Ammunition Evaluation: Ethiopian .30-06

The T26 'Tanker' M1 Garand was an experimental rifle developed for jungle warfare, not for tank crews. Its 18-inch barrel and modified gas system aimed for better 'brush-cutting' capability. Despite initial orders, testing revealed excessive muzzle blast and concussion, leading to project cancellation after WWII. Post-war 'Tanker' Garands are often commercial recreations.

This video presents five budget-friendly surplus rifles that are argued to outperform the AR-15 in reliability, power, and historical significance. The featured firearms include the Chinese SKS Type 56, Finnish Mosin-Nagant M39, Swedish Mauser M/96, M1 Garand, and Spanish FR8 Carbine, each highlighted for unique strengths like ruggedness, accuracy, or historical impact. The presenter, demonstrating high authority in the surplus firearms market, emphasizes their enduring value and performance.

This video from ARFCOM News at SHOT Show 2026 details several new M1 Garand and 1903 Springfield variants from CMP. Highlights include a Gas Trap M1 Garand reproduction, a reliable 16-inch barrel 'Tanker' M1 in .30-06, a match-grade Custom Shop Special, an M1D sniper reproduction with an offset scope, a .308 Winchester M1 Garand variant, and the A3 Expert built on reclaimed 1903 Springfield receivers. The CMP representative emphasizes historical accuracy, reliability enhancements, and quality craftsmanship.

The M1E5 Experimental Paratrooper Garand represents the final design iteration for a compact M1 Garand variant. Key features include a folding metal stock, a distinctive pistol grip, and significant weight reduction measures like scalloped cuts on the 18-inch barrel. Despite markings indicating 'CAL. .30 M1', it remains chambered in .30-06 Springfield and differs from the standard M1 Garand by its shorter overall length and the removal of the front handguard.

This video provides an in-depth ballistics test of the rare Remington .30-06 Accelerator round, featuring a sabot-fired 55-grain .22 caliber projectile. The expert demonstrates its extremely high velocity (tested at over 3800 fps) and its unique terminal effect, causing rapid fragmentation and energy dump with no exit wound on soft tissue. While the ballistics match the 'no exit wound' scenario discussed, the round's impracticality for long-range accuracy makes it an unlikely candidate for the hypothetical assassination.

This demonstration by Misha's Guns effectively contrasts the performance of Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) and Armor Piercing (AP) .30-06 ammunition. Firing from an M1 Garand at a steel plate, the video clearly shows the FMJ round creating only a surface mark, while the 1943 Lake City AP round penetrates the steel with a clean hole. The expert demonstrates proper handling of the M1 Garand and identification of vintage ammunition.

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.