PTRS 41: The Soviet Semiauto Antitank Rifle (aka an SKS on Steroids)

[@nickdalton9528]

I'm pretty sure PTRS thumb would also be categorized as an amputation.

[@1sanitat1]

PTRS no-thumb

[@highjumpstudios2384]

Avulsion. Amputation would imply that it was done surgically. Fun medicine fact for you.

[@michaelblacktree]

I was just going to comment, PTRS thumb is actually no thumb. 😛

[@garethkalum8297]

@@highjumpstudios2384 not correct at all. For one, OSHA defines an amputation as: "An amputation is the traumatic loss of a limb or other external body part. Amputations include a part, such as a limb or appendage, that has been severed, cut off, amputated (either completely or partially); fingertip amputations with or without bone loss; medical amputations resulting from irreparable damage; amputations of body parts that have since been reattached. Amputations do not include avulsions, enucleations, deglovings, scalpings, severed ears, or broken or chipped teeth." And OSHA defines an avulsion as: "An avulsion is a tearing or forcible separation of tissue. An amputation is loss or removal of a limb, body part or organ." A thumb definitely constitutes as one of either: a limb, an appendage or an external body part. For two: an avulsion can be done surgically, nor does an amputation necessitate surgical procedure. They're called a traumatic amputation.

[@TheWolfsnack]

@@1sanitat1 ..resulting in PTRS PTSD...

[@paleoph6168]

4 years after the PTRD, Ian finally talks about the MEGA SKS.

[@worldoftancraft]

Perhaps the self-loading carbine is the little self-loading AT rifle?

[@Peterowsky]

Isn't this a re-upload?

[@nikmenn2751]

MEGA SVS, previous projects of Simonov were SVS-36 and AVS-37 for 7,62x54R.

[@sultanahsan9257]

Fact The PTRD Can Only Shoot One Bullet Because It Doesn't Have a Magazine PTRS Can Because Have Magazine

[@tomaspabon2484]

The new Nerf MEGA simonov

[@jackelstone1502]

"Sergei I'm feeling a crosswind, go walk out to the front sight to adjust windage "

[@klausbrinck2137]

I think, "Sergej" would then be "behind enemy lines", cause of how long this thing is.. .

[@desertdude540]

You just use "Kentucky windage" to compensate. (So called because you're in Russia and the muzzle is in Kentucky.)

[@ZGryphon]

Since this rifle has basically the same inner workings as the SKS, does that mean it also shares the SKS's occasional habit of becoming an unintentional machine gun when the firing pin gets stuck forward? Boy howdy, that would be an adventure.

[@Corvax77]

It is how the KPV was invented.

[@TheMoistestNugget]

That usually results in an out of battery so it would certainly be an adventure

[@joempoem478]

@@TheMoistestNugget Anti-tank gun becomes an anti-tank grenade.

[@88997799]

Wow 5 rounds of this full auto… 😂😂 I’ve had it happen with only a few rounds on my 1950’s Russian SKS. But only a few rounds never all of them. I have 3 Russian SKS rifles. Happens once in a while. 🎉🎉

[@minhducnguyen9276]

Say goodbye to your ribs.

[@Mephistopheles9]

Wouldn’t a “PTRS-thumb” be simply just “no-thumb”?

[@onpsxmember]

Aka stump.

[@HakureiReimuOfficial]

De-thumb

[@Skrallslim]

Post traumatic rammed syndrome - thumb

[@drops2cents260]

Number of Garand thumbs you can get? Potentially unlimited, _i.e. until you fucking get it._ Number of PTRS thumbs you can get? Two.

[@umenhuman7573]

it deserves another nomenclature class... "ptrs-claw" as it would likely rip the thumb cleam out its socket,

[@edm240b9]

During the battle of Stalingrad at Pavlov’s house, one of the reasons why they were able to last so long against tank assaults was due to a PTRS41 put on the roof. The top of the tanks were fairly thin and the PTRS had no problem penetrating it.

[@01-uy3of]

Does that mean that aircraft armed with similar caliber can penetrate tanks at that time ?

[@marcusborderlands6177]

​@@01-uy3ofyup. Even the US 50 cals could make some holes in tank roof armor, however it requires a very steady pilot and some aim to do much.

[@01-uy3of]

@@marcusborderlands6177 Many things are not talked about pertaining to ww2 history. For example, people often think that the soviets only had rocket artillery, when in fact, they had more conventional cannon artillery than rockets.

[@marcusborderlands6177]

@@01-uy3of people just seem to not want to learn anymore. They hear something from some random source and decide "welp that's all, nothing more to be said on that subject"

[@t2av159]

​​@@01-uy3ofno one thinks that. Soviet hade huge amounts of artillery

[@Szalami]

I still remember being a teenager playing CoD: World at War for the first time and laughing at how the PTRS-41 was the M82 Barret stand-in with the player capable of running around with it and hip-firing it. But I never thought this thing is just this much of a monster, it's huge.

[@OperatorMax1993]

Meanwhile in Red Orchestra it was the anti tank solution for the Red Army (with the Wehrmacht having the Panzerfaust)

[@jonleonard8883]

I remember using it in a fixed position in the first one

[@Dewi-H]

I remember running around in WaW too. After seeing people on KZbin trying to hipfire an M82 Barrett, I actually kind of want to see someone try to hold this at the hip, let alone manage to fire it from the hip.

[@johnsheppard1476]

​@Dewi-H I actually have one of these in my collection-upgraded with a more durable barrel(used to be a KPVT barrel-heavy,chrome lined and more precise),long range optics,new muzzle break,shock absorbing buttstock and 10 round detachable magazine that also eliminates the need for clips!and while I absolutely agree that running around with this beast is highly problematic to say the least but I did shoulder fire it without too much of an issue-with additional recoil mitigation in my case the only problem was obviously the weight of the gun which made it very difficult to hold it steadily and aim but it wasn't anything I would call extraordinary and I guess. .And in fact in terms of strength I am an average dude who never went to a gym or excelled in any sport except shooting who weighs 185 lbs and is 6'4".. I wish I still had though one really insane video where one of my friends who unfortunately passed away in 2021 did something really astonishing with my PTRS-41:this guy used to participate in competitions for the title of the world's strongest man and made a great career in powerlifting..So when we went to his dad's farm one time on a weekend I decided to let him shoot a few rounds from my PTRS and he just told me:"wanna see what I can do with this boom stick of yours?"-took it with one hand like a damn pistol,then shot at our target 5 times without missing!From an outstretched hand,like a damn pistol-steadily and pretty accurately!This behemoth originally used to weight 47 lbs and with all upgrades that I mentioned it weights about 60 lbs!Sadly he died from a massive brain aneurysm caused by a blood cloth that appeared when he caught Covid..

[@twincam103]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/iqSsZJl-irSfh68si=wu-wpYlJpaUTF-ul ​@Dewi-H this was the closest I've ever seen

[@extramild1]

I have been to that museum many times and it is a fantastic place - not only is entry free but because Beligum has been invaded/liberated by just about everyone they have kit from all sides and their stuff goes back before WWI. They also have an aircraft and tank section which is not to be missed. Also because the museum is not commerical and quite you can get really up close to the exhibits like you just cannot in other busy museums. I would highly recommend going there and as a plus the car museum is at the other side of the square you can do 2 for one.

[@DravgonPL]

Noice, thx 4 advice m8

[@Grouuumpf]

Just as a note, the tank section has mostly been moved to Bastogne, so there isn't very much left in Brussels (a couple of vehicles on leo1 chassis and a couple of Pattons) The aviation hall is as ever a beautiful collection and the recent WW1 collection is worth checking out

[@dootmarine1140]

Iirc one of the many tanks in their collection is a functional IS-3. Not sure if its on display in Brussels or Bastogne, but I believe they do own it.

[@Grouuumpf]

@@dootmarine1140 I took a picture of it in Bastogne in 2019, it was sitting right next to the ISU 152, and it wasn't in Brussels last month. Their tank collection is really worth a visit, although it's quite remote. Coupling it with the traditional commemorations in December is a good way to make it worth the trip.

[@SeanCMonahan]

It's like they say: When life gives you lemon invaders, make a museum of lemonade.

[@GliderBane]

Now I want to see one used in a brutality match.

[@mars_man9971]

funny enough, been working on that goal myself, so perhaps one day

[@RaikoTechnologies]

there is a video from donbass, where one of the soldiers firing this kzbin.info/www/bejne/g6CrnqKilLKDqdE

[@Pocahonkers]

Spinner: *shudders*

[@1sanitat1]

@@mars_man9971 I'll pray for your shoulder

[@grzegorzbrzeczyszykiewic3338]

this is a great idea. the first shot will dislocate ians shoulder, and the second shot relocates it back in place

[@DanVegas27]

I like how everything about this gun is just summarized as "Well I guess that's reasonable for that size."

[@G-Mastah-Fash]

It's always funny in video games when the devs want to make you believe a single dude could shoulder and fire this thing accurately while standing.

[@user-pf3kv4bv5s]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/iqSsZJl-irSfh68

[@thatdude3938]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/hmmZqJyrqbyEqpo

[@noble6791]

I'm looking at you, COD WAW

[@quest8795]

*Witness me*

[@dominic6634]

@@quest8795 only if you're shiny with chrome

[@Borderline5440]

Now, if World at War is to be believed, this is the ideal weapon for a *sick* 360° no scope.

[@sharpkniveinlatvian1746]

I love how most games depict this rifle similar to the Barret or M200 that's barely 1½ meters long, when in reality it's longer than you are taller!

[@grzegorzbrzeczyszykiewic3338]

lol in the game enlisted, its pretty close to RL dimensions, so when you wave it in your hand it looks like your waving a huge 7 foot long stick.

[@livingcorpse5664]

Maybe if they bullpuped it it'd be as long as he is tall.

[@BitchenMarsRockstar]

Yea remember running around quick scoping dudes indoors with this in World at War? I would love to see someone try to maneuver this through a door, or around a corner in a hallway.

[@1DEADBEEF1]

This bullet used in this is 250% more powerfull than a barrett! (30,000 ft-lbs)

[@Finetales]

Makes its depiction in Vanguard/Warzone running and quickscoping with it that much more absurd lol

[@fredrikvanlienden6749]

I love the rough surface finish. It doesn't need to look pretty, as long as it does the job it is designed to do.

[@gestaposantaclaus]

In the ugliness of the eastern front, “pretty” is simply a firearm that works.

[@kamj6607]

im just picturing all the smoke and burning hot metal flying off this thing as they try to mill it down as fast as possible lol

[@maxo.9928]

Didn't know lightposts were considered firearms? I learn something new here everyday 😁

[@Steve.Cutler]

😂😂😂

[@krissteel4074]

Just in case you couldn't take the whole plumbing section to the battlefield Love how gnarly it is, machined by the bluntest apprentice in the factory

[@maxo.9928]

@@krissteel4074 Apprentice? C'mon, that was Pavel, the Master Machinist!

[@Narcan885]

@@maxo.9928 It's so dumb how you two seemingly didn't even watch the video and yet joke about the quality of master machinists and apprentices. Much like the contemporary SMGs, those guns weren't crude for lack of skills. They were crude because the country was LITERALLY BEING ROLLED OVER BY NAZI ARMIES. They needed as many guns to take them down as quickly as possible, and with the least amount of machining time as possible. So if anything, all things considered that rifle above is actually even too smooth and finely machined considered the circumstances.

[@felixchaus]

Actually not that bad of an idea, how many invading force starts to check on the old town lamp posts, when deployed to use just dig out the shoulder stock, pull the cable out and throw the bulb from muzzle device, trigger group can be stashed into the stock, dust cover can be access panel

[@rflameng]

On a shelf in that room is a FALo. The heavy barreled, select fire version of the FAL, with Lo standing for 'lourd' (heavy), whereas the L in FAL means 'leger' (light). It was our squad support weapon when we all had 7.62x51 rifles. Ammo and magazine compatibility.

[@RonOhio]

5 shots, perfect for a backup gun match. I like that Ian apologizes for showing historic firearms most of us will never get to see in person in the background. Cool even if out of focus.

[@djdrack4681]

this for the long gun, and what, a China Lake for a 'pistol'? I'd travel great distance to be able to run that match.

[@izperehoda]

This gun is so big, chunky and powerful that it feels like something from Warhammer 40k

[@BigWheel.]

Ww2 is basically human histories closest equivalent. In terms of scale technology and brutality

[@HarmKaban]

Mate, Warhammer 40k was inspired by this thing

[@Eye_Of_Odin978]

Any larger-than-usual firearm: **Exists** Cancerous WH40K stans: "fEeLs lIkE sOmeThInG oUtTa 40k!" or "lOoK, a ReAl lIfE bOlTeR!" God, try to be even MILDLY original and come up with an un-regurgitated thought for once in your sad life.

[@izperehoda]

@@Eye_Of_Odin978 No need to be so hostile mate. It's not very sensible of you to assume things from a single short comment.

[@Number1TaxEvader]

There is a weapon inspired by this in 40k, it's called a Transuranic Arquebus. You can google it, they also use it to kill tanks and light vehicles.

[@NerdyGardevoir]

Ian, your humor is exactly what I needed this morning. The gradual zoom out joke made me snicker. I never realized just how large the PTRS was. Thank you for keeping firearms history alive and getting more people interested in firearms history and development.

[@saladiniv7968]

this makes it so hilarious thinking back to call of duty world at war. running around with that thing and shoulder firing it.

[@gohunt001-5]

@@saladiniv7968 Petrenko was just built different(literally and canonically, black ops 2 hinted at his above average healing factor, though i guess that wouldn't help him carry around a 21 kilo antitank rifle no problem)

[@Gameprojordan]

@@saladiniv7968 shoulder firing it with a scope aswell 😂 imagine trying to steady your aim

[@RedBl0ss0m]

Wow, seeing this PTRS-41 gives me nostalgia. Using this on COD World At War in every game mode felt like it was broken back then. Good old times…

[@random_rufus]

It was said in the Red army in that times "long barrel - short life". Anti-armor sections always suffered great casualties in combat. Both the PTRD and PTRS had nice penetration, but suffered to make much damage after penetrating armor. I have read memoirs of a soldier, who had fought with those rifles. He said, that the best anti-tank rifle he used, was a 45 mm anti-tank cannon :) He explained, that if you wanted a slight chance to be effective, you had to dig a nice trench and camouflage it. And the trench for anti-tank rifle was not much bigger, than a trench for a 45 mm gun. Though, it was much easier to change positions or fall back obviously with a PTRS or PTRD.

[@sleepingninjaquiettime]

I'm sure they left out the part that it's max effective range is 150-250 meters to the average Russian infantryman. And I'm sure that shooting it kicks up a huge amount of dust in the hotter months, so your best chance of surviving firing at a tank is either being in a well concealed entrenched position or shoot, move, and communicate. I'm guessing a lot of these were abandoned during WW2.

[@rvanhees89]

@@sleepingninjaquiettime that, or like 3 feet away from the tank

[@RomaNovikov1980]

@@sleepingninjaquiettime, 1 бронебойщик на 1 танк, это хороший размен.

[@JoshuaC923]

PTSD squad

[@RomaNovikov1980]

@@JoshuaC923 , во-первых: это 2 номера. А во-вторых: это не ПТРД, второй не подающий, а подносящий. Это автоматчик с БК.

[@watch_factory_Zeitnot]

Both PTRS and PTRD were also successfully used as air defense gun. Thanks for the video, interesting and exciting as usual

[@davidcox3076]

Yep. Have seen pictures of them in an anti-aircraft position. Assuming a fast moving aircraft would be hard to hit. But one round through its engine block would make a mess. Hell, if the plane flew low enough the crew could throw it at the plane. Might be more likely to bring it down. : )

[@WhenDoesTheVideoActuallyStart]

​@@davidcox3076I assume it worked far better at suppressing bolder maneuvers than at actually taking down planes. No matter what chance it has of hitting, knowing most soviet infantry units could have at least one shoulder-cannon must have had some good effect on the pilot, psychologically speaking.

[@davidcox3076]

@@WhenDoesTheVideoActuallyStart That's most likely. Stay at a higher altitude when attacking to avoid more of the ground fire. I think most of the machine gun, and in this case anti-tank rifle, antiaircraft mounts were to help throw up enough lead to make an enemy pilot think twice.

[@themagicbeanguy]

I like that he brought up the point that it was used for a long time against side armor on tanks. But he doesn't really do it justice. There is an entire line of modifications to panther designed to help protect the tank from Russians destroying panthers with anti tank rifles because the side armor was so thin. panther tanks with sheet metal skirts over the tracks have those plates there to protect against that rifle and the degterev design

[@NoMoreCrumbs]

Same thing with the armored skirts around the turret ring on later Panzer IVs, if I'm not mistaken

[@pyro1047]

@@NoMoreCrumbs You are correct, while often attributed to the Bazooka it was the humble 14.5mm that actually started the German use of Schürzen. It was just a happy coincidence for them it happened to work against shaped charges as well, with them later making mesh skirts for this purpose. The Pz III, Pz IV, and their derivatives only had 30mm of side armor. So they were all vulnerable to the 14.5, which could penetrate 30-32mm RHA at 500m angled at 90°, and 40mm at 100m and under making even the Panther vulnerable at close range. So a lot would get side skirts, though on the Pz III/IV/StuGs they weren't mounted that great and often broke off on trees, etc.

[@42pyroboy]

Not the scope of the video

[@christopherreed4723]

I've read several accounts of tank combat on the eastern front by German tankers, and getting vision blocks shot out or having rounds punch through drivers' vision slits is a common theme. The Russian A/T gunners used the PTRS and PTRD rifles a *lot* and if they couldn't get through the armor plate they looked for ports or weak spots they could get through. The German tankers had a healthy respect for these A/T rifles and could be relied on to take the time to counter the threat.

[@JakeTheTankmaster]

This relates to Panther II, and its purpose was to thicken the side armour enough to resist the 14.5mm round as well as to share parts with other vehicles such as the King Tiger. Panther II never got anywhere as adding Schürzen to the sides of Panther proved adequate in tumbling the 14.5 projectile before it hit the main armour.

[@SonOfFudge]

the PTRS is in many games. often does one forget how actually big this monstrosity is. quite impressive

[@Bazzooka1518]

We were waiting for this one for so long! Thank you Ian for covering awesome and iconic weapons over and over again !

[@LongTran-em6hc]

Yes, it's so long! Ba dum tsss I will see myself out.

[@alicevioleta3184]

one of my fav guns of all time, i've wanted this video for AGES. 10/10.

[@daite_pushku]

I was lucky enough to shot this rifle with steel cased original old soviet ammo. Lying down position, boom! Not that bad. This muzzle device made incredible job to decrease recoil+it is semi auto! So I can say, the sound of this monster is way more impressive than the recoil itself. Live time of this gun is cca 500 rounds, so it is not the gun shooting ranges love to use for entartaining shooting...

[@pyro1047]

As for it's anti-tank capability, the 14.5x114mm was so effective it was the real reason the Germans started using Schürzen aka side skirts or "Bazooka Plates" not the Bazooka and PIAT as commonly claimed. Though as a happy coincidence for them it worked well against those too, it was the later and cheaper to produce mesh skirts that were more specifically for shaped charge weapons. The main 14.5x114mm round in WWII the "BS" API could penetrate around 30-32mm of RHA steel at 500m angled at 90°, with 40mm penetration at 100m. Making all the Pz IIIs, Pz IVs, and their derivatives vulnerable with only 30mm of flat side armor. Even the mighty Panther only had 40mm of side armor with the lower half unsloped, the Soviet gunners were apparently quite proficient and ballsy as it was still enough of a threat that Panthers were eventually equipped with 5mm Schürzen plates to cover the flat armor between the road wheels and sloped upper hull. It's even claimed to be one of the reasons the canceled Panther II, among other various upgrades, had its side armor increased to 60mm as the improvements to its protection were primarily designed for and inspired by lessons learned on the Eastern Front. Turns out all they needed were 5mm RHA steel plates, and that was enough to destabilize the penetrator enough to stop or at least severely limit its penetration. Might be old, but it's a nasty piece of kit. While not this semi-auto behemoth, the "Also kinda semi-auto but not really" PTRD-41 with the same round is still occasionally run into in the Middle East, with it even making some appearances in the current Ukraine conflict. I'd hate to be on the other end of a full auto 14.5 KPV (Almost twice the muzzle energy of an M2 and a little more than a 20mm ShVAK). Light armored vehicles could still be shredded from the sides, or even the front depending on the model. For instance the armor on the LAV-25(Modified LAV III/Mowag Piranha) is only designed to protect against light rounds like 7.62x39 ball. The Stryker(An LAV-25 derivative) has frontal protection against 14.5, but the sides and rear are just armored against 7.62x39 ball, only reaching full all around 14.5 protection if its bolt on ceramic armor or 3mm steel plates are installed. Even the Bradely which is the "Heavy" US IFV only has 25.4mm of armor on all sides, with the slope of the front hull pushing it to about 40-50mm effective, and the turrets sloped front to around 37-45mm effective; and that's a hardened aluminum alloy, so it's even less effective considering the 14.5's 40mm of penetration at 100m is against RHA. At close range or getting engaged from a hill or roof top... In the Gulf War just the 12.7mm NSVT was able to penetrate multiple Bradleys, injure some crew, and even knock one out by destroying its transmission. Though newer/upgraded variants have spaced laminate belts and high hardness steel skirts, there's no added protection to the front AFAIK. There's also HEI(High Explosive Incendiary) and the Chinese have made 2 new, somehow even scarier rounds. An APIDS-S, basically an API-T with discarding sabot like a SLAP round for even more penetration. And an APHEI(Armor Piercing High Explosive Incendiary) for when you want to shoot at a bit of everything I guess. A ZPU-4 with any of these rounds would be an absolute nightmare. Anyways, long post over and the 14.5 has my respect.

[@arrowhead8298]

Nope, the Bradley is protected at 360 degrees against the 14.5mm and from the A2 variant also vs the russian 30mm APDS in the frontal arc thanks to steel plates as spaced armor. The stryker permanently has ceramic armor. To protect against 14.5mm the Marines also adopted ceramic armor for the LAV-25, while the AAV-7 were updated with spaced EAAK armor.

[@MandolinMagi]

You do realize the Bradley is fully armored against 14.5? It's the entire point of the armor. 6mm steel plate, 25mm air, 6mm steel, 90mm air, 25mm aluminum. Full 360 degree protection against 14.5mm with some extra steel on the turret front. A2 upgrade replaced the 6mm plates with a single much thicker (~32mm) plate for frontal and side protection against 30mm AP. Also the BS round went out of production decades ago, so 14.5mm these days is just 12.7mm pen with more recoil.

[@driver76fan]

So can an M113 be extirpated by a PTRS with a normal average 14.5x114 round?

[@MandolinMagi]

@@driver76fan You mean penetrated? Probably, M113 only has ~38-44mm aluminum, so at close range a 14.5x114mm round should penetrate.

[@vladimirpecherskiy1910]

I suspect modifications for Punter been done to improve protection against 45mm guns, which was much bigger real thread at a time then 14.5

[@CobraDBlade]

The 14.5mm cartridge was actually still capable of penetrating the side armor of a Panther tank, and was the driving force behind the increased side armor of the Panther II project. However upon further investigation Germany discovered that the addition of the armor skirting found on later Panther models was enough to render the 14.5mm insufficient.

[@HalfWarrior]

Owning an SKS (my favorite one of all my firearms); this is really very cool to see the historical context. Thank you Ian!

[@thedeviluknow]

I'm glad this video was the last one from Forgotten Weapons that my dad ever watched. I can't believe it's only been out four days.

[@STEVEARABIA1]

I can’t imagine firing that thing. Just the huge chunk of metal that is the bolt flying back and forth when cycling. Wow. Thanks for showing this.

[@Gameprojordan]

Atleast it's all far infront of your face unlike the ptrd where the bolt launches back behind your head everytime you fired

[@MrEvolutionable]

I always think about how loud combat must have been for those soldiers. Just imagine firing a rifle like this without hearing protection. They must have been almost totally deaf after even just a short engagement.

[@Narcan885]

I saw a video of a replica being shot. The muzzle brake literally lifted the nearby gravel with the shockwave and gas emission. Fucking hell. That thing is quite literally a cannon, and its ammos have the charge of small grenades going off. The poor soldiers that had to fire those things.

[@clothar23]

@@Narcan885 I am sure having the ability to punch through the side armour of Nazi tanks was a great comfort. There is nothing worse for an infantry unit than having no way to deal with certain enemies.

[@TelethaTestarossa]

If you really want your jaw to drop there's a video out there of a DPR militaman shoulder firing a whole magazine. The AK he has dangling off his shoulder looks like a toy in comparison.

[@jackparmenter2649]

I'm a huge fan of the SKS so when I saw this I fell in love with it. Amazing how similar the two are really. Awesome video as always man.

[@VallornDeathblade]

Not pictured. Brandon Herera being restrained off camera as he desperately tries to get ahold of this.

[@80m63rM4n]

Matter of fact he already owns one.

[@VallornDeathblade]

@@80m63rM4n This surprises me less than I care to admit. I hadn't noticed it on his WALL OF GUNS so I just assumed it was on his list of guns to get.

[@solothurns]

The PTRS-41 is my absolute favorite gun. Despite naming my account after the S18-1000 the PTRS has become my favorite. Such a simple yet powerful design. The perfect mix of power, weight, range, and serviceability that the other ATRs struggled with. Still used today in the East as anti-material as the ammo is still common

[@thomas316]

This is actually my preferred concealed carry. 👌

[@bajs28]

is that a ptrs-41 in your pants or are you just happy to see me?

[@BobThomas123]

​@@bajs28 might be both

[@Gameprojordan]

Snubnosed PTRS with .57 special ammunition

[@BobThomas123]

@@Gameprojordan too much flashbang can't hurt anybody.

[@cameronnewton7053]

*pulls it out of video game satchel with comically large storage*

[@pre-alphaman2625]

I always wanted to see a PTRS episode after seeing it in World at War, today my wish was granted.

[@orangman6424]

Had possibility of shooting one not so long ago, it might look scary but honestly after first round it wasn't that bad, popped like 7 or 8 of those and 4 went one after another (jams as hell) . Shoot while sitting wasn't bad but the other guys had to hold me bench as recoil could tip me over. Target was a car like 50 meters away the anti-armour went thru the engine block. So honestly if ya can shoot it i sugest trying it as it is f-ing Lit to shoot. Not much to compare with the closest is Mosin 44 with armour piercing ammo.

[@cmtptr]

50 meters? If a tank ever got that close to you with this thing, you've made a terrible mistake!

[@sciarpecyril]

@@cmtptr, or camouflaged yourself pretty well.

[@cmtptr]

@@sciarpecyril touche

[@ДимаВеселов-в8и]

​@@cmtptr don't forget that tanks have very limited visibility. You could literally crawl around or even hop on top of it without the crew even noticing. Heck, even modern tanks don't have too much vision

[@JackSpadeTaylor]

my favorite rifle in Peace Walker xD Awesome to see a real one and learn more about its history :) Thanks, Ian!

[@strider5964]

Holy shit the PTRS is even bigger IRL. This rifle was OP ASF in the last mission of World At War.

[@captainash1297]

Imagine actually running and gunning like in CoD with this behemoth!😂

[@Bustin_cider00]

Scrolled down to comment that very thing

[@freakyguy210]

The fact that you could carry one around in that game after seeing how huge it is makes it so comical

[@HXIIIAEGIS]

I guess the easy disassembly of the rifle to be carried around combined with the tungsten core rounds are the key success of this rifle for Red Army during WWII. I can see how effective this will be with 2-man team silently going for a flanking position to effectively disable Panzer IVs. Now i see why in videogames like Company of Heroes 2,you can have 6-8 men team carrying bunch of Degtrayev and 2 PTRS rifles,owing to its real-life capability. Thank you for the video.

[@fimmywa]

GARBAGE DAY

[@AzelfandQuilava]

Good ol’ Guards Rifle Infantry. Also has anyone ever noticed that the PTRS is depicted as bolt action in COH2?

[@baronobeefdipyes5181]

@@AzelfandQuilava they probably got it mixed up with the PTRD-41, fires the same round but is a single shot bolt action.

[@edg4rallanbro753]

I believe it's the PTRD, the giant tube on rails. It's still not entirely correct because it depicts it as a fully bolt action, when the PTRD should actually automatically unload the casing after firing due to the rails.

[@AzelfandQuilava]

@@edg4rallanbro753 In-game its referred to as a PTRS and that seems to be what its modelled after. I assume the bolt-action function is to make it less busted against light vehicles (cuz Guards will obliterate 222s and Halftracks if given the chance).

[@zapb42]

Wow I had always hoped to see Ian do something on the PTRS let alone showing comparison to the SKS, and years later here it is! Excellent video!

[@frenchfrey65]

This makes its use on World at War comical, holy HUGE! I had no idea they were that big!? Always thought it was the same size as a barrett .50 cal!

[@vividfiber6668]

You can use them in hell let loose, but you have to shoot it prone or braced on something

[@mikoajkarczewski9605]

Ian is just so precious, look how happy he is in this little intro! We have to protect him at all cost

[@frankbrowning328]

WOW!!! That thing is enormous! I want to see Arnold use this (hand held of course) in his next action movie

[@jacksin3323]

Now THIS was something i didnt think id see today. Stellar vid. Love the history on this... gonna look up the dev program and see if theres a doc on it anywhere. Id love to hear/see more.

[@laurelbise7638]

Loved the outtakes. Thank you for what you do for the gun/academic community

[@PsiQ]

Loved the classic intro framing for a backup gun. ...Reminds me a bit of the Hallconnen..

[@paracart_vyacheslav]

B-32 with a steel core. The B-41 had a tungsten carbide core. And it was quite rare ammunition. The prototype of both the PTRS and the SCS was the 1940 Simonov rifle, which lost to the SVT.

[@m-rock9983]

Found one of these in a gun store about 2 months ago... Unfortunately, the government of Canada has made it so it is not allowed to even leave the room it currently resides in. Still really cool to see in person, it is way bigger in person than the video leads on

[@captainash1297]

Now show me a Bubba’ed out PTRS with a 20 round mag, covered in pic-rails, with poorly mounted red dot sight

[@donaldoehl7690]

Made me laugh! Don't forget a poorly fitting cheesy "tactical" stock!

[@muhammadnursyahmi9440]

Hmm, i think you can find Bubba'ed out PTRS in Ukraine nowadays. Good luck dodging bombs, drones and landmines though!

[@captainash1297]

@Cancer McAids plz no, my body couldn’t take it, literally the recoil would probably destroy you.

[@mars_man9971]

It's pretty easy to mount a red dot, the rear sight base is about the same size as a mosin, so all you need to do is buy an 11$ mosin rear sight rail, mill one clearance slot and put it on, no rifle modification required. Working on the mags..

[@sideswapper6718]

Call of Duty Vanguard:

[@Jesses001]

I have seen pictures of these, but I never got a really good scale reference. Just looked like an extra big SKS. Well with you in the shot, I now have a scale reference. That thing in insane. The math on the round it uses is also insane. I dare say that would be effective on most armored vehicles today not including reactive armor.

[@Tekdruid]

I'm assuming a three man crew: a shooter and a loader carrying the gun and the barrel respectively and a third guy carrying replacement shoulders for the shooter...

[@etiennelamarche7796]

Finally, ive always wanted to see you taking a look at the PTRS!!

[@joecoastie99]

They have one of these at the Virginia War Museum. It is HUGE. Great little museum. If you’re near the tidewater area and you’re into all things military definitely check it out.

[@scottp4357]

this gun is in Jagged Alliance 2 - the description says you can use it for pole vaulting once you run out of ammo

[@DuckAllMighty]

As always a superb video to show one off, if not the biggest service riffle of all time.

[@xxshamwowxx797]

I have been waiting for this upload for literal years. Ever since I played world at war, I've wondered how this thing works!

[@wormyboot]

"There wasn't a ton of energy being put into the anti tank rifle program." I see what you did there.

[@rongray8416]

I've always had a thing for this and other very large AT guns like the Lahti L-39 (my favorite of all of them)...To me they have this sleek/slim look at first almost elegant in appearance,. But the sheer size and brutality of them up close leaves no doubt as to the power they possess when fired.

[@youmukonpaku3168]

the beauty of anti-tank rifles is the point where raw brute force has an elegance all its own. Place one fuckton of powder here, bit of tungsten in front of it, and hope the padding saves your shoulder the pain you're about to inflict on a hardened steel plate.

[@fireman305]

PTRS implementation in a nutshell: Stalin: “You see those panzers?” Simonov: “Da, comrade Stalin.” Stalin: “I don’t want to.” Simonov: “Da, comrade Stalin.”

[@karlwalther]

Это Вы просто не знаете, как Сталин ставил задачу Малышеву на создание СУ-152 "Зверобой" в течение одного месяца. И как уговаривал Яковлева создать Як-3 за три месяца.

[@Brigand231]

I would never have thought it, but once you mentioned the SKS I saw the resemblance in the magazine almost immediately.

[@AverageColdWarAppreciator]

About 14.5 mm ammo - armour-piercing bullet with thungsten core is named BS-41 (БС-41), B-32 is armor-piercing incendiary bullet and it has a steel core. Also, B-32 is a type of bullet for all calibers - we also have 7.62 B32 and 12.7 B32

[@atomic...]

Been waiting for this video for years now, so glad Ian finally got his hands on one.

[@jameslooker4791]

The PTRD is still my favorite anti-tank rifle of WWII. The simplicity is just marvelous to me.

[@Vnx]

The PTRD is one of my favorites, the design has exactly everything it needs to do the intended job.

[@jameslooker4791]

@@Vnx The recoil system gets me. It speeds up firing. It reduces felt recoil. It even integrates perfectly into the shoulder stock.

[@kierangrasby5728]

If ever I’ve wanted to see you take something out onto the range, it is this.

[@spaceharrier9303]

That intro was pretty funny, just as a suggestion if possible when you do videos on weapons that are so big can you stand with the gun at your side ( to have a comparison and also it would be pretty funny when it is as big as this one)

[@stefanmolnapor910]

I think we have ALL be waiting for you to be able to do this video! Thank you.

[@andrewdenzov3303]

That 14,5 cartridge still in use today in a KPVT - main armament of BTRs and BRDMs. Ma Duce talks. But kpvt shouts :)

[@spiderjerusalem1019]

South African NTW-20 and I think a Polish Anti-Material rifle (I cant remember the name) can also be chambered in 14.5mm.

[@AtlasJotun]

3:54 Good Gun Jesus, that receiver's surface finish looks like it was done by the machinist's apprentice armed with a wood chisel, particularly around the radius at the front of the rear sight. As a former machinist, I'm sometimes in awe of just how clapped-out some of the Soviet tooling must have been; their machinists were damned wizards. Those 14.5mm en bloc clips must weigh a substantial amount when empty. Thanks for the video Ian!

[@judyfps5059]

The 14.5mm cartridge just like 7.62x54R is still seeing use in the modern age with the Snipex Alligator. Cool to see new firearms in these older yet still useful calibers.

[@adrianflecker]

Finally! I've been waiting for the PTRS to be covered ever since i first discovered forgotten weapons years ago

[@ivanivanovic5586]

Insightful video indeed. Given the sheer length and weight of the thing, it would feel right at home in hands of space marine scouts as a sniper rifle with minimum dressing-up. You'd only need to rechamber it in heavy bolter ammo (I've seen somewhere its caliber being stated as 25x100mm, while regular bolter ammo would be 17/18x50mm by some accounts, can't confirm those numbers to be certain tho).

[@Grant-tz6nj]

Thank you Ian I have been waiting for this video ever since you started on youtube!

[@lairdcummings9092]

When held standing vertical, can also serve as a flagstaff.

[@AugustVO]

Thanks Ian great find, love the history and walkthrough. Fun to note disassembly goes "pull the receiver off the barrel"

[@bloqk16]

That rifle being a two-man weapon; I'd add a third person just to be the ammo carrier.

[@storytimedavidcollins2897]

Nice little piece of equipment thanks again for sharing some awesome stuff that we’ve never seen before again.

[@jaredthehawk3870]

The cycle came full circle with the Pauza P50 anti material rife which is basically an SKS scalled up to .50 BMG. Brandon Herrera has a video on one of these very rare birds.

[@stev3548]

*down to

[@jaredthehawk3870]

@stev3548 The SKS is chambered in 7.62x39mm, much smaller than .50 BMG.

[@stev3548]

@@jaredthehawk3870 Oh i misread i thought you meant the ptrs, oops.

[@Sunflowercowboy]

I've been wanting a video on this gun for years. Thank you Ian for the early birthday present

[@Joshua_N-A]

Brandon: "I don't need it ×3...I. NEED. IT." Has he already acquire one?

[@detroitandclevelandfan5503]

This is just amazing. Well done video, sir.

[@izoiva]

This rifle usually shoot БС-41 (BS-41) cartridge. But there's tons of different ammunition for this rifle, especially after KPVT become available.

[@1sanitat1]

Could you actually use more modern ammo on these things without breakages?

[@izoiva]

@@1sanitat1 Soviet ammunition were pretty standardized, so I think you could use modern 14.5mm ammo.

[@akirasean4080]

@@1sanitat1 According to Wikipedia, Chinese NORINCO developed sabot munition for 14.5mm (like APDS or SLAP), probably for exports purpose. I can't find further information tho.

[@championknife]

Since 1943, this rifle has been used mainly as a support weapon, to destroy machine gun emplacements and vehicles at a great distance. and also as a means of air defense, for this purpose they dug a special trench in the shape of a ring. The bipods of the gun were placed in the center of the ring, and the calculation of the gun could move in a circle, firing into the airspace.

[@adrienperie6119]

I remember as an adolescent in Call of Duty World at War there was a mission were they made you fire one of these, of course you could easily shoulder it or even hip fire like it was a 12 gauge duck gun... Reznov !!! I wonder if there are any recorded instances of these being used in an anti-personnel role at medium to long range, in Stalingrad say, aka sniper city. That would be really cool, ain't no taking cover from this :)

[@МихаилЛевицкий-ц7э]

Man, by official guide you have a 7 MOA accuracy ;)

[@ГарикАроян]

They tried to adapt PTRD/PTRS for sniper shooting, but they turned out to be ineffective, since the sights were deformed from recoil after a few shots or shifted so much that they constantly had to make adjustments. Interesting fact: American troops, during the Korean War, captured the PTRD, converted it to 12.7 caliber and used an optical sight, such a PTRD could fire without harming the optical sight)

[@moemaster1966]

It’s incredible to me to see what you could build with 100lbs of steel and a box of files ….what a crude monster of a rifle

[@victoriaevelyn3953]

Interesting how it's so well known but yet so rare in reality I was introduced to this gun from world at war

[@sharkyhopeckyvidea7860]

The PTRS-41 bolt solution was identical to that of the AVS-36 (Simonov) automatic rifle and the SVT-40 self-loading rifle (Tokarev). They are identical in shape, only in the case of the PTRS-41 rifle, the weight and dimensions are adapted to the performance of the 14.5 mm cartridge.

[@seductive_fishstick8961]

thank you so much for covering this one, absolutely iconic and all-around super cool gun!

[@TriSauceV2]

seeing the thumbnail of this video immediately brought back the memories of first seeing this rifle in Call of Duty World at War. Wish we could have seen an actual round in this video but nonetheless amazing content as always, Ian !!

[@friedrichmuller7872]

Actually, the B32 cartridge features a hardened Steel Core. It is the equally weighted BS41 Cartridge wich features the tungsten core. Both have incendiary compound in front of the penetrator

[@urMom4sherriff]

I have a Soviet weapon ID cards from the early 80s. It shows the ptrs41 and the sks listed together. I always wondered why, now I know. Thanks!

[@nickjames2370]

Had to pause the video when Ian started comparing bolt components, because I couldn't stop laughing. Now to watch the rest.

[@t.104]

12:00 without a barrel it looks like some sci-fi blaster

[@jplayah5264]

It's really nice getting to see this weapon up close.

[@mars_man9971]

I managed to find an incomplete one earlier this year, and the first thing I had done was compare the bolts with an SKS, really amazing seeing the massive difference in scale. The enblocs feel crazy with how absolutely massive they are!

[@mars_man9971]

Some other interesting note is unlike the notorious free floating firing pin of the SKS, the PTRS has a good strength spring on its firing pin, probably due to the enormous size of the pin. The carry handle (which seems to be missing on this example) can be removed quickly, and attached in different spots - the pin in front of the receiver (which has a collection tag on it for this example), or the pin behind the front sight, allowing for easier carrying with a two man crew. The entire trigger group can also come off by removing a very unique flathead screw with integral locking spring, which then also allows the entire mag assembly to be removed. I believe they used the ease of removing this mag assembly to do some small amount of experimentation with pan and box magazines for these.

[@jared.p240]

The rifle that you found, what was missing on it?

[@jjjr.1186]

@@mars_man9971 the original SKS Russia put into production has a firing pin spring also. It was later deleted.

[@mars_man9971]

@@jared.p240 no barrel, no rear sight, no buttpad. I found a KPV 14.5mm barrel which could be turned down and used, but I would still need other components and a sample to compare with

[@mars_man9971]

@@jjjr.1186 huh, that's pretty interesting. The PTRS pin is like a giant wedge/spear, so I could see how they changed it once it wasn't such a heavy slab slamming around in the gun

[@HappiKarafuru]

Instantly had memory of play CoD World at war. The rifle that we thought we can mount a scope and basically turn it into ww2 style barrett 50s, plus this thing torn krauts everytime it hit

[@m44guy]

Few years ago I was at a gun show and one old chap had a PTRS and a PTRD on display and these rifles are huge the flimsy table they were on looked like they were about to fold.

[@nathanielyoungman4454]

I want to see modern firearms manufacturers make non finished guns like this again for super cheap

[@dkoz8321]

Now imagine doing field cleaning and PMCS on this weapon in -40C weather at night with snow blowing.