View Full Version : Guns in pop culture: Books Edition
What books/series make a point of detailing what guns are used, whether “cool, I know that gun” or “I wish this guy would just write and not give me ever caliber” levels…but generally do a good job and makes the book(s) more interesting?
Any examples of collaboration with manufacturers and authors?
Generally well-written or enjoyable books/series that get details right? (Those are not necessarily the same thing; I also eat Ramen noodles at times for cheap pleasure.)
Some examples:
Peter Nealen’s Maelstrom Rising series zeroes in on 308 caliber as standard for the mercenary organization. Special forces use Larue PredatOBR’s (LT makes a showing in his Brannigan’s Blackhearts series, as well), and grunts use Aero M5E1’s. This wasn’t the instigation for my 308 build, but I did consider what unmounted infantry would need (light weight but 100% reliable) when I chose parts.
Larry Correia’s Monster Hunters International series details plenty of firearms. He claims to be a bit of a gun nut, and it shows through. He actually has a collaboration with JP Rifles: https://www.jprifles.com/1.2.1_LRP07_MHI.php . LWRC, STI, Kalashnikov, plenty of others get mentions. No partnerships with ammunition manufacturers for silver-tips, as far as I know.
Jack Carr’s Terminal List series drops tons of manufacturers of weapons of all sorts. Winkler tomahawks is the most notable, plus Half Face Blades, if I’m remembering accurately. It borders on annoying at times, but I did go out and buy a (much cheaper) tomahawk.
Anything else stand out to readers?
The Dumb Gun Collector
11-07-21, 16:48
I can tell you where not to look: Stephen King. He has been getting a little bit better so either he has a gun friend or started scouring the net for info. But he will have a lot of the classic lame errors like suppressed revolvers and HK 37 submachine guns. He is a big lib so I am sure he hates guns. But I will say, in one of his recent books a bunch of southerners showed up with guns and wiped out a bunch of evil .gov hitmen. It was hilarious, some crazy lady with a rifle said something like "You boys are done, y'all are in the South now." and all the townspeople came up. Still, one of the gov people had a Sig "nightmare" pistol he must have seen online.
Diamondback
11-07-21, 17:03
Richard Marcinko used to be a hardcore HK fan with a Product Placement deal... and I wouldn't call them "good" but Don Pendleton's old Executioner pulps and their spinoffs were pretty much pure Gun Porn.
Don't bother with Robert Ludlum, he was pretty much a joke and just as gunhater as King, but Clive Cussler wrote some good scenes with vintage weaponry. (Given that his MC Dirk Pitt was pretty much an "All Things Old" nerd...)
I always thought Brad Thor did a good job when detailing various weapons / munitions with his Scot Harvath series of books...he's a pretty detail oriented guy regardless of topic & clearly does his research. Being that Scot is the lead character & former SEAL I'm sure he doesn't want to look like a doofus regarding firearms.
Straight Shooter
11-07-21, 17:27
Back in the 90's & 2000's I used to read a series of sci-fi paperbacks entitled DEATHLANDS. Set 400 years after nuclear holocaust...the small group of wanderers live in a world full of "muties" & depraved humanity. They are expert in finding pre-war "redoubts" full of weapons/ammo/gear that were nuke powered.
Everything from one old guy carrying a LeMat on up to about everything else.
Was decent reading back when I was on the road trucking for a living. Had the latest copies in most truckstops then.
Diamondback
11-07-21, 17:28
Back in the 90's & 2000's I used to read a series of sci-fi paperbacks entitled DEATHLANDS. Set 400 years after nuclear holocaust...the small group of wanderers live in a world full of "muties" & depraved humanity. They are expert in finding pre-war "redoubts" full of weapons/ammo/gear that were nuke powered.
Everything from one old guy carrying a LeMat on up to about everything else.
Was decent reading back when I was on the road trucking for a living. Had the latest copies in most truckstops then.
Same publisher as Executioner, same stable of ghostwriters. :)
I always thought Brad Thor did a good job when detailing various weapons / munitions with his Scot Harvath series of books...
That’s right, forgot about that one.
Also, with the product placement mention… Jack Carr’s podcast is sponsored by Sig, so not sure if the Sig love started as a sponsorship or ended up as one.
Stephen King…. He may not know guns, but he has been immortalized in modern gun tropes by providing the nomenclature for the “Roland Special.” What’s the name of the book you mention? Not a big fan, but would listen on audio.
Uh hello...Stephen Hunter.
In his books the firearms are the main characters. It's like if John Ross wrote a bunch of books.
But he will have a lot of the classic lame errors like suppressed revolvers
I recall seeing a Dan Wesson revolver that had been suppressed. I believe its design allowed the barrel to cylinder fit to be precisely adjusted for almost no gap. I did not witness it being fired so I cannot confirm its success.
gunnerblue
11-07-21, 20:28
Anything by Stephen hunter. Also, C.J. Box gives pretty accurate descriptions from a western big game hunting perspective.
gunnerblue
11-07-21, 20:29
I recall seeing a Dan Wesson revolver that had been suppressed. I believe its design allowed the barrel to cylinder fit to be precisely adjusted for almost no gap. I did not witness it being fired so I cannot confirm its success.
At least one model of Morin-Nagant is capable of this. As best I remember, DW’s came with a 0.006” in order to set barrel/cylinder gap when swapping barrels.
I recall seeing a Dan Wesson revolver that had been suppressed. I believe its design allowed the barrel to cylinder fit to be precisely adjusted for almost no gap. I did not witness it being fired so I cannot confirm its success.
Theoretically that Russian Nagant revolver should suppress nicely as the cylinder locks up when the hammer is cocked.
Averageman
11-07-21, 21:38
. But he will have a lot of the classic lame errors like suppressed revolvers and HK 37 submachine guns. He is a big lib so I am sure he hates guns. online.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1e6U6W3LI3o
It's actually been a thing for a while.
LOL. Not sure we can blame his dismal accuracy on the suppressor. But I give them credit for actually doing it.
Black Powder Red Earth graphic novels are well known for accuracy or the strong attempt. They have done tsk collaborations with BCM, and the characters clearly appear to be using “real” weapons. I haven’t read, though I’d like to check it out some time.
The old punisher comic books from the 1990s had a sub series called "Armory". At the time I was a kid and just though they were cool. Much later, after my transformation into "gun guy" I noticed that a good bit if not most of it seemed to be based in truth (probably distilled from gunrags of the day) detailing classics and cutting edge weapons of the era and their accessories. I remember buying a used Kramer leather holster for my BHP almost purely because I recalled it from that series. I hadnt gazed upon any of these since I was a kid, but visiting my brother a couple years ago he pulled a couple of them out and after flipping through them they still seem mostly correct, but now very very dated.
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The Remaining series by D. Molles was pretty good with weapons accuracy plus a decent if long story over 4 or 5 books, worth checking out
Uh hello...Stephen Hunter.
In his books the firearms are the main characters. It's like if John Ross wrote a bunch of books.
First one that came to mind here too.
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