thanks Jim for the insightful comments here, its always nice to hear from someone who has 'been there' and 'done that' and possibly even 'made their bones' I get my knowledge from books by timothy mullins and peter kokalis with the classical reference works by Hogg and Stevens as well. I have studied small arms all of my life so for at least the past 30 years I have been learning and unlearning all that I could.

so I know not to tape mags together, to load mags a few rounds short in rifles and smg's. what I really love hearing though is advice from someone who has actually used these weapons in the field. priceless.

I have fired many of the ww2 small arms, lugers, 1911's, m-1 garand, m-1 carbine, mp-40, etc. but I have never fired a shot in anger. my knowledge is gleaned from those who have so I try not to chime in if I truly know nothing about the subject. there are many out there writing for the popular gun press who truly know little or nothing about the effectiveness of the calibers and weapons of which they profess to be 'experts' on.

again, thanks for sharing!
Kate

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In peace there's nothing so becomes a man as modest stillness and humility:but when the blast of war blows in our ears,then imitate the action of the tiger;stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood, disguise fair nature with hard-favour'd rage;then lend the eye a terrible aspect. William Shakespeare