Videos tagged with Brownells Gun Techs

This "From the Vault" episode from Brownells Gun Techs® Caleb and Keith explores the Finnish Valmet M76 and M82 rifles, variants of the AK-47. The M76, a semi-auto civilian version of the RK 62, is detailed with its tubular folding stock, 3-prong flash hider, and tritium front sight. The M82 is presented as a compact bullpup redesign of the M76, originally intended for paratroopers. The video highlights their Cold War-era aesthetic and provides insights into their development and limited production numbers, referencing their connection to the Israeli Galil.

This video features Brownells Gun Techs Keith Ford and Steve Ostrem at Rock Island Auction Co., showcasing a Weatherby Mark V Crown Grade rifle from the 1960s/70s, chambered in .300 Weatherby Magnum. They delve into the rifle's history, its powerful NINE-lug bolt action designed by Roy Weatherby and Fred Jennie, and its impressive ballistics compared to the .300 Win Mag. The discussion also touches upon the rifle's aesthetic appeal, its association with famous individuals, and manufacturing origins in Germany, Japan, and the US. The video highlights the rifle's blend of performance and style, noting how its ornate engraving and high-polish finish represent a past era's definition of luxury.

This video from Brownells' Smyth Busters series, featuring Steve and Caleb at the 2022 NRA convention, tackles the crucial question of whether it's safe to store a home defense firearm loaded. They clarify 'loaded' to mean either a round in the chamber with a full magazine or a full magazine without a round in the chamber. The core of their advice centers on gun access, emphasizing that if children or unauthorized adults have access, a gun safe is essential. For those concerned about accessibility in emergencies, they recommend quick-access gun safes. Ultimately, the message is to ensure only authorized adults can access a loaded home defense firearm, highlighting the importance of responsible storage.

The ethicality of hunting deer with a .223 or 5.56 caliber rifle is debated but ultimately depends on ammunition choice and shooter skill. Modern expanding .223 hunting bullets, when paired with a scoped rifle and precise shot placement, can ensure an ethical kill on whitetail deer. Military ball ammunition like M855 is not recommended due to its design for penetration rather than tissue damage.

This 'Smyth Busters' episode from Brownells Gun Techs debunks the myth that shooting jacketed ammunition can effectively clean lead fouling from a firearm's barrel. While FMJ rounds might remove loose powder and lube residue, they tend to smear lead deeper into the rifling. The video emphasizes that proper lead removal requires dedicated bore solvents, cleaning rods, and manual effort. It also briefly mentions a specific recommendation for AR-15 owners using .22 LR rimfire conversions.

This video debunks the myth that custom firearms are unaffordable for the average person. Featuring Brownells Gun Techs Steve Ostrem and Caleb Savant alongside master pistolsmith Bobby Tyler of Tyler Gun Works, the video details the process of customizing a Ruger Blackhawk in .45 Long Colt. They cover an 'Accuracy Package' including barrel work and trigger enhancements, as well as aesthetic choices like a Bisley grip frame, Turkish walnut grips, color-casing, and custom engraving. The final cost is revealed, proving that custom gun ownership is within reach.

This video debunks the myth that all hollow-point bullets are designed to expand. Brownells Gun Techs Steve and Caleb explain that while handgun hollow-points and many hunting rifle hollow-points (like Sierra GameKing) are designed for expansion to increase terminal ballistics, match-grade target hollow-points utilize the cavity for a centered air bubble to improve the ballistic coefficient by reducing air resistance. They also note that hollow-point construction can be easier to manufacture uniformly than solid points, which are more susceptible to damage during handling. The video clearly illustrates that the function of a hollow-point varies based on its intended application.

This video from Smyth Busters features Brownells Gun Techs Steve and Caleb debunking the myth that storing a firearm leaning against a wall can bend the barrel. They explain that due to the extremely strong steel construction of firearm barrels, the weight of the gun itself is insufficient to cause any permanent deformation. The myth is definitively busted, with the techs humorously stating that a building would collapse before the barrel bends from such pressure.

This video from Brownells Gun Techs showcases a mint condition Colt Anaconda revolver found at Rock Island Auction Company. The Anaconda, a large-frame double-action revolver designed for the .44 Magnum cartridge, is discussed in detail, including its design influences (similar to the Python externally, but with internal differences akin to the King Cobra or Trooper), its all-stainless steel construction with a rare bright polish finish, and its market introduction in 1990 amidst the rise of semi-automatic pistols. The video notes the Anaconda's high production cost and eventual discontinuation around 2002, making this particular example a valuable addition to a firearm collection.

This video from the Brownells Vault features a deep dive into the Chinese Type 64 pistol, a unique firearm developed in the early 1960s. Unlike pistols with external suppressors, the Type 64 boasts an integral suppressor with rubber baffles and brass mesh, alongside an expansion chamber below the barrel. It fires a dedicated rimless .32 caliber (7.62x17mm) cartridge, similar to .32 ACP. The pistol can also be configured for single-shot operation by locking the slide. The featured example has a notable provenance, having been acquired by Mitch WerBell, a renowned figure in OSS, espionage, and silencer development, who obtained it after an assassination attempt in Vietnam.

This video from Brownells Gun Techs explains the concept of Ballistic Coefficient (BC), a crucial factor in understanding bullet performance, especially for long-range shooting. Caleb and Steve detail what BC represents – a bullet's ability to overcome drag and wind resistance – and how it's typically expressed as a decimal less than one. They highlight that a higher BC number indicates a more efficient bullet that flies flatter and is less affected by external forces. The explanation includes practical examples, contrasting the BC of a long, narrow target bullet with a short, squat .45 ACP round. The video emphasizes BC's importance for distance shooting while noting it's less critical for close-range engagements, with Caleb offering insights into why a high BC bullet isn't always the optimal choice.

This video showcases an original .44 Auto Mag pistol, a rare semi-automatic firearm chambered in .44 AMP. Featured by Brownells Gun Techs at Rock Island Auction Company, the Auto Mag is described as a heavy pistol suitable for hunting or silhouette shooting. The video highlights its historical significance, noting its introduction in 1971 and its iconic appearance in the movie 'Sudden Impact'. The rarity of original production models is emphasized.