I shot a Kimber .45 sideway for the lols. And I like to think of myself as a decent shot. But when I did that I scraped the bottom of the paper. That is probably the reason many gangstas are still alive, they can't shoot shit.
76)DShK
[img]http://world.guns.ru/machine/dshk_002.jpg[/img]
It can be said that for every small arm used by the United States, Russia always had an equivalent. The Soviet equivalent to Browning's M2 was the DShK "Degtyaryov-Shpagin Large-Calibre". In 1929 the Red Army issued a request for a heavy-caliber machine gun such as the M2 that could be used as an anti-aircraft or vehicle-mounted support weapon.
Designed by the maker of the DP LMG it was essentially the exact same gun scaled up to a new 12.7x109mm bullet. Rather than having a pan magazine it fed from a 30 round removable drum. Although this weapon, the DK, was manufactured and used for a time both on vehicle mounts, as an AA gun and as an infantry support weapon the bulkiness of the magazines made it woefully unsuitable for these tasks. It was produced up until 1935. Then it was updated by Shpagin (future maker of the PPSH) with a belt feed system and adopted in 1938 as the DShK.
This weapon had the same basic characteristics as the M2. One key difference is that it's actually more powerful than .50 BMG since the cartridge is somewhat longer. Another odd feature is the universal mount which rather than being a tripod consists of a wheeled carriage. In spite of this it remains a bit wobbly when firing, resulting in a less-than-ideal effective range for a weapon designed for it's purpose. The fact that it fires from an open bolt does little to help. Since the belt feed system is more of an afterthought it comes in the form of an attachment to the top of the weapon that can only feed from the left side from non-disintegrating belts, it ejects the spent casings downwards. Another problem is that the barrel, while removable is difficult to detach and reattach to the weapon.
Nevertheless it is a very reliable and effective machine gun, performing sterling service in WW2. In spite of it's flaws the "Dooshka" proved itself to be very adequate for all of it's roles when it was needed most. The universal mount system helped make it flexible enough for it to be easily converted from a vehicle-mounted to ground support to an AA gun. They were also issued with shields which were more often than not discarded immediately to save weight.
After WW2 the design was modernized in 1946 as the DShKM.
This weapon swiftly became the standard heavy machine gun of every satellite state, being copied everywhere from Romania to Egypt, Pakistan and least surprising of all, China. It saw use in pretty much every single conflict since WW2, often locking horns with it's nemesis, the M2. We're not just talking small brush fires either, we're talking Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia, Yom-Kippur, the Gulf. As time went on however, it began to fall out of favor. It served well into the 1960's before eventually being replaced with the NSV machine gun which uses the same caliber but is lighter, more flexible and slightly cheaper to manufacture.
But of course that doesn't signal the end of the DShKM's service life. It remains in service with many of the countries that have used it over the years. With next to or over a million made you wouldn't expect them all to just disappear the minute something better shows up. While not as good as the NSV and arguably the M2 it can still kick some ass, something it continues to do today in much the same way as it always has even if only a few countries are still making it. It's distinctive, slow clatter can still be heard in conflict zones from the Middle East to Africa and occasionally Asia as well.
Nice article.
I'm just going to throw this out there, Volcanic Repeating Pistol & Rifle. Powerful? No. But power wasn't everything.
[QUOTE=JoshuaC;16289600]Got WASR?[/QUOTE]
Yes. And Hungarian and whatever billion million of variants.
[QUOTE=KG_1;16299980]Yes. And Hungarian and whatever billion million of variants.[/QUOTE]
There's only Hungarian and Romanian AK 47s along with a couple PSL's in that pic.
:smug:
The DShK is a really awesome looking gun :D
[QUOTE=mugofdoom;16300742]There's only Hungarian and Romanian AK 47s along with a couple PSL's in that pic.
:smug:[/QUOTE]
Oh to ruin a persons fun in real life by pointing that stuff out. Especially when they're selling them.
[QUOTE=Bean-O;16279484]
Also, holding a gun that is reasonably powerful the wrong way can cause the recoil to hurt you. Improper shouldering of powerful rifles or shotguns can severely injure one's shoulders.
[/QUOTE]
World war 2 rifles have some kick huh. ESPECIALLY when put in the shoulder wrong. Get it right, you're fine. get it wrong, world of hurt.
-snipoo-
Do the UMP.
[QUOTE=Lone_Star94;16319314]Do the UMP.[/QUOTE]
It's not a Fantastic Firearm.
Go back to Counter-Strike.
[QUOTE=kirderf;16301436]The DShK is a really awesome looking gun :D[/QUOTE]
I know.
Nintendo should make something that looks like it.
[QUOTE=PrismatexV6;16319329]It's not a Fantastic Firearm.
Go back to Counter-Strike.[/QUOTE]
Okay, you suggest something.
[QUOTE=Lone_Star94;16319507]Okay, you suggest something.[/QUOTE]
Accuracy International Arctic Warfare.
[editline]11:14PM[/editline]
Oh, and before you start screaming "COUNTER-STRIKE"
[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accuracy_International_Arctic_Warfare#Users_.287.62x51_mm_NATO_or_smaller_chamberings.29[/url]
[QUOTE=PrismatexV6;16319517]Accuracy International Arctic Warfare.
[editline]11:14PM[/editline]
Oh, and before you start screaming "COUNTER-STRIKE"
[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accuracy_International_Arctic_Warfare#Users_.287.62x51_mm_NATO_or_smaller_chamberings.29[/url][/QUOTE]
*Cough* Counter Strike *cough.*
[QUOTE=PrismatexV6;16319329]It's not a Fantastic Firearm.
Go back to Counter-Strike.[/QUOTE]
It's not a bad one either, H&K make quality firearms.
No, but it isn't really prolific.
[QUOTE=Oecleus;16321243]It's not a bad one either, H&K make quality firearms.[/QUOTE]
They make [u]decent firearms[/u].
The UMP is probably the least successful of anything they've made. And the USC (civilian version) is the most overpriced joke ever.
77)M72 LAW
[img]http://world.guns.ru/grenade/m72law-1.jpg[/img]
While the LAW may appear to be a very complex device its origins stem from the German Panzerfaust used in WW2. The Germans figured that since the warhead of a rocket launcher is often more expensive than the system that launches it, why not just have a simplified launcher that you can use once and drop? It simplifies the issue dramatically since the launcher and the ammunition are one unit and you never have to scurry around with an empty launcher looking for more rockets. Think of it this way, the rocket itself is like a bullet and the non-reloadable launcher a shell casing.
This idea was essentially modernized in the 1960's by Talley Industries. While the basic principle is the same, everything else is different. Rather than having the warhead sit exposed outside of the weapon it is contained in two tubes, an external fiberglass tube (to save weight) and an internal aluminum one (where the magic happens). In order to operate the weapon the tubes must be opened by pulling the inner tube back. Once it is locked in place the weapon is armed and the trigger assembly which is a button on top of the outer tube. When this button is pushed the rocket is fired, it burns up all of its propellant before it leaves the front of the launcher, spewing a 1,400 °F world of hurt from the back of the launcher. Once out it opens stabilizing fins and has an effective range of roughly 150 meters.
While this may seem very complex the entire system costs just over 1,000$ per unit which makes it a bargain by disposable RPG standards. This is one reason why it has remained in service since Vietnam. The other reason is that simply put, having a lightweight, inexpensive, disposable, easy-to-use RPG available to the troops in the field allows the average squad to have significantly more firepower, especially against armored targets without the added hassle of having to designate one soldier to carry a reloadable RPG.
Because of these advantages it has spread over the years throughout America's sphere of influence. Numerous countries such as Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, South Korea, Taiwan use it in part due to their close relationship with the US. Other countries such as Mexico, Turkey, Greece, Chile, Cambodia and Vietnam use it as well. Finland even makes it's own variant, the 66 KES 88.
Having seen all of this service the LAW has received a number of tweaks over the years. First it was the M72, then the M72A1 all the way up to A7. Then it was overhauled and updated as the "Improved" LAW. It features a longer tube which can accommodate more modern shells. The M72E8 for instance can fire from an enclosed space, the E9 can penetrate more armor while the E10 simply uses an explosive fragmentation projectile.
Even though it has been replaced by several designs over the years, some disposable, some reloadabale it just keeps coming back and better than ever.
One notable factoid is that the expended launchers can occasionally end up in the hands of collectors. Since they cannot be reloaded the laws of many countries allow civilians to own them as collector's items without any paperwork, but it is still technically a "rocket launcher" even if it cannot be reloaded and re-used so the expended launchers remain illegal in some law jurisdictions. Nevertheless they are a popular collectible and they make an interesting conversation piece.
Yay, LAW!
[QUOTE=PrismatexV6;16321749]Yay, LAW![/QUOTE]
I took law in high school
I prefer the weapon though.
[QUOTE=Bean-O;16321739]LAW article[/QUOTE]
Awesome article. How much would a LAW launch tube fetch for potentially?
[QUOTE=mugofdoom;16300742]There's only Hungarian and Romanian AK 47s along with a couple PSL's in that pic.
:smug:[/QUOTE]
You missed the Yugo.
[QUOTE=DrMortician;16321380]They make [u]decent firearms[/u].
The UMP is probably the least successful of anything they've made. And the USC (civilian version) is the most overpriced joke ever.[/QUOTE]
No they make Quality Firearms, at terribly overpriced prices with asshole customer service.
The UMP is one of their less successful products because it the MP5 already dominates that corner of the market, at least in military and law enforcement community. Even then, that statement is a bit mis-leading, since the UMP did catch on in quite a few police special teams. As for the USC, yeah it is overpriced, and yeah it's a joke, but civvy variants of Mil/LE orientated automatics are never "popular".
One thing I've always wondered about one-time use rocket launchers, does one person carry like 2 or three, does everyone carry one, or is there usually just one per squad?
[QUOTE=Bean-O;16321739]77)M72 LAW
[img]http://world.guns.ru/grenade/m72law-1.jpg[/img]
While the LAW may appear to be a very complex device its origins stem from the German Panzerfaust used in WW2. The Germans figured that since the warhead of a rocket launcher is often more expensive than the system that launches it, why not just have a simplified launcher that you can use once and drop? It simplifies the issue dramatically since the launcher and the ammunition are one unit and you never have to scurry around with an empty launcher looking for more rockets. Think of it this way, the rocket itself is like a bullet and the non-reloadable launcher a shell casing.
This idea was essentially modernized in the 1960's by Talley Industries. While the basic principle is the same, everything else is different. Rather than having the warhead sit exposed outside of the weapon it is contained in two tubes, an external fiberglass tube (to save weight) and an internal aluminum one (where the magic happens). In order to operate the weapon the tubes must be opened by pulling the inner tube back. Once it is locked in place the weapon is armed and the trigger assembly which is a button on top of the outer tube. When this button is pushed the rocket is fired, it burns up all of its propellant before it leaves the front of the launcher, spewing a 1,400 °F world of hurt from the back of the launcher. Once out it opens stabilizing fins and has an effective range of roughly 150 meters.
While this may seem very complex the entire system costs just over 1,000$ per unit which makes it a bargain by disposable RPG standards. This is one reason why it has remained in service since Vietnam. The other reason is that simply put, having a lightweight, inexpensive, disposable, easy-to-use RPG available to the troops in the field allows the average squad to have significantly more firepower, especially against armored targets without the added hassle of having to designate one soldier to carry a reloadable RPG.
Because of these advantages it has spread over the years throughout America's sphere of influence. Numerous countries such as Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, South Korea, Taiwan use it in part due to their close relationship with the US. Other countries such as Mexico, Turkey, Greece, Chile, Cambodia and Vietnam use it as well. Finland even makes it's own variant, the 66 KES 88.
Having seen all of this service the LAW has received a number of tweaks over the years. First it was the M72, then the M72A1 all the way up to A7. Then it was overhauled and updated as the "Improved" LAW. It features a longer tube which can accommodate more modern shells. The M72E8 for instance can fire from an enclosed space, the E9 can penetrate more armor while the E10 simply uses an explosive fragmentation projectile.
Even though it has been replaced by several designs over the years, some disposable, some reloadabale it just keeps coming back and better than ever.
One notable factoid is that the expended launchers can occasionally end up in the hands of collectors. Since they cannot be reloaded the laws of many countries allow civilians to own them as collector's items without any paperwork, but it is still technically a "rocket launcher" even if it cannot be reloaded and re-used so the expended launchers remain illegal in some law jurisdictions. Nevertheless they are a popular collectible and they make an interesting conversation piece.[/QUOTE]
I know someone who owns an old LAW, don't know if it's legal though in Australia :P
[QUOTE=Al_Borland;16322747]One thing I've always wondered about one-time use rocket launchers, does one person carry like 2 or three, does everyone carry one, or is there usually just one per squad?[/QUOTE]
A few people in a squad might carry one or two. Three if they're really paranoid. But they're not too common nowadays.
Australia still use the M72 in Afghanistan to blow holes in the sides of buildings (as a way around booby-trapped entrances). And remember, while the M72 isn't used much any more, the AT4 is a disposable rocket propelled grenade as well.
[QUOTE=SBD;16324594]Australia still use the M72 in Afghanistan to blow holes in the sides of buildings (as a way around booby-trapped entrances). And remember, while the M72 isn't used much any more, the AT4 is a disposable rocket propelled grenade as well.[/QUOTE]
Wut?
Improvise, overcome and adapt is the order of the day of course, but I seriously doubt they'd resort to that unless they're somehow running low on shape charges.
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