Sniper / Precision Rifles

Video: H&K PSG-1: The Ultimate German Sniper Rifle by Forgotten Weapons

When the H&K Präzisionsschützengewehr (German for “precision shooting rifle”) PSG-1 came out almost 30 years ago, I thought it was the most amazing rifle I had ever seen.  Chambered in 7.62×51 it was the West German’s response to a decided lack of effective sniper rifles in their police forces after the Munich attack at the 1972 Olympics.  The PSG-1 was a true precision rifle.  All PSG-1 rifles must be able to put 50 rounds of match ammo into a 3.14″ (80,,) circle at 300mm which makes it a true one MOA rifle.  As cool as it was, there were problems.  It was incredibly expensive ($10K when it came out), complex, one and only one scope option, and a reputation for being very finicky.  I’ll probably never get to own one and for that matter I would rather buy other things with that much money but it is a fascinating piece of firearms history.

Ian at Forgotten Weapons, who is both very knowledgeable and a great presenter, teamed up with a James D Julia auctions to make this video.  He provides a rich history of the rifle, an overview of features and then goes into a very detailed disassembly with commentary about each part.  For example, he compares the PSG-1’s bolt to a plain G3-style bolt and highlights the differences.

H&K PSG-1 sniper rifle in case with scope and accessories H&K PSG-1 sniper rifle components in a case M92 SBR with Molot grip, tactical pistol, and axe on wooden surface H&K PSG-1 sniper rifle close-up showing the receiver, magazine, and grip

 H&K PSG-1 markings: PSG1 D 0091, Kal. 7,62x51 H&K PSG-1 sniper rifle detail with bipod and hand

M92 SBR with Molot grip, tactical pistol, and axe on wooden surface

The video is 20:36 long and totally worth it if you are a fan of the PSG-1:

Here are links to websites with additional info on the PSG1:

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Tools

Buy a big Neiko 10048A set of quarter inch driver bits and not worry about having the right one when you encounter something weird

You know the quarter-inch bit really gives you amazing flexibility 4 installing or removing different types of screws, bolts and even using some tools such as Spade bits and step drills. With them you can overcome the problem of having the right type of screwdriver to install or remove specialty security screws or even things such as Torx and Allen heads.

For the most part when I am using Phillips bits I stick with name brands such as DeWalt, Irwin, Milwaukee and so forth. What I have found is that cheap bits aren’t always very rugged and round the tips over very quickly compared to name brand higher-quality bits.

For security/tamper-proof bits and specialty bits, I have this large set from Neiko.  The below set has served me well so far when I hit the “oh man, do I have a bit for that” moments when working on cars, guns and electronics:

Neiko 10048A 100-piece driver bit set in red case, showing various bits.

Neiko 10048A 1/4-inch driver bit set in red case

Neiko 10048A 1/4 inch driver bit set in red organizer case

In case you are wondering, here is what Neiko reports about their 10048A bit set:

The 100-Piece Security Bits Set Security bits set contains many of the most common tamper proof type security bit sizes, including tri-wing bits, torx bits, spanner bits, and hex bits. Security bits set contains: 1 – wing nut driver. 1 – magnetic bit holder. 1 – socket bit holder. 1 – 1/4-Inch sq. x 1/4-Inch hex x 1-Inch extension. 1 – 1/4-Inch sq. x 1/4-Inch hex x 2-Inch extension. 3 – clutch bits (No. 1, 2 and 3). 3 – torque bits (No. 6, 8 and 10). 3 – spline bits (M-5, 6 and 8). 4 – tri-wing bits (No. 1, 2, 3 and 4). 4 – square recess bits (No. 0, 1, 2 and 3). 4 – spanner bits (No. 4, 6, 8 and 10). 6 – metric hex tamper proof bits (2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5 and 6). 6 – SAE hex tamper proof bits (5/64, 3/32, 7/64, 1/8, 9/64 and 5/32). 8 – Phillips bits (0, 1, 2{5} and 3). 8 – pozi drive bits (0, 1, 2{5} and 3). 9 – slotted bits (3, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7 and 8). 9 – metric hex bits (1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 5.5, 6 and 8). 9 – torx bits (T-8, 10, 15, 20, 25, 27, 30, 35 and 40). 9 – torx tamper proof bits (T-8, 10, 15, 20, 25, 27, 30, 35 and 40). 10 – SAE hex bits (1/16, 5/64, 3/32, 7/64, 1/8, 9/64, 5/32, 3/16, 7/32 and 1/4). Set includes plastic storage / carry case.

Based on my experience, for the price it is cheap insurance and it has saved me more than once so you might want to consider a set.

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Iraq, Military

Video: Rare Weapons of Saddam’s Iraq 1979 to 2003 by jmantime

Rare Weapons of Saddam's Iraq 1979-2003: Saddam Hussein holds rifle Tariq 7.65mm pistols made in Iraq, rare weapons from Saddam's era. Man in military uniform holding a golden AK-47 assault rifle Man in balaclava with AK-47, representing Saddam's Iraq weapons. Iraqi soldier in desert camouflage uniform aiming AK-47 rifle in desert Man with AK-47 in Iraq, part of Saddam's era weapons. Iraqi T-62 tank in desert conditions, featured in "Rare Weapons of Saddam's Iraq Saddam's Iraq: Rare self-propelled howitzer weapon.

I like jmantime’s videos – lots of photos, organized and set to music.  He assemble this video around the weapons found in Iraq during Saddam Hussein’s reign between 1979 and 2003.  The video ranges from Tariq handguns and Tabuk rifles all the way up through through tanks, the Babylon Gun, rocket launchers and so forth.  This video is only 14:39 video and worth the time given all that he has assembled.

I mainly focus on firearms:

  • Tariq 1, Semi-automatic pistol, 7.65x17mm
  • Tariq II, Semi-automatic pistol, 9x19mm
  • Tabuk, Assault RIfle, 7.62x39mm  [Their licensed version of the Yugo M70]
  • The Golden Tabuks they found in palaces
  • Tabuk, Designated Marksman Rifle (DMR), 7.62x39mm
  • Al-Kadesih, Semi-automatic Marksman Rifle, 7.62x54R [Their version of the Dragunov]
  • AI-Quds, Light Machine Gun, 7.62x39mm [Their licensed version of the Yugo M72B1]

From there it covers tanks, self-propelled guns and so forth.  All in all, it’s a neat video with lots of photos that jmantime collected.

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Tools

Irwin Lock-n-Load Quarter-inch bit extensions can save your bacon

Irwin make some very nice quarter-inch drive extensions in different lengths that you can use for extending your reach of everything from screwdriver bits, socket drivers and even step drills. I have even stacked the units for getting into really bizarre locations. I have use them for everything from reaching down inside butt stocks to loosen Frozen bolts, to truck firewalls, to holding Spade bits while drilling custom holes for recoil absorbing mercury cylinders, and so forth.

Irwin Lock-n-Load 1/4-inch bit extension on a metal surface

Irwin Lock-n-Load extensions & step drill bits on workbench

They are not very expensive and are definitely something I would recommend keeping in your toolbox for those times you have to reach something that is set way back.

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Humor

Video: Race Car Driver Jeff Gordon Scares The Hell Out Of An Internet Troll: Test Drive 2 Prank

Here’s the follow up prank video to the first test drive with Jeff Gordon.  Oh man, too funny.

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AK & Related Rifles, China, Weapons by Country

Video: Chinese Type 56 AK-57 (Shooting and History) by Forgotten Weapons

Man with Chinese Type 56 AK-57 rifle, Forgotten Weapons logo Close-up of Chinese Type 56 AK-57 rifle's wooden stock and pistol grip Close-up of the muzzle and front sight assembly of a Chinese Type 56 AK-57 rifle. Close-up of a Chinese Type 56 AK-57 rifle's receiver, trigger, and wooden stock.

This is a cool review of an actual North Vietnamese Army (NVA) Chinese Type 56 AK.  It was a captured rifle and brought back to the US.  Ian of Forgotten Weapons does one of his usual exemplary reviews of the rifle and discusses its history.

 

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Tools

Blazer GB2001 micro torches are very handy

I work a lot with plastics, paracord and webbing.  Thus, I need to melt ends, heat small tools/probes to poke holes and what have you.  I use lighters for a while but the problem was they didn’t generate very much heat. They were good for searing the end of a paracord but not quickly. Sometimes they quit it heat tools up enough to poke clean holes in webbing.

As usual I did some digging around and came across the Blazer torch as you see in the above photo. This thing is fantastic. I have used it for probably at least two years with no trouble. I bought this in 2014 and after hundreds if not thousands of clicks, the little piezoelectric spark unit is still working just fine – as is everything else.  It’s just plain reliable.

It is refilled vs standard butane cartridges. You can save a bundle by buying packages of them off of Amazon versus from the local drug store, grocery store or whatever. Surprisingly the torch does not use a ton of butane fuel at a time. I think it is because the jet is actually fairly small. You can adjust the intensity and the air:fuel ratio depending on what you’re working on. I bought a six-pack of the few will you see in the photo and I think I have only gone through one and a half cans in a couple of years.

Blazer GB2001 micro torch with blue flame, labeled "Piezo micro torch USP 4597732

The rubber base is removable if you don’t need it and in the next photo you can see a clear picture of the butane fill port.

Blazer GB2001 micro torch with butane gas can and adapter

Blazer GB2001 micro torch on a workbench

So if you are looking for a very portable small torch this Blazer has worked great for me and I recommend it so I am listing it below for your reference.

Update:  7/23/2018:  It still works great.  No problems to report and am still using it regularly for rope and nylon.

Update 11/28/19:  The seals went out last month and it will no longer store butane for more than a day or two.  Based on reviews on Amazon, I am going to try out a Bernz-O-Matic ST2200T and see how it lasts.  I bought the Blazer on 11/29/14 so it almost made it four years,

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AK & Related Rifles

Video: I Have This Old Gun – Chinese Type 56 (AKM) Rifle

Khukuri wood handle being polished on a buffing wheel Khukuri wood handle being polished on a buffing wheel Man holding a Chinese Type 56 (AKM) Rifle, text reads remote camera Chinese Type 56 AKM rifle with wooden furniture on a rustic wooden surface

The NRA did a nice American Rifleman TV segment on the Chinese Type 56.   It’s only 5:37 long and worth your time.

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When Strength and Quality Matter Most