MAS 38 at the Range - Finally!

This guide details the disassembly and overview of the rare Gnome et Rhône R5, a French variant of the British Sten Mk II. Expert Ian McCollum demonstrates the process, highlighting key differences such as the machined end cap, wooden furniture, and barrel length. The R5's historical context as a post-war French arms program is also explored.

This guide details the specific modifications found on the post-WWII Paris Police variant of the MAS 38 submachine gun. Key changes include a collapsing wireframe stock, a selector for semi-automatic and full-automatic fire, a grip safety, a perforated barrel shroud, and a unique folding magazine well for compact storage. These enhancements were tailored for police use, offering improved ergonomics and practicality over the standard military version.

This guide details the folding and unfolding technique for the Hotchkiss Universal SMG, as demonstrated by Ian McCollum of Forgotten Weapons. The weapon features a complex, multi-point folding design for extreme compactness, intended for roles like police or paratrooper use. While mechanically intricate, a practiced user can transition it from a compact package to a ready-to-fire state rapidly. The guide covers buttstock and grip deployment, magazine and barrel extension, and the reverse process for folding, emphasizing the unique telescopic barrel and two-part magazine well.

This Q&A session from Forgotten Weapons covers a wide range of firearms topics. Ian McCulloch discusses the challenges of producing reliable magazines, the historical context of Finnish arms procurement, and the physics behind ricochet sounds. He also delves into the popularity and decline of sporterizing surplus rifles, the difficulties encountered with specific firearms like the MAS 38, and the advantages of rifle grenades over underbarrel launchers. The discussion extends to electric firing systems, the 10mm Auto cartridge, firearm builds, SMLE conversions, handgun magazine compatibility, powerful historical cartridges, unique ammunition systems like the MP7 and P90, collectible firearm counterfeiting, and the comparative merits of different rifle designs. The episode concludes with a humorous hypothetical scenario of equipping a fictional army with the worst possible weapons.

This guide provides an overview of the French MAT-49 submachine gun's operational features and design, drawing from expert analysis by Larry Vickers. It covers the weapon's compact configuration, unique folding magazine well, sight system, and feeding mechanism. The MAT-49, notable for its use in conflicts like the Battle of Dien Bien Phu, is presented with its historical context and practical design elements.

This guide details the specific technique for separating two MAS-36 rifles that have been inadvertently locked together by their bayonets. It outlines the historical context of this issue, the modification made to the bayonet to resolve it, and the step-by-step procedure for disengagement. The technique requires precise alignment and the use of a pointed tool to access the internal release mechanism, as demonstrated by firearms expert Ian McCollum.

This guide details the loading and firing procedure for the M134 Minigun, as explained by Ian McCollum. It covers manual indexing of the barrel cluster, feeding the ammunition belt, engaging controls, and firing. The guide also touches upon the weapon's spin-down inertia and the function of modern clutch systems. Expert instruction from a recognized firearms historian highlights the technical aspects of operating this powerful weapon system.

This guide details the operational features of the H&K G11 K2, a prototype assault rifle known for its caseless ammunition and unique rotating drum bolt. It covers the selector settings, magazine capacity, integrated optics, and the internal action designed for recoil management during high-rate-of-fire bursts. Expert insights from Ian McCollum highlight the historical context and technical innovations of this advanced firearm.

This guide details the operation of the German L.Gr.W.36 50mm light mortar, as demonstrated by expert Ian McCollum. It covers assembly, leveling procedures, ammunition handling, and live fire execution, emphasizing the difficulty in visually tracking the projectile. The instruction highlights the importance of proper setup for accuracy.