VMP 1930 at the Range: does the Monopod Help?

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Yesterday we took a look at the mechanics and history of Heinrich Vollmer's 1930 pattern VMP, and today we have it out at the range. I'm curious is the mid-point monopod will actually help or hinder accurate shooting...shall we find out?
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Forgotten Weapons
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[@User_Un_Friendly]

Shooting obscure German Interwar sub machine guns. Ian has the best job in the world!😮

[@LoganRonin-vn2we]

That bolt is working so smoothly, truly impressive to see.

[@alien_marksman]

Saw how easy that looked to shoot off the shoulder. Looked smooth as butter.

[@bobhill3941]

It did, and to me the 9mm Luger sounded only slightly louder than .22lr, I even heard the crack as it went through the sound barrier.

[@KurtOnoIR]

Lol I just said the same thing, butter.

[@markfergerson2145]

The mag dump almost looked like special effects, the recoil and muzzle climb are so mild.

[@Tunkkis]

@@bobhill3941 To be fair, these videos don't capture differences between loud sounds very well.

[@outis7080]

@@bobhill3941 It's audio compression. Most mics can't record the sound of gunfire properly.

[@poromafia]

The long barrel has a certain feel to it.

[@Anino_Makata]

Long, fluted, and tapers to the muzzle. It has a rapier-like elegance to it.

[@cd0130]

elegance like the other guy said

[@duncanw9901]

😳

[@jessicasimp4459]

This thing sounds exactly like the MP40, and I think you would rather have the VMP or the MP41 over the MP40, plus you get the beautiful look from the wood stock being obviously comfortable to use.

[@carlborg8023]

9x19 is still 9x19....

[@IAMMRPATRICKBORNAGAIN]

@@carlborg8023 Don't be silly, it's a very effective round. There's a reason why the vast majority of law enforcement use it. Also, when the military moved away from Beretta, they went with another 9mm.

[@ФилиппЛыков-д8е]

The mag is way better than that of MP40.

[@rodgerjohnson3375]

I love my MP-40 but would trade it and cash for that gun any day of the week. I shutter to think what that will sell for.

[@WraithOfMan]

For personal ownership now? Sure. But they needed *wartime* weapons at the time, and that means guns like this were simply too over-engineered and far too expensive to produce in the quantities required, and the MP40 was good enough.

[@BaronVonHardcharger]

That lil' Monopod actually did the work. Pretty friggin' cool. Nice how it lines right up with the shoulder for prone shooting like that.

[@EnglishCountryLife]

Something that I love about this channel is Ian's honest appraisal. His changed view of the monopod having fired the gun is a case in point. No embarrassment in saying "okay, I thought it would be useless, but, hands on, it works". Love that.

[@robertrobert7924]

That is truly a precision instrument. Not a spray and pray rifle at all.

[@bobjordan8283]

Wow look how straight back that mechanism runs! You can tell the quality just by how smooth it runs!! I have a couple of high end pistols that glide just like that as if they are on ball bearings! What a treat to watch it live fire! Thank you for everything you do!!

[@Pariatech]

So cool of Morphis to let Ian shoot rare old guns. Nice archival work!

[@johnnydoe7846]

@@rolandluth2098 true but it is a win-win…. Well actually a win-win-win because we all get to see it shoot and learn a little bit about it.

[@theycallme_nightmaster]

My favorite part of this video is when ian said "its morphin time"

[@AllAboutSurvival]

The monopod can be helpful for providing stability and support when shooting over longer distances, especially if you need to hold the firearm steady for an extended period of time

[@bobhill3941]

I'm glad it serves a purpose and works well.

[@lafeelabriel]

Works fine as a foregrip too when folded, must be said.

[@marvindebot3264]

By the looks of it, 100m would be no problem at all with this.

[@andyroberts4387]

Thanks, Captain O.

[@rb67mustang]

Ian, I was hoping you would be taking this to the Range. How sweet is that? It's amazing that is wasn't adopted right away by the Germans.

[@onii-chandaisuki5710]

Probably because it's hella expensive.

[@jeremywilliams5107]

Interwar they didn't have the rights to major rearmament - army limited to 100 000, about the size of the Arizona National Guard 😂 - and then they did have the money. So i imagine these were built for the hunting brigade.

[@scootertart]

Love the quality manufacture of these pre-war sub machine guns . Everything is just so nicely finished and assembled . Looks a absolute joy to shoot.

[@JS-ob4oh]

Shows you just how much Ian is respected and trusted that they let him shoot the only known VMP1930 in North America.

[@Bayofthe91st]

Interwar SMGs certainly has their own charms. I really wish that we got more creative contents from this period like movies, books, or video games. A historical-based fictional or inspired twist would be welcome as well.

[@harryjoe860]

Tanya the Evil is an alternative history World war that takes place in the interwar period rather than ww1 and ww2 it’s got a lot of neat guns in it

[@WraithOfMan]

Indiana Jones comes to mind as something using the setting, but a lot of material from the time tends to be film noirs, murder mysteries, American mob films, etc - People were pretty sick of war-related media at that point, understandably.

[@reliantncc1864]

I'd love to read a novel set in the interwar period in the newly-founded Soviet Union. I've read so much nonfiction about it.

[@ramonandrajo6348]

@@harryjoe860 And that anime is still more historically correct than the US version and related. ;)

[@jameskazd9951]

such a cool gun, happy to see it is as wonderful to use as it looks and that the monopod isn't completely useless

[@Sman7290]

That's much smoother than I would have anticipated. It also has a lower rate of fire. That sounds like it's about 700 rounds per minute at the most... more like 650.

[@petesheppard1709]

I can't help but wonder if the barrel, long-range sight and monopod were attempts to get around subgun restrictions.

[@minuteman4199]

This is a repost of a comment I made above because this is my theory... In the Beginning, with guns like the Villers Perosa (sp?) the sub machine gun was literally a sub machine gun. It was crew served and used the same way MGs were used except at short range. I suspect the monopod is a holdover from this idea of what an SMG was. Modern SMGs basically became full auto pistols or carbines, so no need for bipods/monopods and the amount that people were prepared to spend on them also dropped.

[@spookyindeed]

@@minuteman4199 There was only like 2 designs similar this idea, the other being a pair of roth pistols clamped to a tripod; neither of these were produced in any substantial quantities. The MP-18, Beretta M1918, and the Thompson (though after the war) were produced in much larger quantities, along with a number of stocked machine pistols. None of these had any sort of "ground support device". Also the villar perosa was designed to be used in an aircraft, and saw almost no ground service, so I don't think this theory holds water.

[@petesheppard1709]

@@minuteman4199 Good points! When I first saw the V-P referred to as the first 'submachine gun', my mind had a hard time making the leap to the compact bullet hoses we all know and love.

[@alexguymon7117]

​@@spookyindeed you're right, somewhat. Although several experimental and small scale production firearms existed before the VMP, such as the Villar perosa or STA 1922, none were particularly successful. The idea of a bipod fitted smg being used as a stand in lsw at close range was an idea tried by multiple countries, with the idea even being adopted in a few. The US played around with the idea of a heavy barrel, bipod fitted Thompson but ultimately decided against adopting it. The soviets played around with the idea. The Czechs and Japanese would both adopt similar guns, with the ZK383 and Type 100 respectively, with the ZK383 even having a quick change barrel if I remember correctly and being able to use larger capacity magazines.

[@marvindebot3264]

Someone is going to be very happy in a couple of weeks. Congratulations in advance to whoever buys it.

[@Hidalguense]

Someone rich

[@minuteman4199]

In the Beginning, with guns like the Villers Perosa (sp?) the sub machine gun was literally a sub machine gun. It was crew served and used the same way MGs were used except at short range. I suspect the monopod is a holdover from this idea of what an SMG was. Modern SMGs basically became full auto pistols or carbines, so no need for bipods/monopods and the amount that people were prepared to spend on them also dropped. It's also interesting that this has a double feed double stack magazine, when later guns like the MP40 and Sten would have benefitted greatly from this, but for some reason evolved backwards to double stack single feed.

[@tinyprince]

I'm not quite convinced. Considering the obvious heritage to the MP18, which was most certainly not a crew-served weapon, it's more likely just a way to extend the effective range of the weapon and not a carryover from the Villar Perosa, which didn't inspire any similar interwar designs.

[@CamoGuy76239]

Wow! I thought it looked interesting from your last video, but that performance was beautiful! What a neat piece! 😍

[@realMenta]

Thanks for the video! Awesome firearm

[@alangordon3283]

Wonderful sermon from Gun Jesus.

[@bingus6195]

Im surprised they trust people to shoot all these expensive guns.

[@rabeandre2]

Ian's not exactly "people".

[@MrBandholm]

If there are anyone I would trust to shoot rare and expensive guns, it would be Ian. If something happens to the gun, I would be 99% sure the gun had a fault, and that it wasn't Ian that did anything stupid. And the exposure means the gun likely goes up a little in value, due to more people being interested in it, certainly worth the small risk!

[@marvindebot3264]

@@MrBandholm An assured increase in value especially when it gets a glowing review like that from someone people trust to be honest. If you were after an early SMG to actually shoot you would now know that this is a solid bet, easy to shoot, accurate and runs well without jams.

[@johnnyharperscoutstable5386]

You’ve got a great show Ian 🐸🍺🔪🔥

[@rb67mustang]

Thanks for the Mag Dump, Ian, the VMP 1930 is an amazing SMG.

[@lafeelabriel]

Guess that rather emphatically answered the question I'd been asking myself, but not asked in a comment yet. "Does the monopod also work as a foregrip?" And the answer clearly is "yes, very yes"

[@spd579]

Noticed the open feed magazine. A design feature, that was over looked by many. Still, a weapon indeed forgotten and under appriciated, during a time when such things were taken for granted. Well done, sir!

[@dwaneanderson8039]

What is an open feed magazine?

[@mottee]

@@dwaneanderson8039 I think he means double stack, double feed. One can just press the cartridges in it from the top, without sliding them under the feed lips. Very convenient, but requires the gun to have a feed ramp that can handle cartridges coming in two angles.

[@tristanwolske8201]

This SMG is so wonderful and retro-futuristic looking!!

[@ericbergfield6451]

Yep, this is one of my top 5 all time favorite SMG's that I've seen you use at the range! Thanks for sharing Ian

[@brandoncoates1427]

I love antique guns, and as always I find another I haven't heard of before. Also it seems to suffer the same problem as all other firearms. The mag inevitably runs dry

[@leonjohansen1818]

Going from how stable it was this would probably be my least favorite submachine gun to get shot at by.

[@Nickrioblanco1]

Just watching the muzzle during fire. The monopod does appear to cause very slightly more movement. Probably irrelevant to full auto accuracy (is that even a real thing?).

[@JohnSmith-yv6eq]

Notice Ian was not gripping anything forward of the stock.....during firing on the monopod....which might have contributed a tiny amount to "movement...but Ian was comfortable with the "negligible" movement anyway?

[@ultratorrent]

I love that the ejection port gives you a view of the double-feed of the magazine presenting cartridges alternating top and bottom in the slow-motion shots.

[@lbh002]

Almost everything I watch on KZbin I watch at double speed...except for Ian at the range. The Brrrrrrp, brrrrrrp needs to be heard at the correct cyclic rate.

[@kurttank8963]

Grip Pod™1930 looks great

[@fjubben]

Despite the sharp seam between stock and foregrip, and the front heavy horizontally fed magazine, the disproportionately long barrel has this gun pose an impressive aesthetic!

[@craighansen7594]

Everyone seems to want muzzle devices to make the guns more controllable. Looks like quality, balance and good design works just fine. Even with a heavy, open bolt action it looks really smooth and easy to stay on target! Now, if there was a way to make them more affordable.....How about no more pre and post 1986 nonsense for machine guns! The transferable BS should change to, just buy it and shoot it!

[@richardphelan8414]

I love all these WWII type weapons and seeing how they run and that one ran perfectly not jam one

[@TheArklyte]

Imagine if there was a version of PPSh made to same quality standard and in similar configuration to this gun? Context: PPSh-41 uses high velocity ammo and has a barrel length below the optimal for said ammo type so a certain portion of energy is just wasted, not to mention the RoF is also lowered a bit. A better assembled gun for same ammo with optimal barrel length and with that configuration that aims for best balance of the gun would be easily counted as a carbine(for WWII times) despite pistol ammo.

[@thomashyler6174]

$30,000 - $60,000 on Morphy's auction coming up soon. Anyone want to go in halfsies for joint custody? 😂😂😢😢

[@gerryg1056]

Mrs. McCollum, methinks there's a new SMG coming to your husband's collection!

[@g54b95]

Even if this video had no audio component, you can just see how smooth this thing is. What a gem.

[@Hordalending]

*Don't think you Americans truly understand how lucky you are to able to own and shooting these weapons. In Europe such freedom is unthinkable.*

[@thatguy-qg9lk]

Somehow that's exactly what I expected this gun to sound like

[@Dapstart]

seeing ian's hand go to a nonexistent grip under the stock is a testament to how modern front grips really feel

[@CheshireTomcat68]

So an open bolt short rifle/carbine with a very heavy barrel firing a pistol cartridge through rifle sights in automatic. A very confused firearm indeed.

[@TheArklyte]

That Mors(original design, do not steal!) in your hands looks very good... what do you mean by "that's the original one"?

[@avp5964]

Love these Cadillac interwar guns. Smooth with all the features. All dakka no fuss.

[@Kaiser_Canidae]

I just watched your video on the VMP 1930 like 29 minutes Ago

[@ooloncaluphid]

Looks like it's firing blanks, for all the recoil movement.

[@bobjones5674]

Say what you will about the first gen sub guns being expensive with unneeded complications, but they are a dream to shoot.

[@xgford94]

I love the “Snik, click” sound of precision construction 3:47

[@tomppeli.]

Somehow the barrel appears to be extra long on this gun Looks quite nice, I must say

[@kepanoid]

The barrel seems to be a standard longish SMG barrel length, but the breech is located way front, and there's a mile of receiver behind it.

[@jimrobinson4786]

I know it's smooth and controllable, but what about comparable weight?

[@caeserromero3013]

I imagine this is what the Sten would have looked like if H&K had been asked to revamp it :)

[@RonOhio]

Truly an elegant gun.

[@temy4895]

Seeing the alternating top and bottom cartridges in the slo-mo was really satisfying.

[@lairdcummings9092]

Sexy weapon. Useful, thoughtful, effective.

[@tylerwilliams6022]

Throw on a suppressed barrel and a red dot and this thing would rock! I imagine it would do well in a close range offensive roll, even by today's standards.

[@stormthrush37]

Turn the monopod into a bipod by turning the gun left to use the magazine as one of the legs! lol

[@stuartburton1167]

Wow during that mag dump the muzzle barely moved.

[@onii-chandaisuki5710]

The monopod looks like it turns the gun into a Villa Perosi type machine gun.

[@danstinson7687]

Cool smg. I think that last mag dump put every shot in the same spot.

[@fratercontenduntocculta8161]

That has to be the most gorgeous SMG I've ever seen, especially due to it's sheer age! The trigger is my favorite part, I would LOVE to shoot this! It's cool how you can still easily get off single shots in full auto, so basically set it and forget it.

[@Mrgunsngear]

🔥

[@tomhalla426]

It looks like it actually has a useful progressive trigger.

[@StevenHoman-t4f]

That was very surprising; the muzzle was remarkably stable in full auto mode. I suspect that the thick and heavily tapering fluted barrel may be acting as a counter weight? It is a very long gun, looking more carbine length than machine pistol like.

[@marsocmaniac6806]

Well the caliber seems to be a bit too tame for this kind of a barrel.

[@acomingextinction]

That mag dump at the end was so satisfying to watch.

[@randymagnum143]

Like having a pistol at the end of a 2' stick with a stock on it.

[@Joe3pops]

VanHelsing wants it very badly !!!!

[@crabmansteve6844]

That bolt moves like it's made of silk.

[@crbielert]

Beautiful piece of machinery.

[@onkelmicke9670]

What a lovely SMG.

[@johanvanbeek7138]

So smooth, a pleasure to watch.

[@MrSharpClaw]

Always love seeing these old guns get actual some shooting in, not just some repros. :D

[@Greycat2017]

Thats a Carbine not a smg right?

[@Loschh]

Ok Ian. Would you rather this, or the beretta 38A?

[@ForgottenWeapons]

This one is nice, but I'd take a 38A over it.

[@philippos5547]

All hail gun Jesus and his MP!

[@brandoncoates1427]

Also I actually felt like at worst the monopod would make the gun rock as well. I felt like the monopod should have been placed like right past the ejection port to work. But I guess Ian is right that the low caliber and recoil doesn't have really any effect on the gun. But I bet if it was anything like an assault rifle that gun would have been all over the place

[@CMINCOGNITO]

great gun i remember back in the 80s a silenced barrel (yes silenced fight me lol) for the emp turned up on a rubbish heap in britain theyve both goofy looking guns but seem to run beautifully

[@milan1200]

That seems nice to shoot! Reminds me of the MP5!

[@nickjohnson710]

Good call! 👍

[@JamesLaserpimpWalsh]

Quite a unique looking gun. Like distinctive look it has I mean. Thanks for the vid Ian.

[@joseabrahamvargas5923]

🇲🇽. México saludos Una verdadera Chulada Automatica👍👍👍☺️ yo en el Pueblo tengo Un Rifle Francés Y es ráfaga Automático Estas Armas Automáticas son Una Chulada Saludos de México

[@TexasTrained]

AWESOME Rifle. Great vudeo.Thanks for showing.I wish I had one.

[@gatlinlaser]

Neat gun. Surprised the monopod is actually useful.

[@_D_P_]

Lovely snappy sound.

[@The_Modeling_Underdog]

Just beautiful. Weird thing with YT: I may watch any 30-minute long video on some bloke building a shack in full 4k with no issues, the moment I hit a guntuber video quality drops automatically to 480p or a lagging 720p. Weird thing indeed, folks.

[@kirillgorovatski1492]

Incredibly stable-in-action piece! Much surprised though... THX, Ian !

[@Seeker-wq8jc]

The crisp CRACK of that gun firing on top of the cold weather clothing...I'm not even there, and I feel chilly for some reason. Brr. Guns like this are a perfect context side by side with say an M3 Grease Gun. It works, sure, and it's economical to manufacture, but as long as it shoots, how bad could it be? An absolutely beautiful, smooth, finely crafted gun like this makes the hate for the wartime weapons, especially LATE war, much more understandable. I'd be pretty annoyed getting issued some stamped...THING welded together that shoots bullets versus something like this. Guns like this inspire equal admiration as they do confidence. (Second posting; I deleted the first one once I realized I typed "M1" rather than M3 like a goof.)

[@snappers_antique_firearms]

Wow i really like that

[@panzerabwerkanone]

Repeal the NFA! Bring back the Volmer Sporting Machine Pistol!

[@moemaster1966]

Ya favignugen neetngunnin

[@bradleyjames1340]

Seems like that monopod would be at the perfect position and height to use from a knelt position with it resting on your thigh or knee to support the weight.

[@MichaelKingsfordGray]

Almost no 'climbing' on full auto, at the shoulder. Impressive! I imagine that Morphy's may actually get higher bids for this firearm after this demonstration?

[@elektro3000]

So what's easier to hold on target for a mag dump, VMP 1930 or a fixed stock full size MP5?

[@sealove79able]

A great very interesting video and SMG GJ. Was that monopod envisaged for use from the police cars ? A bipod seems more logical solution for shooting from the ground IMHO.Have a good one.

[@antonakesson]

I am curious. How does ownership of full auto rifles work in the US?

[@absolutjackal]

That’s complicated. First, some states ban them. If your state doesn’t you have two options; get a Federal Firearms license with a special status that basically classifies you as a firearms dealer and you pay a yearly tax, or more commonly you have to buy one made (the part of the gun the gov classifies as the “gun”) prior to 5/19/1986 and you fill out a federal form, pay a tax and wait a long time for approval. Plus you end up spending a lot of $$$ for one of those that is on the federal registry…like $15k USD in some cases. I think you also have to let the local law enforcement know you have it but I could be wrong about that. There is something like 800k registered machines guns in the US on the registry as of 2021.

[@absolutjackal]

Plus there are a bunch of restrictions around crimes you can’t have been convicted of (basically anything serious or drug related) or been judged as having mental issues or dishonorably discharged from the military. Idk for a fact if you have to be a US citizen but I know you can’t be here illegally.

[@charlesmckinley29]

Does it take Glock mags? 🤣😂🤣 Thank Hughes Amendment for ruining what would be the golden age of go fast toys.😡