For reasons about which I am not completely clear, I did not spend much time with O'Connor's writings as a young, budding, full-time gun nut. Like most, I've always viewed him as a well-respected writer and a gentleman, and staunch advocate for the .270. My development (deterioration? ) as a shooter, hunter and reloader was much more heavily influenced by the writings of Skeeter Skelton, George Nonte, Charles Askins, Bill Jordan and Elmer Keith.

BTW, I've seen copies of a couple of Elmer Keith's "first draft" manuscripts. He was almost illiterate; he couldn't spell or punctuate to save his life. Editor's nightmare, but his experiences were priceless. I've been given to understand that O'Connor's writing needed little editing, but I have not seen proof of that.