This video discusses the Palmetto State Armory (PSA) potentially making a T48 trials rifle. The T48 is highlighted as the US trials rifle that competed against the M14. The excitement around PSA undertaking this project is evident.
The British Money-Walker 1868 Trials Rifle featured a unique top-lever falling block action, distinct from contemporary designs. While it performed adequately in speed tests, its failure in the exposure test due to mechanism seizure led to its rejection in favor of the Martini action. The rifle's stock appears to be a repurposed component from an older percussion rifle.
This review details a rare No1 MkV prototype converted into an early No5 MkI 'Jungle Carbine' configuration. Key features include its receiver-mounted aperture sight, a modified front end with a flash hider and bayonet lug, and a unique hollowed bolt handle for weight reduction. The prototype's development in 1943 aimed for a lighter service rifle, but ultimately, the No4 rifle was chosen as the basis for mass production due to existing manufacturing infrastructure.
The Brown/van Choate Trials Rifle, a rare 1871 design, was evaluated in the 1872 US military trials. It features an internal hammer and a unique double-trigger system for cocking and firing. Design flaws, such as a fixed extractor and impractical bolt tension adjustment, led to its failure in trials. Its rarity makes it a significant piece of US military firearm development history.
The No1 MkV SMLE represents a significant evolutionary step in British service rifles, featuring an improved aperture sight and a 'bulldog' snub-nose design. Produced in limited numbers (20,000) between 1922-1924, it incorporated lessons learned from WWI, particularly regarding sighting systems. While it retained the magazine cut-off and the No1 MkIII action, its trials at Bisley highlighted areas for improvement, directly influencing the development of the No1 MkVI and the iconic No4 rifle.
This review delves into the Steyr Model 1911, a pre-WWI semiautomatic trials rifle developed for the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It highlights the rifle's innovative gas-operated, rotating bolt system, internal rotary magazine, and unique features like an automatic dust cover and a stock-mounted recoil spring. The video also contrasts the military trials version with a civilian sporting variant chambered in 6.5x54mm Mannlicher.
The Prairie Gun Works Timberwolf is a Canadian-made bolt-action sniper rifle chambered in .338 Lapua Magnum, designed for military trials. Despite its advanced features like a helically fluted barrel and Magpul stock, it lost the British contract to Accuracy International due to existing AI infrastructure. However, it has seen adoption by Canadian forces and its variants have been noted in global conflicts.
This guide details the complex disassembly process for the prototype CZ-38 Trials Rifle, as demonstrated by Ian McCollum of Forgotten Weapons. The rifle features a unique tilting bolt and short-stroke gas piston system. Disassembly involves removing rear components, the bolt carrier assembly, handguards, and the gas system, highlighting the intricate engineering and numerous custom parts that contributed to its impracticality for military adoption.
This review details the T3E2 Garand, a .276 caliber prototype that nearly became the standard US service rifle in 1932. It highlights key differences from the M1 Garand, including a lighter weight, 10-round capacity, and a muzzle gas trap system. The review explains how logistical concerns regarding existing .30-06 ammunition stockpiles, championed by General MacArthur, ultimately prevented its adoption.
This video delves into a fascinating array of rare British breech-loading rifles and trials guns, showcasing innovative designs from the 17th century to later conversions. It highlights unique mechanisms like the Westley Richards automatic cap loader and the Prince's Patent sliding barrel, alongside early bolt-action conversions and the common Snider-Enfield. The presentation emphasizes the historical evolution of firearm loading mechanisms and the ingenuity behind early breech-loading technology.
This review delves into the British EM-2 bullpup rifle, a significant trials rifle chambered in both 7.62 NATO and the intended .280/30 British intermediate cartridge. The EM-2 features a unique flapper locking system and automatic bolt closure upon magazine insertion. Despite its advanced design, the high manufacturing cost of its milled receiver was a major factor in its eventual rejection in favor of the FAL.
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