Q&A
Ask Ian: What Rifles Were the M2-M13?
From Dennis on Patreon: “What rifles were between the M1 Garand and the M14? I went through Basic with an M14 and I know the M15 was supposed to be a BAR replacement. Google doesn’t […]
Video
Select-fire Rifles
Yugoslav M70A: The AK With a Real Magazine Holdopen
Yugoslavia began development of a Kalashnikov pattern rifle in 1959. The Yugoslav rifle would be distinct from the standard Soviet model, as evidenced by features like the gas cutoff for grenade launching and the early […]
Competition
Armatix iP1 Smart Gun at the BackUp Gun Match
Yesterday we looked at the history and the functioning of the Armatix iP1 “smart gun”, and today I’m taking it out to a BackUp Gun Match. How will it perform? Will it cycle reliably? Will […]
Semiauto pistol
Armatix iP1: The Infamous German “Smart Gun”
The Armatix iP1 is a pistol created by former H&K designer Ernst Mauch that was released – or almost released – in the US in late 2013 and early 2014. It is a .22LR caliber […]
Q&A
Ask Ian: Why Does the AR15 Have a Buffer Thingie?
From Arvid on Utreon: “Why does an AR-15 need a buffer thingy? Why can’t it just have a spring like every other normal gun?” The Ar-15 really doesn’t need the buffer and tube, but it […]
Prototype
A Path Less Traveled: IM Metal’s Tavor-Based Prototype for the VHS-1
Today we are continuing to trace the development of the IM Metal / HS Produkt VHS rifles. During this period, Croatia briefly considered adopting the Israeli Tavor rifle. Part of the adoption would have included […]
Q&A
Ask Ian: Why No German WW2 50-Cal Machine Guns? (feat. Nick Moran)
From Nathaniel on Patreon: “Why didn’t Germany or Axis powers have a machine gun similar to the American M2?” Basically, because everyone faced the choice of a .50 caliber machine gun or 20mm (or larger) […]
Semiauto pistol
Star Megastar: Spain’s Massive 10mm Autopistol
In the late 1980s, the Spanish gunmaker Star decided to join the new hot trend of 10mm semiauto pistols. The cartridge was getting a lot of press, and Star saw this as an opportunity too […]
Prototype
Genesis of the VHS: IM Metal Gets a FAMAS
After their abortive effort at designing a bullpup AK conversion, IM Metal (later to become HS Produkt) decided to make another try at developing a rifle for the Croatian Army. This time, they decided to […]
Accessories
CETME-L Handguards: The Poor Early Model and the Later Better One
The early production CETME-L (and CETME-LC) rifles used a thin, fragile, full-length handguard. It was redesigned fairly early in production with a much more durable version that provided better hand insulation. The Spanish Army updated […]