Project Lightening Episode 05: Reload

This video provides a practical test of .44 Special wadcutter ammunition, featuring a custom Charter Arms .44 Bulldog revolver. The test includes visual inspection of the ammunition and firearm, live-fire demonstration, and crucial ballistic data captured by a Garmin Xero Chronograph. The instructor, demonstrating experienced authority, shares velocity readings (Avg 555.2 FPS, Min 501.3 FPS, Max 606.7 FPS) from four shots.

Justin from Cerebral Firearms discusses channel challenges and introduces a new backup channel, 'Triggers and Thoughts.' The new channel will focus on his extensive shooting experience (10-50k rounds annually) and data-driven reviews, incorporating his background as a behavioral scientist. He highlights the Stealth Arms Platypus pistol with specific modifications and praises its performance, also briefly showcasing the Dumpy Defense FRT rifle.

This video is the twelfth episode in a series focusing on black powder military rifles. It highlights the 1885 Remington-Lee rifle, discussing its appeal for collectors and handloaders due to its affordability and ease of reloading. The content aims to demonstrate how to enjoy these historical firearms at the range and provides a segment on making ammunition for them, encouraging viewers to engage with this aspect of historical firearm ownership. The series features the host and a handloader friend exploring different models each month.

This episode reviews the Snider-Enfield, a 19th-century breech-loading rifle adopted by the British Empire. It was a conversion of muzzle-loaders to fire the large .577 Snider cartridge. While functional, it's noted as a clunky system with manual extraction, especially compared to contemporaries like the Trapdoor Springfield. A Nepalese variant with minor differences is examined.

This video, Episode 10 of the "Enjoying Black Powder" series, focuses on the Model 1871/88 Beaumont-Vitali rifle. It highlights the appeal of black powder military rifles from the 1860s-1880s, emphasizing their affordability and ease of reloading. The creators aim to demonstrate how to make ammunition for these historical firearms, making them accessible for enthusiasts. The video features a range session and a reloading segment, with the full content available via a paid subscription. The series intends to explore different models each month with a friend and handloader, offering practical advice for enjoying these vintage rifles.

This review details a persistent re-test of a Smith & Wesson Model 1000 shotgun, aiming to achieve reliable cycling. The host, an experienced firearms enthusiast and hobbyist gunsmith, systematically tests various ammunition types, from light target loads to powerful reloads. The video demonstrates that while lighter loads fail to cycle the action, heavier ammunition allows the gas-operated semi-automatic to function, albeit with minor imperfections initially. The assessment concludes the shotgun is suitable for clay sports with appropriate 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.