Russia - Forgotten Weapons

DTM: The Soviet Tank Version of the DP-27 LMG

February 8, 2020 Ian McCollum 24

Almost as soon as the Degtyarev DP-27 was put into Soviet military service, variations were developed for aircraft (DA) and tank (DT) use. The tank pattern we have here is actually a later improved DTM […]

Soviet 122mm D30 Cannon

January 4, 2020 Ian McCollum 31

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 […]

AS Val, VSS Vintorez, OTs-14 Groza, and more: 9x39mm with Max Popenker

September 10, 2019 Ian McCollum 14

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 […]

Q&A 31: Russian and Soviet Arms w/ Max Popenker

July 25, 2019 Ian McCollum 10

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 […]

History of the PK, PKM, and Pecheneg w/ Max Popenker

July 9, 2019 Ian McCollum 25

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 […]

German-Capture 1910 Russian Maxim in 8×57

July 8, 2019 Ian McCollum 9

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 […]

History of the SVD Dragunov with Max Popenker

June 27, 2019 Ian McCollum 22

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 […]

Russian Gun Laws w/ Max Popenker

May 30, 2019 Ian McCollum 21

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 […]

Developmental History of the AK with Max Popenker

May 9, 2019 Ian McCollum 61

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 […]

Nikita Kruschev’s MTs-11 Communist Party Shotgun

April 7, 2019 Ian McCollum 21

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 […]