Thank you for all your comments.  I have already found a replacement cut-off for the one that was tossed and will make a pin to use with the Redfield site.  The bore is excellent - and I now have ammo!

As for the book... it is more of a hobby and focuses on our entire American "experience" with firearms.  It is probably more of an excuse for expanding my "interests".   In keeping with that endeavor, I have become more of a "pattern" collector - and enjoy shooting all the different examples of firearms from our past. 

What I have learned is that the notion of the "left" that civilians should not have access to Military-style weapons is mostly, if not totally unsupported by history.  To the contrary, civilians have usually had access to "more" fire power than what was available to the military at any given point in time.  If anything, the AR-15 marks a tipping point where the military finally caught up - Just my thoughts...thanks.

The Krag will be much enjoyed...