M8C Spotting Rifle at the Range

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[@alexdemoya2119]

Its a really well designed spotting rifle. I had no problem spotting it.

[@brookeasia2061]

hahahhaha

[@superduper3722]

Pin this comment right now FW

[@AA-ke5bd]

did you trace it though?

[@kylesenior]

I bought a single round of ammo for this gun at a gun show for $10 years back, and then resold that single round for $100. Almost regret it as it was pretty nifty.

[@d3734]

Wow was that a special loading or do all these rounds go for that much $$ ?

[@ChevTecGroup]

@@d3734 you can still find it cheap if you know where to look

[@natelax1367]

Not too many things can be sold for 10x profits. Should’ve gone back and bought 10 rounds, and before you know it you’re a millionaire arms dealer

[@chrisperrien7055]

Nice, though single rounds like that would probably be dangerous to fire, if they have been jostled a lot over the past 50+ years and the powder degrading, might make them really, Hot , or a squib

[@marvindebot3264]

@@d3734 Original loads do go for that yes. You can produce reloads for these but genuine rounds are not cheap.

[@F4Wildcat]

Just hear how excited Ian is for this. He has shot like a thousand guns and he still pumped with energy for this unique .50. And john goes insta pull whenever he had the chance to shoot! Like he was waiting all day for it

[@commoncriminal923]

When it's essentially a mini artillery piece it's very interesting

[@thetalesofdaneandco]

The guy still has a seemingly genuine laugh every time he mag dumps at the end of a range video, so he definitely still has fun doing Forgotten Weapons.

[@saprin4631]

Ian looks like a school boy with his father calmly showing him how his new toy works.

[@Hirosjimma]

I recognise that look on his face that says "I can't believe I get paid to do this!"

[@Gameprojordan]

@@commoncriminal923 it's the bb gun of artillery

[@buncer]

One of my favorite range shoots in the Corps was taking a literal truckload of .50BMG(ball and tracer linked) and our battalion’s M2s to an early evening into late night shoot. The tracer fire with all of the guns firing together made the range almost appear like the sun hadn’t gone quite all the way down yet. The mountains of brass was quite impressive after reveille the next morning.

[@robertkeaney9905]

must have been one hell of a police call at the end to clean all the brass up though

[@itsapittie]

@@robertkeaney9905 Marines are cheap and they have plenty of them. 😆

[@zfbkarma438]

Bruh night time shooting at the range is always a blast especially using a tiny 22 with Tracers

[@dinonatorful]

Waste of money metal and nature

[@robertkeaney9905]

@@itsapittie that is true

[@therealcarlxii]

Oh boy, I was hoping that there will be a range video of this beast.

[@floridasoldat]

Weren’t we all 😂 so cool.

[@pd-kx4qw]

Haha yup, yesterday when I saw the original upload I was like please let Sir Ian take that piece of sweetness to the range.

[@kimj2570]

The Real Carl XII Finnish 95 S 58 61 which is quite similar, no sighting rifle thou firing like maniacs. Every one of the 2 crews would be permanently deaf without double ear protection. kzbin.info/www/bejne/n2OaZKlqrZymiKc

[@beardy736]

Prayer works it seems

[@novasixseven]

@@floridasoldat of poll

[@daffydlwellen1270]

It is the little details that make Ian my hero. Note that as he pulls the protective cardboard off each round, it goes into another pocket rather than just tossed on the deck. Huzzah!

[@Aslowman]

There are 2 types of tracer rounds. Ones for training which light "immediately" after exiting the barrel so you can monitor your ABF/SBF and operational tracers which have a sealant that delays the ignition of the tracer for a specified time and distance. That could be why you didn't see trace.

[@Aslowman]

@Indica Moon attack by fire and support by fire

[@SG-ig2th]

Yeah that’s exactly what Ian says at 3:40. But cool story, bro

[@jaygee3032]

The latter seems best for like tactics lol not sending a huge laser beam from the shooters position Still would probably relocate after the first or 2nd shot though

[@1234567890CAB]

Tracers get less reliable as they age as well

[@marvindebot3264]

Yes, correct.

[@dakotahrickard]

Also, the rock, paper, scissors was a great touch. You two are a pair of kids in a candy store. I appreciate that.

[@davidlynn7161]

Great videos on this spotting rifle. My father was an Army Sgt. on a 106 gun jeep in the early 1960s. He mentioned on how accurate the spotting rifle was. The gunner could fire off the spotting round and watching it through the sight could fire the 106 round before it hit, knowing it would hit the same spot. It was the cold war and he was stationed in Germany so they trained a lot.

[@hedgeearthridge6807]

I don't know if Ian mentioned it in the tabletop video, but it's believed that these rifles are what started the myth that it's a warcrime to use .50 caliber against personnel. Because allegedly they had to be very careful to train the crew to NOT use the spotting rifle to shoot at infantry, because it would give away the crew's position, and they'd be sitting ducks. But it's totally fine (and encouraged) to shoot at infantry with .50 cals. Also btw while there is a section of the Hague Convention that outlaws the use of expanding bullets, the US didn't sign that part; we use FMJ because we want to, not because we have to.

[@RDEnduro]

We don't use lead bullets right? I can't remember where i read that

[@CrysResan]

@@SonOfTheDawn515 The only non lead small arm ammo I heard the US military uses anymore is M855 A1 and I think that's cause someone got a bug up their ass about cleaning lead up from the firing ranges, or hippies.

[@pharaongaming8617]

"this is a war crime you can't do this" No🗿🗿🗿🦍🦍🦍🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🦅🦅🦅

[@blakestone75]

Military is far more likely to have to deal with combatants in body armor than law enforcement I suppose.

[@mf--]

@@CrysResan cannot ask the old folks because they don't remember anything due to a life time of high lead blood levels.

[@rollastudent]

Based on the Army ammo testing manual I found in google, the M48 spotter rounds don’t show until ~100 yards

[@Piehash]

As much as I love everything else about this, I can't help but gripe about this not being a shot on a longer range (say 600m+) or at dusk. That said, I'm sure it wasn't feasible so thanks Ian!

[@iarissei]

I love this channel. Forgotten weapons is why I started a KZbin account. Thanks Ian, and everyone who is a part of this channel. 😁

[@jodydorsett8726]

At AIT we weren't allowed to handle those rounds unless we were actually on the range. That's how cautious the instructors were about those rounds. After AIT I never shot one again because we transitioned to the TOW. Also mounted on an M151.

[@wes11bravo]

Was that MOS 11H even before you guys switched to TOWs?

[@jodydorsett8726]

@@wes11bravo I think so, that was a long time ago. There was still training on the M67, i can't imagine being in the anti-tank squad in a truly light unit. They weren't fun to shoot.

[@vandabo]

My dad used to tell me about training with these before he went to vietnam. Cool to finally get a demonstration of one in action, albeit without a recoiless rifle to follow it up.

[@ChevTecGroup]

There are quite a few 106mm RR owners (mostly demils) that will be wanting this for their collection/display. Smart of the owner to let you shoot it

[@dbmail545]

Be interesting to know how much this video and the previous one contribute towards the sale price. My guess would be an additional 15-20%.

[@gordoncouger9648]

@@dbmail545 Usually, guns like these don't sell well. They have no practical use. It is hard to find places where you can shoot exploding tracers. If it gets one more serious buyer interested, it could double the price or more. Predicting auction prices on very rare useless, or one-of-kind guns is difficult. It is totally dependent on having more than one buyer who really wants it and enough funding to stay in the bidding. If two bidders have to have an extremely rare or one-of-a-kind item, the price can go out of sight as this may be the only chance they ever have.

[@Shad0wBoxxer]

@@gordoncouger9648 backyard berm, or stationary deer stand. Bambi will be cleaned out after one shot.

[@cymond]

I have to wonder about making custom brass from standard BMG, and reload your own ammo.

[@gordoncouger9648]

@@Shad0wBoxxer Sounds like you have never fought a grass fire. Those rounds are wildfire looking for s place to happen.

[@blakestone75]

That little noise of panic escaping Ian when he thought he had a fail to fire!!! lol!!! "Nooo!!!!!"

[@Aq7]

What a nice gun for daily carry!

[@dbmail545]

All it needs is an IWB holster

[@davidcox3076]

Good point! Relatively compact for a .50. Like dbmail said, with the correct holster it's ready to roll.

[@Girvo747]

Easy truck gun tbh. In that it can be used to destroy a truck!

[@chuckhoyle1211]

I would like to mount it on my car to... ahem... deter... left lane campers.

[@exoticxlj8815]

I was so hoping there would be a range video. Thanks for the amazing content Ian & Company!

[@marksimpson8577]

Military Vehicle Muesuem in Nebraska has a set up with a .30 and howitzer I believe.

[@ericmelton4186]

Really cool! And I said to myself. “I saw the tracer on that one “. Lol. Really neat to see the diversity of firearms.

[@nathanjohnson5837]

Love the slow-mo footage amazing shooting with gun and camera.

[@forgemaster12]

Ian rocking the TAD raptor hoodie! I have the some one in that color!

[@kevobrando95lx44]

This channel is beyond vital to my life right now. I used to talk with my grandpa for hours about old guns and since I don't see him as much Ian provides surrogate grandpa gun talk

[@industrialvectors]

Hopefully the next owner will not only mount it to a recoil-less but invite Ian over for a third and second video. (3 explanation of the system, 4 RANGE)

[@schiltronmunitions3820]

Bad ass! I have seen these in Army publications of the time, but never in person and getting to watch the firing sequence was amazing! Thanks, Ian!!

[@charliekoughing866]

Ian, you litterally have my dream job. I love what you do. Please never stop

[@crankygunreviews]

So glad you shot this thing! I liked the review video you did, but I so wanted to see it shoot.

[@tomtruesdale6901]

Sweet ! That last round was perfect. Tracer, flash and bang.

[@StrangerOman]

Now this is an amazing content for the history. Now we just have to wait for a return of M40 recoilless rifle with a spotting rifle to see how spotting round really makes a different.

[@mzaite]

Hat tip to the Consignee for letting them shoot this! Really cool to see! Especially the last surprise tracer round!

[@Shad0wBoxxer]

Oh my god. I just got a hearing aid and that smooth action sounds so damn crisp. It didn’t sound that good yesterday…. I gotta rewatch it now!

[@burchtylerm]

When the table video for this dropped on a Friday I thought, “there’s no way this will be the range video tomorrow.” Yet here we are. Haha

[@robertduncan6292]

The third shot with the visible tracer was awesome. Very cool gun.

[@seanchan7167]

Master Sgt was so cute when Ian was like 'Rock paper scissors?' 'YEA LET'S DO THAT' 'SCISSORS CUTS PAPER' AWWW

[@squillz8310]

I couldn't imagine 4 of these firing at the same time on an M50 Ontos. Well, that followed by a Salvo of 6 rounds from the Recoiless Rifles. What a unique .50

[@AshleyPomeroy]

Imagine if you were a Viet Cong guerrilla, moving through a paddy field, and suddenly you're bracketed by a peculiar pattern of smoke puffs. You'd have a split-second to think "darn".

[@sthenzel]

Even better: sitting in a pillbox and having a short moment of solace when the puny impacts do nothing until you realize why they are just puffing that smoke.

[@MandolinMagi]

IIRC the Ontos only had 4 M8Cs.

[@squillz8310]

@@MandolinMagi I think you're right. Just 4 across the top Recoiless Guns and then the other 2 Recoiless guns were underneath the outside guns, and had no M8C. I'll edit my comment lol

[@theundergroundlairofthesqu9261]

Now make those flechette rounds!

[@johnnydough6244]

Oh wow, I heard you say it had reduced muzzle velocity but I was still expecting that projectile to travel much faster than it appears in the video. Wasn’t expecting that. Neat

[@MichaelSmith-ms3jw]

Used these as a training aid back in the very early 80s. They mounted the spotting rifle above the main gun near the searchlight mount on the M60 tank, this in order to use the tank sights and FCS, thus saving the costs of firing main gun rounds. Very similar to the "Telfare" device that used an M2. The problem was that ballistically the cartridge had no solution in the analog fire control computer, so it was essentially fire and adjust. The only time I ever saw it used was at a National Guard training exercise called "Guns Over Boise" in Boise ID. That same exercise featured a number of other would be training aids of dubious value, but also a couple that stuck around a while.

[@Smallgrayandfurry]

Ian, don't you ever change. Living the dream and it's joy to watch

[@highlandoutsider]

I can't help but think of the "uh oh 😐" moment when cruising along in your tank and hearing a single round ping off the hull " was that a-" 💥

[@geodkyt]

You'd probably write it off as a random stray small arms bullet, and think nothing of it. Tanks are loud, even when there isn't a battle going on.

[@ScottKenny1978]

There is a reason that there are stories of tanks being chased away by rifle fire.

[@dakotahrickard]

I'm super grateful to the consigner who allowed this video. Also, the report of this is very different (on camera) from a .50BMG. That's really interesting.

[@dakotahrickard]

Also, the consigner was smart for allowing the shooting of this gun, not only because it shows the gun but Ian is now part of the gun's providence.

[@WakarimasenKa]

Loud like anything .50 - But it is a quite unique experience visually. Almost like a black powder cannon, except the smoke is on impact, not blocking the view from the muzzle forward.

[@matandcat2506]

4:48 🤣🤣🤣 never change ian!!

[@michelguevara151]

that last one was a beauty, ian, excellent video!

[@gresvig2507]

My uncle has a large recoilless rifle (I don't think the 106 or whatever, maybe a bit smaller), hope he's watching the auction and has the money. That would be neat. I don't think he's ever fired a full size round out of it, but he's made a variety of chamber inserts for it so he can mess around at the range. Mostly shoots 50bmg, but apparently he made a .22LR insert for it just for the comedy value.

[@bad74maverick1]

I love how the gun mount to the Bren tripod is just a simple barrel removal vice! Classic use of tools to get you by!

[@tomwilliams8675]

That was very cool. Thanks Ian and guest.

[@RUBIZEN]

It doen't need a scope mount. It needs a little .22 cal tracer spotting rifle!

[@sundoga4961]

Just imagining some poor rodent in that berm: "First the shoot bullets into my home all day, now they're firing freaking ORDINANCE!"

[@CurtHowland]

The round detonates when fired into dirt, as a ranging round should. Very neat, thank you Ian and John.

[@_ArsNova]

Very cool Ian. Love all the guns on your channel, but these sorts of rare, special-purpose firearms are the most interesting.

[@workingguy-OU812]

very cool. Thank you to the original owner for allowing Ian to share it with all of us.

[@arikwolf3777]

"It works better with a round in the chamber." - Gun Jesus, May 2022

[@recoilrob324]

I've loaded a bunch of the spotter rounds in 50 BMG with reduced charges to simulate the spotter velocity and you need to punch a little hole in the cup that covers the trace element to get them to trace reliably. Something about the powder we use ...5010 doesn't burn as hot as what was used in the Spotter cases or they're just getting old. Anyhow...poke a little hole and they trace right from the muzzle and they DO make a NICE report with flash and smoke when they hit things. Much fun!!

[@robstone4537]

Trained on the 106 recoilless rifle in the 80’s in the South African Army. It made an extremely bright flash when it hit the target. On the 106 you were hunched forward over the optical sight and pulled the fire button out to fire the fifty then adjusted your fire from the gun commander instructions. When you heard “Target! 106!” You leant as far away backwards as you could and hit that fire button down and everything went a bit blurry for a few seconds.

[@laughingdog6010]

You guys have the coolest stuff. Thank You!!!

[@archiepoilu]

That last shot was amazing, totally insane how you use a smaller caliber to aim for a bigger caliber

[@handledhandlehandlinghandler]

Check out the SMAW for more spotting rifle goodness.

[@likydsplit8483]

Or the British Centurion tank.

[@mick4075]

Also used on the British L6 120mm Wombat. Remember it in Berlin.

[@anthonyburke5656]

When I was a tweeny wheeny young soldier, I trained as a Tank Gunner on Centurion tanks, we were trained with a .22 fired in parallel with the main gun and on its own Sights that mimicked the Centurion sights, it made it much cheaper and faster to train gunners. We trained at the specialist site and after putting a couple of thousand rounds through, went out to the big boy range to fire the very expensive ammunition. They had all sorts of scenarios you fought at the site, actions taken from virtually every tank battle or tank usage ever fought. Desert, open temperate, city temperate, city desert, jungle, hedgerow or “bocage”, steppe, mountain.

[@meltdown798]

Oh man, I'm in army right now and my MOS is 106mm recoilless rifle (M40A2) with M8 spotting rifle. It was made when 1978 or 1979, still used them until they are all broken and can't fire. We can't shoot it so when doing training we just do aiming or disassemble to assemble it.

[@j4pp1n3]

This Morphy's place is a real goldmine, they let Ian shoot everything!

[@gordoncouger9648]

Listen to what Ian says, It's the seller, not the Auction house, that allows Ian to shoot the guns and usually furnishes the ammo. I expect Ian's videos shooting the guns increases their selling prices. Both by exposing the gun to more potential buyers and demonstrating their functionality.

[@j4pp1n3]

@@gordoncouger9648 Yeah you're right. For some reason though he shoots them way more after he started to do business with this auction house.

[@CharliMorganMusic]

I'm so proud of myself for knowing what this system was used for

[@REXOB9]

Love the trace and how you can see where it impacts. Wow wish more ammo did that.

[@donisys]

This, Ian. This is why we love you, man.

[@greekfire3244]

I've seen one of these at a small military museum in Vincennes Indiana, it's attached to a recoiless rifle on a Willie Jeep.

[@MM-fq9gi]

I saw one of these mounted on the recoiless gun, mounted on a jeep in the mid 70's, a National Guard buddy of mine drove the jeep to my house to show me.

[@alancox5777]

Such a shame you didn’t have use of a range with range

[@commoncriminal923]

Yh like the rest of his vids🤣 looks heavy tho I'm ready for Ian to make a technical id love it

[@christophercripps7639]

The optic for the M8C probably was that mounted on the 106 mm M40.

[@mwhyte1979]

It's always fun to see folks enjoying their job. LOL

[@matthayward7889]

Probably one of my favourite weapons on FW, for some odd reason. Probably that Ian, John, and the owner all seem to love it so much!

[@tarstakars]

When I was in the Army in the 70s and 80s we used a device like that or something very similar to that on the M109A1 155 mm howitzer.

[@loupiscanis9449]

Thank you , Ian . 🐺

[@marvindebot3264]

I (and this is unusual with such a rare piece) have NFI who the owner is but thank you sir for allowing us to witness this in use, it is hardly something we will see again, and given the rarity and desirability, you didn't have to do so as it would've sold for top dollar anyway. A coup[e of million people are forever in your debt.

[@NephewJ]

Awesome video, definitely wouldn’t be able to normally see this on another channel

[@Galona223]

Dragonman has one of these in his museum mounted to a recoilless rife.

[@fredford7642]

Thank you Ian for another education. That would make a great groundhog gun!

[@zoeymcshane4789]

very happy you did the last shot. The tracer was on right out the barrel

[@flintrichards945]

Very cool that’s the first time I’ve seen one of those in action.

[@JamesLaserpimpWalsh]

Awesome. Some different things. Love stuff like this. Cheers Ian

[@charliemarkovic4301]

The Australian army used to have these mounted on top of a 106mm recoilless rifle carried by a series 2 Land Rover without a roof. They would go into crash action and fire up to three five round bursts of API rounds followed by a 106mm HEAT round. Time from wheels stop to 106 on target was usually thirty seconds.

[@slavcity406]

Finally aftyer 2 years of waiting.. I remember when you said youd cover one of these bad boys when you did the recoiless rifle

[@johncox2865]

Interesting to note in the slo-mo that the bullet strikes the target before the case is ejected. Just strikes me as odd. Great video!

[@Sickofsociety1]

Much thanks to the owner for letting us see Ian and friend shoot this extremely rare piece of ordnance!

[@comiketiger]

Fun stuff! Thank you to all involved. God bless all here.

[@671021]

The M40-106mm missed this and this missed the M40-106mm...why can`t things just go along

[@keithoades5516]

We had these things on our 106 recoiless rifles in the Australian army. Great piece of it.

[@shukterhousejive]

I love how Ian hopes they can find a buyer who'll mount this to a recoiless rifle, like some dude in Iowa is going to build their dream Technical and they just need one last piece to complete it

[@joshuahadams]

I suppose it’d be nice as a snow management thing. Make sure you’re plonking your HE she’ll in the right bit of the mountain. Then again, those don’t need to be very precise.

[@MrChadsimoneaux]

3:27 looks like the AC guys have been to the range 😂. Those green and pink propane looking tanks are the cans we sell refrigerants in.

[@duncangrainge]

Excellent video Ian thanks 😊

[@Sylusssss]

So glad you got range time with this

[@johnsanko4136]

That puff of smoke is surprisngly effective from such a comparatively small round. Really neat to see.

[@DC_10]

Decades ago my 106 recoiless platoon in the Taiwan army used this 50 caliber spotting rifle for aiming practices. Fun memories. One time a shot even broke a power line by accident...

[@bobconnor1210]

Cool! That nearly made up for missing my own range day today. Don’t set the woods on fire, boys.

[@marylebone9357]

Fun fact, the "106mm" m40 recoiless rifle they attatch these to was actually 105mm because there was a failed m27 recoiless rifle project that also was used a 105mm bore but different incompatible ammunition. The m40 bore size was regularly knowingly incorrectly referred to as a 106mm gun and it's ammunition referred to as 106mm ammunition to prevent confusion and stop people from accidentally loading m27 ammunition into the m40.

[@Temp0raryName]

Not having the tracer light up, until a decent distance from the firing position, significantly improves the weapon's counter-spotting capability.

[@chad4359]

Kudos to the current owner for allowing Ian to pop off a couple rounds of this rare ammo.

[@bills6093]

Well, 800 grains coming at you at 1700fps is no joke.

[@nervousdog6907]

That was one of the coolest looking tracers I've seen!

[@elblitzb]

OOOO SOOO COOL that the third shot tracer ignited early!!! Thanks for sharing!!!

[@NoOdL3z18]

So cool, I've shot the spotting rifle on a SMAW but that's a 9mm I believe, nothing like this. Such an interesting low cost and simple ranging system.