Carl Gustav m/42: A 20mm Recoilless Antitank Rifle

The Swedish Pansarvärnsgevär fm/42 made by the Carl Gustav company was an interesting early hybrid antitank weapon - a recoilless rifle firing solid armor-piercing projectiles. It used a 20x180mm case, propelling the 108g (1650gr) bullet at 950 m/s (3150 fps). This was capable of perforating 40mm of perpendicular armor plate at 100m (a high explosive projectile was also made). This was on the high end of armor penetration for anti-tank rifles, and the m/42 was able to do this with a weapon weighing just 11.7kg (25 lb) - less than a quarter of a comparable 20mm conventional rifle.
This was possible because of its recoilless design - upon firing, the rear end of the cartridge case would blow out and vent out the back of the weapon, instead of being firmly sealed like a conventional rifle. This created a counter balancing recoil impulse which prevented the gun and shooter from having to absorb the full recoil energy produced by a heavy bullet launching off at high velocity. The tradeoff was that much of the potential energy of firing was wasted venting out the back instead of pushing the bullet forward, which is why the cartridge case was so oversized.
About a thousand of the guns were made by the end of World War 2, at which time even it had been made quite thoroughly obsolete by the rapidly increasing thickness of tank armor. It would, however, be the stepping-stone to the m/48 Carl Gustav 84mm recoilless rifle, which used a shaped charge warhead to perforate armor with a stream of molten melt instead of relying on velocity of a hardened projectile.
Here is one being fired: • Carl Gustav 20mm recoi...
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[@GoredonTheDestroyer]

I love how this channel has become "Really Cool Shit with Ian" as opposed to strictly forgotten weapons from throughout history - not that this is a bad thing, mind you.

[@-Zevin-]

Everything is a forgotten weapon when you have Alzheimer's. *taps forehead*

[@kinggenderman1874]

@@-Zevin- life hacks

[@thefurryteacher1120]

My memory is shit so it us still technically forgotten weapons

[@OkieDokieSmokie]

@@-Zevin- or a xanax prescription

[@cooperd.9660]

@@OkieDokieSmokie or addiction

[@likydsplit8483]

Old Army saying: “Recoiless rifles aren’t.”

[@mattiaswidegren2242]

Yeah, not recoilless... instead of just backwards, recoil goes *everywhere*

[@-Zevin-]

"Oh nice finally, a rifle with no recoil." BLAM "OOOf AHHH MY BONES HURT!"

[@dallesamllhals9161]

Yup! They HURT ALOT! 84mm Carl Gustav (older and newer ones) during the 00s ;-) Edit: Royal Life Guards (Denmark) Home and abroad.

[@crossfox1991]

@@dallesamllhals9161 I find the Carl g has no recoil but a lot of concussive force

[@dallesamllhals9161]

@@crossfox1991 Okay?

[@pRahvi0]

I love how the Finns had the Lahti, which was a pain to fire (quite literally), the Swiss had the Solothurn, which was a pain to produce, and then these Swedes had this thing that is only a pain to stay behind of. :D

[@secretbaguette]

Swedish engineering at damn near it's finest.

[@benjaminhansson7355]

We are Swedes! Not Swiss! :D

[@secretbaguette]

@@benjaminhansson7355 At some point you learn to accept it.

[@secretbaguette]

@@0neDoomedSpaceMarine It's not so riddiculous, especially considering it was made to kill tanks, and is still a decent antivehicular rifle. Especially against insurgents and terrorists.

[@MrOddball63]

@@benjaminhansson7355 Var påstås det?

[@MartiUK_]

Have you met my friend Carl? He has an explosive personality.

[@puntoni5440]

MPKX No but I met 20mm when I was driving.

[@jcodym13]

Don't ever mention tanks while you're around him though, he might get unnecessarily angry

[@manwiththestar2305]

Called Carl Gustav is every gun made in Sweden for the Swedish military. Try to guess the reason?

[@maximilianvonspee9329]

manwiththestar because they're all made and or designed by the carl Gustav arsenal? I'm not sure

[@manwiththestar2305]

Found someone I'd say mmmmh

[@SlyPearTree]

Just in time for tank hunting season. Should I marinate tanks before cooking?

[@Plymouth888]

SlyPearTree they should be hung for a week to get a bit more flavour.

[@DearDantalion]

SlyPearTree a nice cajun rub makes for a nice spicy tank. great for parties

[@carlosperry4301]

SlyPearTree nope gotta leave it raw

[@fatherofdragons5477]

Otto Laiho

[@bigburd875]

SlyPearTree I generally lather it with BBQ sauce as it cooks, sometimes I'll put some sort of vinigar sause as marinade and cook in a pan

[@-Griffin]

This rifle is technically a bullpup

[@davidoswald2125]

Why would you say something so bold, yet so controversial?

[@johnbeaver7537]

Griffin This boomstick was technically designed to destroy charging BT 1000 monsters. This weapon is VERY effective weapon when BT1000 is shot point blank in the forehead

[@MrSoundSeeker]

Hmm I think that all the recoiless guns are bullpups in some way.

[@wunderwaffeyt4077]

Well you're not wrong...

[@Joeaol6]

My dick and balls is technically a bullpup

[@kevintaylor791]

"Why a recoilless rifle?" "Powder is cheaper and lighter than steel."

[@richardlair6981]

wartime design processes in a nutshell

[@zakutheferret8182]

Fun fact: when firing this weapon at a moving target, soldiers had to reverse lead their targets, aiming behind the direction the target would be moving. This is because the projectile actually traveled faster than the speed of light, causing it to travel back in time and hit the target before the trigger is pulled and the projectile leaves the barrel. This happened to create a causality paradox whenever this happened, which in turn would result in the universe collapsing imto itself, something the Swiss had to deal with in WWII. this is why there are now 60 seconds to a minute as opposed to the traditional 43 in the original iteration of our timeline. There's actually an interesting legal case in Switzerland centered around this issue: when the families of soldiers lost to this weapon filed for their life insurance and pensions, the Swiss government refused to pay on the grounds that in our universe/timeline, technically those soldiers do not and never have existed, due to the causality loop. After years of consternation the Swiss government did end up paying, but before that, they voted on and passed legislation to increase the speed limit of light so that this would not happen again. This was controversial, however, as an addendum to that legislation now officially classifies Hot Pockets as a type of sandwich, something various European countries disagrees with, especially the Czech Republic, for obvious reasons. I love learning about WWII.

[@nathanaelraynard2641]

Da fak?

[@LassieIndustries]

Uhm, it has has a muzzle velocity of 3150 fps which is not the speed of light

[@Justin-ul9wo]

The joke clearly went over your head

[@Justin-ul9wo]

But, Im glad to for the facts Fish, thanks mang

[@tijmenfrensel8934]

Lassie Industries wow i'm truly impressed with this

[@masterPlol]

Ian as always very professional and even using metric units.

[@Kirbyofdeath]

masterP Well, it IS the default for all military applications, even in the US.

[@masterPlol]

Yet most american (military-related) channels use imperial units.

[@Kirbyofdeath]

Their target demographic is one who primarily uses the imperial system. It would make sense to use a system that your viewers use.

[@masterPlol]

Which does not mean that you cannot use both.

[@ghoulbuster1]

oh boy here we go again with the units debate

[@bohba13]

"some of those are still in service" in context to the M3 Carl Gustav is a major understatement. It is the preferred alternative to most AT missile launchers for most of the US army and the Marine Corps is going to adopt this to replace the SMAW. It isn't only out lasting more modern weapons, but REPLACING THEM. The M3 Carl Gustav is a legend.

[@hughquigley5337]

I would assume this would be a modernized version of the M3 Carl Gustav, right? I don't know what a "modernized" version would look like, but I am sure that it could be improved somehow (relative to the model shown in this video).

[@bohba13]

@@hughquigley5337 carbon fiber tube with a steel insert with the rifling and a laser range finder. not much there to improve with the weapon system itself, though the ammo selection is quite impressive

[@keinjunin592]

bohba13 the M4 has a promo video on youtube

[@johanness3850]

@@hughquigley5337 umm no. the m3 carl gustav is the modernized version of the m2 gustav, which is in turn a modernized version of the m1 carl gustav. also the "model shown in this video" isnt even a m1 carl gustav, its a carl gustav m/42, "some of those are still in service" is referencing a different gun than the one in the video specificaly this gun: kzbin.info/www/bejne/omaXnoJ5qMSkmqM

[@hughquigley5337]

Johannes S oh ok, I was asking because I wasn’t sure 😅

[@havareriksen3395]

This rifle is a really interesting piece. And so much of it carried over into the 84mm recoilless rifle. I am very familiar with the latter, having been deployed with it many times over the years. And the 84mm is pretty much recoilless, though the blast is substantial to say the least. Most of the movement in the weapon upon firing is due to the weight of the grenade moving down the bore. And despite it's antiquated looks, it's still a very potent weapon. The main HEAT round for the 84mm, the FFV551, can not penetrate modern tanks, but will penetrate armoured IFVs and APCs. With upgraded ammunition, such as the FFV 597 it can penetrate about a meter of armor. And the versatility of the weapon makes it capable of supporting troops in many ways. Such as the high explosive fragmentation with a time fuze that allows airbursts, illumination rounds, smoke and even cannister. Several firms now offer upgrated sights, with NVD or thermal imaging, dynamic lead, range finding and so on. And several generations of lighweight models bring the weight of the weapon down to the weight of medium and light machine guns. As for the recoil, my thought is that felt recoil in the fm/42 derives from the firing pin plate that obstucts part of the venturi. Though most of the pressure escapes through the holes made in the base plate where it's not supported by the firing pin plate, some of the pressure will push against the firing pin plate and contribute to a rearward movement of the weapon. The 84mm does not have such a plate. The firing pin strikes down on the side of the casing just above the rim, where there is a primer. So the venturi is unobstructed on the 84mm and all the propellent gases are vented out the back without pushing on any vertical surface. Well, just my 5 cents.

[@roku_nine]

Daaamn, 1 meter of armor? The 84mm bullet/grenade must be massive!

[@tulipalll]

Awesome comment

[@unverifiedbiotic]

Did you get to fire it in combat?

[@emilragnarsson6453]

Thats like 5 dollars not cents

[@rogerevertsson5964]

@@unverifiedbiotic i did fire them in the 80,s and it was 1 mean thing,,,

[@noonehere6751]

"'Recoiless' means 'recoils less'?! Oh, what a country!" - me after breaking my shoulder testfiring this damn thing

[@MrPolluxxxx]

*Test report* :"it seems the rifle is moving backwards" *Chief engineer* :"then add a nozzle rocket at the back!"

[@DakotaofRaptors]

Ha! Weeb!

[@THESLlCK]

@@DakotaofRaptors WEEB ALERT

[@packbadge]

that thing is a beautiful piece of minimalistic art. The leather wrapped shouldering piece and the block of wood for a pistol grip..

[@WildBillCox13]

Another artist. Nice job.

[@negevswag7935]

Auction worker: "so what do you want to look at today?" Ian: "what's the biggest thing you have?" Worker: "well... we have a recoilless rifle..." Ian: "bring it out right now"

[@eddyguizonde401]

"if you would like to own this, i'm sure you could have a lot of fun with it" yes, ian, i would. i would a lot.

[@williambtm1]

Ian, again I thank you for your comprehensive scope of interesting details given by you of all the weapons that both past and or recently preceded to the present time that have been made available for your edification. When one considers the range of weaponry that had been developed over say the past 300 years, you manage to come up with a goodly number of even the rare surviving examples for your purview. Well done Mr. Ian Weapons Brainiac.

[@BC-wj8fx]

4:06 It's not necessarily half the energy out the back it's half the momentum (when recoil is equally balanced). Since momentum is mass*velocity whereas energy is 1/2 mass*velocity^2, the share of energy depends on the ratio of mass out the front versus the back. If this rifle ejected 10 bowling balls out the back they would only need to travel 4 fps each to cancel the bullet's recoil and would only carry about 0.1% of the share of energy. However mass is expensive in the battlefield so this rifle goes the other way: making up for mass with high velocity in the rearwards ejection. So it's likely in this case that *more* that 50% of the energy goes out the back and still doesn't make 50% of the momentum, which is why there's still recoil. What's most amazing is how there's enough chamber pressure for stable burn and to drive the bullet to impressive velocity.

[@davidmbeckmann]

A truly amazing velocity for a recoilless round!

[@Cannibal713]

I absolutely love y'all's channel. Your videos show and demonstrate such strange weapons. Thank you. Good job, keep em coming.

[@swaghettimemeballs4420]

This is more like a rocket propelled bullet than a rifle. AWESOME.

[@bryanmartinez6600]

@Salivar Ravilas DAKKA

[@toasteroftheomnissiah1372]

@cheese and crackers but was it blessed by some admech?

[@ianfinrir8724]

Yup

[@goaround5088]

Just came back from a training session for receiving M3 Carl Gustav in my unit recently. All major parts and controls are surprisingly similar to this one, the breach opening mechanism, extractor, folding iron sights, even how to adjust elevation of optical sight. Only the primer of modern rounds are moved to lateral position thus simplifies trigger mechanism.

[@craigross341]

5:45 The 84mm Charlie G. I carried the bloody thing when it was 34lb without the sight. The new titanium and carbon fibre one, with a massive range of highly developed ammunition, looks brilliant. I wonder if the Ukrainians would like it?🤔

[@cjwrench07]

They were already offered some before you made your comment. Canada had sent a load of their modern version quite quickly. The Javelins and the advanced British throwaway system are wreaking havoc. The commander of a Russian motorized infantry regiment was purposely run over by his own men a few days ago. They’d lost nearly half their people KIA, and +3/4s of their vehicles, in their assault from the border to just west of Kiev.

[@hedgeearthridge6807]

I have seen a picture of it being carried in Ukraine! A Ukranian youtube news channel was asking people to help identify what it was

[@Dimetropteryx]

Looking forward to the day when a Croatian RT-20 anti-materiel rifle is on that table. It's almost a 1990s revival of this design.

[@Dimetropteryx]

As for that pronunciation: Pahn-sahr- (means "armor") värns- ("Ä" in this case is pronounced like the "A" in the words "and", "after" or "ass" in American English. Literal meaning "for defending against" or "for warding off") ye-vähr ("Ä" once again like the "A" in "Ass". Means rifle).

[@connorrivers798]

Do you speak Swedish? I seem to remember ä being pronounced as the danish/ Norwegian symbols illustrates 'æ' a - e. Swedish is my second language, but I'm pretty sure you are wrong.

[@Dimetropteryx]

@@connorrivers798 Yes, I do. In this case, Ä is pronounced the way I explained. In others, it's pronounced like E, for example in "jägare". Danish and Norwegian are related, so you'll see Æ serving the function of Ä in words with the same root. They're not the same, though.

[@Handles-Suck-YouTube]

@@Dimetropteryx I don't know which accent of Swedish you speak, but I have never in my life heard Ä pronounced like an E, certainly not in words like jägare.

[@Dimetropteryx]

@@Handles-Suck-KZbin If that's true, I have to return that question to you. What dialect do you speak, if you don't pronounce the Ä as E in jägare, ägare, säker, häger, fläder etc?

[@Bleckman666]

@@Handles-Suck-KZbin Really? Ask a person from Stockholm/Södermalm to pronounce this sentence: "den spanska räven rev en annan räv" ;)

[@DesolateZombie]

4:53 >25lb (Without Ammo) >Single-Man Portable Hate to be that guy.

[@TheCleansingx]

PTRD-41 is 38lb, PTRS-41 is 46lb, Lathi L-39 is 109 lb and Boys AT rifle 35 lb. I'd rather carry CG m/42...

[@PSC4.1]

TabernacleFart lol especially if an enemy saw you carrying it, they would probably shoot at the guy carrying the anti-tank rifle first

[@RAYTHEONGAMING]

Carry a Lathi then complain. I've had the privilege of shooting one and it was a literal blast

[@sarkozygaming3629]

25 pounds ? omg that's almost 0.07 donkey

[@andreamaul1603]

The m249 is 25 pounds

[@ClickerQuiz]

this whole thing is fascinating. The scope mount is especially cool.

[@ST-kr7hz]

Ian your content is always fascinating and educational, thanks for what you do.

[@adamhavelock2104]

Sweden: 20mm bull pup anti-tank rifle. Me: Happy British noises.

[@tulipalll]

Happy british noises: i imagine clinking teacups and a confident smile

[@secretbaguette]

You did buy quite a few of them

[@Blei1986]

...and even better also *recoilless* **sad PIAT noises** >inb4 yeah, i know the PIAT wasn´t an anti-tankrifle

[@cosmicatrophy4648]

I adore this channel, please never stop!

[@mjbalice]

Ian....your the best. You are so informative in your videos. Always learning when I view your videos.

[@Deweyfd13]

I've actually seen one fired at night. Really big fireball out the back and loud isn't the word. Interesting to see a detailed description of one. Thanks Ian!

[@unformedmini2377]

Im a Carl Gustaf m\48 shot in the Swedish home guard, I must say.... Recoilless rifles like this is fantastic! ;)

[@Rx_Vitamin_R]

Man, I LOVE this stuff! I hate that they’re machines of war and death, but they are so intriguing to learn about.

[@cubismo85]

They had one example at a local museum outside my small hometown in northern sweden. My dad took me there one evening to install an army music-exhibition (he is in the music corps) what stunned me was that this rifle was just laying there in the museum, without any attachment to prevent anyone from stealing it. Also worth to note that the museum itself was just a storage office so there was no real security except a simple front door. I told my dad about this "its so easy for any criminal to obtain this antitank-rifle" and he just said "nah, noone would take this antique rifle, for what purpose?" 1 month later, someone broke in to the museum and, voila, stole the antitank rifle!... :P

[@leolaforest8055]

Getting some R&R has a whole new meaning thanks to this.

[@samrussell4065]

I'm amazed how similar this is to the Carl Gustav 84mm: it's like they just scaled it up.

[@7kakan]

Sweden: Haven't been in war for over 200 years. Have been manufacturing a lot of well renown weapons systems.

[@ianfinrir8724]

Gotta protect that neutrality somehow.

[@metehankap3870]

The sweden school of defence usually goes in the way of “If we have crapload of defence elements and the terrain on out side, they won’t bother in the first place.”

[@7kakan]

@@metehankap3870 thats basically the strategy of Sweden and Finland. Make it as difficult and expensive as possible for anyone to invade. Both Sweden and Finland also have some nasty guerrilla type of plans post invasion. Imagine Afghanistan, but well trained and motivated Swedes and/or Finns instead of Talibans.

[@Jenkisen]

Yesterday i was wondering how the m/48 Carl Gustav and other recoilless guns work and like a "blessing" from above I now have the answer in a way i can understand. Really awesome video!

[@Andreschannel_SA]

I enjoy your videos because you use the metric measuring system too when describing calibres and muzzle velocities. Please keep it up.

[@erikgranqvist3680]

You had a fairly good shot at "Pansarvärnsgevär" in your video! Good work!

[@SayNoToDemocide1]

For many years since I was a kid, the thought of having a straight-out-the-back shell ejecting gun has crossed my mind, but I had no clue that someone actually put it to use!

[@nokithecat]

Nice unit, thank you for posting Good to preserve history.

[@robertparker5134]

It's cool to see that even back when this was being used 70ish years ago. That on your magnifying optic, also has a backup emergency iron sights mounted on top with what looks like a very old red in color night sight.

[@AdurianJ]

Versions of the Carl Gustav is still being produced today in the M4 version. The 84mm caliber came from the prototype which was made from an old gun of Boden Fortress which had the classic Swedish caliber of 84mm. The different versions where developed in these years and the 84mm M/48 as it's called in Swedish service is still going strong. Some Swedish units also has the M3 but that's a little bit more brittle and not as manly as the cast steel one ! M1 1946 M2 1964 M3 1991 M4 2014

[@nathanlizarraga3446]

I feel like 20 mm and recoilless should never be in the same sentence

[@henryrodgers7386]

It sure beats having a 25-pound cannon slamming into your shoulder... Ouch.

[@secretbaguette]

This is Sweden. Feck your 'conventions'

[@Blei1986]

funfact: like 10 years ago i "designed" a very similar antitank rifle from pretty much only knowing the recoilless sytem from rpg7s. always wondered why noone countered the strong recoil except using compensators (just as a drawing, go home ATF)

[@vonsvinpals]

Love from Sweden man ! Im addicted to your vids ! And you almost got it right with pansarvagns gevär!

[@Knallteute]

I love that you can see what the changed and improvet along the way to the 84mm m3

[@Titus-as-the-Roman]

I'm always impressed with Swedish weapons, specially for a country who seems to be able to stay out of most wars. Their BOFORS anti-aircraft guns were the finest made in the 2nd WW, they simply shot down aircraft.

[@gigofogamus]

Ian, I have seen some video's recently that talk about the Carl Gustav recoilless rifle being brought back into service by a number of militaries and special forces around the world. Not as a main anti tank platform but as a general use man portable artillery system. Because of the new ammunition and sighting systems that have been made for it. They have also gotten the weight down to 7kg in the M4 version by using composite materials with a steel rifle liner in the tube. I thought you might find this interesting as it's an old weapon system that is being brought back into use by modern militaries. A kind of weapon being unforgotten if you please 😄

[@marcusborderlands6177]

I mean, even the m2 and m3 saw service in the US, so not super forgotten in the first place

[@bmedlin00]

watched those video's and the night time shot.. that flash signature and backblast was significant

[@geronimo5537]

another awesome video about another rifle I've never heard of. thank you! ^_^

[@benfennell6842]

"A very thin stream of molten metal" "Cut through armour with thermal properties" NOOO IAN THATS A MYTH!

[@thegoldencaulk2742]

Heh, they've even got backup sights on the ZF4.

[@polygondwanaland8390]

TheGoldenCaulk Just in case none of your three windage knobs are working and the folding sights are stuck.

[@thebateman7949]

TheGoldenCaulk comments on all the videos I watch.

[@fratercontenduntocculta8161]

I am absolutely convinced Sweden is the undisputed king of AT weapons.

[@hansyolo8277]

I originally found this channel because of Battlefield 1. I now stay due to my love and interest in guns, and all the awesome and rare guns shown on this channel.

[@snipars2233]

Well there is a mistake. Shaped charge/HEAT(High Explosive Anti Tank) uses speed instead of thermal energy. You can simply prove it by the fact that the cone in shaped charge is most likely made out of copper. And copper has lower melting temperature than rolled homogeneous armor plates. Another thing is that it can travel up to Mach 25 and yes i mean 25 not 2.5. Of course this speed is applied only to the copper cone. Third thing is that if it would penetrate the armor in thermal way then the spinning of the projectile would not have a impact on penetration but we know it has, thats why now we are using fin stabilised ammo and not rifle stabilised. I hope i made myself clear.

[@spearton-1912]

yeah the "thermal properties" is not what penetrates the armor. I wish this correction was a pinned comment or something.

[@spearton-1912]

@toeff7852 ...what?

[@benfennell6842]

@toeff7852 I get what you're trying to say, I suppose that technically the high velocity copper super plastic is shaped by thermal properties to some extent, but the majority of what causes it to go so fast and on such a shape is the tremendous pressure directed at if from all direction behind it.

[@arzooothwal9934]

" This is my friend Carl , Carl Gustav . He's from Sweden and he brings death "

[@StigCarlsson]

Perfekt för höstjakten på vilddrakar i fjällen...

[@get_downed_boi6270]

I love how it’s all silent and then boom hi guys in the background huge gun

[@jabben00]

Thank you for a swedish weapons at last :D

[@MrPulversson]

SKOTT KOMMER!

[@axelc8801]

Stalins moustache KLART BAKÅT!

[@erikahl7934]

Stalins moustache ELD

[@the_sad_wallet1553]

ELD UPPHÖR!

[@keithgilbert2656]

I bought one of these back about 1964...Inter-Armco out of Fairfax, VA, brought a bunch in...mine came with 50 rounds of ammo and had extra bias plates...'recoil less it is not...handy little toy...still floating around somewhere in CA I'm sure. They came with a nice little shipping/storage crate and extra parts, ammo cans, and tools.

[@jerrycornelius6335]

Beautiful piece of engineering

[@TheTyrial86]

I love how the term Recoiless is used as to define their ways to define this... We all know this has recoil. It's like the shooters used it as a pun.

[@fuesel2]

Ian, you got one thing wrong: a shaped charge does not rely on thermal effects nor is the metal molten. It works by high-pressure, cold deformation of metal. It's a common misconception. Absolutely love your channel though!

[@frostroxie2740]

You should watch a slow mo of a shape charge going off..... .....

[@habe1717]

Roderick storey All HEAT rounds are copper cones, not a disk, and in no way relies on heat. The immense pressure makes the copper act differently than you would expect(but it’s definitely not a liquid), and shoots it out at a very high speed.

[@sawyernorthrop4078]

I'd imagine the word "cold" isn't entirely accurate lol

[@BenniBobKoira]

Fuesel2 is right, the explosives form the copper disc into a rod that travels at 6k -10k m/s. The friction during penetration is what melts the copper.

[@OldtimerOfSweden]

Well, the copper (which is the most common metal used) is fairly close to its melting point in the produced rod and it is definitely a fluid, even if it's not technically a liquid. But you are correct that a lot of people think the copper melts from the detonation. Even my Carl Gustav m/48 instructor at the Home Guard claimed it to be that way.

[@tranq45]

Now THIS is bloody damn cool! A proper space-elephant gun!

[@mikaeljonsson4686]

Always interesting with sooo much knowledge! Txh!

[@warmahan8372]

3:14 While shaped charges do involve thermal properties it is still the kinetic energy of the super plastic metal slug that defeats the armor.

[@toasteroftheomnissiah1372]

yes, but since it still does not depend on the speed of the initial projectile for penetration i think we got what he ment

[@benfennell6842]

@@toasteroftheomnissiah1372 He literally said "cut through with thermal properties" The superplastic copper mass moving at mach 25 (no decimal, twenty five!) Is not "burning" through anything! It's purely kinetic energy at the point of penetration, but we'd call it a CE(chemical energy) round because all that energy is stored in the explosive mass of the warhead before detonation.

[@toasteroftheomnissiah1372]

@@benfennell6842 yes. i was talking about the initial projectile, not the efp though

[@spef7396]

radical vid Ian!

[@DinglePinky]

Woah, nice profile pic.

[@myggdestroyer6485]

spef Your profile pic is the most Beautiful thing i have ever seen...

[@thegoldencaulk2742]

Do you remember what vid that profile pic is from?

[@Crlarl]

+Expand Dong But _Baby's Day Out 2_ isn't out yet.

[@txm100]

Fuckin ianaboo.

[@MrSimythe]

8:01 ...candidate for understatement of the year.

[@Matthew-Graves]

The first set of flip of flip up back sights! Nice.

[@Punisher9419]

40mm is really fucking good for penetration. It's a weapon you would use on the side or rear of a tank in which case it could penetrate anything from 100m away. Perfect ambush weapon.

[@kommissarjupiter7667]

It could penetrate the side armor of a panther tank. And it would be very effective against early war tanks.

[@ironwolfF1]

Or as an anti-material weapon... there isn't a truck engine made (even by the Russians) that survive a hit by that round.

[@kommissarjupiter7667]

I know that the bazooka was inspired by a german light recoilless gun ( the 7.5cm Leichtgeschütz 40 ). As far as i think the Leichtgeschütz 40 ( LG 40 ) started this whole development of recoilless guns even thou there were some recoilless guns that were developed much earlier.

[@nikola12nis]

But why not use it as an anti infrantry weapon ? Or why even use small calibers...just take like, 10 shilkas with x4 23mm and blaze anything in their site away...silly war crime accusations...silly geneva...

[@Punisher9419]

I never understood the Geneva convention. War isn't meant to be nice people die, it hardly makes any difference how you die just that you died.

[@wraithwyvern528]

This kind of weapon could be reasonably updated and brought back primarily to deal with APCs, IFVs, and MRAPs that are only armored to heavy machine gun rounds and often only from certain angles. BMPs, for example, would be particularly vulnerable with their very flat sides and very thick rear doors that are also fuel tanks.

[@andersjjensen]

The current M4 (M3E3 in US designation) Carl Gustav 84mm is shorter, lighter, way more powerful, has even less recoil, and a truly huge plethora of ammunition. It is also in current use in some 50 armies, so I'm not really sure what you mean by "brought back"?

[@andersjjensen]

@@justforever96 The current Carl Gustav is just the natural progression of the one Ian showed here. 20mm vs 84mm makes quite the difference. Recoilless rifles, as a concept, has one key advantage over anything rocket driven: insane acceleration. And then they have one decisive disadvantage: the noise! They're so incredibly loud you won't believe it, and they kick up more dust than an artillery piece, so they pretty much give your location away instantly.

[@ekscalybur]

I need this in my life.

[@STEVEN-STEELE]

Great video Ian Thank you. The video I viewed has both day ad night shots. It is a beast sounds like a 75mm Mountain Howitzer on video at least. The rear blast is just as huge as the muzzle blast and I mean blast Flash isnt the word lol

[@dylanculfogienis8853]

Shaped charge or, by their modern name, HEAT warheads don't actually "melt" armor; very little of their penetration comes from thermal effects. The penetration results from a stream of ultra-high-velocity superplastic metal that is going so fast, and is focused on such a small area that it can go clean through armor. Yes it gets hot obviously, but not so hot that it can "melt" armor in the fraction of a second it takes to penetrate.

[@beebacheeba]

That is what it's actually doing, it is melting the metal near instantaneously. That's why certain ammunition can just cut right through something that would otherwise seem too hard, heavy and thick to be penetrated. Anything hypersonic has this attribute to some degree and then they improve upon it from there.

[@secularnevrosis]

@@beebacheeba I think perhaps *erode* the armour away would be the "proper" description? The term for how it works in HEAT rounds is the munroe effect, and it's considered as a kinetic force.

[@christophercuckow6329]

Does anybody know what the Civil War weapon that Ian mentioned was?

[@51WCDodge]

I've seen a picture of it somewhere. It was an odd looking thing with two S shaped barrel intertwined. I belive the idea was you threw a metal shot in one direction and a lump of softer material like clay of the same weight in the other. Just be certain your pointing the right barrel in the direction of the enemy.

[@andrewwillard5625]

Seeing this shoot would be so amazing

[@davidduffy9806]

A remarkable weapon and a weapon I would love to own!

[@secretbaguette]

One of the bullets for this thing costs as much as a nice lunch.

[@tdugong]

So this is Charlie G Sr, eh? Cool dude. 😁

[@munched55]

"Panzer vairnz yevair" There you go.

[@beast427]

I know it isn't a "forgotten weapon" by any means, but you should do a video on the P90. I love the way you explain things and it's just a very unique and interesting weapon that uses a unique and interesting round

[@harrypersaud9422]

Very interesting and informative video of those old pieces amazing how smart the Swedes are.

[@tranq45]

Reloading cases for this must be a challenge...

[@tranq45]

a bit of a challenge getting and inserting the blowout disk, is my thought. There can't be much of a supply of those. Scratch built?

[@dchil15]

Probably just use cardboard or paper.

[@MichaelBerthelsen]

tranq45 I suspect you can use pretty much any kind of fiberboard, as long as it's the right thickness. At those pressures, it won't make much of a difference...

[@51WCDodge]

Blowout disk is usually just a pressed fibre. It doesn't in itself do anything apart from stop the propelant dropping out the hole. If it is to solid it holds pressure and defeats the object .

[@manwiththestar2305]

Buddy system maybe?

[@cubismo85]

I have a story to share. Im from Sweden and we had this in a small, remote military museum in northern Sweden some 10 years ago. I was there in an evening when it was closed. My dad is a military musician and he got the keys to the museum, we were going to add some military musical instruments and then head home. They would open up the museum later that spring. The door to the museum was of wood with an old key extremely easy to break in, the structure is an older wooden barrack. I saw this recoilless rifle sitting in the museum room (the only gun there) and said to my dad "Jeez, its so easy for someone to steal it, it would be worth a lot and it would be dangerous if someone got hands on it" My dad said "nah, no one would come to the forest and steal this thing, its so heavy" Well... around a couple of weeks later, i read in the newspaper that the museum had a break-in, and that this gun had been stolen..

[@anderspersson7084]

"So where do you keep it?."

[@jsma9999]

Thanks For this film

[@jik294]

that is freaking cool as hell!

[@popdartan7986]

Tungsten is swedish. "Heavy stone"

[@NJP695]

Imagine having to switch to High explosive on this thing to deal with "soft targets" >shutters

[@AdurianJ]

This is the direct predecessor that inspired the Carl Gustav !

[@folker44]

Wow, what a beast.

[@ALAPINO]

Good day, Ian.

[@MrOdinic]

how do you align the exhaust ports on the ammo with the ports on the closing breach?

[@ForgottenWeapons]

You don't have to.The whole base of the cartridge is the same, and it burned through wherever to breech ports are.

[@MrOdinic]

Ahh, cool to know, and thank you kindly for the answer.

[@ZackeTheBrute]

@@MrOdinic On the 48 there are groves on the lip of the back of the shell that fit in with the back of the rifle, you cannot close it up if it is not aligned.

[@p-51d96]

@@ZackeTheBrute That change from the 20mm makes sense as it seems to me that exact alignment of the base openings with the breach ports would allow a more direct exit thus reduce recoil by minimizing impact on the breach face as well as provide a more consistent muzzle velocity, which must have varied depending on the proximity of alignment. However, I suppose it may be that misalignment with the 20mm was deminimis but with the greater volume of the 48 it became troublesome.

[@xeldon]

I have never seen a Pvg m/42 with a scope on it before. Standard issue had just the irons, as far as I know, so I'm thinking someone must've put that on there by themselves. Anyway, I've been hoping that you'd be able to take a look at one of these for a while, so it's really nice to see!

[@WoWMinGM]

That is pretty cool looking

[@mightaymouse]

"A 108 grain" me: hm kinda sm- "gram" OHHHHHHHHH

[@tajtalright]

Make a video about Swedish K M/45 Carl Gustaf

[@nicolecherry3348]

12:15 I love how you still properly avoided muzzling the camera man their even though if it was somehow loaded and you fired it you'd still toast him.

[@lokket9995]

Ooooh God such a beauty.