Artillery
Soviet 122mm D30 Cannon
The D30 is a Soviet 122mm multi-role gun introduced in the 1960s and still in use around the world today. It has a somewhat unusual 3-leg mount that is slower to set up than a […]
Russia
Commentary
AS Val, VSS Vintorez, OTs-14 Groza, and more: 9x39mm with Max Popenker
Today we welcome back Max Popenker of ModernFirearms.net to discuss the Soviet and Russian development of the 9x39mm suppressed rifle cartridge. From the early unsuccessful and sidetracked efforts to replace the PBS suppressor through the […]
Interview
Q&A 31: Russian and Soviet Arms w/ Max Popenker
We are joined today by Max Popenker to answer your questions about Soviet and Russian firearms: 00:32 – Russian-contract Colt 1911 pistols 01:33 – Clarification on SVD accuracy standards 02:57 – Is the PSO-1 BDC […]
General Purpose MGs
History of the PK, PKM, and Pecheneg w/ Max Popenker
I’m happy to be joined once again by Russian small arms historian Max Popenker, for a discussion of the development of the Kalashnikov PK machine gun. This is universally regarded as one of the best […]
Conversion
German-Capture 1910 Russian Maxim in 8×57
This is a very interesting WW1 heavy machine gun. It is a Russian M1910 Maxim that was repaired at some point using the brass jacket from a 1905 Russian Maxim. This may have been done […]
Prototype
History of the SVD Dragunov with Max Popenker
Russian small arms researcher Max Popenker joins us again today, and this time he is discussing the history and development of the Dragunov rifle. We start from the desire to match longer-ranged NATO forces and […]
Commentary
Russian Gun Laws w/ Max Popenker
Only two days left to get in on the preorder for my book, Chassepot to FAMAS! Get your copy today! Today Max Popenker joins me again, this time to explain the state of guns laws today […]
Interview
Developmental History of the AK with Max Popenker
I am very happy to be joined today via Skype by Russian small arms researcher Max Popenker. You may know Max from his nearly 20 years publishing Modern Firearms, one of the original small arms […]
Shotgun
Nikita Kruschev’s MTs-11 Communist Party Shotgun
This shotgun is lot #1256 at Morphy’s April 2019 auction. Presented to Nikita Kruschev at the opening of the 21st session of the Communist Party session in 1959, this is an example of the best […]
Select-fire Rifles
The Soviet Jackhammer: Shooting an AVS-36
This rifle is lot #1019 at Morphy’s April 2019 auction. Yesterday we looked at the history and mechanics of the Soviet AVS-36 battle rifle, and today we are taking it out to the range. As […]