Alex is a Senior Writer for The Firearm Blog and Director of TFBTV.
The German FG42 (Fallschirmjägergewehr 42) was a rifle designed as a multi-role combat small arm for airborne troops that was part rifle and part light machine gun. Only about 10,000 were made during WWII, but the design was very influential after the conflict ended (especially in the USA). A [Read More…]
Even the most well respected gun companies produce a lemon from time to time, and the 61 is one of Smith’s. In this field strip, we rip apart a S&W 61-3 .22 caliber pistol to show what makes this little gun tick.
The Steyr M9A1 is “the other” striker fired, polymer pistol from Austria. This lesser known handgun is an often overlooked offering on the market, and by popular request we are going to give it a nice review here on TFBTV.
The German K98k served Nazi Germany from the mid 1930s until the end of World War II, and was by far the most prolific German small arm during the conflict. The rifle is essentially a shorter, lighter, and handier version of the old Gewehr 98 rifles with some tweaks and modifications to make it more [Read More…]
H&K became a household name because of their rifles, but their innovative pistols certainly shouldn’t be overlooked either. In this episode of TFBTV we shoot the VP70 pistol, the first handgun ever to make use of a polymer frame.
The H&K MP5 is the world’s greatest submachinegun, and its sales even 50 years after its introduction are quite strong. So let us take a look at what makes the greatest SMG of all time tick in this field strip.
The Remington Model 51 is an example of how added complexity results in additional benefits to the shooter without compromising reliability. These .380 or .32acp pistols sold reasonably well over the course of about a decade, and is arguably one of the most interesting pistols ever made (sharing [Read More…]
The Walther Gewehr 41 is a mechanically interesting rifle that was adopted by the German military during WWII. Over 100,000 were made, and it uses an interesting operating method known as the “bang” system that traps gas after the muzzle and uses it to self load. This system is known for [Read More…]
The “Little Tom” pistols were offered in both .25 and .32acp starting in about 1909, and they stand in history as the first double/single action semi-automatic pistols ever made. This example is in .32acp and we do a bit of shooting with this early self loader, and showcase its unique [Read More…]
The classic American M1917 revolver was a much needed answer to a very evident problem: not enough standard issue .45acp 1911 pistols to go around. Smith & Wesson and Colt both produced these revolvers at the request of the US Government, and they served in at least some capacity until Vietnam. [Read More…]
Webley revolvers today truly are symbols of imperial British might, and the MK VI is perhaps the most coveted, as most have been ruined by conversion to fire .45acp (a cartridge that is much more powerful that the .455 Webley loadings). In this video, we do some shooting with a true British icon. [Read More…]
The SKS rifle was once the most popular surplus rifle in the USA, but various import laws and regulations put a damper on its importation. Regardless, these rifles are still quite popular around the country and in this video we show you how to rip yours apart. Transcript … – [Voiceover] [Read More…]
In this installment of InRangeTV, Ian and Karl put the Mosin Nagant 1891/30 to the test. The rifle, as stated in the video, has developed quite a following due to its affordability and availability of surplus ammo (that is getting harder to find these days). So how will the Mosin fare? Will it [Read More…]
The people of Finland have a tradition of taking Russian small arms and tweaking them to better meet their needs. The RK 62 rifle and its variants is a prime example of this: The Finns took the AKM and altered things like the rear sight, stock, safety, and so on until the final product was [Read More…]
The FN FNC is the standard service rifle of Belgium, and the gun that Al Pacino once used to shoot Tom Sizemore with in the face. This piston operated, rotating bolt weapon is an example of how the AK’s piston and bolt arrangement can be paired excellently with ergonomics preferred by Western [Read More…]
The German Sturmgewehr is a rifle that needs no introduction. It is a rifle with a historical mystique that results in them being highly coveted among collectors, but they are fine weapons in their own right. In this video we do some shooting with an old MP43. Transcript … (gun cocking) (gun [Read More…]
The Japanese Arisaka rifles are famous for being ludicrously strong, and the Type 38 was proven to be the strongest of the lot by various post WWII tests. However, does a strong action alone mean that the rifles are fantastic? Well, we take a nice example of a Type 38 to the run and gun […] [Read More…]
The Chinese Type 81 was not a copy of anything else, but a new rifle designed from the ground up in China. Normally chambered in 7.62×39, the rifles have served the PLA since 1981 but on this installment of TFBTV, we shoot an exceptionally rare EM356: A variant intended for the US commercial [Read More…]
The Japanese Type 14 was introduced into Imperial Japanese service in 1906, and was produced until the end of WWII. We have tested this pistol for TFBTV in the past, with less than spectacular results, but we have yet to show the innards of it. In this field strip, we rip apart the Type 14. [Read More…]
The FS2000 is one of the strangest looking firearms that has ever come to market in the USA, but underneath the plastic exterior is a well engineered and reliable action that has seen military adoption in Europe. While the F2000 and its semi-auto only counterpart have never been big sellers, it is a [Read More…]
The French MAS 36 is often dismissed as garbage, if not outright overlooked by most shooters. That is however a shame, as these incredible little rifles have a lot to offer at a very affordable price point. So, let’s take a look at what it can do. Old MAS 36 video: Transcript … – [Read More…]
The nations engaged in World War II all fielded one or more main infantry rifle, and in this episode of TFBTV, we take a look at five that we believe to be the best. Remember this is a list of rifles, so submachineguns, machine guns, assault rifles, and so on are not included. Transcript … [Read More…]
The Gwinn Firearms Bushmaster Rifle is an ugly thing, cursed with a bulky slab-sided aluminum receiver and a blocky overall appearance, but chambered in 5.56 with the ability to accept M16 magazines. So what makes this ugly duckling tick? Transcript … – [Voiceover] Hey guys, it’s [Read More…]
The C96 “Broomhandle” is truly a thing a beauty. This 120 year old design comes from an era when it took a factory staffed by hundreds to create a single pistol, all having made a single pass on a single component. The C96 is an amalgamation of 34 parts working in perfect harmony that to [Read More…]
The Swedish AG42b self loading rifles are simple, robust, and damn fun to shoot. These tilt-locking, direct impingement long guns served the Swedes from the early 40s until the 1960s when they were ditched in favor of the AK4 rifle (a G3 clone). So how will it fare on the run and gun course? AG42 [Read More…]
The FN49 is the predecessor to the famous FN FAL rifle, and the two guns share a lot in common. The way they function is almost identical, but the SAFN looks more conventional than it’s more successful counterpart. So what does the FN49 look like underneath the dust cover? FN 49 Run and Gun [Read More…]
The humble AR-15 / M16 carry handle is often looked down upon by competition and target shooters, but for applications beyond range duty this old school arrangement is convenient as hell. Besides looking neat and retro, carry handles offer convenience and still an excellent set of iron sights. [Read More…]
The M1941 Johnson Rifle is certainly uncommon and underappreciated, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a good piece of hardware. These unique short-recoil operated long guns served the United States well in World War II and were surplussed after the war, selling for less than surplus M1 [Read More…]
Well, I didn’t realize that I had shot this much over the course of this program. This video contains some shooting highlights filmed over the course of producing TFBTV. I sure have made a lot of memories doing this, and we hope you all have enjoyed our content. Special thanks to Ventura [Read More…]
The Rock Island Auction Company has built a very earnest reputation for delivering extremely good customer service and brokering some of the finest (and most coveted) firearms in the world. I personally have done a lot of business with them over the years and I have [Read More…]
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