I've been using 'L' ranged weapons for some time now, mainly because only with 'L' weapons can I find anything that I've either maxed out on, or will soon max out on. Anyway, the strange thing is, that all of my 'L' carbines & pistols have no SIB status, yet for some reason I still get SIB messages when ever I kill mobs, which doesn't really make sense, not that I'm not happy with this ;).
Hmm, I think it is the regular skill gain messages that you see, and you do get skill gains even if you don't have SIB (Skill Increase Bonus) on the weapon you are using. What SIB does, is boosting the skill gains when you get them. There are no such thing as special "SIB messages", only regular skill gain messages.
Great - many thanks for clearing that up... So, with none SIB weapons you will still get some SIB, but with SIB weapons (items you have not yet maxed out on), you get extra SIB? I think I get it...
Well, almost... :D SIB is not the skill gains, it is a bonus added to the skill gains (hence the name "Skill Increase BONUS").