Q&A - Forgotten Weapons

Ask Ian: My Most Unsafe Range Experience (Incoming Rounds!)

September 8, 2022 Ian McCollum 11

From Brian on Patreon: “What’s the dumbest or most unsafe thing you’ve ever witnessed while out shooting in the desert or at a range / match?” That would definitely be when a pair of totally […]

Ask Ian: Are Man-Portable Chain Guns Coming?

September 1, 2022 Ian McCollum 38

From Nikolas on Patreon: “Have there been any attempts to make miniaturized man-portable chain guns? Do you think there’s a future for such a machine gun given modern advances in energy storage?” Chain guns are […]

Ask Ian: Analyzing the Savage Rotating Barrel (at 7500 frames/sec)

August 23, 2022 Ian McCollum 24

A question I have been asked by several different people in several Q&A threads is: “Does the Savage rotating-barrel system actually do anything?” In his 1905 patent, Elbert Searle specifically claims that his design creates […]

Ask Ian: Tractors to Typewriters, Non-Gun Companies Making Guns?

August 18, 2022 Ian McCollum 52

From Brian on Patreon: “Would you give your thoughts and comments on non-gun companies making guns? For example Baldwin Locomotive/Eddystone 1917s, IH Garands, GM M-16s, most M-1 carbines, maybe even TRW M-14s. How did the […]

Ask Ian – What Was the Best WW2 Rifle Cartridge?

August 4, 2022 Ian McCollum 97

From crablegs21 on Utreon: “In your opinion and in hindsight, which country had the most optimized cartridge for the their primary infantry rifle for WWII? Additionally, which country would have benefited most by switching to […]

Ask Ian: Why Didn’t The M3 Grease Gun use Thompson Mags?

July 28, 2022 Ian McCollum 21

From Richard on Patreon: “Why didn’t the M3 and M3A1 (grease gun) have a double stack/double feed mag and use the Thompson mag? It would have certainly simplified logistics.” The answer to the first part […]

Ask Ian: Why Not a Semiauto BAR Instead of the Garand?

July 26, 2022 Ian McCollum 46

From Jack on Patreon: “Why did the US go on to develop the M1 Garand instead of continuing development of the BAR? With the BAR you already have a self-loading rifle with as much firepower […]

Ask Ian: Progressive Twist (Gain Twist) in Small Arms?

July 21, 2022 Ian McCollum 25

From Jamie on Utreon: “I know naval gatling guns like the 20mm CIWS uses gain twist rifling, but are or were there any commercial or military small arms that used gain twist rifling?” Yes, there […]

Ask Ian: History and Development of Pinfire Cartridges

July 19, 2022 Ian McCollum 29

From Nintendoeats on Utreon: “Modern centerfire and rimfire cartridges seem (to the casual observer) like they would always have been the simplest cartridge types to make. Why was pinfire ever used, and how was it […]

Ask Ian: Did the Finns Hate the Carcano?

July 14, 2022 Ian McCollum 30

Asked by Prmetime on Utreon: In WW2, Finland was given approximately 100,000 Carcano M38 rifles in 7.35 Carcano. I have heard it stated that the Finns didn’t like the rifles. Can you comment on the […]