Where to Start with Bryce Towsley
Bryce Towsley is a multi-talented author, but because his works span very different genres—ranging from technical gunsmithing manuals to outdoor hunting tactics and even a post-apocalyptic survival novel—the best starting point depends entirely on what you want to read. Here is how to choose your entry point:
- For Fiction and Survival Fans: Start with The 14th Reinstated (2012). This is Towsley's only novel, portraying a realistic post-collapse world where preparedness and practical firearm skills are matters of life and death.
- For Gun Owners and Tinkerers: Start with Gunsmithing Made Easy: Projects for the Home Gunsmith (2010). It is highly accessible, using a conversational tone and step-by-step instructions that require only basic tools you likely already own.
- For Serious Hunters: Start with Big Bucks the Benoit Way: Secrets from America's First Family of Whitetail Hunting (2008). It is widely regarded as one of the most comprehensive and practical guides to tracking trophy whitetails ever written.
The Post-Apocalyptic Fiction: The 14th Reinstated
In 2012, Towsley branched into fiction with The 14th Reinstated. Set in the immediate aftermath of a global socio-economic collapse, the story avoids typical sci-fi tropes, focusing instead on gritty, real-world survival strategies. As a professional gunsmith and prepper expert, Towsley embeds genuine tactical advice, mechanical know-how, and firearm maintenance instructions directly into the narrative. Fun fact for readers: the protagonist's loyal dog, Clyde, was inspired by Towsley's real-life canine companion of the same name.
The Benoit Whitetail Hunting Series
Towsley's collaborations with the legendary Benoit family of Vermont form a loose, two-part series on tracking trophy deer. Rather than a strict narrative sequence, these books are best read in order of publication to understand how tactics evolved:
- Big Bucks the Benoit Way (2008): Focuses primarily on Larry Benoit, the patriarch of the family, detailing the traditional tracking and woodsmanship skills that made them famous.
- Benoit Bucks (2016): Shifts focus to the next generation (Larry's sons Lanny, Lane, and Shane) and details how they have adapted those traditional tracking methods to cope with modern technological changes, shifting weather patterns, and contemporary hunting pressure.
Essential Gunsmithing & Prepping Guides
Towsley's non-fiction technical books represent the core of his career. While they can be read as standalones based on your current project needs, they do build upon each other in complexity:
- The Handloader's Manual of Cartridge Conversions (1987): An early, highly technical reference book for advanced ammunition reloaders.
- Muzzleloading Essentials (2001): A comprehensive primer on black powder rifles and hunting.
- Gunsmithing Made Easy (2010): The ideal starting point for beginners, showing how to do basic repairs and modifications at a home workbench.
- Prepper Guns (2016): A specialized guide detailing which firearms, ammunition types, and tools are most practical for long-term disaster survival and self-defense.
- Gunsmithing Modern Firearms (2019): A more advanced companion to his 2010 guide, focusing on popular modern platforms like customizing GLOCK pistols and building AR-15 rifles from scratch.
- Gunsmithing Tips and Projects (2025): His latest release, gathering updated workshops, troubleshooting tricks, and specialized projects for modern firearms enthusiasts.
Other Outdoor, Hunting, and Culinary Guides
For outdoor enthusiasts who want practical skills beyond gunsmithing, Towsley has written and edited several essential guides:
- The Great American Deer Camp (1999): An edited anthology capturing the history, culture, and camaraderie of deer camps across America.
- Making Shots: A Rifle Hunter's Guide (2000): A practical manual focusing on marksmanship, field shooting positions, and target acquisition under real-world hunting conditions.
- Rifle Bullets For The Hunter: A Definitive Study (2006): A deep dive into bullet design, terminal ballistics, and choosing the right projectile for various game.
- Gut It. Cut It. Cook It. (2009): A step-by-step, highly illustrated guide to field dressing, butchering, and cooking wild game.
What to Know Before You Start
Towsley writes with a friendly, direct, and humorous tone. He assumes the reader is a peer—another outdoor enthusiast or hobbyist who wants practical, no-nonsense advice. His fiction, while containing a complete story arc, acts as an extension of his survival guides, making it an excellent companion piece to Prepper Guns. You do not need to read his non-fiction books in any specific sequence; simply pick the one that matches your current project or interest.