Videos tagged with South African Firearms

The Techno Arms MAG-7 is a rare South African 12-gauge shotgun pistol notable for its magazine-fed, pistol-grip design. However, its practicality is severely hampered by its exclusive requirement for expensive and hard-to-find 2-inch shells, with standard or mini-shells causing significant feeding issues. While visually unique, its performance in testing was plagued by jams, making it more of a collector's item than a reliable firearm.

Becoming a professional gun designer requires more than just assembly skills; it demands deep mechanical knowledge. Pursuing generalized machining education is recommended over specialized gunsmithing for broader career prospects. For many, gun design is best kept as a passion project funded by a stable, unrelated career.

This video provides an expert-level guide to the P.A.F. Junior, South Africa's first production firearm. It details the pistol's history, design influences from the Baby Browning, and common issues like grip shrinkage and frame cracking. The guide includes a field stripping procedure, highlighting its striker-fired blowback mechanics and rarity, especially of the BRF variant. The presenter, Ian McCollum, demonstrates deep knowledge of historical firearms.

This guide details the field stripping and reassembly process for the Varan PMX90, a pistol developed in Rhodesia and South Africa. The process is noted to be similar to a Browning Hi-Power, involving the removal of a slide stop pin to separate the slide from the frame. The video highlights the pistol's unique manufacturing innovations and its ambidextrous features, while also discussing its historical context and production challenges.

The Rhodesia Mamba pistol, despite ambitious marketing as the world's best combat handgun, was a significant failure due to critical technical flaws, primarily in its heat treatment process. Conceived in Rhodesia and manufactured in South Africa, its design was based on the Smith & Wesson Model 59 and Browning Hi-Power, featuring a 15-round magazine and DA/SA action. Ultimately, fewer than 100 were produced, making it a rare collector's item and a cautionary tale.

The Denel NTW 20 is a man-portable anti-materiel rifle designed for engaging light vehicles and heavy equipment with explosive payloads. It features a multi-caliber system, primarily chambered for 20x82mm but adaptable to 14.5x114mm for increased armor penetration. The rifle employs extensive recoil mitigation systems, including a buffer, hydraulic dampener, and muzzle brake, allowing for the use of a long eye relief scope positioned far from the shooter's face.

The Musgrave Ambidex is a rare South African straight-pull .22 LR rimfire rifle, produced from 1988-1991 with fewer than 400 units made. Its key innovation is an ambidextrous bolt handle that can be swapped sides. Despite its unique design, inspired by the Browning T-Bolt, it failed commercially due to high production costs and market competition.