, Washington, D.C.: National Rifle Association, 1980.
* Anderson, Gary L. (Editor); Highpower Match Rifle Shooting, (Clinic Transcript), Volume II, Washington, D.C.: National Rifle Association, 1981
* Anderson, Gary L.; The CMP Rifle Instruction Guide, Civilian Marksmanship Program, 2006.
* Antal, Dr. Laslo; Competitive Pistol Shooting. West Yorkshire, England, EP Publishing Ltd., 1983.
Antal, Laslo and Skanaker, Ragnar; Pistol Shooting. Liverpool, England: published by authors, 1985.
* Baker, Ezekiel; Remarks on Rifle Guns, 1823.
* Barde, Robert E., Maj, USMC; The History of Marine Corps Competitive Marksmanship, Washington, DC, U.S. Marine Corps, 1961.
* Bassham, Lanny R.; With Winning in Mind; BookPartners, Inc., 1995.
* Boelter, Steven; Rifleman’s Guide to Rimfire Ammunition, Zediker Publishing, 2006.
* Buhlman, Gaby; Reinhenmilier, Heinz; Eckhardt, Maik; and Murray, Bill; Ways of the Rifle, MEC, 2002
* Buhlman, Gaby; Reinhenmilier, Heinz; Eckhardt, Maik; Kulla, Claudia; and Linn, Uwe; Air Rifle Shooting, MEC, 2004
* Burke, Desmond T.; Canadian Bisley Shooting: An Art and a Science, 1970.
Chandler, John.; The Target Gun book of Pistol Coaching. Worcs: Peterson Publishing Company Ltd., 1983.
Coaching Association of Canada; National Coaching Certification Program: Coaching Theory Level 1 Canada: Coaching Association of Canada, 1988.
Coaching Association of Canada; National Coaching Certification Program: Coaching Theory Level 2 Canada: Coaching Association of Canada, 1988.
* Constantine, Randolph; Modern Highpower Competition: From Beginner to Master, Precision Shooting, 1998.
* Cratty, B. and Vanek, M.; Psychology and the Superior Athlete. Ontario: McMillan and McMillan, 1970.
* Csikszentmihalyi, Mihaly, and Jackson, Susan A.; Flow in Sports. Windsor: Human Kinetics, 1999.
DiCicco, Tony; Hacker, Colleen; and Salzberg, Charles; Catch Them Being Good. London, England: Penguin Group, 2002.
* Domey, Richard L.; Mental Training for Shooting for Success, 2nd Ed. Pullman, Washington: College Hill Communications, 1989.
Enos, Brian, Practical Shooting: Beyond Fundamentals
* Farrow, W. Milton; How I Became a Crack Shot, NEwport, Davis and Pittman, 1882.
* Feamster, John; Black Magic: The Ultra Accurate AR-15; Precision Shooting, 1998.
* Freeland, Albin; Uncle Al, The Life and Times of Inventor/Marksman Albin Freeland. Rock Island, Illinois: Quest Publishing, 1982.
* Freeman, P.C.; Modern Pistol Shooting. London: Faber and Faber, 1968.
* Freeman, P.C.; Target Pistol Shooting: Eliminating the Variables. London: Faber and Faber, 1981.
Freidman, W.H.; Altered States of Awareness. San Francisco: Scientific American Publication.
* Frost, George E., Ammunition Making: An Insider’s Story, U.S. NRA, 1990
Fuller, W. H., (Revised by Palmer, A. J.), Small Bore Target Shooting, London, Barrie and Jenkins, 1973.
Gallwey, Timothy W.; The Inner Game of Tennis. New York: Random House, 1974.
Gallwey, Timothy W.; Inner Tennis, Playing the Game. New York: Random House, 1976.
* Garfield, Charles A.; Peak Performance, Mental Training Techniques of the World's Greatest Athletes. New York: Warner Books, 1984.
* Hebard, Gil; The Pistol Shooter's Treasury
* Herrigel, Eugen; Zen in the Art of Archery. New York: Vintage Books, 1999.
* Hickey, Bob; Mental Training. Eagle River, Alaska: University of Alaska Chugiak - Eagle River College Center, 1979; Eagle River, Alaska: Totem Shooters Supplies, 1979 (rev. ed.)
* Hickey, Bob; and Sievers, Art; Successful Pistol Shooting, SPP Books, 1996.
Hill, Napoleon; Think and Grow Rich. New York: Fawcett Crest.
Hinchliffe, K.B.; Target Pistol Shooting. London: David and Charles, 1981.
* Hoff, Feliks. Kyodo: The Way of the Bow. London: Shambhala Publishing Limited, 2002.
* Horneber, Ralf; Olympic Target Rifle Shooting: Technique, Tactics, Training, (English translation by Bill Murray), F. C. Mayer Verlag, 1993.
Jackson, John W.; Success in Prone Target Shooting Skills and Coaching Aids.
* Karas, Lester W.; Competitive Shooting Excellence with the High Power Target Rifle, Ontario, Canada, Northlands Printing, 1995.
* Klinger, Bernd; Rifle Shooting as a Sport: Vol. 1; Basic Principles, Positions and Techniques. London: Kaye & Ward Ltd., 1978 (English translation 1980)
* Klinger, Bernd; Rifle Shooting as a Sport: Vol. 2; Training and Competition. London: Kaye & Ward Ltd., 1979. (English translation 1981.)
* Krilling, William; Shooting for Gold. 1992, distributed by the author
Kushner, Kenneth; One Arrow, One Life: Zen, Archery, Enlightenment. Boston: Tuttle Publishing, 2000.
* Landers, Daniel M.; and Hunt, Karen J.; Shooting Sports Research, National Rifle Association, 1988.
Langlois, Jocelyn (Technical Director) and Todd, A.R. (Technical Consultant). National Coaching Certification Program: Clay Target Shooting, Level 1 Technical Coaching Manual. Gloucester, Canada: Shooting Federation of Canada, 1994.
Langlois, Jocelyn (Technical Director) and Todd, A.R. (Technical Consultant). National Coaching Certification Program: Pistol Shooting, Level 1 Technical Coaching Manual. Gloucester, Canada: Shooting Federation of Canada, 1992.
Langlois, Jocelyn (Technical Director) and Todd, A.R. (Technical Consultant). National Coaching Certification Program: Pistol Shooting, Level 2 Technical Coaching Manual. Gloucester, Canada: Shooting Federation of Canada, 1991.
* Leathdale, Frank and Paul Leatherdale; Successful Pistol Shooting. Wiltshire: The Crowood Press, 1995.
* Leong, Edward; A Beginner’s Guide to Master Grade Shooting; Wild and Woolley, Australia, 1993.
Maltz, Maxwell; Psychocybernetics. New York: Pocket Books, 1960.
* Mann, F.W.; The Bullet's Flight. 1909.
Merkin G.; and Hoffman M.; Sports Medicine. Canada: Little Brown and Company.
* Miller, Linda; and Cunningham, Keith; The Dream Team, MilCun Marksmanship, 2003.
* Miller, Linda; and Cunningham, Keith; Favorite Stories on Attitude, MilCun Marksmanship, 2002.
* Miller, Linda; and Cunningham, Keith; Favorite Stories from a Professional Perspective, MilCun Marksmanship, 2004.
* Miller, Linda; and Cunningham, Keith; Favorite Stories on Winning, MilCun Marksmanship, 2003.
* Miller, Linda; and Cunningham, Keith; The Wind Book for Rifle Shooters; Paladin Press, 2006.
Moran, Aidan P.; The Psychology of Concentration in Sports Performers: A Cognitive Analysis. East Sussex, UK: Psychology Press, 1996.
Murphy, Joseph; The Power of Your Subconscious Mind. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 1963.
National Rifle Association; The Basics of Pistol Shooting. Fairfax: The National Rifle Association, 1991.
Nideffer, Robert M.; The Inner Athlete: Mind Plus Muscle for Winning.
* O’Connor, John O.; Shooting Awards and Prize Medals to Australian Military Forces; 2002.
Orlick, Terry; In Pursuit of Excellence. Windsor: Human Kinetics, 2000.
* Owen, David; The King’s and Queen’s Medal for Shooting, 1869-1998, Sharpshooter Books, 1999.
* Owens, James R.; Reading the Wind and Coaching Techniques, JAFEICA Publishing, 1996.
* Owens, James R.; Sight Alignment, Trigger Control, and the Big Lie, JAFEICA Publishing, 1996.
* Page, Warren; The Accurate Rifle. New York: Winchester Press, 1973.
* Parish, David; and Anthony, John; Target Rifle Shooting, EP Publishing, Great Britain, 1981.
* Parish, David; Successful Rifle Shooting, Crowood Press, Great Britain, 1991.
Peale, Norman V.; Positive Imaging. New York: Ballantine Books, 1982. (religious slant).
Porter, Kay; The Mental Athlete. Windsor: Human Kinetics, 2003.
* Precision Shooting (1990-9); The Highpower Shooting Primer, 2000.
* Pullum, William C. and Hanenkrat, Frank T.; Successful Shooting. Washington, D.C.: National Rifle Association, 1981.
* Pullum, William C. and Hanenkrat, Frank T.; Position Rifle Shooting. New York: Winchester Press, 1973.
* Reinkemeier, Heinz; On the Training of Shooters, Vols. I and II, Ludenscheid, Staats GmbH for the British National Smallbore Rifle Association, 1992 and 1993.
* Reymolds, E. G. B., and Fulton, Robin; Target Rifle Shooting, London, Barrie and Jenkins Ltd., 1972.
* Ross, Ellen (Editor); Highpower Match Rifle Shooting, (Clinic Transcript), Volume III Washington, D.C.: National Rifle Association, 1985
* Ross, Ellen (Editor); Smallbore Prone Rifle Shooting, (Clinic Transcript), Volume 1, Washington, D.C.: National Rifle Association, 1982.
* Ross, Ellen (Editor); Smallbore Prone Rifle Shooting, (Clinic Transcript), Volume 2, Washington, D.C.: National Rifle Association, 1983.
Ross, Ellen (Editor) Three Gun Bullseye Pistol Shooting. (Clinic Transcript), Volume 7; National Rifle Association, 1987.
Rotella, Dr. Bob; with Cullen, Bob; The Golfer's Mind. New York, New York: Free Press, 2004.
Ruis, Steve; and Stevenson, Claudia; Precision Archery
* Russo, William M., Massachusetts Volunteer Militia Marksmanship Awards, 2006
* Russo, William M., and Gisetto, John J., Sr., Massachusetts Volunteer Militia: A Pictorial History of State Team Prize Medals, Axel Man Publishing Co., 2007
* Sato, Hiroaki; The Sword and The Mind, Overlook Press, 1986.
[DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK] * Skinner, Chet; The Mental Art of World Class Competitive Pistol Shooting, Spotsylvania, VA, self published, 2004.
Sogen, Omori; An Introduction to Zen Training. Boston: Tuttle Publishing, 2001.
* Standl, Hans; Pistol Shooting as a Sport. Translation by Anita Pennington. London: Kaye and Ward, 1979.
Suinn, Richard M.; Seven Steps to Peak Performance: The Mental Training Manual for Athletes. Toronto: Hans Huber Publishers, 1986.
Sweet, James; Competitive Rifle Shooting, Australia, Shooting Book Publisher, 1973.
* Taylor, Mark H.; Rifle and Pistol Shooting: Winning with the Mental Edge, MMC Enterprises, 1999.
Todd, A.R. (Technical Director); National Coaching Certification Program: Rifle Shooting, Level 1 Technical Coaching Manual. Gloucester, Canada: Shooting Federation of Canada, 1984.
* Tompkins, Nancy; Prone and Long-Range Rifle Shooting, 2006.
* Tubb, David; Highpower Rifle, Zediker, 1993.
* Tubb, David; The Rifle Shooter, Zediker, 2003.
* U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit; Advanced Pistol Guide.
* U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit; The Marksmanship Instructors' and Coaches' Guide.
* U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit; International Rifle Marksmanship Guide.
* U.S. Army Materiel Command, 1967 National Match Rifles (M14NM and M1NM), 1967.
* U.S. Women's International Rifle Organization; Schiessportschule Dialogues I. Tempe, Az.: Reliable Reproductions Inc.
* Waitley, Dennis; The Psychology of Winning. New York: The Berkley Publishing Group, 1979.
Walter, John; The Airgun Book. Harrisburg, Pa.: Stackpole Books, 1981.
* Wells, William R., II; Shots That Hit: A Study of U.S. Coast Guard Marksmanship, 1790-1985; U.S. Coast Guard Historian’s Office, 1993.
* Yur'Yev, A. A.; Competitive Shooting. Washington, D.C.: National Rifle Association, 1985. (English translation edited by Gary Anderson).
* Zediker, Glen D.; Handloading for Competition; Zediker, 2001.
* Zediker, Glen D.; The Competitive AR15: The Mouse That Roared; Zediker, 1998.
Articles
Daniels, Frank; "Do The Eyes Have It?," American Rifleman, March 1981, pp. 38-39, 79.
Etzel, Edward; "Physical Fitness, The Key to Improved Performance on the Firing Line," American Marksman, August 1979, pp 12-13.
* Etzel, Edward and Riesterer, Uve; "Air Rifle Shooting," American Rifleman, May 1982, pp. 46-47, 76.
* Kalinichenko, N.; "How Soviets View Aiming Problems," American Rifleman, September 1970, pp. 40-43.
Keyes, Michael J.; "Weight Lifting for the Pistol Shooter," American Marksman, January 1981, pp. 4-6.
* Keyes, Michael J.; "Shooter's Elbow," American Marksman, May 1980, pp. 10-11.
* Nygord, Don; "Winning is in the Mind," American Marksman, December 1979, pp. 36-37.
Pocock, Ed, III; “All You Need to Know About Wind, Part I,” Tactical Shooter, June 2000.
Pullum, William C.; "Mental Training," American Marksman, November 1979, pp. 36-38.
Simpson, John C.; “The Question is Blowin’ in the Wind,” Tactical Shooter, August 2000.
* Stidworthy, George; "Reading the Wind," Rifle, March-April 1981. illustrations, May-June 1981.
U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit; "Match Pressure," American Marksman, February 1979, pp. 10-11, 24, 26. (excerpt from International Skeet and Trap Guide)
* Vande Zande, Ernest J.; "How to Plan to Win," American Rifleman, April 1982, pp. 42-43, 78-80.
* Vande Zande, Ernest J.; "Prone to Win," American Rifleman, April 1981, pp. 26-27, 74-75.
Young, Charles F.; “Wind Reading – Another Way of Looking at It?” Tactical Shooter, April 1998.