Book Review: Desert Sniper, by Ed Nash

Ian McCollum of Forgotten Weapons introduces his comprehensive book, "Small Arms of World War Two - United States." The 500-page volume, featuring large-format photography, details the evolution of US small arms from early war models like the Springfield 1903 to iconic weapons such as the M1 Garand and M1911. It covers pistols, submachine guns, rifles, machine guns, and other ordnance, including lesser-known firearms and non-standard modifications, offering a deep dive into the subject for enthusiasts and historians.

This video is a book review of "The Guns of John Moses Browning" by Nathan Gorenstein. The reviewer praises the book as a well-researched and engaging biography of John Moses Browning, widely considered the greatest firearms designer in history. The book covers Browning's extensive work, from lever-action rifles of the Wild West to automatic pistols, semi-auto shotguns, and iconic machine guns used in world wars. Gorenstein's background as a competitive shooter adds valuable insight into Browning's operational context. The review highlights how Browning's inventions shaped both his era and the world. The book is available for purchase on Amazon.

This video reviews 'The Ross Rifle Story' by Chadwick Phillips and Dupuis, a comprehensive but poorly organized reference for collectors. It details the history of the Ross rifle, its development by Sir Charles Ross in Canada around the turn of the century, its adoption by Canadian troops for WWI, and its eventual withdrawal from combat in 1916 due to technical and political issues. The book covers three major patterns of the Ross rifle (Mark I, Mark II, Mark III) and commercial sporting versions, though its information is difficult to access due to its structure.

This video is a book review of "German Military Rifles and Machine Pistols 1871-1945" by Hans Dieter Gotz. The reviewer highlights the book's focus on the historical development, adoption, service use, and eventual replacement of German firearms, rather than acting as a collector's guide. The book is praised for its historical accuracy, engaging prose, and candid discussion of weapon shortcomings, despite being in black and white. The reviewer notes that the book is a translated English version of an original German publication and provides links to purchase it from the publisher and Amazon.

This YouTube video is a book review of "US Aerial Armament in World War II" by William Wolf. The reviewer highlights the book's comprehensive coverage of US aircraft gun development from WWI through WWII, including details on turrets, gunsights, ammunition, and early radar systems. While acknowledging the technical nature of some sections, the reviewer praises the book's data-rich content and its value as a reference for those interested in firearms mechanics and the under-recognized field of aerial gunnery. The book is recommended for its detailed look at iterative developmental models of aircraft guns and its analysis of the cannon versus machine gun debate.

This video provides an expert review of Frank Iannamico's "AK-47 - The Grim Reaper, Second Edition." The reviewer, demonstrating deep knowledge of AK-pattern firearms and related literature, details the book's extensive scope, covering Russian development, Warsaw Pact and non-Warsaw Pact variants, and US market implications. While praising its comprehensive nature and contextual information, the reviewer notes the lack of color photography as a significant drawback for a modern publication. The review also compares Iannamico's work to other prominent AK reference books, offering recommendations for different levels of collector interest.

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.