Complete Book of The . 22: A Guide to the World's Most Popular Guns »

Wayne van Zwoll has published more than a thousand articles about the outdoors, for magazines such as Sports Afield, Outdoor Life, and Field & Stream. He is the author of The Hunter's Guide to Ballistics and The Hunter's Guide to Accurate Shooting, among others.

Here’s the ideal companion to the most popular starter rifle: the venerable .22. The best isn’t always the biggest—and the .22 is not only the perfect first rifle, but also one that many hunters and shooters come back to and use throughout their days afield.
Wayne van Zwoll, a longtime authority on the subject, takes experts and beginners alike through the history, variety, and use of the classic .22. He writes appealingly about his first .22, and the ones he bought for later competitive use. He describes hunting and target shooting with the .22, and details the care and upkeep of the weapon. He also discusses the evolution of the gun, and the refinements of the ammo that go with it.

Included are chapters on:

• The .17 • Practical Scopes • Brownings
• Squirrel Rifles • Ballistics • Winchesters
• Getting to Zero • Better Sights • Rugers
• Holding a Rifle Still • Supports • Savages
• Prepping for the Field • Cleaning • Remingtons
• Real Gunstocks • Why Hunters Miss • Coopers
• A Bullet’s Way Through the Wind • The Sling • Marlins

The .22’s accuracy, economy, and versatility have made it an all-time best-seller. The Complete Book of the .22 is the perfect, all-encompassing book for first time shooters to veteran rifle owners.

(1) Beginnings * First Obsession * The Sheep Pens * In the Big Woods * Run, Rabbit, Run! * Little Bears * Earl (2) Rimfires in Retrospect * What is a .22? * Squirrel Rifles * The Tiny .17 (3) The Makers * Browning Genesis) Cooper-- an Original * Comeback at Kimber * Marlin and its Marvelous 39 * Remington, our First Gunmaker * Ruger: a Genius for Guns * Arthur Savage's Brilliant Idea * Winchester: the Unlikely Company (4) To Shoot a Rimfire * Real Gunstocks * Better Sights, Better Shots * How to Shoot with Irons * Rest that Rifle! * Getting to Zero * Holding a Rifle Still * Prepping for the Field * Surprise! The Bullet's Gone * Cant * A Bullet's Way Through Wind * Why Hunters Miss * Measure Your Marksmanship * A Stand-up Game * Cleaning Rimfires (5) Tales from .22 Country * Frank * Sally's Prize * The Coyote Trap