Parker Otto Ackley world renowned gunsmith, ballistician, wildcatter, barrel maker, teacher and writer perhaps had more influence on modern shooting and firearms than any other single individual. Now his life and works have been painstakingly detailed in; P.O. Ackley: America’s Gunsmith.

Gunsmith turned writer Fred Zeglin delivers a never-before-seen look at the humble man whose research thrust the firearms industry forward. From pushing rifle chambers to their limits to developing superior barrels to designing red-hot cartridges, readers will walk away with a new appreciation for Ackley’s exploration and ideas. And his concepts on reloading, rifle accuracy, safety, cartridge choice, and wildcat use are just as relevant for today’s “gun cranks” as they were in Ackley’s heyday.

Zeglin provides the most complete collection of accurate dimensions, loading data and history for the lifetime of cartridges created by P.O. Ackley, the most influential gunsmith in American history. Most shooters today know him because of his “Ackley Improved” cartridge designs. But those cartridges are only the tip of the iceberg. P.O. Ackley: America’s Gunsmith is the whole story.

EXCLUSIVE:  Includes a previously unpublished article by P.O. Ackley himself.

How this book will raise your firearms IQ:

• Wildcat and standard cartridge history
• Accurate technical information
• Colorful Ackley quotes and entertaining Ackley-isms
• Descriptions and pressure tested reloading data for Ackley Improved cartridges
• Takes the concepts in Ackley’s books and expands on them for todays shooter

About the Author

Fred Zeglin has been building custom hunting rifles for over thirty years. Zeglin has taught classes for the NRA Short Term Gunsmithing program at three separate colleges and is Coordinator/Instructor for the Firearms Technology program at Flathead Valley Community College. He has published two books, Hawk Cartridges Manual and Wildcat Cartridges, Reloader’s Handbook of Wildcat Cartridge Design.  American Gunsmithing Institute has created two instructional programs with Zeglin, “Reloading from A to Z” and “Taming Wildcats”.