Townsend Whelen Books

Townsend Whelen (1877 - 1961) was an American hunter, soldier, writer, outdoorsman and rifleman. In 1936 he retired from his active military career and became a leading outdoor writer, contributing to Sports Afield, The American Rifleman, Field and Stream, Outdoor Life, and Guns and Ammo among others, as well as writing many sporting firearm books.

The Hunting Rifle: Design, Selection, Ballistics, Marksmanship by Townsend Whelen (1940) covers ballistics, design, selection, marksmanship and how to select the best rifle and cartridge for any particular game or type of hunting.

On Your Own In The Wilderness by Townsend Whelen (1958) contains old and time tried ways of the wild. The best ways of entering wild and unknown country, of finding one's own way through it and of living there in comfort and safety.

Fundamentals Of Scope Sights by Townsend Whelen (1952) covering the basic, elementary, selection, practical use and care of scope sights.

American Big Game Shooting by Townsend Whelen (1940) covers most North American game animals. Information plus hunting stories.

Why Not Load Your Own: Basic Handloading For Everyone by Townsend Whelen (1949) is a somewhat dated reloading manual. Contains much useful information on the basics of reloading of rifle and pistol ammunition. Contains a photo of the Colonel's loading room.

Handbook On Small Bore Rifle Shooting: Equipment, Marksmanship, Target Shooting, Practical Shooting, Rifle Ranges, Rifle Clubs by Townsend Whelen (1936)

The American Rifle: A Treatise, A Text Book And A Book Of Practical Information In The Use Of The Rifle by Townsend Whelen (1918). Written by a rifleman, for riflemen, it provides valuable insights into the special skills of solid, consistent rifle marksmanship, including understanding trajectory and elevation, finding your zero, reading the wind and all the other fundamentals of rifle shooting at distance that do not change, even though technological changes take place in rifle and ammunition design. Read this book and understand how and why your bullet hits the mark or doesn't. Free eBook

Big Game Hunting For The Novice And The Expert by Townsend Whelen (1923)

Hunting Big Game: An Anthology Of True And Thrilling Adventures By Master Hunters: Volume 1, Africa And Asia edited by Townsend Whelen (1946) includes authors such as Roosevelt, Oswell, Baker, Neumann, Sears, Pike and more.

Hunting Big Game: An Anthology Of True And Thrilling Adventures By Master Hunters: Volume 2, In The Americas by Townsend Whelen (1946) includes Roosevelt's 'Hunting In The Cattle Country', Charles Sheldon's 'A Stalk for Rams' and Stefansson's 'Stalking Seals And Polar Bears' and much more.

Mr Rifleman by Townsend Whelen with Brad Angier (1965). The author's experiences and experiments from the beginning of his career as a rifleman. The autobiography was started by Whelen but finished by his family and published after his death.

A Peach Of A Gun. Here It Is - The Gun That Can Please A Gun Crank. Nowadays We Need One Like This For All-Around Game Shooting by Townsend Whelen (1912) is a 'Field And Stream' article, not a book.

The Care And Cleaning Of Modern Firearms by Townsend Whelen (1922). (Pamphlet) Free eBook

Colonel Whelen's Gun Handbook And Catalog by Townsend Whelen (c.1940)

Small Arms Design And Ballistics by Townsend Whelen (1945) gives a detailed account of the design of firearms and ammunition in 2 volumes.

The Ultimate In Rifle Precision by Townsend Whelen (1949) is the handbook of the National Bench Rest Shooters Association. Covers bench rest, target, varmint and hunting rifles, their ammunition and their use.

Basic Reloading by Townsend Whelen (Date Unknown)

Telescopic Rifle Sights by Townsend Whelen (1936) "The only complete manual written on the increasingly popular telescopic sight. Fully describes all makes and types of scopes in common use today. Tells just what rifles they are adapted to and how they should be attached. A most authoritative and practical book from an author who has had 38 years of actual use and experience."

Amateur Gunsmithing by Townsend Whelen (1924) is a "How To" book for sportsmen and gun fanciers who wish to remodel or customize their rifles, shotguns and pistols.

Wilderness Hunting And Wild Craft: With Notes On The Habits And Life Histories Of Big Game Animals by Townsend Whelen (1946)

Suggestions To Military Riflemen: Sharpshooting For Sport And War by Townsend Whelen (1906) was his first book, following some magazine articles, written while he was a Lieutenant coaching the US Army Infantry team in shooting competitions. Free eBook

Book About Townsend Whelen:

Bradford Angier

The Best Of Colonel Townsend Whelen by Bradford Angier (1984). The best from the many years of big game hunting and writing by the noted hunter and rifle shot. The introduction is by the late Colonel Townsend Whelen. Includes a special photo section from the Colonel's private collection.