Winchester-Hotchkiss M1879 & M1883 Bolt Actions

The German Reichsrevolver M1879 is a substantial antique firearm, weighing 2.9 lbs and measuring 13.6 inches. It fires 10.6mm black powder rounds and features a slow gate-loading process with manual cylinder indexing. Despite a smooth trigger and manageable recoil due to its weight, its single-action-only hammer is stiff, the grip offers little assistance, and ejection requires a separate tool.

This video offers a book review of 'The Winchester-Lee Rifle' by Eugene Myszkowski. It delves into the firearm designs of James Paris Lee, highlighting his significant contributions including four rifles adopted by the US military (M1879, M1883, M1885, M1895) and his influence on the Lee-Enfield family. The review specifically focuses on the M1895 Lee Navy rifle, noting its interesting straight-pull action and its 6mm caliber. The video points to the author's website for further details.

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.