Best weapons & warfare history books according to redditors
We found 252 Reddit comments discussing the best weapons & warfare history books. We ranked the 128 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
We found 252 Reddit comments discussing the best weapons & warfare history books. We ranked the 128 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
> they could have worked out the 262s engine issues in time to make a difference.
Even if Nazi Germany made 3,000 262s, it would have not changed anything drastically. You realize the Allies had jets too right? Jets that performed on par, if not better, than the Me-262 right? The fact of the matter is they didn't put extensive amounts of money/research into them because prop planes were shooting down German jets without serious problems.
> Regardless, rocket technology, the discovery of heavy waters role in nuclear reactions, the massive leaps in propulsion and science, those aspects I would say were ahead of the Allies, and most of the allied knowledge of it came from espionage and spy work.
> but it was the things Germany had on the drawing board during the war that would shape warfare for the victor nations, such as the U-boat(copied by both the US and USSR for numerous sub designs post war) jet fighters, radio guidance etc
I'll just leave you to figure this out on your own because this is a bunch of nonsense. Paper aircraft mean absolutely fuck all. Along with anything else they "might have created". The only thing I can give you a hand on is rocket tech. Because the Nazis invested massive amounts of slave labor and money into their rocket projects. They made advancements by trial and error using slaves.
But then again, who created the first nuclear weapon? It wasn't Nazi Germany and the people who did it didn't use slave labor. Along with the fact that the Allies did not "steal Nazi tech" regarding the A-bomb. This is not a debate. This is a matter of fact.
> German Tanks were more potent but suffered from mechanical failures due to complexity and lack of maintenance supplies and trained maintenance crews by 1944. The T-34 was a great tank, but I wouldn’t say it was superior to any of the late war German tanks.
German tanks were not "more potent". I'm sure you're referring to big cats and the fact of the matter is, they were nothing spectacular. Yes they were good at killing other tanks. So what? How did that work out for them? If they were something spectacular, they would have been continued in design after the war.....which they were not. Simple as that.
> You can’t compare technology when they didn’t have the supplies to use it.
So why didn't German tech get used post war? Enlighten me.
> it’s fucking basic history.
It's well beyond that my friend. Well beyond that. I recommend some reading in your future other than the internet.
> I can’t enlighten you, your ass needs to read some books.
The irony is palpable.
Regarding the 262
This guy shot down German jets in a prop plane
Regarding "Uber Nazi Tech"
Regarding the Big Cats
I'd continue with sources but I doubt you'll even look at the ones I've listed anyways.
Good luck on your delusional endeavor.
Edited to fix a bad link.
Just some basic things can making them getting to you too difficult to continue. Basically make them go a different way.
Some books to learn from (I haven't finished them all yet). Some of these are just to understand modern warfare or conventional warfare which is important to understanding how to get around it.
First I'm not an expert and have only read three books on the subjects of swords/dueling/fencing so I was hesitant to comment on it (since we are talking about an evolution of swordplay over a long span of time) but the most recent book I've read, "By the Sword" (http://www.amazon.com/Sword-Gladiators-Musketeers-Swashbucklers-anniversary/dp/0812969669), mentions it and since I just finished the book it was fresh in my mind.
Hey you wanted an answer now you dont like it cuz "muh gun companies EVUL!"
Guess I'll go back to making improvised explosives and my own guns now. That help you feel safer since gun companies arent making profits?
https://www.armchairpatriot.com/Home%20Defense/Homemade%20Guns/Home%20Expedient%20Firearms%20-%209mm%20SMG.pdf
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1684112737/ref=ox_sc_act_title_6?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1
>U.S. Army Improvised Munitions Handbook by Army
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1724856685/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1
>Build Your Own Semi-Auto Handgun: A Step-by-Step Guide to Assembling an "Off-the-Books" GLOCK-Style P80 Pistol
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/162914438X/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_10?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1
>Advanced Gunsmithing: A Manual of Instruction in the Manufacture, Alteration, and Repair of Firearms (75th Anniversary Edition)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0913022004/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1
>The Chemistry of Powder and Explosives
Yeah, a single map that illustrates that the Red Army was a huge distance away from Warsaw at the time of the uprising with powerful German units in between them and the city. You have yet to address these complication, you can only repeat endlessly that the Red Army was evil and therefore must do evil deeds.
> people who publish books and shit under their own names
Wow, guess what https://www.amazon.com/Designing-T-34-2019-Genesis-Revolutionary/dp/1911658301
That sure is neat, and so is this http://tankarchives.blogspot.com/2017/12/tank-archives-in-print.html
I have absolutely no problem publishing things under my own name outside of my dull website. It might have to do something with not flipping out the moment that somebody brings out a map.
No, I'm not. I just read "the book". :D
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If you want to learn more about long range shooting, there's a great book by Ryan Cleckner called "Long Range Shooting Handbook." I highly recommend it.
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https://www.amazon.com/Long-Range-Shooting-Handbook-Cleckner/dp/151865472X
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He also did several great videos for the National Shooting Sports Foundation that are on YouTube. And he's got a podcast that's really good too.
When the DoD Improvised Munitions Handbook is available on amazon for $12 (or on the internet as a free PDF), they're living a double standard.
In book form, this is the gold standard: https://www.amazon.com/AK-47-Grim-Reaper-Frank-Iannamico/dp/0982391854
at least mark thatcher got a new house and bandar got his dallas cowboys inspired plane
this deal is discussed in the brilliant
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Shadow-World-Inside-Global-Trade/dp/014104005X
Longrange shooting handbook - Chapter 5.2.6
I'm sure there might be a few more examples/reasons, but I'm only on chapter 6.4.1
I highly recommend Long Range Shooting Handbook by Ryan Cleckner. Also look him up on YouTube. https://www.amazon.com/dp/151865472X/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_o3fPBbQPWJ6H3
Reading is fundamental
> What about economic programs? They turned Germany into one of the largest economies in the world in just a few years.
All smoke and mirrors: vast and unsustainable borrowing and a focus on militarisation with no long term economic benefits.
> All the amazing architecture they produced?
A subjective matter I suppose, but you might be interested in this documentary
> Military reforms that produced the most futuristic battle tactics the world had seen up until that point?
The German doctrine which came to be known as Blitzkrieg was in development before the Nazi Party came to power (see James Corum's The Roots of Blitzkrieg). It also worked once against an equivalent opposition: the Fall of France in 1940. It didn't work in North Africa, it didn't work in Russia, it couldn't defend Western Europe.
Under Hitler, Germany went from being the most powerful nation in Europe to the fifth most powerful nation in Berlin.
He actually took a course so maybe he's open to something I found very helpful:
https://smile.amazon.com/Modern-Day-Gunslinger-Ultimate-Training/dp/1602399867
The title might lead him to read it cause he thinks it's going to make him a badass. But the content says otherwise.
>I think you just stumbled onto a really great way to define this alternative concept of a "feint" that people occasionally use. The modern usage of the word feint implies a "second intention" attack, which is dangerous and foolish with a real weapon. What is desirable is an "alternate intention" attack -- as in, an attack where your first intention can change if the situation calls for it.
You should read Understanding Fencing by Zbigniew Czajkowski. It does a good job at distingushing between second-intention attacks and "open eyes" attacks. These are different both when it comes to neurology, intention and how fast the action is executed. There's a time and place for both, though, and I disagree that a second-intention attack is categorically "dangerous and foolish".
Bipod, go for a Harris, at least. There's a scope stickied at the top of the sub that's 700, and you're going to want decent rings. Expect at least another grand to get going, all things considered, because you really should have things like a single piece cleaning rod, and a bore guide, and so on.
You've got some reading to do, my friend.
It's available as an ebook and physically.
A Basic Fencing Companion by Paul Sise is really good, specially for beginners/intermediate fencers. It reads easily and has a great glossary that I used to get ready for my moniteur exam.
Another good one is Understanding Fencing by Czajkowski (who sadly passed away just last week). This one is more advanced, but it doesn’t read as easily. I took my time reading this one.
Nice review you have. Have you read The Grim Reaper. That book has lots of great information in it.
I would suggest Ryan Cleckner's Long Range Shooting Handbook
https://www.amazon.com/Long-Range-Shooting-Handbook-Cleckner/dp/151865472X/
For those that would like to order it
Hopefully it goes without saying that you can't learn something physical from the books.
But if you're the kind of person who likes to read a lot, and want to supplement your learning by reading about fencing theory, then here's what I would recommend.
First, read pretty much any general book about fencing. I've read quite a few books about fencing, but generally they're mostly all the same. Here's one that I've read that is indicative of most books, but there's loads
The only thing you're really trying to take away from it getting basic descriptions of the equipment, some basic nomenclature - "lunge", "fleche", "quarte", "disengage", "ballestra", etc. Maybe some basic history. You could also get all this stuff from wikipedia if you wanted, but maybe a book form might be presented in a nicer way.
A lot of these books will talk about mental game, perfect technique, and the great masters of whenever. This is mostly absolute garbage. Most of the history will be incorrect, and only semi-true 'factoids'. It often comes off as a bit of "mysticism". If you have any experience in the culture of martial arts you probably know what I mean.
So once you have a rough idea of what all the parries are, and what we call all the footwork movements, more or less, I would recommend reading Epee 2.0 (2.5 or whatever it's on now).
This book talks about a pragmatic based approach to fencing. No one makes a perfect lunge, and in fact, there is not even such a thing as a perfect lunge. Lots of moves that you learn aren't actually all that useful. etc. If you can internalize the themes of this book, that is very useful for approaching fencing in a way conducive to competitive success.
Then I would look at understanding fencing, which has a lot of very technical thoughts about fencing. E.g. Beyond just what is a step, or a lunge, he talks about different kinds of actions tactically speaking (e.g. pre-planned vs open eyes etc.).
If you read those three, you'll be in good shape
My 47 bro, let me introduce you to The Grim Reaper. You need this motherhuncher, I assure you.
A few hours on the internet can teach you that. THere is also the feely availalbe improvised munitions handbook
>They'll just trot out the "the Rights defined in the Bill of Rights are not unlimited," BS and claim that
And I doubt it will work here. The printing plans have already been published in a book. No fucking way is SCOTUS upholding a book ban. Also, this is legal and widely available everywhere in the US.
>much like shouting fire in a crowded theater
Oof.
I don't blame your for your cynicism, but I do believe it's misplaced here.
>None of our freedoms are unrestricted, nor should they be, less there would be anarchy.
Yes and 3D printed guns have to follow NFA regulations, have to contain certain percentages of metal (besides the fact all bullets are metal but some politicians saw die hard and thought a glock 7 was real), can't be sold to other people without being serialized and the seller is an FFL, and felons/prohibited persons can't own or use them.
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>We already have laws preventing the printing and distribution of certain things, such as how to make bombs and shit.
No actually we don't, you can order books on how to make explosives easy.
https://www.amazon.com/U-S-Army-Improvised-Munitions-Handbook/dp/1684112737
This is a book on amazon how to make explosives. From the military, There is nothing illegal about knowledge and criminalizing knowledge is a violation of the first amendment.
Yeah sure.
One of the best books on the Sherman that is actually affordable is Steven Zaloga's Armored Thunderbolt which is a history of the development of the Sherman as well as an examination of its combat performance.
If you have a bunch of money to burn I would also recommend R.P. Hunnicutt's Sherman: A History of the American Medium Tank. This book spends less time on the actual combat performance of the tank and is more about the technical aspects and development of the M4, and spends a lot of time on the various other medium tanks that led up to the development of the M4. You want to know some obscure detail about the Sherman and its development? That book will have your answer. Unfortunately Sherman is like $200-$300 on Amazon. I was lucky enough to find my copy for $150. Hunnicutt also did a number of other books on the development of basically every American AFV, and they are an excellent resource, but once again, very expensive.
For a good book on how the Americans used tanks to support infantry look no further than Harry Yeides' The Infantry's Armor: The U.S. Army's Separate Tank Battalions in World War II. The book really gives an excellent account of the US Army's separate tank battalions.
Yeide also wrote a very good book on American TDs called The Tank Killers: A History of America's World War II Tank Destroyer Force
Steven Zaloga has also done book comparing the Sherman to the Panther, and one analyzing US tank performance from the Battle of the Bulge to the end of the war.
The Osprey books are also really good resources for different tanks and a number of very good historians contribute to that series of books.
There is an excellent book called By the Sword which illustrates the evolution of swords throughout history. I highly recommend it, but lochlainn has already done a brilliant job of tldring the info.
Edit: Formatting
His book is a great read. Link below:
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https://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Fencing-Zbigniew-Czajkowski/dp/0965946886
Nice one. Thanks for your honest post. If you’re just starting out, I might suggest: https://www.amazon.com/dp/151865472X/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_c_api_i_0uATDb2WJJQG5
Ian Hogg's "Military Small Arms of the 20th Century"
https://www.amazon.com/Military-Small-Arms-20th-Century/dp/0873418247
Read both. Thinking/talking points don't really change with time.
Then read "Principles of Personal Defense"[PDF Warning] and "To Ride, Shoot Straight, And Speak The Truth", both by the great Colonel Jeff Cooper.
Then look up Sentinel by Pat Mcnamara.
All fantastic reads.
Hopefully you've tried contacting your target to ask them about their collections, their uses, stuff they want, and stuff they wouldn't like. Feel free to drop as many Phone Booth references as possible. You should be able to get some ideas.
If you can't find anything specific, the stuff you've mentioned will never go amiss. Some other stuff I could think of:
This is a hodgepodge of mostly false origin stories. See The Secret History of the Sword for a thorough debunking of the sabre as a cavalry weapon claim, for instance.
The short version is that there is no evidence that cavalry sabreurs were ever instructed to avoid hitting below the waist, and never in the limited cavalry saber competitions were touches below the waist not counted.
Furthermore, the modern sabre is actually descended from the duelling saber, a weapon with its own long history as a weapon not used on horseback.
This one?
Do you paint the stock sight, or aftermarket one?
I may have misread the OP, but I don't think that the claim was that sabre is comparable to longsword, but that the differences between longsword and epee is about as much as the difference between epee and sabre. The weapons and their use are very different, but both can be taught within the same general framework.
As for a coach teaching you to move correctly - see my earlier post. A modern coach with no interest in HEMA will obviously not be able to teach you to move correctly for longsword fencing, but a modern coach who also knows longsword will be able to adapt their teaching style to train you to move correctly.
One thing that is tricky about fencing is that the way it is presented to students is usually different from the way it is presented to coaches, so if you've mostly learned within a club, you probably have less exposure to the theory and the pedagogy of teaching as someone who's been training to be an instructor. There are a couple of books that are written from this perspective that you might be interested in:
Understanding Fencing by Zbigniew Czajkowski
Fencing and the Master by Lazlo Szabo
Foil Fencing by Istvan Lukovich
I have the book. I’m pretty set on what rifle I want. But he says in the intro “read the whole book before you buy if you’re serious”
on Amazon
What scope rings did you buy? I see Vortex. What height?
I might also suggest the following manuals. You can probably find digital downloads of them as well, but they are pretty cheap and I like paper:
U.S. Army First Aid Manual
U.S. Army Improvised Munitions Handbook
U.S. Army Special Forces Guide to Unconventional Warfare
Just for reference, I own two books that may help you in the future. One about body trauma and one about weapons.
This is a good book on the topic
Military Small Arms of the 20th Century is a great resource. It's amazing the amount of detail they have in there. It's not much on the way they function, but it catalogs basically every gun produced or used by a military in the 20th century, as well as a little bit of prior to and following the 20th C.
If you're interested in the function of guns this free to play game is actually remarkably good at teaching the functions and parts of a hell of a lot of different guns.
Get formal training. It has improved my coaching tremendously and I would not be able the think of any other way to achieve my current level.
Good books for a starting fencing coach are Szabo L. Fencing and the Master, Czajkowski Z. Understanding Fencing and Kogler A. One Touch at a Time.
OK, I know this isn't a novel or fantasy, but if you like swordplay, you might want to check out The Secret History of the Sword. It has a lot of exciting old first hand accounts of duels and techniques. Just a thought.
https://www.amazon.com/Secret-History-Sword-Adventures-Ancient/dp/1892515040/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=the+secret+history+of+swords&qid=1554237181&s=gateway&sr=8-2
This is a good question! We have some recommendations in the booklist. I'll just copy them here and expand on them a bit plus add a few.
Here's a book called By The Sword. It's a history about swords. :) http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0812969669
Inside the Great Tanks by Hans Halberstadt
There's a ton of books dealing with western battle tactics of any given period, and for the most part they're pretty shallow. The few i've read were pretty basic and offered the type of 'fun fact' and misinformation you get from the history channel.
A good balance of in-depth analysis without being too drawl is Carnage and Culture by Victor David Hanson. Bonus points for being cheap! Hanson's sort of an asshole and takes a pretty controversial, albeit well supported, stance in this book by claiming that Western cultures are inherently efficient at killing people and the most brutal of all conflicts occur when west meets west. To make his point, Hanson illustrates 10 or so different battles wherein westerners meet non-westerners, usually with overwhelmingly bad odds, and emerge victoriously. It's not focused in any one time period, but spans from 400BCE to WWII, if i recall correctly.
Specifically for the middle ages, i really enjoyed Arms and Armor of the Medieval Knight by David Edge and John Miles. It's more of an introduction to armor and weaponry and explains why certain styles developed to defend from evolving battle tactics. It's out of print and sort of a pain in the ass to find, though.
This article, which cites numerous sources, goes into detail of the history of mail armor, including referencing its limited protection from blunt trauma.
>Finally, the following passage written by Galbert of Bruges describes a formidable archer named Benkin and demonstrates that while mail might protect the wearer from being pierced with arrows, it did not necessarily save him from blunt trauma: "And when he [Benkin] was aiming at the besiegers, his drawing on the bow was identified by everyone because he would either cause grave injury to the unarmed or put to flight those who were armed, whom his shots stupefied and stunned, even if they did not wound."
Another section also references the same:
>Even against mail-clad opponents the sword could inflict injury by striking at areas that were not covered with mail (such as the face) or through the infliction of blunt trauma. Because mail is flexible, it does not stop the impact of a blow. Some of the force of an attack is carried through the mail and padding to the wearer underneath. The wearer is especially vulnerable to attacks against hard, exposed body parts including the shin, knee, elbow, shoulder, clavicle, and skull.
> "Such weapons of percussion were especially effective against mail armour; repeated blows could shatter bones and kill the victim without even breaking a single riveted link of his hauberk. In this situation the flexibility of mail, an advantage in other respects, was a positive disadvantage."
The entire article is actually very interesting, and cites numerous sources for both the quotes and independent scientific verification of many of the claims. I also suggest this book for further reading. Sadly, I no longer have a copy, but I used to love that book back in high school.
MVTF tour guide HERE! Can also confirm!
That up there is one of the pictures from this book:
http://www.amazon.com/Inside-Great-Tanks-Hans-Halberstadt/dp/1861262701
It's from back in the days when the place was really active, but before it was open to the public, so people wouldn't see the vehicles at all aside from these pictures. It's worth picking up for the used price there.
You are correct in that all of these things will help you enter and strike.
The manuals are a compendium of techniques, not a guide to "this is exactly what you must do". From the sounds of things, you are wanting more information into how to approach a fight rather than the actual techniques themselves. In that regards, there have been numerous books regarding fencing theory written for modern olympic fencing that would be of great use to you. The weapons are not the same but all preparatory actions translate very well into each other. The only part of the manual that talks about these (to my knowledge) are the naichraissens, the vor/nach plays and vaguely glossed over in the first part on the line, "All Art has Length and Measure".
Recommended reading:
Nice! If you haven't I'd recommend picking up a copy of the long range shooting handbook: https://www.amazon.com/Long-Range-Shooting-Handbook-Cleckner/dp/151865472X
It's not exhaustive, but it was pretty useful in coming up to speed (and cutting through the chaff).
This reminds me of one of my favorite books growing up: "Weapons" from the Diagram Group.
http://www.amazon.com/Weapons-International-Encyclopedia-From-5000/dp/0312039506
If you really want to know why, I would suggest reading (or even listening to the audiobook) The Shadow World Inside the Global Arms Trade by Andrew Feinstein. It gives an amazingly detailed explanation of how and why the arms trade is conducted.
tldr; Profit
> True story, look it up.
I hear you. You're preaching to the choir here ;) One of the books in my firearms reading collection is Silencer History and Performance, which talks about requiring silencers in some European countries, as you point out.
Just got this for Christmas yesterday.
Long Range Shooting Handbook https://www.amazon.com/dp/151865472X/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_hntyybWQ3F683
Also, you should pick up this book and do some research before you buy.
Its better to spend a little more and get a state of the art can than it is to buy a cheaper/outmoded can.
Andrew Feinstein's book on the industry is a first class piece of work on the subject, every page will make your jaw hit the floor
http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Shadow-World-Inside-Global/dp/014104005X
"AK-47: The Grim Reaper" by Frank Iannamico
Amazon Link
book
honestly this book will give you just about everything you need to get started on long range.
Check you local college and see if there are any classes you can take for it. For me I'm getting ready to take a cnc machinist class this semester. That should be a pretty good start.
Edit: If you have amazon kindle you can download this for free on a mobile device. http://www.amazon.com/Gunsmithing-Stackpole-Classic-Gun-Books/dp/0811707288/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1375751237&sr=8-8&keywords=Gunsmithing
As some one already suggest The Art of the Rifle, I will suggest another Jeff Cooper book, To Ride, Shoot Straight, And Speak The Truth.
Also Shooting To Live by W. E. Fairbairn and E. A. Sykes is also a interesting read.
EDIT: Also if you are interested in reloading, start with The ABCs of Reloading.
Glad you liked it! That’s Ryan Cleckner, and I agree with you. I’ve really gotten into his stuff. He has more videos on YouTube (try searching “NSSF Ryan Cleckner”) and I’m loving going through his book (I’m a beginner). Best of luck!
If you're really interested:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0873649095/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Throw this at them:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/159223304X
Read this: http://www.amazon.com/Ride-Shoot-Straight-Speak-Truth/dp/0873649737
Article is shit. The merest suggestion that the T-72 is superior to the M1 is completely and utterly laughable. The book cited as a source is a coffee table photo book, hardly a rigorous analytical look at the situation. He cries throughout the article about how "If they were equally trained they would perform just as well" (with no citations on that last bit), except when it comes to the Russians (whom he holds up earlier in the article as well-trained) bullying Pakistani military (hardly an elite fighting force). When discussing the Cope India exercises the author conveniently fails to mention that the F-15s were at a numerical disadvantage (3 to 1 against), with no AWACS, and within visual range. The F-15s were not equipped with their standard long-range radars. The F-15s were not equipped with radar-guided missiles. Furthermore, the US had performed other wargames in which conditions were similarly stacked against them and won every time, Cope India was only noteable because they didn't, despite the artificial disadvantages.
The entire section about stealth is just dripping with butthurt. "Oh, Stealth? Yeah, we could have totally made that. We could make that any time!" "Why don't you?" "Because we don't want to!". They also act as though one single case of an aircraft being shot down invalidates the entire concept, despite the fact that Russia is developing stealth aircraft of it's own.
The bit in the Korean war is utterly laughable too. The Chinese had absurd numerical superiority and the US forces were small in number under-equipped, it was not decided based on technology at all. The author also "conveniently" forgets that the Chinese advance was halted and the whole situation stalemated. Russian tanks and aircraft being instrumental to that? Don't make me fucking laugh. Stanky-ass hand-me-down T-34/85s which were barely a match for the Shermans still in service let alone the Pershings, Pattons, and M103s? No. Chinese successes in Korea were not in any way, shape, or form a result of "superior soviet stronk weapon technology".
>a 10-to-1 kill ratio against the MiG-15, a myth that lasted over 30 years. As new data were released, that came down to 7-to-1, and now it’s 2-to-1.
Oh no, 2-to-1, how incredibly well-matched they are! I should point out that while the 2-to-1 figure is not accurate (the real number is around 4-to-1) the two aircraft are in terms of performance fairly comparable.
The grounding of the Blackbird is no mystery at all. It was expensive to run, and satellites do the same job but better.
Even having a header titled "Pentagon Propaganda" is pretty hilarious in the slavaboo nationalistic fantasy article, I laughed.
Russia makes a lot of really great weapons systems. In particular, their jet engines and surface-to-air missiles are on par with anything the west puts out. They had some really excellent submarines when they could afford to buy them.
However, the article you linked is an atrocious piece of shit. It is not in any way shape or form an objective look at these systems. It is the insane ramblings of an analfractured slavaboo pining for the days of the Soviet Union. The arguments he makes are bad arguments and he should feel bad for making them.
This is one that I referenced a huge amount while growing up;
https://www.amazon.com/Weapons-International-Encyclopedia-5000-D/dp/0312039506/ref=sr_1_12
It is pretty dated by now. However, if you are interested in the history of weapons and the beginnings of the firearm, it is a place to start. Once you find an epoch that interests you the most, using a guide like this one, you can start looking into more specific eras and types.
As with just about everything, guns have a deep and storied history and there simply isn't one source that will give you all the knowledge there is on them. There is A LOT of ground to cover, it might be best to use an overview like this one to decide what you will focus on. Guns are like any tool; people have adapted them throughout history for their own needs and because of this, you'll find that there is so much to know that you'll never learn it all.
My personal favorite gun subject would be the AK. I have about a dozen books about it from technical manuals, to pieces that absolutely condemn it, to pieces that treat it as a marvel like it were part of a religion, to pieces that give a general history about it with no discernible slant at all.
I hope you enjoy whatever you end up finding.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalashnikov_rifle
Not a source, but a rundown of what is officially called what.
https://www.amazon.com/AK-47-Grim-Reaper-Frank-Iannamico/dp/0982391854/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1467931122&sr=8-1&keywords=AK-47%3A+The+Grim+Reaper
This is the book that has most of the information, if you don't want to buy it or find a online copy to download here's a quick slideshow made by an AK expert with pictures from the book that explains some of the history behind the name.
http://imgur.com/a/aK7fX#0iO9QKJ
Other than that you're going to need to learn Russian or use google translate to find information from Russian sources (as I have from time to time). There's not much info on this in English because the US government was the first to learn about and name the gun they found out through spying and they named it the "AK-47", and the name stuck in the English language.
Could you list your source for the numbers?
Also the FT-17 WAS AGILE for the situation and time it was in, which was trench warfare, nearly non-moving fronts and no man's land areas,just because it's obsolete now doesn't mean it wasn't revolutionary (you can read up on it or watch some documentaries it's not some "fringe saying") the Vickers didn't come out until 1928 which is late in the inter-war period, many tanks before then were based off either the FT-17 or mark IV
Strategic sense includes actually realizing how much industrial power a country has.
Read up on the kursk offensive, within 5 days only 10 Panthers out of 240 non-destroyed ones were deemed operable because of missing spare parts, broken transmission or other problems.
(not including how damn complicated german tanks were to actually operate)
Obviously the T-34 broke down more, have you actually watched or read anything about Russian Tank usage/production?
It was by design choice, if your tank is going to last for a few hours in combat and be obsolete in a year, you use the cheapest and fastest way to get it out, this is what the Russians did and it was brilliant!
I mean hell, you could probably tear a T-34 apart with some basic tools, but that was a great thing for the situation the Soviets were in.
Now an expensive Tiger 1 for example costs the same as TWO IS-2s (which can easily destroy a Tiger 1) while also taking more time to produce, a higher part count (needs more spare parts which Germany had a real big issue with) AND is fighting far away from home.
Now I don't have much to say on the western front, a Sherman costs about 40k~RM while a Panther costs 100K~RM.
Now even if the "5 Shermans 1 panther" myth was true they'd still be even at costs to the nations and the Shermans were faster and easier to make then Panthers.
(I am using a Sherman Firefly for this comparison)
If a single Panther faced a single M4 in a clear field with no cover.I’ll be in the Panther.However, if I was a general in a war I’d want M4s.
Here is a good book about western front tank performances.
https://www.amazon.com/Panther-Sherman-Battle-Bulge-1944/dp/184603292X/ref=cm_rdp_product
Amazon link
Look through these and read the reviews on them. Amazon always has good books. I'm reading the Modern Day Gunslinger I'm still reading this one, but I think it would be a good book if you're looking into shooting for self defense.
Snapshots:
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>there are issues with exporting files overseas. That's been determined to be a legitimate state security issue, and you'll see the same thing with Software distribution.
https://www.amazon.com/U-S-Army-Improvised-Munitions-Handbook/dp/1684112737
You can order a book online to other countries and pdfs written BY THE GOVERNMENT on how to make explosives and ordinance from conventional, household materials and it is freely available and legal for anyone to buy and download. Hell it is even free to download off of government websites.
It seems to me if it has always been legal to buy books, as you have said, how to make machine guns, explosives, suppressors, and things which are outlawed or legal to make with only with a licence and sell it online to anyone.Interesting how now the government wants to take a stand.
>And, TBH, I don't know why people get so fixated on DD
I am fixated on it because it is a blatant violation of the first amendment and it pisses me off they think they have the authority to ignore the constitution to virtue signal about guns that don't, and never have, threatened public safety. People have been milling out "ghost guns" for years and there was no increase in crime or use of those guns to commit more crimes.
>Two words: Muslim ban. It's against the Establishment clause to discriminate against religions, and yet, Trump did it.
the supreme court ruling said:
>https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/26/us/politics/supreme-court-trump-travel-ban.html
>
>the president’s power to secure the country’s borders, delegated by Congress over decades of immigration lawmaking, was not undermined by Mr. Trump’s history of incendiary statements about the dangers he said Muslims pose to the United States.
Trump is using his authority under the Immigration Act of 1990 to control immigration and:
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/8/1182
8 U.S. Code § 1182 - Inadmissible aliens
Whenever the President finds that the entry of any aliens or of any class of aliens into the United States would be detrimental to the interests of the United States, he may by proclamation, and for such period as he shall deem necessary, suspend the entry of all aliens or any class of aliens as immigrants or nonimmigrants, or impose on the entry of aliens any restrictions he may deem to be appropriate.
​
If we want to change that, I am fine if we go through congress. I am not saying it is morally right just it is technically within his powers to legally do. He has a right to ban entire classes of immigrants so long as he can justify they are "detrimental to the interests of the United States".
The $20 spring kit for the Compass from Mcarbo helped me a lot, brings the trigger way down and does it safely from what I can tell. Before I installed that kit, I was actually moving the reticle just trying to squeeze the trigger on the lowest setting. With it installed it feels somewhere around 2-3lbs, breaks a lot cleaner, and there's no more jump when I squeeze the trigger. Also, if you're dialing distance with your turrets, you want a bubble level attached to the scope. A $10 one off amazon is doing fine for me. Without one, a couple degrees of cant between shots is inches (or feet) off at distance.
Also, even as an experienced shooter, when I started getting involved with long range this book from Ryan Cleckner taught me quite a few tips that made me even better.
I also bought a T/C Compass this year in 6.5CM, got a discounted shooting mat on Midway, a $20 bipod off amazon and a $100 UTG scope. I plan on upgrading to a Vortex, but the so-so UTG scope does okay for now. With that setup, I'm handloading Hornady ELD-X bullets and am doing a good job whapping golf balls at 300 yards currently.
I'd recommend you pick up two books to read that will go much further in depth than anything here:
https://www.amazon.com/Writers-Guide-Weapons-Practical-Reference-ebook/dp/B0108VCP9E/ref=as_li_ss_tl
and
https://www.amazon.com/Violence-Writers-Second-Rory-Miller-ebook/dp/B00CWGH46I/ref=pd_sim_351_1
https://www.amazon.com/Long-Range-Shooting-Handbook-Cleckner/dp/151865472X
Long Range Shooting Handbook Paperback – January 31, 2016
by Ryan M Cleckner (Author)
http://wiktenauer.com/wiki/Johannes_Liechtenauer followed by http://wiktenauer.com/wiki/Nuremberg_Hausbuch_(MS_3227a) http://wiktenauer.com/wiki/Peter_von_Danzig_zum_Ingolstadt and http://wiktenauer.com/wiki/Pseudo-Peter_von_Danzig
In terms of actual paper books? http://www.academyofhistoricalarts.co.uk/publishing/german-longsword-study-guide.php
https://books.google.co.uk/books/about/The_Martial_Arts_of_Renaissance_Europe.html?id=keDBwirOTQwC
and
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Understanding-Fencing-Zbigniew-Czajkowski/dp/0965946886
First thing I'd get is a book.
Pickup Gunsmithing by Roy Dunlap
First few chapters are all about the workshop and tools you'll need.
Shot placement is important, for sure, but the first thing to go in a gunfight is fine motor control.
Also, rifle combat is much different than pistol combat. Another read I highly recommend that covers numerous topics:
http://www.amazon.com/Ride-Shoot-Straight-Speak-Truth/dp/0873649737
http://www.amazon.com/Military-Small-Arms-20th-Century/dp/0873418247
This book is on the history and designs of Military Small Arms of the 20th Century. It is written by two very knowledgeable guys. (From Wikipedia) Ian V. Hogg (1926 – 7 March 2002) was a notable British author of books on firearms, artillery, ammunition, and fortification, as well as biographies of several famous general officers. During his career he wrote, co-wrote, edited, or co-edited about 150 books and sold well over 1 million copies. And John S. Weeks an American who also wrote and co-wrote many a book on military small arms
A book for a fellow comrade.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1684112737/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_uhjMDbYNWSYG8
Some good advice in the thread and I would echo the need for preparatory research before investing time and money in your endeavor. It may help you to look over a book like Don Mann’s The Modern Day Gunslinger which despite the provocative title is a sound resource for answering a number of your questions as well a providing the premises for CC based upon the writings of Colonels David Grossman and Jeff Cooper. Particularly significant to training is the Shooter’s Triad, comprised of skills in marksmanship/weapons handling, tactics, and arguably the most important of all, establishing & maintaining a combat mindset to ensure that you will survive an armed encounter.
Edit: url
Start with either of these, used:
The Martial Arts of Renaissance Europe by Sydney Anglo
http://www.amazon.com/The-Martial-Arts-Renaissance-Europe/dp/0300083521
The Secret History of the Sword: Adventures in Ancient Martial Arts by J Christopher Amberger
http://www.amazon.com/The-Secret-History-Sword-Adventures/dp/1892515040/ref=pd_sim_14_32?ie=UTF8&dpID=31Z86X2NFJL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR112%2C160_&refRID=1QRX90HN1RY6XVFY6K9D
You're completely incorrect about this. An IED is not difficult to make - you can construct one from scratch from common materials without anyone raising an eyebrow. There are instructions online the average person can follow - there's even a manual released by the U.S. military:
https://www.amazon.com/U-S-Army-Improvised-Munitions-Handbook/dp/1684112737
Making an effective and untraceable gun is much more complicated. I can't think of an instance of a shooter who has done this.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Louis_Michel
Wikipedia has one version of the story, but IIRC, By the Sword tells it a little differently. Guy's friend challenges him to a duel to the death. He can't turn down the duel and doesn't want to kill his friend, so he uses a training foil. Knocks the guy out, breaks his jaw.
I don't think he's got any guns like the AR-15, just 1-2 hunting rifles and a lot of handguns. Just a cursory Amazon search gives me some good starting points. This might be good for the history of handguns or maybe a more general interest history, like this one.
Anything relating to very recent firearms is going to be fairly dated as things change fairly quickly in the world of firearms.
The way I see it, there's electronic media for learning about the latest offerings from Ruger or Smith & Wesson.
I'd say get him a nice reference book. Ian Hogg was a prolific weaponry author, and he had many books on pistols, rifles, machine guns, artillery, what have you, and most are still in print or easy to get a hold of.
When I was a kid, my middle school had this book in the library:
http://www.amazon.com/Weapons-International-Encyclopedia-D-Updated/dp/0312039506/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1345619493&sr=1-3&keywords=weapons+encyclopedia
I basically had it checked out throughout fifth and sixth grade. It's a bit dated, but it's a fantastic read. I'm pretty sure I eventually bought a copy and have it somewhere in my garage.
Also when duelling started getting real big in europe it became a craze among the catholic monks at the time and the Church started getting worried partly due to the fame/ego and also the dead monks, and instituted the no dulling with bladed weapons thing in hopes of dissuading the young monks. - source By the Sword
That's a popular misconception. It's true that German had less tanks than everyone else, but generally American tanks preformed well 1v1 against German tanks.
Here are some good reading material on the subject:
http://knowledgeglue.com/dispelling-myths-surrounding-m4-sherman/
http://tankarchives.blogspot.com/?m=1
http://www.theshermantank.com/sherman/how-the-sherman-compare-to-its-contemporaries/
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/184603292X?keywords=Panther%20vs%20Sherman%2C%20Battle%20of%20the%20Bulge%201944&pc_redir=T1&qid=1432270193&s=books&sr=1-1
Try the following:
Roots of Blitzkrieg.
The Red Army and the Werhmacht.
Edit: One more Storm of Steel
Long Range Shooting Handbook
​
Ryan Cleckner, former Ranger sniper, covers long range shooting (obviously), but the vast majority of the material is applicable to any kind of rifle shooting. He goes into a little history, terminology, choosing and setting up your rifle and gear, rifle maintenance, ballistics, calculations and scope adjustments, shooting technique, and a bunch more.
​
Despite the 'long range' label, he doesn't go overboard on the minutia of reading wind or correcting for Coriolis force. He has a follow up book ("Advanced Long Range Shooting") for the more esoteric stuff. It's all written for a layman, and anyone with two brain cells to rub together could understand it. Essentially, you can read the book with no previous knowledge and come out with a great baseline for getting started with rifles.
Ain't that the truth! I not too long ago got this [https://www.amazon.com/AK-47-Grim-Reaper-Frank-Iannamico/dp/0982391854/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1527280971&sr=8-1&keywords=the+grim+reaper+ak+47](1,100 page book) and now I want every variation ever made pretty much. The addiction is REAL! LOL
PS-I Clearly suck at formatting