Exploring the Details of an E.M.2 with Jonathan Ferguson

This Q&A episode delves into firearm design and history, explaining how cartridge taper aids extraction in self-loading firearms and discussing dual-function .22 rifles. Expert insights are provided on the FG-42's classification, preferences for lever-action rifles, and the development of the 7.62x51mm NATO cartridge. The discussion also touches on early British self-loading rifle trials and the importance of preserving historical firearms over modification.

This review delves into the experimental British EM-2 bullpup rifle, examining two specific variants. It highlights the rifle's operational trials in Malaya, its brief adoption, and subsequent cancellation due to NATO standardization politics favoring the US 7.62x51mm round. The discussion covers design features, including a unique magazine catch shroud and barrel variations, as well as an incident of out-of-battery explosion and the performance of its optical sights.

The EM-2 rifle, chambered in .280 British, is showcased as an advanced prototype rifle ahead of its time. Testing reveals its straight-line recoil path and integrated non-magnified optic with yardage holdover lines. Despite its innovative design, political controversy over cartridge standardization prevented its adoption.

The British EM-2 was a revolutionary bullpup battle rifle designed around the intermediate .280 British cartridge and an integrated optical sight. Despite its advanced features and brief adoption in 1951, political pressure from the US regarding cartridge standardization led to its un-adoption in favor of the FN FAL. Its design incorporated a G43-inspired flapper-locked action and a unique automatic bolt release.

This video explores a rare .280 British prototype FAL from the 1950s NATO trials, showcasing its unique features like a straight-in magazine well and removable inspection plate. It details the cartridge's development, the political pressures that led to the 7.62 NATO standard, and the FAL's eventual redesign. The prototype represents a significant 'what-if' in firearms history, a missed opportunity for an intermediate battle rifle.

The Thorpe EM-1, a British bullpup rifle developed post-WWII, is a complex derivative of the German Mauser Gerät 06 roller-locked system. Chambered in .280 British, it featured a unique gas-piston long-stroke mechanism and a non-magnified optical sight. Despite its innovative design, its intricate disassembly and firing mechanism led to its rejection in favor of the EM-2.

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.