Buy used:
$15.92
$3.99 delivery May 13 - 17. Details
Or fastest delivery May 9 - 14. Details
Used: Very Good | Details
Sold by HPB-Emerald
Condition: Used: Very Good
Comment: Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
Amazon book clubs early access
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access

Join or create book clubs

Choose books together

Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Explore Amazon Book Clubs
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Gene Gangarosa
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Complete Guide to Service Handguns Paperback – May 1, 1998

by Jr. Gangarosa, Gene (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 5 ratings
See all formats and editions
A gun expert explores the revolvers and pistols that are used around the globe by the military, law enforcement, and civilians. Each gun is discussed in detail with photos, test fire results, and specification charts.
Previous page
  1. Print length
    304 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Stoeger Pub Co
  4. Publication date
    May 1, 1998
  5. Dimensions
    8 x 0.75 x 10.25 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0883172046
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0883172049
  8. See all details
Next page
The Amazon Book Review
The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Stoeger Pub Co (May 1, 1998)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0883172046
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0883172049
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 4.8 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8 x 0.75 x 10.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 5 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Gene Gangarosa

Gene Gangarosa

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
5 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Andy Hui Ka Wa
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2017
Very good product
Helpful
 Report
W. R. G. DMD
4.0 out of 5 stars Well written.
Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2013
Verified Purchase
Mr. Gaggarosa, did another great job of delivering a gernal summary of modern era service handguns. Very readable and a good starting book for the new collector or someone just interersted in the subject.
Helpful
 Report
Mark Freburg
4.0 out of 5 stars Must have gun books for the hardware fan
Reviewed in the United States on August 7, 2005
Gene Gangarosa is one of the comparatively few gun writers with the integrity to call it like he sees it. You will not see Gene rating guns based on how "cool" they may be perceived to be by others. Thus this book reviews guns based on their quality, features, and performance, regardless of who made them. Gangarosa is well qualified to write on this topic, and although all reviews of anything that anyone writes is subjective, including this one, you will find an even-handedness in this book, as well as the companion volume, The Complete Guide to Compact Handguns which is also available on Amazon or from Stoeger Gun Books, the publisher.

First of all, these trade-size paperback books cover defensive handguns. Competition, hunting and plinking guns are not what these books are about. Service Handguns covers revolvers and pistols in the 4" to 5" size, guns which are normally carried in a belt holster. The companion Compact Handguns volume covers shorter and smaller version of defensive handguns. The books are organized into four basic sections, classic revolvers, classic semi-automatic pistols, modern revolvers, and modern pistols. The sheer number of models reviewed is staggering. Guns are all photographed in B&W, and fired for function and accuracy. With gun companies that make multiple versions of the same basic model a representative one or two might be fired, but all are discussed.

I rate these two books a four rather than five just because nothing is perfect. I do have some minor complaints. I would have liked to have seen expanded coverage of the biggest selling handguns such as Glock, Smith & Wesson, and SIG. But it is hard to fault an author for covering all makes equally. Second, function and accuracy varies among individual examples of the same exact model handgun. I would like to have seen that emphasized. Gangarosa is no doubt well aware of this fact, but an unsophisticated reader might get the wrong impression, right or wrong, basing judgments on examples of one. I don't want to hammer this one, as this is a minor complaint in the grand scheme of the book. Finally, I have found one or two minor inaccuracies, which are going to creep into any book. One example that comes to mind is in the section on classic revolvers. In reviewing the Ruger Security-six Gangarosa mentions the Speed-six and calls it slightly smaller. In fact the Speed-six is exactly the same size as the Security-six, using the same exact frame. The only differences in these two guns are that the Sec-six used a square butt grip frame and has adjustable sights while the Speed-six has a round-butt grip frame and fixed sights. Again, these inaccuracies are rare and minor. At the moment I can't even think of another example.

These books are now several years old, and given the dynamism of the handgun world of late, they are going to be slightly out of date. However I don't see that as a drawback. You read gun magazines to get the latest info on new releases, while you buy books as solid reference volumes which you'll refer to again and again. That is the type of books we have here.
3 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
M. Dog
4.0 out of 5 stars A great reference source that does it all
Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2003
This is one of the best reference works out there for information about service handguns. It is a great combination of both factual data about subjective, expert opinion about a very large selection of standard handguns. The author gives the history of the weapon, the technical data, and shooting impressions. This is one of the few resources that give all three. The photographs are very good (not glossy but still very good), and the writing is clear and concise without being dry. The information is well organized with an excellent index. Finally, the author includes "classic" service handguns no longer in production as well as current models. Every gun I have been interested in has been in this book. I have read it from cover to cover just for pleasure reading. It is that good. If you are interested in firearms, I highly recommend it. The only downside is that it only comes in paperback, and I had to buy a second copy because I wore out my first one!
6 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report