Ross MkII: Sorry, We'll Get it Right This Time

This video focuses on the rare Ross 1912 Cadet rifle, a .22 rimfire training firearm introduced in 1912. It discusses its history as a smaller variant of the military Ross rifles, its single-shot straight-pull action with an unusual locking bolt, and its limited production run ending in 1917. The description highlights its rarity today and provides links to reference books, Patreon, Floatplane, and merchandise.

This review details the Ross Mark III Canadian WWI sniper rifle, modified with a Winchester A5 scope. Despite reliability issues in trenches, the Ross rifle's inherent accuracy made it an excellent sniper platform, favored for long-range engagements. The rifle features armorer field modifications, including scope mounts and a cut-down forestock, highlighting its adaptation for specialized roles.

This review details the rare Canadian Ross MkIII sniper rifle, noting its high accuracy despite early WWI reliability issues. It highlights the American Warner & Swasey Model 1913 5x prismatic scope, its limitations like fogging, and its calibration for .303 British up to 2400 yards. The excellent condition of many surviving rifles is attributed to their use in Canadian training through 1942, and scope cases can offer significant historical provenance.

The Ross MkI was Canada's first domestically produced battle rifle, featuring a unique straight-pull bolt action and a 5-round Harris dump magazine. Despite its innovative design, early models like the MkI suffered from mechanical issues, particularly a fragile rear sight and a lack of primary extraction, leading to rapid revisions. Sir Charles Ross, a wealthy Scottish inventor, developed the rifle independently, achieving both sporting and military success.

The Huot Automatic Rifle, a Canadian WWI prototype, converted the Ross straight-pull rifle into a machine gun. It featured a unique 25-round ratchet-driven drum magazine and a gas-operated system. A barrel shroud used muzzle blast to create a cooling airflow, allowing for a lighter barrel. Despite its innovative design, it was not adopted, with the British military favoring the Lewis gun.

The Ross Mk III rifle, Canada's primary WWI infantry arm, featured a straight-pull bolt action and was chambered in .303 British. Despite its accuracy potential, it suffered from extraction failures, particularly with British ammunition, leading to its withdrawal from front-line service in 1916. The Mk IIIB variant, adopted by Britain, simplified the rear sight.

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.