Commentary - Forgotten Weapons

Why the M7 and 6.8x51mm are Bad Ideas: Welcome to my TED Talk

December 6, 2025 Ian McCollum 44

NATO Cold War Battle Rifles and much more: https://www.headstamppublishing.com Cappy Army video on the SIG M7A1: CBJ Armor Piecing ammunition: The plan to replace the 5.56mm M4 Carbine with the 6.8mm M7 as the US […]

M2 Carbine vs MP44 Sturmgewehr (w/ John Keene)

August 30, 2025 Ian McCollum 47

Today we are considering two late World War Two rifles: the American M2 Carbine and the German MP-44 Sturmgewehr. Which would you take into combat? The Sturmgewehr is certainly iconic, with a more powerful cartridge, […]

Pick One: G1 (FAL) vs G3 (H&K) w/ John Keene

August 2, 2025 Ian McCollum 49

If you had to pick one, would you take a G1 (FAL) or a G3 (H&K)? Both are 7.62mm NATO rifles adopted by Germany. The G1 has more features and capabilities, like the carry handle, […]

SIG’s Real P320 Problem is no Longer Uncommanded Discharges

July 27, 2025 Ian McCollum 111

Penguin Brutality patch and t-shirt available from Varusteleka: https://www.varusteleka.com/en/product/forgotten-weapons-penguin-brutality-t-shirt/81986 The problem of the P320 has evolved past the actual mechanical issue with the pistol – which still hasn’t actually bee identified. The problem is actually […]

.50 BMG and the Geneva Convention

July 22, 2025 Ian McCollum 36

Adorable Penguin Brutality shirt available from Varusteleka: https://www.varusteleka.com/en/product/forgotten-weapons-penguin-brutality-t-shirt/81986?option=81709 I’m sure you’ve heard the one about how targeting an enemy soldier with a .50 BMG is a war crime, but targeting his belt buckle is okay […]

ATF Hates This One Trick to Get a Short Barreled Shotgun!

July 20, 2025 Ian McCollum 16

How can you have a 12ga with a 14″ barrel but not have it be an NFA-regulated Short Barreled Shotgun? And how can you have a .410 shotgun-firing pistol that isn’t an NFA-regulated Any Other […]

Valmet M78 vs FN-D (w/ John Keene)

July 12, 2025 Ian McCollum 46

If you had to pick one, would you take a Valmet M78 (in 7.62mm NATO) or an FN-D (in .30-06)? Both are reliable and well-made machine guns and they use essentially the same caliber. The […]

Jonathan Ferguson: British Military AR15s & Flintlock Revolvers

June 29, 2025 Ian McCollum 0

Jonathan’s book, “Thorneycroft to SA80”: https://www.headstamppublishing.com/bullpup-rifle-book “Clockwork Basilisk: The Early Revolvers of Elisha Collier”: https://www.headstamppublishing.com/collier-book “Who Invented the Wheelgun?”: https://www.headstamppublishing.com/purchase/p/wheelgun Armax Journal: https://www.armaxjournal.org Jonathan’s flintlock revolver article:

Red Dots: How Cheap is too Cheap? (featuring Mike Branson)

February 7, 2025 Ian McCollum 2

I met up with Mike Branson of Gideon Optics at SHOT Show 2025. Today, we are talking about red dot price and quality. It’s easy to get a good red dot if you are willing […]

Rate of Fire: What Determines it and How to Change It

January 17, 2025 Ian McCollum 48

What determines the rate of fire of a machine gun, and how can that rate of fire be determined or changed from a design perspective? Let’s talk about pressure, mass, and distance…