Leningrad's Emergency-Production PPS-42 at the Range

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Yesterday we looked at the history of the PPS-42 and how it was developed into the much more common PPS-43. Today we are taking it out to the range - the only time one of these very scarce gun has been filmed in recent history.
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[@brenden561]

Pretty nice SMG for something that took less than 3 hours to make

[@doronstauber7285]

Soviet Firearms are just good. They didnt screw around back then, they wanted simplicity and reliability. They sure did make em well.

[@SCH292]

The joke here is that..."WW2 called. They want their stuff back". However...now it's.."WW2 called. They want their stuff back".

[@FoxtrotFleet]

@@doronstauber7285 If you don't include the Mosin Nagant 91 rifle's unnecessary bolt rail that makes the pull gummy and wobbly or Nagant 1895 revolver's equally unnecessary gas seal septuple action trigger, yeah they made very basic functional firearms. I guess the Nagant 1895's gas seal matched with a silencer was great for the KGB's murders but that isn't combat.

[@doronstauber7285]

@@FoxtrotFleet Scrutinizing thier weapons with todays standards is kinda unfair. The Soviets were the reason why ze Germans lost WW2. Thier weapons killed more Nazi's then anyone elses weapons. They worked. No frills, no thrills, load the weapon with bullets, charge the weapon with a bullet, pull the trigger that could have had a very long and heavy trigger pull, and it fired, almost every time. Isnt that what a weapon is all about?

[@w.p.958]

And you only need Vodka and a hammer to fix it!

[@JokiMBS]

When bullet is more complicated than a gun.

[@misterdeluxia5948]

boolet

[@TheSecretLifeOfStarCandy]

Sten gun : Am i joke to you?

[@murphy7801]

@@TheSecretLifeOfStarCandy sten should always be a joke

[@N0sf3r4tuR1s3n]

@@TheSecretLifeOfStarCandy yes

[@thatguybrody4819]

@@TheSecretLifeOfStarCandy Basically

[@vincentmueller3717]

Ian makes a good observation about rate of fire. After 75-80 years springs weaken. Replacement springs are seldom to original specs, so we will never get a positively accurate impression of firing an old open bolt gun. But it's still fun.

[@VulpeRenard]

It also almost seems like it wants to start at a more moderate rate of ~600rpm when only firing in 2-4 round bursts, but speeds up as the burst continues.

[@Khan.WrathOf]

Maybe looking at archival footage might help.

[@skepticalbadger]

It depends entirely on how many compression cycles the spring has undergone.

[@carrisasteveinnes1596]

Simple enough to fabricate a new main spring, and it may not even need to be heat treated.

[@Tunkkis]

@@VulpeRenard That often cones down to inconsistencies from one cartridge to another. Some rounds push the bolt back farther than others.

[@LazyLifeIFreak]

For an 80 year old she's going remarkably fast.

[@antonkirilenko3116]

For a 80 year old that's been through who know how much combat already.

[@messmeister92]

This is one of those historical pieces where I just think, “Man, if only this gun could talk…”

[@AshleyPomeroy]

"And then I killed some Nazis, which was awesome!"

[@AlitaGunm99]

And yet, even at 80 years old, it's not legally an "antique firearm" in the US.

[@jan826]

i love how some super simple SMGs such as the STENs and PPSs, still look super controlable and comfy to shoot (maybe not super comfy, but it is controlable)

[@luisnunes3863]

And the PPS even hits about where you aim it! 😁😁

[@TheDeadfast]

The Sten is anything but comfortable. In fact the PPS deserves credit for being so simplified while still maintaining such luxuries as a proper way to hold it.

[@tranbachuyen6655]

do not compare sten with pps42 or 43 because the design of pps was way above in term of quality but still cheap , fast and robust

[@JohnnyLouisXIX]

The Sten can literally rip a piece of your hand off if you're not careful so not that comfy.

[@jan826]

I havent shot STEN, so idk how it feels, but the lack of a front grip of any kind is pretty bad

[@DanBowkley]

May we all look so good and work so well when we hit that age!

[@geraldmaybebaby1585]

The improvements in design, the amount of materials used and reduced manufacturing time are simply outstanding.

[@whitestarlinegoodnight]

Honestly this might push me over the edge to getting a pps-43 kit. As an engineer and amateur firearms designer, I can really appreciate the simplicity of its manufacture and I think it'd be neat to own one. Granted, it would also be cool to own a pps-42, but more for purely historical interest.

[@VegasCyclingFreak]

A true forgotten weapon! It’s impressive that they developed and manufactured these while under siege.

[@bhess1212]

I loved the sound on this video. With the wind blowing, and the echo of the shots reverberating. Imagine hearing that over and over while the siege is happening. Intense!!!!

[@BambiTrout]

It seems insane that an 80 year old gun can still function (almost) perfectly in a modern world where things seem to break after 5 minutes and a stiff breeze. Just shows the rugged simplicity of the design.

[@VosperCDN]

Aside from the wartime production straight to combat (in this case), stuff was made differently back then unlike today's "only has to last till the warranty ends."

[@Oppetsismiimsitsitc]

Is Pavel proof.

[@trooperdgb9722]

@@VosperCDN I wouldn't apply that to guns. I have a 1912 Steyr (1911) and a 95 Steyr Rifle (1917) that yes... are still working fine... but I bet my CZ Shadow (2010) and my custom made 1911 would with equal care still be going fine in another 80 or 100 years.

[@trooperdgb9722]

@@timewave02012 He has also pointed out in various videos that the reliability (and accuracy) we automatically expect (and demand!) of TODAYS guns is FAR in advance of what was expected (and accepted) back "then". SNIPER Rifles with 2-3 Moa accuracy.... and so on...

[@rossfromfriends8468]

@@Oppetsismiimsitsitc and they were made in a fucking typewriter factory!!! It's incredible

[@phlogistanjones2722]

Thank you Ian for the video yesterday describing this guns history and thank you for sharing your range time with us. THAT SMILE at 3:35 THAT says it all.

[@priitmolder6475]

Imagine, as an April Fools joke... Forgotten Weapons and SteveMRE made a complimentary videos. Steve would review an old gun and Ian would review an old MRE...

[@cosmoray9750]

Prof. Kishore Mahbubani 🤔 kzbin.info/www/bejne/fqCpdpV4hriqfKc

[@SpartanA054Moose]

Thatd be awesome

[@djackmanson]

"Let's get this out on the range...Nice"

[@priitmolder6475]

@@djackmanson That recoil...decadent and smooth

[@djackmanson]

@@priitmolder6475 Lightly sweet, and not thirst-provoking at all

[@OldCurmudgeon3DP]

Love that caliber. Shoots relatively flat. Hits where you point out to 100yds even in a pistol.

[@edcatsofa264]

7.62x25mm the best military SMG caliber, for long time.

[@UHOH3300]

@@edcatsofa264you’re so right, and I’m tired of pretending it’s not. Shoots flat, more muzzle energy than a .45, better packing factor and simple ball ammo defeats soft armor. Really is an S tier cartridge. Amazing that it’s basically just a hot 7.63 Mauser, which itself is just a fancy 7.65 borschardt, which is only one of the FIRST AUTOLOADING PISTOL CARTRIDGES EVER MADE

[@46FreddieMercury91]

Thanks for the upload Ian. Quite a remarkable piece of history there in your hands. Must have felt a real privilege to shoot with it

[@coffeecocaine8878]

Always liked the silhouette of the ppsh42/43 but you've made me fall in love with it

[@redfoure]

An obviously efficient design. Nothing more than what's actually needed to launch bullets. Love it.

[@PitFriend1]

I’m impressed that they were able to actually manufacture large amounts of guns while the city was under a siege so tight food couldn’t get in reliably and doubly impressed that it’s actually not a bad sub machine gun that’s not too different from the final model. You would expect it to look like guns made in someone’s basement like the last ditch German and Japanese guns.

[@williamromine5715]

Unlike Germany and Japan, Russia had massive help with Lend/Lease from the U.S. & U.K.. Plus, try as they could, the Germans couldn't completely isolate Leningrad.

[@unterhau1102]

​@@williamromine57154% of the Soviet economy, I wouldn't really say "massive"

[@Kreozot2D]

Rest well, grandpa, you fought well and saved your country

[@KlausWang]

Great video! Never knew about the PPS-42 before your video yesterday. Definitely one of the rarest MG's on the registry!

[@15halerobert]

Amazing even with the malfunctions it appears to be a very controllable hunk of stamped metal. Wow

[@markyoung2981]

What an amazing piece of history, and to be able to fire it, priceless!

[@petesheppard1709]

The quintessential 'Bullet Hose'. Regarding the rate of fire, it looked like Ian was trying really hard to squeeze off single shots.

[@DawidKov]

PPSh would be the "bullet hose", that thing had a fire rate of about 1000 a minute. PPS is "only" 600-700 a minute (comparable to an AK).

[@petesheppard1709]

@@DawidKov Good point.

[@CzechoslovakGunStories]

PPS-42/43 are IMO "the ideal" smg for the WW2 battlefield. Simple, compact, rather lightweight, with a reasonable rate of fire and no unnecessary parts. No wonder Finns (Konepistooli m/44) and East Germans (DUX) as well as Chinese or Polish made a bunch of different copies :) If I had to choose between this and Pa-Pa-Sha it would be an easy choice... :)

[@shoelessbandit1581]

I think the real benefit it has over it's predecessor is interchangeable magazines. The ppsh41s have their drums serialized to the gun and the stick magazines aren't much better

[@Bojan_Kavedzic]

@Azrakul For a shooter Beretta is a king. For a wartime, PPS-43. :)

[@GigAnonymous]

Now the big question is, were SMGs that suitable on a WW2 battlefield? Or is it that they brought to the table reliable, controllable, self-loading firepower with 20+ rounds magazines? To ask the question differently: had the AKM, or even the SKS, been around in greater numbers in 1941, would the soviet have bothered with SMGs? I feel it's an interesting question. When the US developed (then produced in great numbers) the M1 and M3 Carbines, what were the shortcoming of the Garand they wished to address? And did those shortcomings come from the gun, or did it come from the full-blooded .30-06 ammunition.. in which case, had the Garand stayed in .276 Pedersen... would there have been such a need for SMGs? (keeping in mind the T26 was a 'thing')

[@HydraHolden]

@@GigAnonymous Hi Gig, the M1 Carbine series was meant to address an entirely different issue, weight and bulk for those whose job is not being a rifleman. I.E. belt-fed machine gunners, mortarmen, platoon leaders, radio men, etc. It was designed to be a personal defense weapon for those encumbered with heavier weapons, gear, or leadership responsibilities. The M1 Garand was universally popular throughout the service, but not even 8 to 15 rounds of .30 cal rifle or carbine, can compare to the firepower offered by SMGs in a close in jungle L-Shape ambush or fighting house to house in a German town. But the Thompson, however, was not as universally popular, as it weighs even heavier then an M1 Garand. The high rate of fire was recognized and important to rifle platoons to supplement their output as they were perpetually understrength. So it was commonly passed around the squad as it was such heavy but important burden to carry.

[@MangasColoradas941]

@@GigAnonymous the soviets answered your own question, early soviet doctrine is to treat the AK as a subgun and the SKS as a rifle, they learned this was stupid but the Chinese used this doctrine until the Sino vietnamese war proved it was stupid.

[@jesuschrist711]

when you dumped it toward the end it sounded a lot bigger and scarier than it actually was. like it sounds like some madlad is running down a street with an MG42 he picked up off an enemy, not a troop test smg

[@propdoctor21564]

Excellent video as always... I have had a PPS 43 for many years and enjoy shooting it.

[@timothybayliss6680]

Right on

[@Goran1138]

I hope Ian get someday in his hands first Soviet SMG PPT-27 (Tokarevs Submashinegun model 1927). This is really crazy weapon stuff, which was maked for Nagant revolver cartridge.

[@MotionMcAnixx]

Ian's expertise, and the willingness of the caretakers of the weapons are something to be admired and respected. I wish though, that the journey from Leningrad to the Continental United States was in some way on record as well. Just imagine that story!

[@jamesgravel7755]

Just beautiful. The pps-43 is one of my favorite sub guns of all time so this is just a treat to see

[@storytimedavidcollins2897]

Thanks for another truly amazing set of videos of such a rare piece of equipment Ian.

[@randywatson8347]

I can't help to love how sleek the receiver and bolt design is.

[@rb67mustang]

Wow! It looks to be very controllable with little to no muzzle rise. The long burst at the end was great!!! Yeah, it's an old smg, but it did great. I wish I lived in a state I could own something like this.

[@PaulAJohnston1963]

Clearly getting to the moment where something stops being a working weapon and becomes something to have and to cherish. Best wishes to whoever purchases it. You have a piece of history take good care of it. Would be nice if it could go on display somewhere.

[@chubbycatfish4573]

Shoots faster than I expected!

[@tomthounaojam345]

That burst is awesome to hear.

[@Juel92]

It sounds very nice as well. That nice metallic sound.

[@aussiebloke609]

That looked surprisingly controllable, especially considering the rate of fire. I didn't notice any significant muzzle climb, even on the longer bursts. 👍

[@markjordan348]

Never forget that the people making these were fighting for their Homeland and their lives every bit as much as the people using them on the front lines!

[@LurchLures]

Whenever one of these new videos from Ian pops up I know it will be a treat. Thanks.

[@Rainbow-Dash]

When the need is high, usually the best things are achieved

[@anon_y_mousse]

I love the simplicity of its construction and wish a more modern take on this could come to fruition that retained that simplicity.

[@N0sf3r4tuR1s3n]

Well, there were quite a few copies and derivatives made of it, there's no doubt in my mind that if the NFA were declared unconstitutional that a modern functional version of it would become available, probably from multiple manufacturers. It's simple and cheap to make, reliable and controllable, not too heavy (about half the weight of a Thompson)- what more can you ask of a SMG?

[@Ni999]

Ah, my cynical crystal ball is glowing... "It needs an adjustable stock..." "The barrel needs to be free floating..." "Where's the pic rail for my red dot?" "Where's the M-LOKs?" "You call these sights?" "Why isn't the barrel threaded?" "Why does it have to shoot this weird ammo?" "You know, Glock makes magazines..." "How soon can we get a drum magazine?" "I saw on KZbin that it totally failed the frozen mud test..." "I can't wait for the bullpup version, now that would be really cool..." "Why is the charging handle on the wrong side? Why can't I move it?" "Who would buy this when you can just get an AK?" "What do mean, I can't adjust the butt stock?" "No FDE equals hard pass, people want FDE grandpa!" "What idiot would pay that much and not get an AR? You can build an AR and have money left over. I did." Then what's left of us would be right there with you - _"No kidding? I can REALLY buy one? GREAT!"_ Don't mind me, I apologize, I didn't mean anything bad.

[@anon_y_mousse]

@@N0sf3r4tuR1s3n That would be nice if the NFA were nullified. Just the thought makes me kind of happy.

[@anon_y_mousse]

@@Ni999 Haha, that's a great list. That is exactly what people do. Get rid of the NFA and I'd want one stock, but there would definitely be a market for all kinds of mods.

[@N0sf3r4tuR1s3n]

@@anon_y_mousse I mean, in light of Bruen, it doesn't have historical precedent from back when the country was founded. The Founding Fathers would not approve of the NFA. Or most of what the government has done over the past century but the courts have to start somewhere right?

[@blader1286]

I've actually shot one of these! These a small range in the mountains of TN that has one of these as a FA rental. I'd assume non transferable from what Ian said here. I have 0 FA experience, but it was surprisingly smooth and controllable. Although the one I shot did seem to be a little slower than this one

[@crabmansteve6844]

The weaker the recoil spring gets, the slower the fire rate, so that checks out. It could also be a bolt that's heavier, fire rate for blowback guns is super simple to change, as is everything else I guess on a blowback gun. A rental would have a LOT more use than most private collection firearms.

[@57HEMIviken]

Thank you Morphys for letting Ian get shooting footage of this!!!

[@johndallman2692]

Upside: excellent publicity for the auction. Downside: somebody has to get the gun apart and clean it before it's sold.

[@YetAnotherJohnDoe1776]

Very cool to see this in action! I love the sweet reliable simplicity of this family of SMGs 😊

[@yendub]

I have seen you out at the range many times with weird and wonderful old firearms. Some of the wartime expedient firearms, like the PPS-42, somewhat worry me. Not that you would get a massive failure like Scott's RN-50, but that something like a worn out spring or fatigued metal widget would break. I'm curious, especially this is an auction weapon, what would happen if you took a firearm to the range and it broke (no fault of your own).

[@HarryBalzak]

I'm sure they are well insured.

[@hugebartlett1884]

They'd auction Ian instead!

[@twostroke350]

I'd imagine that Ian reviewing then firing a weapon they are about to sell is pretty much the best advertising you could possibly get. How many gun auctions can reach 2.5 million subscribers? This video had 16k views in the first hour, all people who are interested in the subject, you can't pay for targetted advertising like that (and if you could, you couldn't afford it). If he broke the odd gun, it would still be totally worth it from the auctions point of view.

[@hughgrection7246]

I would like to think Ian would notice any particular areas for concern while reviewing and disassembling the firearm. There have been plenty of examples of Ian wanting to fire something, having ammunition for it , but hesitating due to the condition of the weapon in question.

[@joshjamesguitar]

Literally no risk with pistol caliber sub guns. Scott's RN50 is a true exception with how hot that ammo was. Even massively overpressure ammo in this wouldn't do anything.

[@Nukle0n]

Amazing with the shutter speed that it looks like the bolt never closes, it just goes halfway down the ejection port and then BLAM.

[@StahortheDark]

I wonder how much difference in production time and raw material weigh between PPS-43, Sten and M3 Grease Gun.

[@darykeng]

Not only time, but that tools are requited to make them

[@brandonobaza8610]

There's an odd delay after the first shot of each burst. It's like the bolt needs time to settle into a rhythm. Very neat 👍

[@yaoypl]

The beauty of simplicity.

[@benoitbrosseau6580]

I like the way the empty case just fly out of the gun, they must land like 10-15 feets away

[@beerdrinker6452]

Would love to know, without specific names, how this firearm found a home in the USA. Thank you.

[@PapaSchultz74]

You can easily understand why they changed the stock attachment system on the slow-motion part of the video. It looks like the stock bounces on the hinge spring. Anyway thanks for the video Ian

[@xpavpushka]

I can even HEAR the inconsistency of the ammo quality, lol

[@mutantfmj]

Just shows that PPS's , Sten's and Grease Guns, how each was simple to make, reliable, and did lots of killing, still work 80 years later as intended then some.

[@TheTuv1]

Love seeing old manufacturing work as good as modern

[@NTSCuser]

3:34 Perfect three-round bursts!

[@hanktorrance6855]

What a piece of history, thanks for sharimg this once in a lifetime experience

[@kwacker45]

After watching previous upload I was hoping you could shoot this...brilliant

[@aminrodriguez4707]

That is just wondrous, 80 years old, made under constant bombardment in Leningrad, put t9 combat inmediately and still works just fine. What a gift you had Gun Jesus.

[@tendymancommeth]

good to see Ian has been modeling for Soldier of Fortune, again.

[@Claythargic]

That is absolutely amazing, that gun could tell some stories.

[@Kraakesolv]

Nice velocity on the spent brass there.

[@dennmark4843]

Thanks for this post!

[@MrLolx2u]

Considering that it's been 80 over years and the thing's still chugging rounds with just a slight hiccup, I say it's VERY well done.

[@Getpojke]

Nice to see, thanks to you & Morpy's for making it happen.

[@DrSid42]

Why wouldn't they ? Good video like this can double the price.

[@DANO-4899]

Nostrovia, comrade Ian!

[@StrangerOman]

No mag dump, but a nice brrrr at the end. Amazing.

[@rolfjohnson7425]

I heard about those back in 81 when I was in Leningrad.

[@michailpanchev9952]

The PPS 42 is the most reproduced smg by the partisans in their improvised make-shift workshops in the woods accross the Nazi-occupied territories of the SU. I've been to the Victory Museum in Minsk, and this guy, in its various "home-made" modifications, was widely present in the expositions.

[@donphilp7511]

Love when you get to shoot. Very fast ammo rate for this one. Is love the explanations.

[@h.a.9880]

Looks like the PPS-42 does what the VG-rifles in Germany were supposed to do but didn't.

[@jameslooker4791]

The PPS-43 is one of the few submachines to *continue* production after the war, although mostly under contract in 9 mm.

[@stfsgtking]

Very cool and rare smg. Thanks for the video.

[@nomadmarauder-dw9re]

This gun was what the M1 carbine was supposed to be.

[@rclaughlin]

Thank you, Ian.

[@kentcostello5286]

Man you are so lucky to see & shot old vintage firearms. 👍

[@777anarchist]

It seems to ramp up the fire rate after the second round in a burst.

[@Blei1986]

"as simple as it gets" STEN: *excuse me, Sir*

[@lancerevell5979]

I'd love to see a direct side-by-side shootoff between the PPS, STEN, M-3 Grease gun and MP-40. I have shot the STEN and MP-40, both shot well though the difference in build quality is world's apart.

[@calvingreene90]

Now I know what I want for Christmas.

[@djdrack4681]

I look at what Luty did with his 'expedient' firearms...and I look at the 'heart of wartime' production SMGs like this, and these are a couple steps beyond his (due to factories for building them)...but like the later Stens, it showcases how utterly simple blowback/open-bolt SMGs of this complexity are to make.

[@isaacberry93]

Simple gun you can make for apocalypse scenario

[@Atzy]

I'd expect it to have a high rate of fire. All the previous soviet smgs had had a high rate of fire so I'd think they valued it.. high rate of fire and low recoil means each burst puts a lot of rounds in roughly the same space if not exactly the same space. Should increase chance of a hit.

[@MrDmitriRavenoff]

Seemed almost like it was speeding up as it was fired longer. Interesting and wonderfully simple design.

[@kennethquesenberry2610]

I once owned, back in the 1960s, a Mauser C-96 with the original shoulder stock/holster (I was living in Germany at the time). Like you mentioned, the stock was wobbly and reduced its effectiveness as a shoulder weapon. But like your SMG, my Mauser was getting on in years, too. I sometimes wonder just how much of an improvement an intermediate caliber rifle like an AK is over a submachine gun. True, the cartridge is more powerful, but it essentially fills the same tactical role. I also understand that AKs are more accurate than people think.

[@Voltaic_Fire]

It handles and shoots exactly as I thought it would, it is easy to see why it and its successor made such a difference in the siege of Stalingrad.

[@noahdoyle6780]

If we're talking simple SMGa, I'd love to see a video on the PA Luty...

[@liamholt5623]

When your granddad gets to throw a punch, and it's a complete knockout

[@loupiscanis9449]

Thank you , Ian . 🐺

[@five5105]

I think clapped out springs are the culprit for the high rate of fire and malfunctions you experienced.

[@estudiom142]

amazing SMG!!!! cheers!

[@wernerbiendl9628]

If i run as smooth as this smg, when i am 80 years old, i'll be very glad! :D

[@j4pp1n3]

The soviets even managed to engineer a variable fire rate lol. First 2-3 shots come at 500-600 rpm, the rest get just sprayed out maybe because the bolt gets some energy back and bounces when it hits the chamber or some phenomenon I don't understand.

[@RobotN001]

It is possible that the rear buffer for bolt is sticking to the bolt. 😅 Maybe a bug got in there and got squashed. 🤣 lets call it "bug boost"

[@Ni999]

Energy can't be magically added. Old materials and parts reacting to rapid changes in heat would probably explain a good bit of it. Low tolerance design might contribute? 🤷🏻‍♂️ What was the ammo condition? 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@j4pp1n3]

@@Ni999 Energy can be preserved and returned as in a spring.

[@Ni999]

@@j4pp1n3 That won't increase energy, and it will always lose some - but - due to aging and the onset of fatigue, a spring may cycle inconsistently - as it changes due to heating. You saw it change speed after a few rounds - you can't predict that will be that way tomorrow or was that way yesterday. Or that the springs alone are the determining factor.

[@Kevin-mx1vi]

Now *that's* an ejector ! I reckon some of that brass is still flying. 😁

[@jharris280zx]

"the stock is kinda wobbly". i think at 80 years old we'll all be kinda wobbly.

[@TheFaveteLinguis]

This magazine well is amazing.

[@frogmenish]

Ian it’s 6:00 am. Thank you

[@reelfishing002]

It just goes to show , some time newer is better , love that they started with these and improve on the concept