(I originally tried to post this on Sunday night, and got an 'awaiting approval' message, but it never went through, leaving me looking rude; I hope this attempt fares better.)
Many, many, many thanks to everyone. I'm overwhelmed, touched and humbled. Never did I hope for such a profusion of generous and helpful responses. You are princes all, or in the case of any ladies the best kind of princess. I'd like to name characters in my book after each and every one of you. Hell, I'd like to name children after you, but given some of your handles I suspect the mother would object.
I'm frantically and gratefully taking notes, clicking on links, consulting youtube and looking for books as per your recommendations. I do think most of my questions have already been answered above anyway, and between you you've saved me from making at least two other basic mistakes - I'm not saying which out of embarrassment. (But there -may- have been something on LoboGunLeather's list, and dave's bit about sparking bullets may have caused me to look down at my fingernails whistling. And I may or may not have mentioned cordite which may or may not be wrong in context.)
Speaking of embarrassment – yeah, by Browning 1911, I meant Colt M1911.
I already knew how high the standard of expertise was here, but – some of you ought to be writing books on this topic if you aren't already.
As for the offers of further and more specific help – thanks again but you've given me more than enough already. And I certainly don't want to post passages, rwsmith, without rewriting in view of what I've already learned. And I'm tempted by as well as grateful for your offer, Onomea, but I'd have to talk about my book too much, which I hold to be unlucky before it's done.
I may actually have a couple of follow-ups, but it's the middle of the night here and the answers may already lie in what you've given me.
Re the argument on whether imagination/research or experience is better – I'm sort of in between – I certainly ought to and do want to handle guns for myself; maybe if the book does well I could afford to make that trip to Nevada or Florida. The book is intended to be a fun swashbuckling fantasy – but I don't want to get basic things wrong.
Out of curiosity rather than research – those of you with combat (or LEO or self-defence) experience – is there any book or writer, fiction or otherwise, who you think really gets that right?
WR Moore – I'm fascinated to learn that people do forget to count rounds in the heat of battle – thanks for that.
Telecaster – yeah, I think in Leslie Charteris's Saint books, set in the 30s and on, he calls semi-auto pistols automatics.
Texas Star – O'Donnell's Modesty Blaise books are some of my favourite thrillers – I should re-read them with this in mind – I'm already re-reading Fleming – I'm glad to know they both get a thumbs-up for knowing their stuff. And 'The Lost World' was repeated here last year and I bloody loved it. And I'm delighted you got Roxton and Marguerite hitched! Can I ask what the pistols were that Roxton used on the show?
Nicky 4968 – I'd rather not post the titles of previous books – again from embarrassment – as grateful as I am to you all, I don't want you to be able to say, 'Oh, that guy, he knows sweet FA about guns, we had to tell him what happens when you try to fire an empty one.' (Not that anyone will have heard of me, but just in case the book does well.) I have published two in other genres but this is my first with action sequences.
Apologies for unavoidably belated response and to anyone I haven't responded to specifically who I ought to have but I really must go to bed now. Again, deepest thanks to everyone who replied, you lot are great. And the above is fascinating and informative on things far beyond what I wanted to know.
