How an M1941 Johnson rifle works

The M1941 Johnson Rifle was an American short-recoil operated semi-automatic rifle designed by Melvin Johnson prior to World War II. The M1941 competed unsuccessfully with the U.S. M1 Rifle.
Melvin Johnson campaigned heavily for the adoption of the Johnson rifle by the U.S. Army and other service branches. However, after limited testing, the U.S. Army rejected Johnson's rifle in favor of the M1 rifle developed by Springfield Armory. The M1941 was ordered by the Netherlands for issue to the KNIL in the Dutch East Indies, but only a few rifles were shipped to the Dutch East Indies before the Japanese invaded. At this time, the U.S. Marine Corps found itself in need of a modern fast-firing infantry rifle, and acquired some rifles from the Dutch East Indies shipment for issue to its Paramarine battalions then preparing to deploy for action in the Pacific theatre.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M1941_J...
M1941 Johnson rifle: full disassembly & assembly
• M1941 Johnson rifle: f...
Don't try to recreate what you see in this video, as this is gameplay. This video was created using the game World of Guns:
store.steampowered.com/app/262...
This game is also available on Google Play, App Store, Amazon and other platforms.

[@tsmgguy]

The worst thing that can be said about the M1941 Johnson rifle is that it works very well. It's reliable and very accurate. The M1941 was universally liked by the US Marines who used it in the Pacific during WWII. Unlike the Garand, the magazine can be topped off with single rounds with the bolt closed and a round chambered. The rifle is easily cleaned after removing only the barrel. Since the rifle is operated by recoil rather than gas, there's no powder fouling anywhere except the barrel, which is cleaned from the breech end.

[@disguy4948]

But it did use too many small parts that could be lost during a field strip

[@zekebrawner5463]

Also the garand can be topped off with clip inside

[@tsmgguy]

@@disguy4948 Depends upon what is meant by "field strip". For normal cleaning it's necessary to only remove the barrel in a 30 second operation. Everything else is a wipe-down. If the bolt is removed for whatever reason, then you get to keep track of the extractor, bolt handle, bolt stop plate, and bolt stop.

[@RicardoM-nc7qu]

Just wonder how the “rotary” magazine would in combat, dirt, mud, etc….

[@tsmgguy]

The loading gate seals the magazine opening pretty well. The US Marines apparently had no problems with it.@@RicardoM-nc7qu

[@bad74maverick1]

I have a first model 41' Johnson rifle, no letter prefix no bolt hold open. Took me 30 years to afford it. I would take nothing for it! I love it. It's soul is still in service today. When Melvin Johnson's company went under he went to work for his friend, Eugene Stoner. Stoner liked his '41 design and incorporated the bolt design in his AR rifle design.

[@casekocsk]

If only the reloading process is as easy/fast as in this clip.

[@harrymu148]

gotta be brave and stick your thumb in deep.

[@GEFpickupman2134]

Haven’t seen or thought about this gun app in 8 years, nostalgia

[@MaxwellAerialPhotography]

It becomes obvious pretty quickly how much this design influence Eugene Stoner and the AR-10. Which is not surprising given that Melvin Johnson worked for Armalite during the 50’s.

[@bandicam-ss8fn]

short recoil is pretty interesting for semi-automatic rifle

[@myusername3689]

Nowadays the only well known semi rifle that’s recoil operated is the Barrett and the Lynx.

[@harrymu148]

@@myusername3689 I believe the Lynx is long recoil operated too

[@cryhavoc9748]

Thanks.....never heard of this weapon before.

[@9m119refleks]

america's other ww2 rifle, primarily used by netherland

[@alfamontydog]

@@9m119refleks If the Netherlands had not put in a large order for their forces in the far east this rifle probably would have never gone in production,too bad the US government did not want it as a secondary rifle.

[@cody4516]

This gun looks like a pregnant M1 Garand

[@tsmgguy]

Talk about a self-loading rifle!

[@claudiomartinez3412]

Buen Video !!!!

[@drunkenmoosecorp8878]

Very interesting, I wonder how reliable this rifle really was.

[@toe_grips]

It seems like the only real problem it had was that it was a bitch to load, a problem that could have easily been remedied with the same kind of development the M1 had received, the timing just wasn't right.

[@bad74maverick1]

It was said to be excellent in reliability. When Melvin Johnson's company went under he went to work for his best friend and told him his design was was "tested and true". His friend, Eugene Stoner went on to use the Johnson's bolt operation in his AR series of rifles. Part of the Johnson rifle lives on today in the AR.

[@josemoreno3334]

@@bad74maverick1 Your right. Same info from Forgotten Weapons.

[@bad74maverick1]

@@josemoreno3334 Yep, Ian knows his stuff. I love my 41'. It's a bit more accurate than either of my M1's. It's a first production no prefix, so it's only negative is no bolt hold open on mine.

[@alfamontydog]

@@toe_grips Not hard to load as long as you do it with the bolt closed.....Load stripper clip 5 rounds,cycle bolt,load 5 more +1 extra,now you have 3 more than the M1. The trick is not to shoot until it's empty,just keep reloading,single rounds or on 5 round clips.

[@Dirty_Diesel_Gabe]

I want to see the lmg version of this gun

[@ottocarr3688]

Look on utube for an evaluation. It competed unsuccessfully against the M1 Garand for adoption by the U.S. military in WW2.

[@harrymu148]

the M1 was practically already adopted when the johnson came into the picture. they were comparable but not that much better to renege on existing commitments at the time.

[@fastflow7792]

So interesting gun, who agree with me like a comment

[@chinesecat8591]

Yes

[@heraclitus6100]

no.

[@evergreengaming2.053]

Yes

[@f804.de.ruyter]

So glad atleast the dutch adopted it

[@alfamontydog]

Yes, if it had not been for the Dutch government ordering the Johnson for its far east colonies it would likely never have gone into production.

[@laalisahgibaga1950]

Thats the m1 garand with drum magazine 😅

[@alfamontydog]

Not even close, totally different operating systems.

[@VeryProPlayerYesSir1122]

the trigger group and head of the bolt look like AR.

[@bad74maverick1]

Melvin Johnson was Eugene Stoners best friend. When Johnson's company went under, Johnson went to work for stoner and stoner liked his 1941 design. He used it in his new design, the AR series rifle.

[@u.m.9931]

The AR-15 resembles several features from different rifles: Locking system similar to Johnson Automatic Rifle Gas system from Swedish Ljungman AG42B In-line stock to help with manageability during auto fire Hinged upper/lower from FN-FAL Rear sight in carry handle like British EM2 Ejector port cover from MP44

[@mushroom11g55]

Damn all this time I thought that whole bullet flew out to hit the target, not just the tip!

[@f804.de.ruyter]

That is fr how children think guns work

[@myusername3689]

@@f804.de.ruyter And how a lot of the media thinks guns work.

[@WKZworks]

I would like to have one. There's one that shows up every once in a blue moon at my local gun shows. Last time I saw it, the guy wanted $1500 for the rifle, but that was at least 2019 when I saw it. Does anyone know if it's safe to shoot full power .30-06 in it or should it stick to lower power M2 ball?

[@harrymu148]

I think you'd have to experiment with it. it's recoil operated so it can't be too light but it can't be too hot or the pressure would be too high on extraction.

[@TheGrenadier97]

Not bad, but the recoiling barrel is quite odd.

[@gmh3]

no it isn't, short recoil is quite a common system

[@TheGrenadier97]

Not for rifles.

[@gmh3]

@@TheGrenadier97 not for modern rifles perhaps but historically it's not much rarer than any other system

[@OwnedEpicStyle]

@@TheGrenadier97 the SMG-45 from LWRC has a reciprocating barrel as well

[@f804.de.ruyter]

@@TheGrenadier97 m107

[@bendrenth441]

Theoretically, could the feed system work with shotgun shells?

[@Neo2Rus]

Why not? It just requires some modifications.

[@twistedyogert]

Why wasn't this thing used?

[@scopehumble1192]

Cartridge?

[@reynaldoflores4522]

A 10-shot rotary rifle.

[@pimpompoom93726]

How much did this rifle cost compared to the Garand? Anyone?

[@harrymu148]

I'd imagine that the johnson, due to rarity and low adoption alone would be much more expensive, although both are rare as it is today.

[@user-ih3ls9he7l]

Так вот откуда вырасла м16

[@jaroslawziedarski6913]

Paratropers US Army carabiner ll war!!! Wow para sniper carabiner

[@charleybarley939]

2 more cartridges and no "Garand thumb." What's not to like?

[@juanordonezgalban2278]

No bayonet because of the recipricating barrel. Aparently the army made a big deal of this.

[@nicenic]

When someone says I like furry uw- Me:

[@maerinon9957]

this weapon din't use in ww2 but they use this in cold war or vietnam war like this in comment pls😊

[@weswolever7477]

Mae Rinon the Johnson rifle was used in WW2. But it wasn’t widely issued.

[@iconofsin5886]

They were too expensive to make, but some Marines did have the pleasure of using them until more M1 Garands came out and had to give these rifles back. The Marines liked them better than the M1.

[@meoandanh2260]

I hope this gun will be added to PUBG

[@OwnedEpicStyle]

Lol

[@cristian_dorin95]

cod ww2 starting rifle, not a bad gun.

[@nocturnalrecluse1216]

Anyone else brought here by battlefield IV?

[@goast_the_vixen7428]

Don't you mean v

[@leonardmoriarity7066]

0

[@meo-toph6002]

im here cuz of HOI4

[@hakimski5562]

Lllllllllollllllllllllqq

[@smiteXD]

Wish I can fire it in pubg