I have owned Boddington's Safari Rifles for several years now (bought it on sale from Safari Book Club) and thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I have read most of the books written in English about cartridge rifle use in Africa and Asia, and own most of them. Boddington comes across as well-versed in African hunting lore, and as straightforward about his observations and experience.
Since then, I have been watching for a buy on his other book, American Hunting Rifles. Found a slightly-used copy of it a couple of weeks back in paperback at Half Price Books; and what a gem I have found it to be!
Boddington covers all of the cartridges commonly used for North American hunting first; and makes recommendations on calibers and rifle types suitable for each particular species and for the varying types of terrain and conditions. I like the fact that he does not take some radical polar stance like some writers of the past who would discount any caliber or rifle besides their pets: Examples of these were Elmer Keith with his "whomp-and-stomp" big bores; and Roy Weatherby with his fantasies of the magical killing power of ultra-high velocity.
I also like the fact that Boddington appears to be an honest reporter of his observations. After 55 years of living the hunting life, I have had many experiences myself: and I know that some gun writers, like the two mentioned in the last paragraph, stretch the facts to produce good copy.
Back to Boddington and American Hunting Rifles: The second section of the book deals with American hunting rifles: The history of their use since the advent of the self-contained cartridge in the late 1800s; and their descriptions, models, makes, stocks, scopes, slings, and such.
One of the new insights I have received from Craig Boddington is the fact that many of the hunters of the late 19th and early 20th centuries simply progressed from black powder cartridges and rifles, to the 30-40 Krag or 30-30, and then on to the 30-06 along with the cartridge development of the day. They changed to new cartridges, rifles, and equipment as the new inventions gave them advantage. Thus, for example, when one reads the books of Theodore Roosevelt written in the mid-1890s; the reader may think that "Teddy" is a big-bore aficionado in his almost exclusive use of the 45-75; yet a few years later, he discovered the "amazing long-range" effectiveness of the 30-30 and quickly switched to carrying the Winchester 94.
Boar are mentioned throughout the book, whenever Boddington remembers to say, "Oh, yes, and this is also a good combination for hogs." But one chapter, Chapter 37, is devoted to bear and hogs. It is entitled, "Guns and Loads for Black Bear and Wild Boar."
I like the fact that Boddington practices a type of Aristotelian philosophy in his recommendations for hog cartridges and loads -- what I would call "the Ballistic Golden Mean." That is, he does not recommend the extremes in bore size, nor does he attempt to sell high velocity. The strongest statement he does make in this regard is, "The physiology of both animals is hard on bullets," (p., 358) and, "choose tough, heavy bullets. . ." (p., 361).
What Boddington does recommend for hogs are the common moderate cartridges like the 270, the 7mm-08, the 7x57, the 308, the 30-06, and the 35 Whelen in bolt action, semi-auto, and pump rifles; and while he mentions the 30-30 at the small end, he favors the 35 Remington; 358, 356, 375 and 348 Winchesters; 444 Marlin (handloaded); and the 45-70 in lever actions. Thus, the Ballistic Golden Mean at its finest!
I highly recommend American Hunting Rifles to the Wild Boar Club members! You will find reading the book to be a delightful enterprise.
-- Little Eddie
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