Rifles - Forgotten Weapons

Shooting the RSC-1918 and RSC-1917 French Autoloaders

September 15, 2017 Ian McCollum 25

The day has come to do some shooting with an RSC-1918 – and an RSC-1917 as well! The 1917 was the first selfloading rifle to see substantial combat use, with just over 85,000 manufactured in […]

France’s Ultimate WW1 Selfloading Rifle: The RSC-1918

September 14, 2017 Ian McCollum 23

The French RSC-1917 semiauto rifle was a major step forward in arms technology during World War One, offering a reliable and effective self-loading rifle for issue to squad leaders, expert marksmen, and other particularly […]

Shooting the Norinco QBZ/Type 97 NSR

September 9, 2017 Ian McCollum 27

Today it’s time to take the Norinco QBZ-97 – aka Type 97 NSR – out to the range for some shooting! This is the Canadian semiautomatic-only legal version of China’s new military rifle, and it […]

Mechanics and Disassembly of the Norinco QBZ-97 / Type 97 NSR

September 8, 2017 Ian McCollum 22

The Chinese military introduced a new 5.8x42mm cartridge in 1987, and then developed a new bullpup rifle to use it. The rifle was the QBZ Type 95, and it was a bullpup rifle with a […]

Stendebach Model 1936: Rotary Mag Toggle Delayed Experiment

September 7, 2017 Ian McCollum 12

There is very little documentation existing to explain the history of this rifle – all we really know is that per the receiver markings it is a Model 1936 Stendebach, and that it was brought […]

Reising Model 60 – A Wartime Semiauto Carbine

September 3, 2017 Ian McCollum 23

The Reising Model 60 was the semiautomatic-only variant of the Reising Model 50 submachine gun. Offered side by side with the submachine guns, the Model 60 was also chambered for .45ACP and used the same […]

Professional Ordnance Carbon-15: A Super-Light AWB AR-15

September 1, 2017 Ian McCollum 16

The Professional Ordnance Carbon-15 was developed during the assault weapons ban in the United States as a way to market a pistol version of an AR15 action without exceeding the weight limit imposed by legislation. […]

Pattern 14 MKI W (T) – The Best Sniper Rifle of World War One

August 30, 2017 Ian McCollum 14

When World War One began, the British did not have a formal sniping program, and by 1915 the British found themselves thoroughly outclassed by the Germans in this area. They responded by developing tactics and […]

Chaffee Reece Model 1882: A Good Idea on Paper…

August 29, 2017 Ian McCollum 8

Patented in 1879 by Reuben Chaffee and General James Reece, the Chaffee-Reece rifle is an excellent example of how an idea that seems good on paper can easily become untenable in a fielded rifle. The […]

Roper Repeating Rifle – An Early Type of Cartridge

August 27, 2017 Ian McCollum 47

While the design for the Roper rifle and shotgun originally came form Sylvester Roper, Christopher Spencer played a very significant role in its production. When sales of the Spencer lever action rifle dissolved at the […]