Machine Guns - Forgotten Weapons

M60: Its Purpose, Mechanics, and Development

February 25, 2022 Ian McCollum 115

The concept for the M60 began at the end of World War Two, when US Ordnance officers became very interested in the German concept of a universal machine gun (originally conceived by the Danes, but […]

Suomi Compensator Comparison – Does It Work?

February 19, 2022 Ian McCollum 11

In February of 1943, new production Suomi submachine guns began to include a 10-point compensator built into the barrel shroud. This pattern, really the only substantial variation in Finnish military m/31 production, was identified as […]

North Korean Type 73: A PK That Uses Both Mags and Belts

February 18, 2022 Ian McCollum 28

Many of the small arms developed in North Korea show substantial Czechoslovakian influence, and the Type 73 machine gun is no exception. Based on the concept of the Czech 52/57 light machine gun, the Type […]

The Short-Lived Suomi SMG for Armored Vehicle Mounts

January 31, 2022 Ian McCollum 14

Prior to the Winter War, Finland had just a few armored vehicles; mostly armored cars. These needed some armament, and one idea put forth was to fit an m/31 Suomi to a ball mount inside […]

Stemple STG-34k at the Range

January 8, 2022 Ian McCollum 24

Today’s video is the Stemple STG-34k at the range…but if I’m going to be honest, it was mostly just an excuse for me to try it out for fun. 🙂 It’s definitely the least practical […]

Stemple Makes a Star Wars Blaster: the STG-34k

January 7, 2022 Ian McCollum 8

One of the best-looking versions of the Stemple is, I believe, the STG-34k. This was the result of BRP obtaining a whole bunch of MG-34 parts kits as part of a separate project to make […]

Suomi Korsu: A Special Mannerheim Line Bunker SMG

January 3, 2022 Ian McCollum 16

The “Korsu” is a special version of the Suomi made for use in the bunkers of the Mannerheim Line. When construction on the Line really kicked into high gear in the summer of 1939, is […]

Soviet DS-39 Heavy Machine Gun at the Range

December 31, 2021 Ian McCollum 13

The DS-39 is an air-cooled heavy machine gun designed by Degtyarev, which was intended to replace the 1910 Maxim as the standard Soviet HMG. It was lighter and more mobile than the Maxim, and also […]

Lahti-Saloranta LS-26 LMG at the Range

December 18, 2021 Ian McCollum 10

I had a chance to shoot an LS26 once before, but without the benefit of a magazine loading tool – and so I could only get 4 or 5 rounds into the mag. This time, […]

Lahti-Saloranta LS-26: Finland’s Domestic LMG

December 17, 2021 Ian McCollum 28

Finland’s first domestic light machine gun was the LS-26. The prime designer was Aimo Lahti, but because of his relative inexperience and lack of formal credentials, Lieutenant A.E. Saloranta was assigned to assist him. The […]