The Very Rare FN CAL at the Range

The FN CAL, FN's initial 5.56mm combat rifle, served as a precursor to the FNC. Despite its innovative features like a short-stroke piston and a four-position fire selector, it suffered from commercial failure due to high cost and maintenance difficulties. Only around 12,000 units were produced, primarily for Thailand, before being superseded by the more successful FNC.

This video provides a detailed look at the FN M16 A4, showcasing its handling and live-fire performance. It highlights the rifle's receiver markings, the insertion of a Magpul PMAG, and its operation during target engagement at an indoor range. The demonstration emphasizes the recoil impulse and cycling, concluding with the bolt locking back.

This review compares the rare FN FNC select-fire machine gun against the M16, highlighting the FNC's superior controllability due to its slower cyclic rate (approx. 650 RPM) and long-stroke gas piston system. The demonstration shows the FNC's exceptional stability and accuracy in full-auto fire, outperforming the M16 in spray pattern tests. It also details the FNC's history, development, and unique features like the gas shut-off and adjustable regulator.

The FN FNC is a Belgian-made 5.56x45mm NATO rifle featuring a reliable long-stroke piston system, blending AK and AR design elements. It offers a precise 3-round burst mechanism that resets to zero and a versatile gas regulator. Despite challenging sights, its accuracy is praised, making it a compelling option for enthusiasts of both AK and AR platforms.

The FN CAL, FN's attempt to create a 5.56mm variant of the FAL, is a rare and complex firearm. Its intricate design and high production cost led to limited sales, with Thailand being a primary buyer. The rifle features a unique magazine release and proprietary magazines, and its lack of success paved the way for the more simplified FN FNC. Disassembly requires caution due to its complexity and potential for damage to early polymer parts.

The H&K 33F, a predecessor to the HK416F, was marketed to French forces in the 1960s-70s. Despite performing well in 1974 trials against the FN CAL and M16, France opted for the domestic FAMAS. This variant features a reinforced magazine well and specific barrel modifications for rifle grenade use, including range rings and a grenade sight mount.

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.