Semiauto Rifles - Forgotten Weapons

History of the Monolithic Polymer AR: From Colt to KE Arms

December 5, 2020 Ian McCollum 23

Today we are taking a look at the history of the monolithic polymer AR-15 lower receiver. By “monolithic” I mean a design which integrates the receiver, grip, and buttstock all into a single unit, rather […]

Elbonian M52/57/61 Paratrooper Carbine

November 29, 2020 Ian McCollum 41

In 1960, Elbonia set out an RFP for a new carbine for a fledgling paratroop brigade. They wanted a rifle to provide a higher volume of firepower for these troops, rather like the intention of […]

CETME Paratrooper Top-Folding Stock

October 16, 2020 Ian McCollum 5

Spain adopted the CETME Modelo B rifle for service in 1958. These early rifles were chambered for the reduced-pressure 7.62mm CETME cartridge, and had a few other unique features. Some of these were made with […]

Polytech AKS – The First Wave of Semiauto Chinese AK Rifles

October 14, 2020 Ian McCollum 14

The first semiauto commercial AK rifles to enter the US were Finnish Valmets. These established a US collector interested but while excellent in quality, they did not quite fit the visual pattern of the classic […]

The Last Swiss Battle Rifle: SIG-Manurhin 542 (in .243)

October 12, 2020 Ian McCollum 12

After the failure of the SIG 530 rifle (a gas operated, roller locked design), SIG looked for a much simpler rifle design, in both operation and manufacture. Wheat they came up with was fundamentally AK-like, […]

North Vietnamese SKS

October 2, 2020 Ian McCollum 3

North Vietnam set up a small arms factory north of Hanoi (12km north of Yên Bái, to be specific) with the assistance of Chinese factory #296, starting in 1959. The goal was for this to […]

AZ PCC Championship: 10 Stages of Hotchkiss Universal!

October 1, 2020 Ian McCollum 16

Every year, the Rio Salado Sportsman’s Club host’s the Arizona PCC (Pistol-Caliber Carbine) Championships. I signed up initially planning to use my Calico carbine, but my travel schedule kept me form getting the gun in […]

Big-Bore Simplicity: the Serbu BFG-50A

September 25, 2020 Ian McCollum 35

The Serbu BFG-50A is one of only a couple self-loading .50 caliber rifles manufactured in the US. Work on its design began in 2008, and the first finished examples were produced in 2011. A total […]

The CETME-L and the CETME-LC at the Range

September 19, 2020 Ian McCollum 2

Today I am out at the range to do some side-by-side shooting with the CETME-L and the CETME-LC. These are both MarColMar examples, in the original Spanish military configuration (ie, iron sights only). The LC […]

CETME LC: Last of the Roller-Delayed Carbines

September 18, 2020 Ian McCollum 2

The Spanish adopted the 5.56mm CETME-L rifle in the mid 1980s, although they only used it until the late 1990s, when it was replaced by the G36. One of the sub variants made was the […]