This video from Brownells Gun Techs™ discusses the optimal barrel length for an AR-15 platform. It delves into the popularity of shorter barrels like the 13.7-inch, comparing their performance and handling characteristics to the traditional 16-inch carbine barrel. The experts cover factors such as bullet velocity with different bullet weights, compactness for competition and personal defense, legal requirements for barrel length (SBR tax stamp), and the impact on rifle balance. They also briefly touch upon the downsides of barrels shorter than 10.5 inches and the minimal benefits of longer barrels (20-24 inches), ultimately suggesting an 18-inch barrel as a good all-around performer for standard bullet weights and offering insights into barrel thickness and heat management for accuracy.
This "From the Vault" video from Brownells showcases a pristine, early production M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) from 1918, found at Rock Island Auction Co. Gunsmiths Keith Ford and Caleb Savant delve into the BAR's history, highlighting its intended 'walking fire' tactic, its role as a precursor to modern Squad Automatic Weapons, and its unique features like a shorter buttstock and lack of a bipod on early models. The video also details the specialized belt rig for hip firing, the safety-selector design, and historical anecdotes, including its limited WWI deployment and later use by Clyde Barrow. The rarity of an early M1918 BAR, potentially handled by John Moses Browning himself, makes this a significant historical piece.
This "From the Vault" episode from Brownells Gun Techs® Caleb and Keith explores the Finnish Valmet M76 and M82 rifles, variants of the AK-47. The M76, a semi-auto civilian version of the RK 62, is detailed with its tubular folding stock, 3-prong flash hider, and tritium front sight. The M82 is presented as a compact bullpup redesign of the M76, originally intended for paratroopers. The video highlights their Cold War-era aesthetic and provides insights into their development and limited production numbers, referencing their connection to the Israeli Galil.
This video features Brownells Gun Techs Keith Ford and Steve Ostrem at Rock Island Auction Co., showcasing a Weatherby Mark V Crown Grade rifle from the 1960s/70s, chambered in .300 Weatherby Magnum. They delve into the rifle's history, its powerful NINE-lug bolt action designed by Roy Weatherby and Fred Jennie, and its impressive ballistics compared to the .300 Win Mag. The discussion also touches upon the rifle's aesthetic appeal, its association with famous individuals, and manufacturing origins in Germany, Japan, and the US. The video highlights the rifle's blend of performance and style, noting how its ornate engraving and high-polish finish represent a past era's definition of luxury.
This video from Brownells' Smyth Busters series, featuring Steve and Caleb at the 2022 NRA convention, tackles the crucial question of whether it's safe to store a home defense firearm loaded. They clarify 'loaded' to mean either a round in the chamber with a full magazine or a full magazine without a round in the chamber. The core of their advice centers on gun access, emphasizing that if children or unauthorized adults have access, a gun safe is essential. For those concerned about accessibility in emergencies, they recommend quick-access gun safes. Ultimately, the message is to ensure only authorized adults can access a loaded home defense firearm, highlighting the importance of responsible storage.
This video, "Smyth Busters: Is it Ethical To Hunt Deer With a .223?", tackles a common debate in the hunting community. The "Smyth Busters" duo, Caleb and Steve, argue that the .223 Remington caliber can be ethical for whitetail deer hunting, contrary to popular belief. They emphasize that the key factors are the type of ammunition used (specifically bullets designed to expand) and the shooter's skill in landing precise shots on vital areas. The video debunks the myth that larger calibers are always necessary, highlighting advancements in .223 ammunition and the fact that some states now permit its use for deer hunting. They explicitly advise against using military ball or penetrator rounds like M855 for this purpose, recommending expanding bullets for maximum tissue damage and a quick, clean kill.
This 'Smyth Busters' episode from Brownells Gun Techs debunks the myth that shooting jacketed ammunition can effectively clean lead fouling from a firearm's barrel. While FMJ rounds might remove loose powder and lube residue, they tend to smear lead deeper into the rifling. The video emphasizes that proper lead removal requires dedicated bore solvents, cleaning rods, and manual effort. It also briefly mentions a specific recommendation for AR-15 owners using .22 LR rimfire conversions.
This video debunks the myth that custom firearms are unaffordable for the average person. Featuring Brownells Gun Techs Steve Ostrem and Caleb Savant alongside master pistolsmith Bobby Tyler of Tyler Gun Works, the video details the process of customizing a Ruger Blackhawk in .45 Long Colt. They cover an 'Accuracy Package' including barrel work and trigger enhancements, as well as aesthetic choices like a Bisley grip frame, Turkish walnut grips, color-casing, and custom engraving. The final cost is revealed, proving that custom gun ownership is within reach.
This video debunks the myth that all hollow-point bullets are designed to expand. Brownells Gun Techs Steve and Caleb explain that while handgun hollow-points and many hunting rifle hollow-points (like Sierra GameKing) are designed for expansion to increase terminal ballistics, match-grade target hollow-points utilize the cavity for a centered air bubble to improve the ballistic coefficient by reducing air resistance. They also note that hollow-point construction can be easier to manufacture uniformly than solid points, which are more susceptible to damage during handling. The video clearly illustrates that the function of a hollow-point varies based on its intended application.
This video showcases the incredibly rare Kolibri, recognized as the smallest centerfire pistol ever produced. Expert firearm historians from Brownells and Rock Island Auction Co. delve into its history, design, and functionality. The Kolibri, a miniature replica of the Steyr Model 1908, is chambered in a tiny 2.7mm caliber and was marketed as a self-defense tool for women. Despite its diminutive size, it features a reciprocating slide and a detachable magazine. The video highlights the exceptional condition of the featured Kolibri, including its nickel plating, mint grips, original case, and even original ammunition.
This video from Smyth Busters features Brownells Gun Techs Steve and Caleb debunking the myth that storing a firearm leaning against a wall can bend the barrel. They explain that due to the extremely strong steel construction of firearm barrels, the weight of the gun itself is insufficient to cause any permanent deformation. The myth is definitively busted, with the techs humorously stating that a building would collapse before the barrel bends from such pressure.
This video provides an in-depth look at the MAC-10 submachine pistol from the Brownells collection, hosted at Rock Island Auction Company. Gun Techs Keith Ford and Caleb Savant highlight its design by Gordon Ingram and the suppressor development by Mitch WerBell. The discussion covers its compact, blowback-operated mechanism, its intended police and military markets that didn't materialize, and its subsequent adoption by Hollywood. The video details the MAC-10's simple two-setting selector (SAFE and AUTO), its less-than-ergonomic design, and its reputation for reliability and low manufacturing cost. A personal anecdote about surplus MAC-10 investments is also shared, emphasizing the enduring "Coolness Factor" of this iconic firearm.
