Sturmgewehr 45 at an IPSC 3-Gun Match

This Q&A episode from Forgotten Weapons covers a wide range of firearms topics, including historical military rifles (FN in Korea, Finnish submachine guns, StG44, FG-42, MG42, SKS, Chauchat), design influences (patent laws), manufacturing challenges (StG45 vs. StG44 reproduction), collector affordability, and hypothetical historical scenarios (French intermediate cartridge rifle). It also touches on less direct firearms topics like fictional authors, personal preferences, and the logistics of filming, concluding with a discussion on the channel's "Only 3 Guns" picks.

The Gerat 06 and 06H rifles represent late-WWII German innovation, influencing post-war designs like the H&K G3. The Gerat 06, a gas-operated roller-locked rifle, was rejected for not being significantly cheaper than the StG 44. Its successor, the Gerat 06H, utilized a simpler roller-delayed blowback system and introduced the fluted chamber to solve extraction issues, a key development for future firearms.

This Q&A session covers a wide range of firearms topics, addressing audience questions on various historical and modern firearms, calibers, and industry trends. Discussions include the scarcity of .380 ACP military pistols, the NGSW program, the USSR's SKS design choices, and the effectiveness of the Mosin Nagant. The video also delves into specific firearms like the DP12, Krag, Trapdoor Springfield, FAL, MAS-49, Lebel, L85A3, and 1911 variants, alongside concepts like magazine coupling, bipod design, and the impact of 3D printing on arms collecting. Forgotten Weapons' team structure, future projects, and personal firearm preferences are also discussed.

This video demonstrates the disassembly of the Sig AMT, a commercial variant of the PE57 military rifle. The description highlights its 7.62 NATO caliber, roller-delayed blowback action (similar to WWII German designs and the HK91), and Swiss manufacturing quality. It notes the rifle's impressive handling despite its unusual appearance.

The Spanish CB-51 Mosqueton, designed in 1951, was an experimental semi-automatic rifle chambered in 8x33mm Kurz, heavily influenced by the M1 Garand and StG-44. It featured a unique grip safety that also acted as a bolt release, but this design prevented the bolt from locking open on the last round, a significant flaw. Despite its advanced features for the time, Spain ultimately adopted the CETME rifle, leaving the CB-51 as a historical footnote.

This video details the unique 'French Finger Trap' issue with the MAS-36 rifle's bayonet, where two rifles can become unintentionally locked together. A 1951 French arsenal memorandum identified this problem, proposing a simple modification to the bayonet handle. Drilling a small hole allows a tool, like a firing pin, to depress the internal spring, enabling the separation of locked rifles.

The M134 Minigun is a scaled-down 7.62 NATO rotary cannon, requiring 24V DC power and consuming 1.5 kW. Its high rate of fire (3,000+ RPM) is essential for aircraft engagement windows. The complex delinker mechanism is critical for feeding ammunition, and practical hand-held use is impossible due to weight and recoil. Live fire demonstrates rapid ammunition consumption and the need for indirect aiming.

The H&K G11 is a revolutionary prototype assault rifle designed in the late 20th century, notable for its caseless ammunition and unique rotating drum bolt mechanism. Despite advanced features like a 2000 RPM burst fire rate and integrated optics, its development was ultimately halted by geopolitical shifts and cost concerns.

This video demonstrates the assembly and live-fire of the German 1936 pattern light mortar (L.Gr.W.36). It highlights the mortar's leveling mechanism for accuracy and the difficulty in visually tracking its 50mm projectiles after firing. The content showcases historical military hardware and its operational use.