VHS-1: Croatia Copies the FAMAS (But Not Really)

The Springfield Hellion (VHS-2) demonstrates impressive practical accuracy, successfully engaging targets out to 700 yards despite its bullpup design. While feeling over-gassed, its reliability is attributed to its military-grade design. The review highlights its ergonomic improvements with aftermarket grips and its adoption by several international militaries.

The FAMAS G1 is a simplified export variant of the French FAMAS rifle, featuring a redesigned polymer lower receiver integrating the pistol grip and trigger guard. Production was streamlined by removing features like grenade rings, grenade sights, and slide-up night sights. These changes aimed to reduce manufacturing complexity and cost for international markets.

The FAMAS Valorisé represents a significant modernization of the French FAMAS F1 bullpup rifle, primarily featuring a lowered optics rail for the FÉLIN system and improved ergonomics. Key changes include a redesigned side-mounted charging handle to accommodate the new top rail and the addition of accessory rails on the handguard. The receiver is marked with a 'V' to denote its 'Valorisé' (Improved) status.

This review of the FAMAS F1 highlights its iconic status as France's service rifle, featuring a unique lever-delayed blowback bullpup design. While accurate and soft-shooting with good long-range performance due to its 19.2-inch barrel, it suffers from a heavy, mushy trigger, significant gas blowback to the face, and proprietary magazines. Its compact bullpup ergonomics are beneficial for transitions, but the design has notable drawbacks compared to modern platforms.

This video provides a review and shooting experience of the Springfield Hellion rifle, also referred to as the VHS-2. The creator offers links to various gear used in the video, including holsters, steel targets, cameras, audio equipment, eye and ear protection, ballistic gelatin, reloading tools, and various types of targets. A comparison to the IWI Tavor is also mentioned via a linked video. The content focuses on showcasing the firearm's performance and the associated equipment used by the reviewer.

The Springfield Armory Hellion is a compact bullpup rifle offering a 16-inch barrel in a sub-29-inch package. It features a fully ambidextrous design, a short-stroke piston system, and reversible ejection. While the trigger has typical bullpup characteristics and the bolt catch is somewhat awkward, the rifle demonstrates soft recoil and reliable function with various magazines.

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.