Tarn: A Terrible British WW2 Experimental Pistol

This review of the Romanian Orita 1941 submachine gun highlights its status as Romania's first domestically produced SMG. Key features include its 9mm Parabellum chambering, 32-round magazine, hammer-fired mechanism, and unique sear system. The video also points out design flaws like the fragile wooden stock and recommends the Springfield Armory museum.

This video provides a comprehensive ballistic comparison of five major World War II rifle cartridges: 7.7 Jap, 8mm Mauser, 7.62x54R, .303 British, and .30-06 Springfield. Through rigorous testing against various barriers like lumber, concrete, sand, and steel armor, the .30-06 Springfield, particularly its M2 AP variant, emerged as the most effective, especially against armored targets. The testing highlights the distinct performance characteristics of each cartridge in different scenarios.

This video provides an expert-level overview of the rare W+F Bern P47 experimental pistol from 1947. Instructor Ian McCollum details its development as a potential Luger replacement, its unique gas-delay blowback system inspired by Ole Krag's patent, and its complex internal trigger mechanism. Despite its high manufacturing quality and promising performance, it lost the Swiss military contract to the SIG P210.

This review assesses the reliability of World War II firearms for modern survival scenarios. While iconic weapons like the German Luger are deemed unreliable due to jamming, the Mosin Nagant is praised for extreme durability. The M1 Carbine offers compactness, and the 1911 pistol is highlighted for its 'stupid reliable' nature and .45 ACP stopping power. The M1 Garand is noted for its .30-06 firepower despite weight and capacity limitations.

The BD-38 is a new semi-automatic, closed-bolt reproduction of the German MP-38 submachine gun, manufactured in the US by DK Productions. It features authentic markings and milled receiver details, differentiating it from the stamped MP-40. While sold as a pistol, it can be converted to an SBR. The firearm is compatible with MP-40 magazines and offers modern safety features, though it comes at a high price point of around $4,000.

The Sten Mk4(S) was a rare 1943-1944 prototype suppressed submachine gun designed for British paratroopers. It featured a compact, folding stock design and a 3-inch barrel with vent holes to achieve subsonic velocities for better suppression. Despite its innovative features for airborne use, it suffered from poor ergonomics and was ultimately superseded by the Sten Mk5, with most units being destroyed.

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.