Q&A 24: Pistols, Puppies, and Procurement

Funny about engineering experience. Early in my career as a chemical engineer I needed to calculate the optimal size of a drying tower. I came up with a value like 14.8 ft. My boss reviews my work and says “great... 13ft ... any wider and it won’t fit under overpasses and we’ll need to build on site and that will be too expensive “ They didn’t teach you that in school

Ian, it's just a retro forgotten weapons filter, that's all

"You should never, ever read the comments on Youtube videos. Because they're one lowest forms of discourse in human social existence." - Gun Jesus, 11:08 That's a commandment I can get behind.

While I totally understand Ian stand on comments on the videos taking into consideration that he works the channel in a more educational way, I personally find the light hearted humor that makes up most of the comments in the videos to be an example of some of the least cancerous communities. Therefore I find the idea of shutting down the comments over a couple jokes on how a 20mm anti tank rifle is the best conceal carry weapon or self defense weapon you could buy totally overkill. If anything Ian should be proud his content has cultivated such a non cancerous, light hearted and interactive community naturally. That's quite a feat and talks to the quality of the content.

Ian as you said you read all the comments so I just wanted to say a few kind words here. Thank you for all your work here and at InRangeTV too. You might find this surprising but your videos are not only a good source of learning history but for some of us it is a good for practicing English too. Cheers from Hungary! If you ever have the opportunity to try out Pálinka (short drink) do not hesitate. You might dislike it a lot...or just a little. :)

Chris asked the effect of Enfields and Mosin Nagants on Soviet or US Army operations and whether or not we reconsidered going to a full powered cartridge. I was US Army Infantry in Afghanistan 2006-7. While it may not have been Enfields or Mosins, the Taliban did use long range weapons and tactics. Most likely Dragunov or PKM machine guns in 7.62x54, but it was to the extent where the Army did increase the use of Designated Marksman Rifles. In fact, when I was there, I was issued an M14 as a Designated Marksman equipped with a Leupold Mark 4 4.5x14 power scope. We used M118LR match ammunition that , quite ironically, said "not for field use" on the box. The M14's had been in our armory for funeral details and nostalgia. Truly, a Forgotten Weapon. Before Afghanistan, the MOS of Designated Marksman did not even really exist. We had Scout Snipers but they wouldn't be deployed down at the Infantry squad level as they are in different units. Long range engagements in Afghanistan did affect and change US Army operations. When I was there, I even got looks and questioned by 82nd Airborne soldiers while in the chow hall because I was carrying my M4 carbine and my M14 rifle. At the time, the M14 was very rare since the Clinton administration had either given them away or melted them down. Our National Guard units had kept them. These were not even the M21 heavy barrel sniper configuration. They were standard M14 battle rifles with wood and fiberglass stocks. It was kind of funny that these 82nd guys were kind of jealous of the National Guard. In any case, the desire by the Infantry for longer range has led to the M110 SASS rifle and the .338 Norma Magnum Lightweight Medium Machine Gun as well as research into 6.5 mm caliber rifles and carbines. Had to throw in my two cents worth because I had to lug the thing around with me everywhere. One of the reasons I was gifted an M14 was because I had owned a Federal Ordnance M14 and also an M1 Garand so I actually knew how to take care of it and mount a scope on it. With the the M118LR ammo, my M14 would hold about 2-3 MOA. Not bad for a rifle about the same age as I am. By the way, the M14 is definitely less reliable than the M4 carbine in dusty conditions. Especially when the Army just expected us to use CLP to oil the rifle. I very quickly sourced some grease from a Humvee mechanic for the roller bearing. I personally own an M1A but your In Range vids are spot on about its vulnerability to dust and mud. Keep up the good work here and on In Range as well.

I would love to see a forgotten weapons trip to Russia

"Something only...cough...'Unfavourable people' do" Ian trying to search out a YT appropriate phrase to refer to the kind of scum who would leave puppies to die in the desert, rather than his immediate preferred NSFW term :-). That photo of the puppy on your wifes foot, would melt just about anyones heart. After seeing that, the phrase "So we now have a dog" was hardly unexpected, even though I've seen her in your videos:-)

First to say ----- forgotten Puppies

"When you're an officer, you're supposed to be a big boy..." This should be hammered into every newly commissioned junior officer straight out of academy.

Handguns in the military are like shirts in soccer, something nice for the opposition to take home to remember you by.

Concerning lead levels; ironically, Norwegian armed forces we had a health and safety issues when we introduced the Hk 416 due to the environment friendly steel core ammo. It turned out that since the steel core did not compress to take the rifling, it would be cut rather than pressed into the jacket. As a result, the fumes would contain enough copper dust to cause nausea and fever in some cases, and rifle training was severely limited until the issue was fixed. We literally wore industrial dust masks on the range, and the number of shooters was limited.

So what you're trying to say is that many ammo suppliers have forsaken Gun Jesus and committed........heresy.

Haha, I didn't realize the "Bergmann debacle" was a thing. I get it. I was so bored looking at the same gun every day, I figured I was the only one. On the other hand, I found your Winchester lever gun and semi auto very interesting even though I never had any interest in those before. Then there's the other extreme when you were doing the French rifle series and I was so frustrated when you paused before getting to one I was waiting for. Of course that was another niche series that not everyone would like. Also, thanks for the shoutout to my hometown. I'm sure I was exposed to more lead in the water than handling guns and ammo every day.

You mean to tell me that Ian gets tired of the nonstop spamming of the played out “Gun Jesus” meme in the comments of his videos? No way.

"And so now we have a dog" LOL

For the record; I didn't mind the Bergman series at all.  It was great to get all that video and info into my head.  Clearly I was in the minority ;)

I still want an "i survived bergmann week" T-shirt

"Yes...That's why I have a therapist." This is now my go-to answer for most questions!😀

Bergmann debacle? Nooooo. I LOVED your series following a line of development. like the bergmann, french rifle, 1911 video. I kinda wish you would do such a series on the line of mannlicher straightpulls and the contemporary licensed mauser they were making at the same time.