Author and gunsmith Fred Zeglin, a longtime member of RMOWP, has announced the release of his latest book, which takes the most comprehensive look ever into the life and work of P.O. Ackley, the eminent gunsmith, barrel maker, teacher and cartridge developer.
In P.O. Ackley: America’s Gunsmith, Zeglin discusses the history of cartridge and rifle development, but also takes a never-before-seen look at a humble man who influenced nearly everything we know about shooting and ballistics today. Ackley’s ideas on reloading, rifle accuracy, safety, cartridge choice, and wildcats are just as relevant for modern “gun cranks” as they were in Ackley’s heyday, according to Zeglin.
This hardcover, 256-page study of P.O. Ackley’s work is the first in Gun Digest Media’s Heritage Series celebrating the iconic guns, designers and manufacturers who shaped today’s firearms landscape. The book is illustrated with photos from the personal archives of Ackley’s friends, family, and associates – a who’s who of giants from the firearms industry. From the dusty, oil rag-covered machine shops of Ackley’s early years to stunning modern-day firearms chambered in Ackley’s timeless wildcats, the full-color center section brings to life this colorful character and his accomplishments in gunsmithing and cartridge development.
Fred Zeglin has been building custom hunting rifles for over thirty years. He has taught classes for the National Rifle Association’s Short Term Gunsmithing program at three colleges and is the coordinator/instructor for the Firearms Technology Program at Flathead Valley Community College. His earlier books incude Hawk Cartridges Manual and Wildcat Cartridges, Reloader’s Handbook of Wildcat Cartridge Design, and he has contributed to numerous publications. Zeglin has also worked with the American Gunsmithing Institute to produce two instructional DVDs, Taming Wildcats and Reloading A to Z.
P.O. Ackley: America’s Gunsmith is available from Zeglin’s website, www.4-dproducts.com, at www.gundigeststore.com, or by calling (855) 840-5120 (product number R3744). Suggested retail price is $59.99.