Ever find gun mistakes in books?

[Duke of Doubt]

Dave A: "Several years ago a book was published with the title "Ratenkrige" or "War of The Rats". It is an historical fiction of a snipers duel that occoured during the battle of Stalingrad. Several errors were made such as refering to muzzle flashes as dim and blue, resting a rifles barrel on windowsill to steady it, and getting point of aim adjustment wrong when shooting on an incline. Other than that it was a pretty cool book. Russian snipers were taking a real toll on the Germans and the Germans reacted by send out one of their best to act as a counter sniper."

The dim blue flashes were from artillery spotting rounds. You can steady a rifle on a windowsill. POI indeed is affected by incline. Those aren't the "problems" with that book, some of which problems were necessary for storytelling, but I enjoyed it, too.

 

[Duke of Doubt]

rojocorsa: "I have read Rattenkrieg. A good book about Stalingrad. To add to Dave A's statement, the author also mention bolt action rifles such as the 91/30 and the 98K having "gas systems." Last time I checked, I couldn't find any gas tubes or pistons on a Mosin. According to this book, the Mosin was a superior rifle to the German Mauser. Now, I love Mosins dearly, but not only is it easier to cycle a Mauser bolt because of its handle shape, it also has controlled feed and its classic locking lugs."

Bolt guns "handle" gases, too, especially in the case of separated case heads, as happens with wartime ammunition. I don't recall any reference to gas tubes on a Mosin.

I'm faster with a Mosin bolt, but that's because I use the Russian sharpshooter method of rapid-cycle. Right hand remains on stockwrist, finger on trigger; left hand goes over the rifle, which rests on a clump of earth, rubble or rushes (or a sandbag), and left hand operates the bolt using full pulling strength to cam the bolt open, and pushes it closed. Left hand also reloads rifle magazine from stripper clips inserted through the top, one-handed while shooting hand remains grasping stockwrist with finger on trigger.

 

[rojocorsa]

Interesting method

 

[Duke of Doubt]

Give it a try sometime at the range. A Ukrainian emigre taught it to me years ago after I hit on some of the idea myself. Your eyes stay on target(s) and can roam the "battlefield", and your finger stays on the trigger. It also helps address/explain the otherwise somewhat eccentric bolt handle location. It would be very awkward to use this method on a Mauser Kar98k.