Now Available: VHS-2 w/ 20-inch Barrel (aka Springfield Hellion)

The T31 was John Garand's final rifle design, a unique bullpup that bore no resemblance to the M1 Garand. Its initial pneumatic gas system proved problematic due to carbon fouling, leading to a redesign with a traditional short-stroke piston. This video details the T31's innovative but flawed design and its evolution.

This review of the Madsen Model 1945 submachine gun, presented by Ian McCollum of Forgotten Weapons from the Springfield Armory National Historic Site, highlights its unique design and historical context. The firearm is noted for its quality construction, pistol-like reciprocating slide, and use of Suomi magazines. Despite its advanced features for the time, its complexity and cost led to commercial failure, making it an extremely rare collector's item.

This video provides a detailed look at a 1943 Springfield Armory M1 Garand, celebrating its 25th anniversary of ownership by the host's father. It covers historical context, including the CMP program and family service history, and demonstrates the rifle's operation, including its iconic 'ping'. The host also discusses the Garand pronunciation debate and showcases the rifle's solid feel, comparing it to modern firearms. A stovepipe malfunction is demonstrated and cleared, highlighting the realities of operating older surplus firearms.

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.

The T31 Garand was John Garand's final rifle design, an experimental bullpup configuration aimed at creating a select-fire Garand with improved blast and recoil characteristics. It featured a unique pneumatic system initially, later redesigned to a short-stroke piston, and a 20-round magazine precursor to the M14. Despite its innovative design, including an integrated grenade launcher sight linked to the gas system, the project was abandoned upon Garand's retirement.

The Springfield T20 project aimed to modernize the M1 Garand into a select-fire, magazine-fed rifle capable of mounting a scope and launching grenades. Early prototypes faced challenges with BAR magazine compatibility and full-auto control. Evolutions like the T20E1 and T20E2 introduced closed-bolt operation, roller bearings, and specialized muzzle devices, directly influencing the M14's development before the project was ultimately canceled post-WWII.

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.