Q&A 28: From PDWs to Constant Recoil

/ forgottenweapons
Cool Forgotten Weapons merch! shop.bbtv.com/c...
For this month's Q&A, we go back to a wide variety of questions, without a single specific theme. They are:
0:00:30 - Rifle, pistol, and machine gun for a modern squad
0:04:35 - Favorite non-firearm historical site
0:08:50 - What is my daily schedule like?
0:10:47 - Advantages of toggle locking systems
0:12:05 - Best PDW
0:13:40 - Can there be a comeback of Gyrojet/rocket ball ammunition?
0:15:50 - Collaboration with Time Ghost? ( / @timeghost )
0:17:15 - Coverage of aerial guns
0:19:05 - Video backlog
0:22:00 - Could 6mm Lee Navy have worked with modern powder and steel?
0:23:10 - Helical magazines
0:24:35 - Restoration of rifle importation?
0:28:50 - Berthier rifles with manual safeties
0:30:01 - Book on Broomhandle Mausers
(Leonardo Antaris' book on Astra: amzn.to/2Dk45te)
0:31:00 - Entering the gun industry with a modernized P7
0:33:05 - Single feed mags in pistols
0:34:50 - 8mm Kurz in guns other than the MP44?
0:37:16 - Big-bore pistols
0:38:05 - Why judge service rifles as target rifles?
0:39:52 - Collaboration with The Chieftain ( / thechieftainwot )
0:40:34 - Book on the FN MAG
0:41:05 - Have I contacted printers before reviewing out-of-print books?
0:42:14 - Why no more top-feed LMGs?
0:44:14 - Possibility of new modular platform in new 6.5/6.8mm cartridge?
0:45:29 - Why was the Walther MPK/MPL unsuccessful?
0:46:23 - Gunsmithing support for rare guns ( / anvil )
0:48:33 - Preferred brand of gin
0:51:17 - Wierdest operating system? ( • Experimental Primer-Ac... )
0:53:08 - Where will Forgotten Weapons be in 5 years?
0:54:29 - Political pushback when visiting collections?
0:56:18 - Germany WW2 use of captured small arms
0:59:16 - Steyr-Hahn machine pistol
1:00:09 - Variable pitch recoil springs
1:01:34 - Bump stocks - legality and videos
1:04:30 - Custom-molded ear plugs
1:05:30 - Post-FW plans?
1:06:27 - Why aren't there more constant recoil guns?
1:09:28 - Most puzzling military adoption
1:11:19 - Which nation in WW1 had the best overall small arms stable?
1:13:42 - Could the French attack strategy have worked is WW1 began earlier?
1:15:01 - HK irons or AR15 irons?
1:15:34 - Making magazines for rare firearms
1:17:03 - Self-loading rifle development when smokeless powder was invented
1:18:40 - Sauna!
Contact:
Forgotten Weapons
PO Box 87647
Tucson, AZ 85754

[@ComradeBenedict]

I'm suddenly hit by the mental image of a bond villain trying to execute someone with a gyrojet and it just ploinking off their head

[@dragonsword7370]

Wasn't that scene in moonraker? 🤣

[@ZGryphon]

Spoilers for a 40-year-old book: At the end of _Licence Renewed,_ the first of the post-Fleming 007 novels written by John Gardner in the '80s, Bond kills the villain of the piece with a Gyrojet pistol. As I recall (and it's been a _long_ time since I read that book), it's described as making a hole in him like a blowtorch applied to a cardboard cutout. Those novels were... not very good. :)

[@Swordmaster-em3zg]

The US army adopted the M5 just to spite Ian.

[@danielschnopp-wyatt3578]

On aerial machine guns: Hit the USAF Museum. From the first rifle fired from a plane until now. They also have an archive that might have background info.

[@cheese4432]

Most specifically the one near Eglin AFB, it's the armament museum. They have a great collection of machine guns and miniguns plus bombs and missiles.

[@docthorr]

@@cheese4432 they also have a splendid 75mm airgun, I think from a PBJ attack plane. Loved that museum

[@Lowlandlord]

Been about 20 years, but in Canada Trenton AFB was working on restoring a Lancaster bomber (like a B25) that had been taken out of a lake recently. I remember getting to look at one of the quad .303 Browning turrets which was not in the plane at the time.

[@Lowlandlord]

@Zach cash Yeah, because throwing lengths of chain at each other was so relaxing :P

[@erikcrouch7881]

@@Lowlandlord Chains, bricks, grenades, firebombs, handguns.. And no parachutes!

[@fien111]

I look forward to Othias getting to the L85 in about 30 years and the 10 hour autopsy of its development as he slowly loses his mind

[@jic1]

I'm looking forward to all the 'All the L85's problems are now fixed and it's the bestest military rifle ever!' comments. By "looking forward", I mean 'rolling my eyes in advance'.

[@fien111]

@@jic1 Listen buddy, the British in Afghanistan could fire a Mad 5 seconds with such accuracy that the Taliban thought they had miniguns!

[@Rebd88]

“And the problems of the L85A1 could have gone unnoticed for a few more years, except for the fact that... War Were Declared”

[@jic1]

@@Rebd88 Cue early '90s montage...

[@epl803]

I would love to see that (sorry Othais) but as someone with extensive experience with the L85A1 and A2 I can firmly say it's not that bad now. Yes, it's heavy and the sweat it generates carrying it sucks, but it is accurate and reliable. When the metal meets the meat, accuracy and reliability make it easy to forget how much of a bastard it was to carry it up until that point...

[@londonjolly9174]

19:32 "Learned that lesson a long time ago" BERGMANN BERGMANN how about some BERGMANNs

[@davidcool5189]

London Jolly Yo dawg, I heard you like BERGMANNS.

[@ForgottenWeapons]

MOAR BERGMANN

[@vaclav_fejt]

@@ForgottenWeapons Man, I loved the Forgotten Bergmanns. If they were anything else than those steampunk early self loading pistols, it would have been a bore, but that was simply a gorgeous series.

[@bwcmakro]

Wait, was that a long time ago? Oh fuck, that was two years ago...

[@wierdalien1]

@@ForgottenWeapons I really liked that week, it was good to have thematically linked videos together

[@boingkster]

44:14 well this aged well! Love that you went on from this prediction to a review of the accepted design. Awesome work as always Ian, both then and now.

[@pilot778spartan3]

Glad someone else noticed as well!

[@jimvandemoter6961]

I'm glad you mentioned Mark Novak. I really enjoy his videos and as a gun nerd who likes to know the 'how' as well as the 'what' he satisfies the part of my curiosity. He's a true craftsman who obviously loves his work, and enjoys sharing his craft.

[@skoopsro7656]

The world needs more of him. In a big way.

[@jimvandemoter6961]

@@skoopsro7656 Amen! What he does could be a dying art unless someone who's a lot younger steps up to take over. The skill is only part of the equation though. They also have to have the ability and enthusiasm to pass it along to the next generation. Also the desire to bring others along for the ride. All of this is what makes Mark along with Othias, Mae and Ian so great.

[@paulmanson253]

@@jimvandemoter6961 Do not forget the policies of thousands of school boards exterminating their manual arts programs. Young people,young males in particular, tend to a shortsightedness(As I used to be one,ask me how I know ?). Without parental input plus the availability of programs, young people again and again do not find they possess talent and interest in such. All too often they find out later in life,when marriage and difficult career choices preclude the considerable time ,money and skull sweat investment. The only readily available alternatives are an engineering degree or what is usually a 2 year technical institute program. An engineering degree takes huge effort. More than one BCIT instructor said repeatedly to me,"our latest students know absolutely nothing". Which is true,if not the student's fault. I understand part of this. The thousands of local foundries are gone. And related industries. However farm communities did much the same,which mystifies me. And there it is.

[@george5156]

@@paulmanson253 I remember discovering my book bag had been nailed to the shop table at the end of class when all the tools were secured.

[@machinist7230]

Mark has an excellent KZbin channel.👍

[@oloflarsson1833]

As for the french advantage in smokeless powder and a earlier (great) war, it wasn't until 1913, that Germany (thanks to the Fritz Haber process) could start to make smokeless powder (and fertilizer) on a small scale without importing nitrates from Chile. So if the war would have started earlier than 1914, Germany might be forced du revert to black powder within a few months of the outbreak of war and run the risk of nationwide starvation within two years.

[@Stukov961]

Man, I knew gyrojets had low muzzle velocity, but no idea it was that low. It's literally half of what a nerf gun has.

[@myparceltape1169]

I've got to agree with Ian on the fundamental inaccuracy of the system and it was obvious from basic idea. Not till you put a homing system on them.

[@MikeHunt-hg4ow]

@@myparceltape1169 and a warhead

[@vthegoose]

But it works in space and underwater! Just like a normal gun…

[@myparceltape1169]

@@justforever96 NASA could do it but you couldn't afford it. Price is the reason.

[@beyondsingularity]

So, when we see a video on CZ52 should we start panicking?

[@evant4715]

SSSHHH!!!

[@Feeshyenjoyer]

Yup

[@Tobascodagama]

"North Korea might have one, but they don't count, that's not modern." [Pyongyang would like to know your location]

[@oluenionloppu]

well, on the other side of the "earthdisk" from their perspective

[@marcppparis]

“Find a Finn they’ll do it right. “ sounds like an ad for the Finnish labor board

[@phileas007]

The trick is to locate and capture the wild Finn. They are very shy and light sensitive, but an open Sauna and bottle of Salmiakki at the entrance should do the trick. Add some snow to increase the odds.

[@DeaDMigCZ]

I do know about one Steyr M1912 Automatic pistol. It is deposited in the Military History Institute in Prague, Czech Republic.

[@AndreasMarx]

There's one in the Austrian Museum of Military History as well, and apparently another one in a private collection in the US.

[@LordStarbeard]

Je ta kolekce volne pristupna verejnosti?

[@DeaDMigCZ]

@@LordStarbeard Není, musí se požádat o předložení. Ale protože to není "klasický" archiv, tak záleží na okolnostech. Pro předložení by ale člověk měl mít nějaký důvod.

[@mortisCZ]

@@DeaDMigCZ "Guys, I've never seen one!" is probably not enough, is it? :-D

[@DeaDMigCZ]

​@@mortisCZ Well, one thing is not to see one and another is knowing, where you can find one. Deposit number should be III-882. My reference book is: 311 Stories behind collection items of The Military History Institute Prague; The Ministry of Defence of Czech Republic - MHI Prague, 2016; ISBN 978-80-7278-672-5

[@davidgcalderone]

As to the question as to the wilderness survival gun, having lived, hunted, fished, and camped all through the Alaskan wilderness, I can tell you that the 12 gauge pump shotgun with a selection of slugs and birdshot ammo. You can hunt anything, and a 3" magnum slug will be the best bear defense you can have. If you see small game, easy enough to chamber a single bird shot round.

[@rwbimbie5854]

Many millions of Deer & Hog are taken with AR each year, plus thousands of local AR competitions each year. Government: _No Sporting Use for Import_

[@breed4659]

Ive killed fuck tons of prairie dogs and a couple coyotes with ARs

[@paulmanson253]

@@breed4659 Not saying you are wrong,but the bolt action rifles the "varmint guns" came from,the cartridges were developed on,look anything but an AR. The psychology of the Diane Feinsteins (think of how old she is) was developed with those rifles in mind. After all, she probably thinks,if bolt action rifles are hunting guns,why do hunters need semi automatic firearms ? Besides they look like military guns. And military guns scare the crap out of the anti gun people. Probably always will. Likely they think that if you pass a law forbidding war,there will never be one. !!!!! And God help us if they ever get that far.

[@bluemonday09]

Multiple deer, hogs, varmints, and furbearers here from me.

[@rwbimbie5854]

@@paulmanson253 heh, I bet Feinstein thinks a Garand is ok, because it DOESNT LOOK LIKE A MILITARY GUN

[@snsm6730]

"No Sporting Use for Import" Kinda like abusing federal tax authority to take away your right with the NFA... Still looking for "sporting use" in my copy of the Bill of Rights...no luck so far...

[@treyriver5676]

On the rocket ball question I think the questioner conflated gyrojet rocket ammunition and quote RocketBall in quote ammunition which is often the term used for a projectile who's hollow base has the propellant charge in it.

[@wereling]

The Hotchkiss clip system always seemed to me to be an early way of avoiding the problems of a canvas belt before the development of disintegrating link belts.

[@ben501st]

The One 1911 Guy has a dream of building HK pistols. I love America.

[@Wetcorps]

And Ian stomps on his dream with hobnailed boots :D

[@michaelmoorrees3585]

If the guy has extensive manufacturing/industrial background, instead of pure gun smithing, he may just pull it off. And a "true engineer" isn't a "one-trick-pony", but uses his brain as his primary tool. So improvising out of his garage, is not out of the question. This is how America was made ! True innovation doesn't rely on existing modern computerized technology (3D printing, EDA, etc ...) but coming up with something truly new. Remember, Henry Ford did NOT invent the automobile, he made them affordable !

[@carspace2843]

@@michaelmoorrees3585 po

[@brianfeezle1766]

I would buy the modern P7

[@Parker--]

As soon as Ian said “ I’m happy you limited this to a single squad” I was suspecting he was going to say KA LAMG. By the time he said “Traditionally I would...” I would have bet my life savings on him saying KA LAMG.

[@willspears754]

greetings from Australia. ive always loved the history of firearms given the legal situation in my region on many of the most interesting firearms in history. thank you for giving more insight and history on these taboo objects. many thanks and gratitude from Australia.

[@nomdemorte1302]

AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE! We old Aussies remember before the insane laws and now have to live vicariously through youtube. Thanks Ian!

[@CypherC300]

I second this. G'day. Fair dinkum. Strewth. Etc.

[@george5156]

When China invades, the Australian armed forces will be over run. Because there's no second string. As Ukraine discovered.

[@GrasshopperKelly]

I opened the video, saw some hair, a gown... And now my Missus is a little upset I didn't get excited when she left the shower in just a towel...

[@nomdemorte1302]

You need to work on your target prioritisation there mate ;) Space bar is pause.

[@nicholaspatton5590]

Did you ask her if she would like to watch too?

[@Seekles]

Please launch a secondary channel about historical tourist spots. Your description about the Maltan hypogeum was fascinating.

[@Sir_Godz]

I think the Q&A vids are my favorite of all. Even more than the shooting vids.

[@rifles_up2263]

Sir_Godz its true,you learn so much niche stuff in these

[@damienairalay552]

I agree, and since there is no need to watch the vid. I just throw listen on one headphone while I work. Get dishes done and learn a lot of random history at the same time, lol

[@argusflugmotor7895]

@@damienairalay552 so true

[@michaelathens953]

I love these Q&A episodes; they always present an intellectually stimulating discussion and I usually learn something new.

[@ForgottenWeapons]

Thanks!

[@michaelathens953]

@@ForgottenWeapons Oh,no no; thank YOU for your professionalism and unparalleled dedication to bringing your viewers such comprehensive, educational and entertaining content every single day. Keep on being awesome!

[@ratchet2505]

For the website encyclopedia : >have a drop box for writen up by independents >you vet it >then you pass it on to a admin of your website to upload it professionally

[@DiggingForFacts]

As someone involved in the digitization of academic encyclopedia's at a company that does such a thing, I can tell you that you would still need a whole team of editors to at least get some semblance of a standard in terms of lay-out, writing, translation and images. Getting that sort of thing organized with 20 people who all have an academic background is difficult enough for a paid professional team.

[@KDis0815]

Forgotten Cocktail or InbarTV? I would sign up for it! When will it start 01.April 2020?

[@nope5183]

It's October now, never happened.

[@J9_j3]

polymer replacing steel only works for double stack mags, where you can trade decrease of internal width for length of the mag. use of polymer required to have thicker walled mag. that's the same reason why there is no single stack 1911 polymer mags were ever made. all single stack poly mags that exist on the market right now were designed to be single stack and made of polymer from very begging as such design accommodates for polymer being thicker and mag being wider b/c of it.

[@viking1236]

Hi Ian next time you are at Royal Armouries take a look at their aerial gun collection, they seem to have some interesting items or at least did so when I was lucky enough to have a visit when they were at Nottingham. (Including some Soviet rotary cannon acquired from Afghanistan in the 1980s)

[@Sherwoodnt]

If you drop an earplug again, toss the other one on the ground to give yourself a visual reference. It might not help, depending on the situation, but it can't hurt.

[@utubesuxbigdonkeybal]

The answer to Keagan's question about service rifles also being target rifles is a textbook description of McNamara's fallacy. Ian has the correct explanation, but I think it would be worthwhile to explain that it's a fallacy. The short definition of McNamara's fallacy is "making a decision based solely on quantitative observations (or metrics) and ignoring all others."

[@Ethzed]

I misread constant recoil as constant reaction and had hoped there would be a mention of the Russ Robinson constant reaction guns. That crazy shoulder-fired .50 cal definitely deserves a video, if it even still exists.

[@shootatmepls1]

I have that same rum in a 15 year. It was given to me as a gift, it's pretty spectacular.

[@evant4715]

42:14 top feed machine guns. While there is nothing factually wrong with this answer, there are another couple of factors at play. Modern service machine guns need to be able to: A.) have the space to be operated while wearing NVGs, which add significant bulk to service members face. B.) need to have space for a large Picatinny rail (or analog) to mount any and all existing and foreseeable optic systems. Thermal sights, even the most cutting edge, are still quite bulky. C.) they get in the way of operating other devices on the gun, such as switching filters on IR designators, turning on and off flashlights, IR lamps, etc. (granted, not as critical as the aforementioned A & B). D.) the switch to belt fed means that the magazine boxes are no longer restricted to the finite shape of magazines. A belt box for a FN M249 SAW / Minime can be made shallow and wide, so it doesn't interfere with going prone... Unlike what happens when you shoot a BAR with a 30rd .30-06 magazine. E.) Belts, due to their flexible nature are easier to pack and transport than magazines. You can physically cram more ammo for a belt into an assault pack than you can pre-loaded magazines. Disintegrating belts can also be quickly broken down and have the weight spread across several people ever easier than magazines can. (author acknowledge this is a dubious claim as the M249 SAW/ Minime and the RPK can also be fed off the same magazines as the riflemen around them. F.) Disintegrating belts once fired, do not need to be brought home when expended, unlike magazines which generally do

[@voiceofraisin3778]

Theres also the problem of fitting them inside vehicles, leaving enough space over the gun to manipulate the magazine with the vehicle roof in the way is tricky and limits magazine size. side feeding belt can theoretically be infinite. In the case of the British military it was more useful to ditch the variety of Browning, Vickers, Bren and Besa's for one standard GPMG/L7 and that included the need to use it from inside vehicles.

[@martinshamion8002]

When Gun Jesus has an hour and twenty minute video in the wee hours in the morning... Perfect thing to watch while enjoying a cup of coffee at 9am

[@Arkeo36]

The Forgotten Weapons take on aircraft cannons would be LEGIT, however practically impossible it might be to be off.

[@Kellanium]

I guess you could say it'll never...take off.

[@brunosardine1]

I did not expect to actually watch/listen to as much of this as I did. Thanks for your consistently high quality content, Ian!

[@moosemaimer]

Making stamping/forging dies is fantastically expensive because of the amount of precision machining that goes into them, which is why you don't see things like replica mags for weird old guns being sold at reasonable prices, but maybe that's something that 3D printing could change? If someone already had the machinery to do that kind of serial production and could change out their dies without incurring tremendous expense, then small batch replicas could become more of a reality. A company (Brownells?) could stamp out AR mags all week long, and then do one shift on Friday of [insert weird old gun here] and not break the bank.

[@JodyTheImpaler]

The M27 IAR is technically a box fed squad automatic weapon, or at least that is one of its roles.

[@AsbestosMuffins]

"Terrifying and fascinating at the same time." The chump that would have had to fire the potentially explosive springfield might not think so.

[@Zaprozhan]

"That would be so cool... if it wasn't going to hurt us."

[@leppeppel]

1:15:34 As a regular viewer, I would absolutely LOVE to see testing of 3D printed repro mags. I have no idea why, but I find the idea interesting nonetheless.

[@maxwellstevens4383]

The question on variable pitch recoil springs is hilarious to me. Only because while they may not make much sense in firearms, their use is widespread in airsoft!

[@Dreju78]

About reprinting books... Actual, paper print is a hassle, but how about e-books? You do run a publishing house now... Getting a license from the copyright owner to do an e-book run may proove easier. That sort of thing would be nicely scalable too.

[@M.M.83-U]

Print on demand can work too, to an extent.

[@Dreju78]

Agreed, but still more complicated logisticaly, with shipping and stuff like that. Though they do plan regular print for Ians book so the framework will be in place.. Well, maybe. Maybe both? Plus an audiobook, read by Ian? ;)

[@williamprince1114]

Paco Kelly did this several years ago. You might ask him what worked and what he'd do differently. I think Ian and Paco would have a lot to talk about.

[@Nuovoswiss]

I'd like to add some things on the idea of variable pitch recoil springs: The stiffness of common handgun recoil springs is usually much less than what would be required to fully decelerate the slide. While this means recoil is "snappier" than necessary, it is done for 3 reasons: Firstly, that the force required to rack the slide manually isn't ridiculous. Secondly, to minimize the occurrences of failure to cycle, either due to limp-wristing or ammo choice. Thirdly, a recoil spring that can mostly/fully decelerate the slide would mean the slide is going really fast when feeding rounds from the mag into the chamber, which can create or worsen malfunctions. Having a variable pitch recoil spring wouldn't change anything unless you incorporated some slide over-travel in the design of the pistol, such that the force required for full cycling would still be low, but the high force part of the spring could "kick in" for the over-travel. What you would really want is something like a dashpot, which applies a constant deceleration force to the slide at high speed, but very little force under manual operating speeds, and no forward force when the slide is feeding new rounds.

[@Slateris]

I'm actually the guy who sent the question to Ian. I was thinking about it's application in rifles with the longer bolt travel distance. ALG actually makes a graduated pitch recoil spring for AKs and I was wondering why it's not more common, and has never been used in a stock design. Over travel would go in tandem with their application.

[@Nuovoswiss]

@@Slateris Funny that the AK is the one platform with a graduated spring on the market. One thing I love about my AK (it's a Saiga in 7.62x39) is that it doesn't seem to need a graduated spring, as the bolt feels almost completely decelerated by rear of travel. Maybe that's just something specific to Saiga AK's in that caliber. I have another Saiga in 7.62x51, and its recoil is much less "springy", though that design has less overtravel available, since the cartridge is longer. But, yea, the same reasons I mentioned for pistols also apply to rifles, where you generally need design changes to accommodate overtravel, then still have to deal with higher forward bolt velocities during feeding. This makes pneumatic systems (oil piston buffers or dashpots) better solutions than graduated springs.

[@Slateris]

@@Nuovoswiss that might be your specific gun because in most AKs the eventual failure point is usually cracking at the rear of the receiver from the bolt impacting the rear. We're also seeing a lot of market success with the KNS ak pistons similarly reducing impacts. Designing a gun from the ground up would need some over travel for the concept but we're already seeing that in the Knights LMG that kept coming up in the video.

[@thejkyle]

The Malta Hypogeum is so fascinating, it’s amazing you got to see it.

[@krinkov39]

On the subject of the 1989 ban, Swiss made sg 550 series guns have been coming in as pistols with barrels over 16".

[@Karl_Kampfwagen]

10:26 - How to speak conversational French: "Nó"

[@Cohac]

Regarding Chauchat polymer mags, you could make the ends of metal (so they still fit in the gun) but make the body itself out of polymer. As it isnt inside the gun that part can be a litte fatter.

[@ForgottenWeapons]

Kinda defeats the purpose of 3D spring if you have to make the feed lips metal. As that point, just make the whole thing metal.

[@jic1]

That's actually kind of brilliant.

[@Cohac]

@@ForgottenWeapons Good point. I was thinking that 3d printing 95% of the magazine would be cheaper than stamping them in a small shop, as a 3D printer is much cheaper than an industrial metal stamping machine. The few metal parts can probably be done by hand.

[@avilhelm1697]

A sauna in Arizona? Ian, are you alright?

[@moosemaimer]

WRT rocket balls: DARPA _does_ have a prototype guided projectile, the Extreme Accuracy Tasked Ordnance (EXACTO); you would think that using a rocket-propelled projectile would result in dramatically reduced acceleration loads on the electronics vs. conventional propellant, and it would have the potential to be more accurate than any non-guided payload. You just have to make sure that target is worth the $$$ a single shot costs. _swatting a fly with a JDAM_

[@xthetenth]

As far as I can tell, the German tripod mounts for the MG3 have the gun on some spring, which may serve to make it effectively constant recoil as far as the mount is concerned.

[@williamprince1114]

When it comes to cocktails ....... Ian is a professional. He was a bartender for several years.

[@ben501st]

Hearing about the WW2 channel just made my heart break.

[@verivorax]

I was excited when I immediately recognized the Hypogeum in your thumbnail! Great review of this incredible site.

[@ayebraine]

Thank you for your description of Hypogeum. I rarely get excited over "tourist spots", but this one blew me away - it's like it's something out of a science fiction novel, not mundane reality where nothing survives such time! - and it created a new future goal for me. And you described it with such insight. You really are the intelligentsiya of online (or gun) personalities.

[@steelshepherd6843]

Awesome. Loved your enthusiasm and talk about Malta and the Hypogeum.

[@epl803]

L86 LSW is a (admittedly terrible) example of a magazine-fed 5.56 squad automatic weapon/LMG, and RPK (not so modern aside from RPK-16 variant), MG36 - G36 variant, Chinese QBZ-95 variants (QBB-95 and -97). Actually there are quite a few...

[@skyflier8955]

A good advantage of toggle locked systems like on the Luger is that if they lock open on an empty magazine, it’s very obvious when you’re out of ammo.

[@johnsthought4952]

For the progressively wound spring question; I would think it might work with different ammo loads or with and without a suppressor, instead of an adjustable gas block, or piston in a shotgun.

[@raimundasgriskaitis1140]

Variable pitch recoil springs sounds extremely good for constant recoil guns. The harder the spring the shorter it has to be. And if it's too hard the gun will have trouble cycling. So by making the spring softer in the first half we make the gun cycle and for the second half by making it harder we could make it so the that the bolt is slowed down in a shorter distance and by doing that we could make the receiver shorter.

[@eddietat95]

Looking back, the practice of keeping a large video backlog in 2019 was the best decision Ian ever made.

[@11ride4life]

I was hoping you would say the Knight's gun! I was drooling over that beautiful piece at Shot..

[@rikusschulze6249]

I'm really looking forward to that video about the "head-space" activated operation system.

[@SlowrideSteve]

Always wanted to go to the Hypogium. I was told it has incredible acoustics

[@madeconomist458]

"DI unless we were using suppressors a lot" Even for front-line use, suppressors can enhance greatly the effectiveness of infantry by allowing them to spread out further

[@ksy_csrg]

This is pretty modern, but using variable power recoil springs from Wolff is pretty common for USPSA guns, namely in Open and Limited division.

[@Skyrunner_84]

Watching this in June of 2020 and I'm thinking you answer to how much backlog you keep was incredibly foresighted.

[@Dalejrbased69420]

I'd love to see cocktail videos from you! Maybe it could be worked in as a small segment like the book reviews or something. I'm a bartender and a long time forgotten weapons fan, so it'd be a dream come true ;)

[@pilot4prophet]

With respect to the discussion of the case head movement operated action. I think that there is a lot more going on with the P90 than a simple blowback action. There is the "mysterious" .030 barrel spring back. There is also considerable blow forward of the shoulder going on. I measure (loosely) nearly a millimeter of shoulder blow forward in my ps90.

[@MaaveMaave]

I didn't know the P90 had a barrel return spring until now. Without any visible locking system it sounds like the PMR-30's short recoil. That gun "locks" using chamber pressure to stick the cartridge wall to the chamber.

[@coaxill4059]

I'm so sorry Grey, but the HK irons dunk was probably the most satisfying sentence I've ever heard someone say. Hearing someone so confident in their opinion get shut down by someone they were expecting to agree feels better than it has any right to.

[@G_v._Losinj2_ImportantPlaylist]

4000 years ago they had metal. always look at sites+wood, settlements near scotland is a prime example of deforestation. robert schoch at this time you have “neolithic peoples” (inhabitants of europe prior to I-E invasion), semitics, and indo-euros. what a mix of culture. thank you for your work ian you are the man.

[@wierdalien1]

Much of that deforestation was done in the meso and neolitihic using microliths or the polished axe heads, not using metal.

[@G_v._Losinj2_ImportantPlaylist]

Alistair Shaw i know those were different points. i shoulda cleared that up lol

[@wierdalien1]

@@G_v._Losinj2_ImportantPlaylist fair enough, you have to admit though, those Mesolithic microliths are cool as shit

[@G_v._Losinj2_ImportantPlaylist]

Alistair Shaw of course i’ve gotta more into the period over time. no pun intended. do you think we were only in a stone age once for along time or possibly a cyclical possess and different types and levels of civilization far far in the past?

[@wierdalien1]

@@G_v._Losinj2_ImportantPlaylist i am pretty sure we just had one stone age. But of course some cultures got out faster than others

[@eddietat95]

I would tell "that one 1911 guy" to work in a gun shop, make one-off custom guns for competition, and see where that leads. That's how Bill Wilson and many others got their start. If end users tell you your gun sucks, at least you tried.

[@thomassymonds6308]

Can we get a FW and Lindebeige crossover? I liked LB's talk on Malta.

[@Ducaso]

I must say these Q an A videos (and the InRangetv ones with both Karl and Ian) are probably my single most favorite pieces of content.

[@agbond003]

On the topic of 3D printing. I am a engineering grad student participating in research involving 3D printing. In fact, my thesis will be centered around the concept of micro additive manufacturing. I think the idea of printed mags has some real potential. This generation of printers are beginning to print in polymers now and the material strength is on par with any commercial grade. I have made printed components that are definitely more fragile then any magazine and have them survive near abusive conditions. I believe if you open to it, we can provide products that would surprise you. There is one thing that we will need from you, though. We need STL models to print and to make STL models, we’ll need the data package, specifically the blue prints. If you can publish a data package for this mags, we can make models from them and begin printing. I have been wanting to print 30-08 chauchat mags and I’d love to see it tested. I think It would be a great addition in my thesis.

[@nomdemorte1302]

3D printing was born as rapid prototyping but we know that in the future it will replace all manufacturing. It's only a matter of time until it's happening at an atomic level and is as good or better than forging, machining and organic growth. Keep up the good work.

[@paulmanson253]

Make sure you also type in your offer at ForgottenWeapons.com. Make sure Ian sees it.

[@philllax1719]

I would love a forgotten cocktails channel! I ordered a french 75 in a hipster brewery, it was on special, because of this channel. The bar tender was suprised I didnt need to have it explained

[@rogerwennstrom6677]

Another point about single feed pistol mags vs double feed SMG mags: Pistols usually dont have to deal with full auto.

[@jacobmccarthy7406]

Hello Ian! I have been watching your show for years. on the Subject of variable springs, they are used most typically for "disabled" shooters like those who lack the hand strength to open the action.

[@willspears754]

i love you gun jesus!! all hail the messiah the one who guides via the muzzle flash

[@wilsoncalhoun]

44:09 Somewhere north of the 38th Parallel a fat, unstable dictator is crying himself to sleep.

[@allanbador7316]

Your Q&A’s are always informative and entertain the brain.

[@Spartanixxx]

On the subject of the import ban, even if it was repealed norinco would still be banned, they were caught smuggling full auto AK's and then again in 2003 they were hit with sanctions for supplying iran effectively banning whatever else they were allowed to import IE: shotguns and ammo

[@loub4879]

Where were they smuggling them?

[@arrozconleche577]

Constant recoil also requires a long bolt travel and, thus, a long receiver.

[@GunFunZS]

Or long travel of something which takes the energy from the bolt. AR15 buffer being a kinda sorta example.

[@hailexiao2770]

Or a really strong recoil spring + buffer.

[@WJS774]

Now I'm curious exactly what it is about the double stack/single feed magazines that makes shorter ones more reliable than longer ones.

[@NXTangl]

I know nothing about this topic, but my guess would be the problem is with longer springs.

[@NBSV1]

A shorter one can have more consistent spring pressure between empty and full. Harder to have a long magazine be as consistent. And double stack/single feed needs relatively accurate spring pressure. If it’s to low the rounds can’t get pushed up into position. If it’s to high they can also get wedged and not work. With double stack/double feed they don’t need to funnel down so the spring just needs to push the rounds up. Makes for a much easier spring range to hit since as long as it pushes them up quick enough you’re good, and it basically can’t be to strong as long as the rounds can stay in the magazine.

[@george5156]

Wouldn't cartridge friction increase with magazine length

[@rondobrondo]

Damn, Ian. That was a rough call on the future of the NGSW haha, but we still love u

[@octavulg]

I can't be the only one who would love to see your cocktail channel. Greatly enjoyed the Apocrypha distillery video. I'd say do them very occasionally when you're bored and want a break. Alternately, only do ones that are alcoholic enough to count as weapons.

[@xxxlonewolf49]

Maybe a constant recoil LMG would allow for a (literal)featherweight mount? Anyone who has to carry the current mounts around hates all the weight.

[@airsoftdude1990]

8mm kurz is common in use in pakistan. A lot of the locals build AKs in it.

[@SWEmanque]

A point on the magazines, why not use 3d printed polymer to wrap around the exposed parts of the mag? It could act as a shield for existing magazines.

[@noisetheorie]

As a french i'm honored that you love our language that much. It's clearly not an easy one, even for us. It could be a nice thing to see your progress in a future video ;)

[@ForgottenWeapons]

My ultimate goal is to be able to do a video series on French rifles, in French. :)

[@noisetheorie]

​@@ForgottenWeapons Oh wow i can't wait to hear those! I can understand why it's difficult for Americans to speak french, as much as its hard for us to really get the right pronunciation of some english words. Anyway i'm always glad to learn stuff about french weaponry even if it's not in french.

[@TheBitwise]

There's a lot to be said for British armament in WWI in general. The Stokes mortar, the Mills bomb, incendiary ammunition, a lot of artillery, pioneers of the tank, pioneers of military aircraft design and doctrine (fighters, bombers, recon)...

[@Puckles14]

You have everything in your work life down to a science, if only i did.

[@ryanvargas4889]

First foreign gun I would buy is a Colt Canada C8.

[@xgford94]

ANZAC Day, thank you all for your service🇳🇿🇦🇺

[@nomdemorte1302]

Lest we forget.

[@fidjeenjanrjsnsfh]

Why did militaries switch from full auto to burst fire when they can just use semi auto to conserve ammo?

[@Dja05]

Same answer as always: because someone behind a desk thought hard, but not hard enough.

[@mythousandfaces]

Yeah the Hypogeum is lit, you gotta book tickets waaaaaaay in advance.

[@alifeoncechris]

The North Koreans also use a AK helical magazine for Kim Jon’s personally defense force. But there is speculation if they are just for show and not functional

[@SgtKOnyx]

I'd guess the former

[@skoopsro7656]

This is an extremely interesting magazine and it's been the object of speculation for years now. Would love to see an actual intelligence report on it. I dont think it fires 5.45x39mm ammo like normal ak-74s, maybe a paintball with teargas/CS/pepperspray.

[@derekbrogan4241]

@@skoopsro7656 >implying the NK military would use non lethal force on its citizens

[@skoopsro7656]

@@derekbrogan4241 I know... I thought about it. But at the same time it is also possible if the fat man is around other foreign dignitaries or CAMERA CREWS. So it's not out of the realm of possibility

[@JenniferinIllinois]

"I learned my lesson". Wonder if he's talking about his Forgotten Bergmanns extravaganza. 😁😁😁

[@TodayLifeIsGoood]

I have been trained on the FN MAG. If somebody has questions I will try to answer them as well as I can.

[@TodayLifeIsGoood]

​@@TheRealColBosch Since I am from the heart of western Europe, I was trained on the FN MAG proper and not on any variant the US uses. so sorry, but I cannot tell you anything about those. Interesting about the MAG: -it ejects downward as opposed to the side -it is an open bolt gun -supposedly, worn out MAGs have a tendency to continue shooting on their own ("running gun"), the assistant then has to quickly twist the ammo belt off (he cuts off the belt at that link) so the gun doesn't chew through all of it and prevent collateral damage/friendly fire. -it came with a 30 round snail magazine (that still used ammo from a belt) which could be attached to the side (only saw it once, never used it) -a normal 100 round box of ammunition could not be attached to the gun proper -a slot for such a box probably comes for vehicle mounts, because it certainly did't come with the big tripod; there you just set in on the ground -you can carry it somewhat comfortably underarm, the stock had a neat shape so it could easily hook under your armpit while you held it by the pistol grip. -the cocking lever does not reciprocate; you have to remember to push it forward after cocking the gun -when the gun is cocked, be really mindful where you are aiming it; due to parts breakage and a not to strong "grip" (for lag of a better term) in worn out examples, it can go off accidentally by relatively light disturbances. -it has cool buffer rings in the stock -shooting from a prone position, you have your main hand on the pistolgrip and your off hand on the stock to prevent it keep it on target -it is good for shooting in sweeping motions^^ -on one of the guns we got, both front sights (of both barrels I mean, as the each gun comes with a second barrel which you switch after every 100 rounds) were broken (the guns were bought in the 60s, but never used before and still in mind condition) and when we went to the range to test them and us (so to speak); the result was, let's just say, I have never been that nervous on a range as when the bullets were all landing 15-30 meters of target at a range of 100 meters; I was actually on target when I aimed at the road next to the range; that was also the moment I straight up told my NCO that the gun must be broken broken and that I had to aim off the range which I refused to do; he then tried and then we tried the other barrel, but it was just as broken and the entire gun was gone for the rest of the exercise -.- -it looks like a beast^^ My personal record for fieldstripping and putting it back together with my eyes bound was 96 seconds. That includes adjusting the gas regulator, a thing that is actually very difficult to do without sight and not demanded by the test, but I did anyway simply because I was following my training.

[@thescatologistcopromancer3936]

The vz 61 is one of my dream weapons. I might buy a parts kit

[@peterresetz1960]

Late to this party, but the question at 1:15:01, regarding HK vs AR sights is the AR sight is preferable in that the aperture type of rear sight, such as the AR15/M16/M4 rifle works like a camera lens were the smaller aperture/iris the depth of field increases making the front sight and the distance target come into sharper focus/same optical plane. Also sighting trough a round aperture intuitively centers the front sight post. The down side to an aperture type read sight is that it reduces the amount of light coming through the aperture. The only caveat is that head position on the rifles butt stock has to be in the same position for this to work. The correct placement of the head to align the eye to the rear sight aperture is to just touch ones tip of their nose to the AR15/M16/M4 charging handle to use that as an index point. In most rifle competitions an aperture rear sight is the predominant rear preference do to it more precision aiming. An open notch type rear sight is preferable for handguns do to a greater field of view and do to its intended targets distances being closer.