First published over twenty years ago, I consider The Fighting Rifle to be the most complete work on this subject. Taylor begins with the history and development of assault, battle, and automatic rifles, then moves on through selecting a weapon, training, technique, and tactics. Also covered are field strip procedures for just about every "modern" military rifle you might encounter. There is a section on bayonet use and about 25 pages of general reference data. Good photos illustrate the book thoughout.
A solid book with lots of common-sense knowlege about combat handgunning. Includes sections on history, purpose, maintenance, modifications, holsters & spares, tactics, mental conditioning, and training. Also useful is an examination of a 1974 police gunfight that went bad, with suggestions on how its outcome might have been different with better training and more powerful handguns.
In this 385 page "photo essay", Chuck Taylor field tests different models of submachineguns and shotguns, as well as various types of ammuntion and their effects on targets such as cars and body armor. As in his other books, he demonstrates proper carry and fighting positions, room clearing, and how to deal with close-range attackers.
The Art of the Rifle should be read and assimilated by anyone who owns a rifle. While not a large book at just under 100 pages, it conveys the knowledge Cooper has gained during a lifetime of shooting. In addition to positions and handling, you will learn how to properly zero a rifle, breathe, employ a sling, and train your eyes. The next best thing to attending a class at Gunsite.
Written by a Spec ops/MACV-SOG veteran, this large manual covers a lot of ground. While marksmanship is covered in detail, there are sections about camouflage, tracking, and basic tactics. Interspersed throughout are anecdotes from the author's experience in Vietnam, which help to illustrate the material.
This extremely detailed, 500+ page edition contains a wealth of information that will be useful not only for military operators, but for .50 competition shooters as well. As an example of the depth of this book, there is a section on constructing an anti-reflection device for your optics. This alone could be a life saver for the soldier whose ARD is damaged or is unable to obtain one through normal procurement channels.
