Ian McCollum - Forgotten Weapons

RWGŁ-3: Poland’s Riot Squad AK-Based Tear Gas Launcher

December 26, 2022 Ian McCollum 5

When Polish workers held massive protests in Poznań against the communist Polish government in 1956, the Army was sent in to quell the unrest. In the aftermath of these events, the government decided to create […]

Guadalcanal’s Red Beach Landing: America’s First Offensive in WW2

December 24, 2022 Ian McCollum 11

After joining (formally) World War Two in the wake of Pearl Harbor, the United States endured a series of defeats at the hands of the Japanese. The Philippines garrison fell, Wake Island fell, Guam fell. […]

Błyskawica: The Polish Home Army’s Clandestine SMG

December 23, 2022 Ian McCollum 14

The Blyskawica (“LIghtning”) is an SMG developed in occupied Poland to be issued out to Home Army units during Operation Tempest; the liberation uprisings planned for the advance of the Red Army into Poland. The […]

Ask Ian: .223 vs 5.56 and “Military Grade Ammo”

December 22, 2022 Ian McCollum 14

From Michal on Patreon: “Can you talk about difference between .223 Remington and 5.56 NATO? Or in more general terms about possibility of using military grade ammo in civilian rifles. I heard everything from ‘it […]

From Aircraft to Improvised Infantry: the Vickers MkI No2

December 21, 2022 Ian McCollum 21

The Vickers MkI No2 was an improvisation of the British Royal Air Force. They needed arms for airbase defense, without unduly impacting the production of weapons for the infantry. Wheat they had a good supply […]

Book Review: Vickers Guide Heckler & Koch Volume 1

December 20, 2022 Ian McCollum 1

Only available direct from Vickers Guide. The Vickers Guide series of books by Larry Vickers and James Rupley began as beautifully photographed firearms art books – and that’s all they claim to be today. However, […]

RWGŁ-2: An AK/Mosin Hybrid Gas Launcher

December 19, 2022 Ian McCollum 9

When Polish workers held massive protests in Poznań against the communist Polish government in 1956, the Army was sent in to quell the unrest. In the aftermath of these events, the government decided to create […]

Bonus: MSBS Grot at the Range (Standard, Bullpup, & 7.62mm)

December 18, 2022 Ian McCollum 5

After touring the Fabryka Broni factory in Radom and filming the history of the MSBS “Grot” development, I had the chance to try out the rifle in several different configurations. We didn’t have time to […]

The History of Drop-In Auto Sears

December 17, 2022 Ian McCollum 19

When Colt decided to sell a semiauto-only civilian version of its AR-15 rifle, it had to make a number of changes to the design of the lower receiver to prevent full-auto fire control parts from […]

Ask Ian: What is Headspace? (And Why It Matters)

December 16, 2022 Ian McCollum 16

From LongBeef on Patreon: “What exactly is headspace? And how important is headspace in old milsurp guns vs. more modern guns?” Headspace is basically the amount of play a cartridge has in a chamber. There […]