Lewis Machine Gun

The Lewis Gun was invented in the U.S. by Isaac Newton Lewis in 1911. It was in between conflicts and the US wasn’t interested in investing in a new magazine fed machine gun. After getting fed up with the U.S. military Mr. Lewis took his design across the Atlantic where it was adopted by the British Armed Forces. It was one of the first magazine fed light machine guns that was actually successful.

Unlike the American adopted French magazine fed model Chauchat light machine gun, which was an utter failure and was replaced by the BAR. It was chambered in the British .303 round and was approved for service in 1915. The World War 1 Lewis Gun was first used by Belgian Army forces while defending Namur and was used by British Army forces early in 1916 as a replacement for the heavier Vickers machine gun. The Lewis gun was more expensive to produce than the Vickers, but could be produced faster.

The issue with the Lewis gun in WWI combat was that it wasn’t an ideal platform for being fired for extended periods of time. The Vickers, Maxim, and Browning M1917 machine guns were water cooled and could be fired over long periods of time without the barrels overheating. This was an issue in the first World War because of poor battlefield tactics used by military brass. They would send wave after wave of their troops into machine gun fire to try and overwhelm entrenched enemy troops. Which, more often than not, failed and would cost thousands of lives. Each side took turns doing this, marching in lines into machine gun fire for extended periods of time, hoping their numbers could over power the enemy defenses. Which by the end of the war costs the lives of 7-8 million brave soldiers in combat related deaths.

Battlefield tactics obviously changed which made water cooled machine guns unnecessary. The Lewis gun was not water cooled and could fire 12 drums before being too hot to handle. This was not ideal for use as a defensive weapon in the trenches. Its lightweight and mobility made it well suited for going over the top. Going over the top was a term used in the First World War to describe leaving your trench, entering no man’s land (the area between allied and central powers trenches), and attempting an offensive maneuver to take ground. The Lewis Light Machine Gun also saw success mounted on airplanes. It has the unique distinction of being the first machine gun fired from the air. Oddly enough, this was was accomplished during peacetime from a Wright Model B plane in 1912.

The Lewis Light Machine Gun became a staple on aircraft during the first World War, although it wasn’t without issue. The propeller planes of the first World War had their weapons mounted behind the propeller. Aircraft following the first World War mounted their weapons on the wings. However, during the first World War they initially fixed the problem of shooting their own propellers with a small device that would synchronize the machine gun and the propeller, but the device didn’t work with the Lewis Gun because it has an open bolt unlike the other machine guns which used closed bolts. 

By World War II, the Lewis Gun was replaced by the Bren gun by the majority of British forces, however, it still saw a lot of action around the world. It was very popular as an anti aircraft weapon and was often mounted side by side. This is where the iconic image of the SAS soldiers in north Africa driving jeeps mounted with side by side Lewis Guns through the desert, which were later swapped for the Vickers K machine gun that had a higher rate of fire. The Vickers K also had a top feeding drum, but was without the iconic barrel shroud of the Lewis gun. The Lewis Gun was used extensively by the British Home Guard, New Zealand, and Australian forces in the Pacific theater. It took down more low flying aircraft than any other weapons system while protecting Britain from Axis air attacks. 

Significance of the Lewis LMG

The Lewis LMG was a significant weapon, that is why so many people recognize it. In fact, it’s probably one of history’s most influential weapons. However, many argue that its significance hasn’t been completely felt yet. I believe more countries will be converting their light machine guns to magazine fed instead of belt fed light machine guns. The lewis gun was the first successful attempt at this. Although magazine fed LMG have a slower rate of fire, over the course of a battle they will have a higher rate of fire when you take into account reload time and their reliability. The Russian military has already adopted a magazine fed light machine gun in the RPK. The World War 1 Lewis gun also helped several Allied countries defeat the central powers. The Lewis gun also helped to defend mainland UK from German air attacks during the second world war, North Africa, and was influential in the Pacific theater. The Japanese even copied the Lewis gun in their type 92 machine gun. It’s an important firearm in history and its influence hasn’t fully been felt in military firearms.

Don’t miss our other WW1 Gun Reviews: The Lee-Enfield and Mosin-Nagant

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Urban combat is one of the most important aspects of modern warfare, a combat rifle needs to be able to function well in close quarters battle (CQB) as well as be able to reach out and hit targets at a long range. The Tavor hasn’t been in service very long and has already had feedback and redesigns since its first implementation. The birth of the Tavor X95 was first issued to Israeli Defense Force (IDF) troops in 2013 and was subsequently issued to three of their five infantry brigades. Join us as we take a closer look at this popular civilian rifle and Israeli military staple.

Israel Weapons Industries

Israeli Weapons Industries (IWI) has been an innovator of small arms for the past 80 years. It was founded in 1933 and was formerly state owned. It was privatized in 2005 at which time it was also renamed. IWI has unfortunately been a leading innovator out of necessity not in aims of profits, because Israel has been under constant threat from their neighbors. They say that necessity is the mother of invention and IWI is the perfect example of this fact. Their products range from assault rifles, shotguns,  light machine guns, sniper rifles, side arms, grenade launchers, sights, and a multitude of weapons accessories. Additionally, IWI also offers security training and international consulting programs. 

IWI Tavor X95

The IWI Tavor-21 and Tavor X95 are big steps in design for Israel because it’s the first time they have issued a bullpup standard issue rifle. Bullpup refers to the trigger assembly being in front of the magazine well. The gun is ambidextrous and can easily be changed for left-handed to right-handed shooters. It utilizes a long-stroke gas piston system similar to the AK-47 but bears little resemblance on the outside. All Tavors come with Picatinny rail systems on the upper receiver making mounting optics very easy.

The bullpup design makes the overall length of the weapon shorter while still having the same length barrel. It also moves the center of mass and weight of the firearm. It puts the bulk of the weight into the rear. Having most of the weight in your shoulder allows for better control of the weapon. The overall length and weight distribution of the firearm was designed with urban combat in mind. These factors make the Tavor, and X95 in particular, so popular and effective for home defense and modern warfare.

IWI X95 Rifle for Military

The X95 was designed with urban combat and CQB in mind. With regards to urban combat, it’s truly an ideal weapon. Its short overall length is great for maneuvering inside buildings and inside tunnels. The weight distribution in the rear of the gun makes taking corners a breeze. Taking a corner with the X95 is easier than with an M4 in my opinion, which is why it’s used in primarily in urban settings.

Where the weapon falls short is with CQB against someone with a knife. If someone attacks you with a knife while you’re carrying the X95, it’s awkward to block the knife attack, while not impossible, it’s inferior to defending a knife attack with an M4. The layout of a bullpup doesn’t make it suited as a blunt weapon in CQB. This is the exchange you have when you get an overall shorter weapon. For use by security forces who are under threat of knife attack, the M4 is preferable, which is what the IDF does the majority of the time. However, In a combat role when engaging targets in urban combat, the Tavor is superior. 

X95 Tavor for Civilians

The Tavor is a great addition to anyone’s collection and would serve well as a home defense weapon. One major advantage of the X95 for civilians is that it takes AR-15 mags and its overall design is highly ergonomic. The civilian Tavor is produced in Pennsylvania and will cost about the same as a higher end AR-15. The X95 isn’t available in all states though because it has a shorter barrel than all states allow. The advantage to the X95 is that it can be converted to fire 9mm fairly easily and well-suited for a variety of civilian uses. 

Tavor X95 Accessories  

The X95 9mm conversion kit would be a nice accessory to invest in if you were purchasing one. A red dot would also be advisable since the stock folding sights are only meant to be back ups. If the X95 is serving as a range mule, then any site will do. On the other hand, if it’s being utilized for home defense purposes then it would be worth investing in a quality sight that doesn’t require batteries. Something like the Mepro designed by IWI is ideal for the Tavor. If it’s being used for home defense, Murphy’s law should be taken into account. Nothing that might go wrong will go wrong and the day you’ll need it to defend you and your family, the batteries in your sight will be dead. 

Tavor SAR vs X95  

The Tavor SAR is a Tavor designed specifically for civilian use in the US. It’s designed to abide by states with stricter firearms laws and a few more bells and whistles to attract US private gun owners. They come with 16.5 inch barrel and 18 inch barrel. They also come in three colors black, OD green, and flat dark earth. They also have some variants that are sold with 10 round magazines to make them comply with stricter states guidelines on magazine restriction. Some US police departments have already adopted the Tavor SAR. Compared to the X95, the only real differences in the weapons are the barrel lengths, knuckle guard in front of the pistol grip, and the option of colors. The feeding systems, muzzle velocity, and actions are identical between the Tavor SAR and X95. 

IWI Tavor 7  

The Tavor 7 is a variant that is chambered in 7.62x51mm NATO. This hasn’t been issued to troops yet, however it will likely serve as a designated marksman weapon. It’s also completely ambidextrous and is equipped with a Picatinny rail system on the upper receiver. There are currently two variants one with a 17 inch barrel & 28.7 inch overall length and 20 inch barrel with a 31.7 overall length. 

Conclusion

IWI has been making innovative and quality equipment since their inception. The Tavor is no exception. The Tavor fills its role well of being an excellent urban combat rifle and smoothly transitions Israel from the M4 to a bullpup since they both take the same magazine. Bullpup weapons are logically the next step in firearms innovation and make sense in urban environments. In my humble opinion, its only faults are using it to defend against hand weapons due to its short overall length which isn’t something most militaries need to consider. Furthermore, the short overall length is an advantage in many situations. The weapon is being adopted by police in the US and special forces units across the globe and it’s no surprise why.  

Don’t miss our comprehensive look at the best Israeli Weapons!

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My theories are based on my knowledge and experience in subjects that would likely be useful in a SHTF scenario. Movies and amateur peppers often glorify a SHTF scenario, but if it ever happens, it would be the worst catastrophe that human beings ever face. With that in mind, being prepared for a societal collapse isn’t a terrible idea, since most of the preps also double as vital things to have around in any disaster situation. Shelter, basic medical supplies, water food, and self defense capabilities are all things people only think to have after they already needed it. Today we are going to look at how firearms can be best utilized in potential survival situations.

Best Guns to Own

Generally speaking, the best gun to own is the weapon you’re most familiar with and most comfortable with. Buying a $10,000 custom AR makes no sense if you’re most comfortable firing a revolver. Training and familiarity are much more important than the specific firearm, caliber, and accessories. With that said, my recommendations will try to encompass as many individuals as possible but it’s at best suggestions. Things to consider when picking a gun to familiarize yourself with for the purpose of prepping are reliability, accuracy, accessibility of ammunition & parts, and what purpose it will serve in a survival situation. You can’t have all of these features in one firearm.

The best home defense rifle won’t be great for hunting birds. Knowing what function you want a weapon to serve and being realistic with yourself about your own abilities is vital. If you take one thing from this article, take my emphasis on training and sign yourself up for a course that is held by professionals that will help prepare you more than any stockpile will. While no firearm can handle all situations, there are some which are more versatile than others. These firearms are likely to be the best options for a survival weapon.

Best Survival Rifle

The AK-47 is hands down the best rifle for a survival situation available today. The reliability and ease of maintenance makes it the ideal SHTF gun. There is a large supply of ammunition and parts for AKs even in the states. Russian-made ammunition packaged in tins makes it one of the best prepper guns on the market. Russian ammo tins are sealed ammunition tins that were almost designed with preppers in mind. The only issue with this ammo is that it is corrosive, so cleaning your weapon after firing it is essential. People always rag on the AK for its poor accuracy, but they never ask the question, what’s more accurate: an AK that fires or a dirty AR that doesn’t? And I don’t think survival scenarios are going to be all that clean. In any survival situation reliability reigns supreme. There is a reason the AK has gone virtually unchanged since its inception, that’s because it works. If it was designed to survive Siberia, I think it can handle the apocalypse. 

Best Survival Gun Long Term

The best long term survival gun has to go to a muzzleloading flintlock rifle. This won’t help you with an initial societal collapse, but put this situation in your head: Several years after SHTF, all mass production has ceased. There is no more production of ammunition, parts, and there are no stores to purchase new material. You will be stuck with what you can scavenge. Lead has a very low melting point, making your own projectiles for a flintlock rifle can be done over a campfire. There will be no need to try and get caps to fire your rifle because it uses flint. Any ammunition you find, regardless of its caliber can be melted down for a new projectile and the powder can be repurposed. Repairs will be much easier for an individual who isn’t a gunsmith who has minimal metalworking experience.  For long term survival and self reliance, a quality flintlock rifle is your best pepper gun. 

Best Handgun for Self Defense

There are countless factors which make a handgun ideal for home or self defense but it always comes down to familiarity and reliability. A scrawny person probably isn’t better off with a .45 1911 while that may be perfect in different hands. When looking for a defensive weapon, it’s important to consider the presence of an external safety. Many shooters know that a lack of an external safety is safer when it comes to a survival weapon or regular carry gun. Similarly, versatile sights that offer good daytime and nighttime visibility is a must. For that reason, many people actually prefer revolvers for survival weapons because they are mighty durable and reliable though skeptics will say that 5 or 6 rounds is not enough to qualify for a survival firearm.

For these reasons, I’m inclined to say the Sig Sauer P320 might be one of the best survival handguns on the market. It was good enough for the Army to become the new issue sidearm in a groundbreaking international competition. This gun did have a few problems initially, but it has remarkable reliability and durability plus the high mag capacity and 9mm chambering make this a great choice. Additionally, it can handle a variety of defensive accessories like lights and lasers while still maintaining a full-size frame that feels compact.

Best Home Defense Rifle

The AR-15/Modern Sporting Rifle is arguably best home defense rifle. When it comes to home defense rifles, reliability is less of an issue because it won’t be exposed to the elements. It will be well oiled and clean when you’ll need it. When considering home defense, you have to consider the penetrating power of the round you’re using. The 5.56/.223 rounds are high velocity small projectiles that tend to break apart after coming into contact with something. The likelihood of it going through a wall or a bad guy and hitting an innocent person behind them is less likely. You’ll also likely have more ammo than the bad guy you’ll be engaging with, since the majority of home invasions will be done with a concealable weapon that doesn’t have a high capacity. The ability to add a red dot to an AR is also a huge advantage. The vast majority of home defense situations will be in low light or no light, having a red dot is a substantial advantage. So is having a flashlight on the front of your weapon. One that is bright enough to blind an intruder, is ideal. However, I’m also a big fan of bullpup rifles since they’re designed for close quarters combat and are built to be tactical.

Why Own a 22 Survival Rifle

While many people don’t think of .22LR as a doomsday caliber, the truth is that a .22 survival rifle can be an essential tool for when SHTF. These nifty little rifles are designed to be compact and even folded into a small backpack in many cases. Some preppers lover .22 because it’s cheap, easy to store large quantities, and surprisingly versatile. While it doesn’t have much stopping power, a .22 survival rifle can be used to hunt small game and fowl, practice shooting, and is sufficient for medium-distance home defense. While they may not be the go-to firearm for survival, they are definitely useful and function as a solid backup gun. Plus, there are several great affordable options out there to pick from.

Survival Shotgun Breakdown

If you’re inexperienced with firearms, have no training, minimal knowledge on upkeep, and need a weapon that will serve a variety of uses without breaking the bank, go with a 12 gauge double barrel shotgun. It’s the most versatile weapon you can get, you’ll be able to hunt with it, protect yourself with it, and most importantly maintain it. You won’t need to learn how to disassemble and clean the weapon like most firearms. There is no real training required in clearing a jam or reloading. There are so many different rounds on the market for 12 gauge shotguns today that you’ll be able to fit all necessary needs. There are dragon’s breath, slugs, buck shot, bird shot, rock salt, and a wide variety of obscure specialty rounds that are widely available. There is no need for a lot of range time when it comes to a double barrel 12 gauge, point and shoot the spread will get whatever is in front of you. Also getting familiar with your weapon doesn’t take much time because they are so simple. The price of a simple 12 gauge won’t break the bank either. The availability of 12 gauge rounds also makes it one of the best prepper guns. Even for an experienced prepper with ample firearms experience you’ll likely have someone in your company with little to no firearms experience, it’s an ideal weapon to invest in for others to use on your team.

Let us know your picks in the comments section!

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The First Machine Gun

The grandfather of the machine gun is the Gatling Gun. Richard Gatling developed this firearm with the idea of saving lives on the battlefield after watching the slaughter that was the American Civil War. The idea being that needing fewer men on the battlefield would result in fewer casualties. Unfortunately, his theory didn’t pan out as he planned.

The Gatling gun and later machine guns didn’t immediately change battlefield tactics, and it wasn’t until the end of the first World War that military leaders realized that marching men in lines against weapons with high rates of fire was suicidal. His invention spawned all future machine guns, which have heavily influenced battlefield tactics and changed the way countries, armies, and squads fight wars. 

The first machine gun was a multi-barrel (6-10 barrels depending on the model) crank-fired weapon that needed its own squad to operate and maintain the weapon. Each barrel had a bolt and firing pin which meant constant supervision.  

The Gatling gun was originally purchased privately by Union military commanders and first saw combat in the Siege of Petersburg in 1864 with devastating effects. A nine-month siege that saw trenches heavily used by both sides. It foreshadowed tactics that would be adopted in the first World War. The Gatling gun was formally purchased by Union forces in 1866. It saw action in several conflicts but due to its weight being comparable to the artillery of the day, it was quickly phased out by machine guns in the early 20th century that were lighter weight, gas-operated weapons, with even higher rates of fire. 

Recoil Operated Reloading Machine Gun

The Maxim Machine Gun was one of the first recoil-operated firing mechanisms using the energy of the last bullet firing to reload the new bullet. It was adopted in a variety of variants by almost every country that participated in the First World War, each country producing a maxim in their preferred caliber. In fact, several countries developed their own machine guns, that were modeled directly after the maxim machine gun.

It saw heavy use in WWI, WWII, and Korea. It was a single barrel weapon that was water-cooled making it quite distinct from the original Gatling. It essentially had a water tank around the barrel to keep the weapon from overheating. It was so widespread that it was even used by Arab forces under the command and guidance of Lawrence of Arabia. Water was scarce on the Arab Peninsula so they used urine instead of water to cool the weapon, however, this increased the likelihood of the barrel corroding. 

The recoil-operated firing mechanism is still used by machine guns and semi-auto firearms today. There has yet to be a system that has surpassed this method of reloading, and it was invented over 100 years ago. 

The Maxim machine gun was heavy and needed to be mounted on a tripod in order to fire it effectively. Nevertheless, it has been solidified as one of the most influential firearms in world history.

Rate of Fire

If the rate of fire was what made a machine gun great then look no further than the MG42. The fastest rate of fire single-barrel weapon, the MG42 was probably the least favorite weapon that allied soldiers encountered during the war. Its barrels could quickly be swapped out and the only issue with it was it was difficult to carry enough ammo to properly feed it.

The number of casualties inflicted on allied forces during the D-day landings is a testament to the effectiveness of the MG42. Modern variants that are chambered in 7.62 NATO are still used by many European forces today. Oddly enough, the United States used many features of the MG42 while designing the M60 machine gun. However, they intentionally slowed down the rate of fire and made the weapon easier to handle. There aren’t many weapons that were invented before WWII and are still in use today essentially unchanged. The only one that comes to mind is the 50 cal. M2 machine gun. Later machine guns developed off of the MG42 design would all slow down the rate of fire. Sometimes there is such a thing as too fast.

Belt-Fed Reliability

The FN Mag was developed in the 1950s in Belgium as a multi-purpose machine gun. They have licensing agreements with several nations and have sold the weapons to over 80 countries. This weapon is the definition of a workhorse. It’s still in use today by several nations including the US and for good reason.

This weapon is incredibly sturdy plus it can be used on armored vehicles, tanks, and by infantrymen. Its rate of fire is ideally set so it can lay down a solid wall of fire without burning through ammo unnecessarily. The weight of the Mag is an issue, which some of the new variants such as the M240L by the US military try to fix. This variant cuts down the weight of the M240 machine gun by about 5 pounds. There were some thoughts to replace the M240 with a machine gun chambered in 338 Lapua instead of the 7.62 NATO, but nothing has been finalized and nothing is near ready to be produced. This weapon is used by all the branches of the military and is a reliable firing platform. You can literally throw this weapon down a mountain and it will still shoot. Troops hate carrying it, but in a firefight, it’s beloved by the soldiers who are using it.   

Magazine-Fed Light Machine Gun

The Lewis machine gun is synonymous with the British military and air corps, however, it was originally developed in the US. One thing led to another and it wasn’t picked up by the US military and its designer Issac Newton Lewis decided to take his invention abroad. This magazine-fed gas-operated light machine gun first saw service in the first World War and set the groundwork for future magazine-fed light machine guns.

The Lewis machine gun has a very recognizable top feeding round magazine and a large barrel shroud that acts as a heat shield. It was far superior to the French magazine-fed Chauchat machine gun used by US troops at the beginning of the war. The US eventually adopted a variant of the Lewis gun in WWI. Later on, the US military eventually used the BAR Machine Gun (Browning Automatic Rifle). The Lewis gun showed how the effectiveness of the magazine-fed light machine guns and paved the way for the Browning machine gun to take its place. The BAR was put into service at the end of WWI and was arguably a better and more modern version of the Russian RPK. Nowadays, many nations are switching their light machine guns to magazine-fed weapons instead of belt-fed. The idea is that the overall rate of fire will be higher when you take into account not having to clear the inevitable jams that occur with belt-fed weapons. 

Conclusion

There have been many innovations surrounding machine guns particularly because wars and conflicts have made it necessary. Nevertheless, machine gun innovation seemed to be prevalent among militaries around the world with multiple countries getting us to where we are today. I’m not sure if this level of global input exists with other types of firearms but I think it makes machine guns that much more interesting. The fact that any modern machine gun has so much history built into its design from across the world makes these weapons special.

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Pump-action shotguns have become standard issue in police and military units for a variety of uses, not to mention their popularity with civilian shooters for home defense and hunting. The trench gun was the first pump-action shotgun that allowed the user to take off the barrel, which is now common practice in modern pump-action shotguns. It came in both a 12 gauge and 16 gauge model with a wide variety of barrel lengths. The military versions came equipped with a bayonet lug and a heat guard on the top of the barrel so soldiers would not burn themselves after extended use of the weapon. Overall, the Win 1897 is a true piece of Americana that deserves our attention.

Winchester 1897 Military Use

The trench gun received its name while being used by doughboys in the first World War. The first World War was the first time industrialized nations were engaging in war against each other, it was the most brutal and deadly war that the planet had seen up until that point. The war was essentially a stalemate with both sides dug in with trenches taking turns throwing their men into the meat grinder. They were using old tactics with modern weapons while their men were paying the costs. The Winchester 1897 was one of these modern weapons and it deservedly earned its name in the trenches.

It was a very effective weapon if the soldier wielding it managed to navigate across no man’s land into the German trench. One of the reasons it was very effective was because of its rate of fire. I am aware that it is a pump-action shotgun, but when compared to bolt action rifles of the first World War, it fired at a considerable rate. The trench gun had a high rate of fire due to its external hammer being recocked when the weapon was pumped and the weapon lacking a trigger disconnector.

In short, a soldier could hold down the trigger and simply pump the shotgun to get it to fire. It would fire as fast as an individual could pump it. Making it a devastating weapon when a soldier was clearing a trench. Pairing this rate of fire with buckshot and a trench could be very effectively cleared. There are also claims that it was used to shoot grenades out of the air when germans attempted to throw them into American trenches, similar to high explosive skeet shooting.

It was such an effective weapon that the German high command petitioned the legal use of the trench gun in an international court. Claiming it caused “unnecessary suffering” Their diplomatic protest fell on deaf ears, so in response, they threatened to punish any US soldier captured carrying a trench gun. The US responded that reprisal punishments would be carried out against German soldiers captured with flame throwers or serrated edged blade weapons.  

However, the history of the Winchester 1897 being used in combat predates the First World War in a lesser-known conflict in the Philippines in 1899. The trench gun gained praise by the marines who were using it for its stopping power. When faced against the ferocious warriors in the southern Philippines, the US military realized their standard-issue sidearm was not effective enough. With many reports that Filipino warriors would still charge and kill US military personnel after being shot by the Colt M1892 .38 caliber pistol. This conflict was the reason the US military decided to develop and switch to the Colt 1911 45 ACP. This conflict had the US military lacking a quality sidearm, but highlighted the effective stopping power of the trench gun in close quarters battle. The Winchester model 1897 was used up until the Vietnam war when it was retired for a more modern shotgun. While the 1897 did see some action in Vietnam, it was phased out in favor of several other shotguns including the Ithaca Model 37 and the Stevens M77E.

Trench Gun for Sale

There are Winchester 1987 shotguns for sale on the civilian market. They are not cheap and are very collectible. Since there were over 1 million produced and many saw a lot of use either in combat or by police forces, there is a wide variety of trench guns for sale in a variety of conditions and prices. If you’re looking for a shotgun to fill a specific use, go with a Mossberg 500 for a fraction of the price. You can find them on the market but even a trench gun in poor condition will still sell for a couple thousand dollars. Since they are still just a simple pump-action shotgun, they are still legal in all 50 states and there is no need for a class 3 license even though they were military-issue at one time. 

Conclusion

The Winchester 1987 was a weapon that helped bring shotguns into the modern age. It brought with it the idea of pump-action shotguns being used from a tactical perspective and helped to spawn revolutionary ideas about shotguns that we take for granted today. Its effectiveness in combat cannot be questioned and its use in law enforcement is still echoed today in many departments’ choice to have a shotgun in the squad car.  It still lives on with police units, in popular culture, films, and video games.

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When it comes to firearms and movies, rifles aren’t as iconic as we initially thought. While iconic movie revolvers and shotguns were easy for us to compile, we actually had a hard time finding movies that wouldn’t be the same without their rifles. We gave it a try but we welcome you to share with us your picks for iconic movie rifles. As usual, we have a mix of sci-fi, modern, and historical weapons but we know this list is highly debatable.

M1903A4 Springfield

Saving Private Ryan is one of the most iconic WWII films ever made. The greatest film depiction of the D-day landings that has ever been made and an excellent depiction of the bond that war forges between men. One of the most iconic characters, scenes, and rifles in the film was that of the sharpshooters Private Daniel Jackson and his M1903A4 Springfield Rifle taking out a German Sniper.

Shooting the German sniper through his scope into his eye. A shot that was actually performed by America’s most renowned sniper of the Vietnam War Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Hathcock, under slightly different conditions. The use of the M1903A4 Springfield gives a beautiful variation to the diversity of the weapons carried by the squad going to save Private Ryan.

The final battle of the film would be completely different without the sharpshooter taking out enemy soldiers from the bell tower while reciting bible verses. A masterfully iconic film with an iconic and not well-known firearm used in WWII is the perfect way to start off this list. 

• Model: M1903A4 Springfield
• Caliber: 30-6
• Capacity: 5-Rounds
• Barrel Length: 24:
• Overall Length: 43.2″
• Sights: Weaver Model 330 2.75x Telescopic Sight
• Weight: 9.1 lbs. Without Optic

M16A1

A change in tone coming in at number two is the most iconic drug dealing movie ever made, with one of the most quoted lines from cinematic history. Close your eyes and you can picture Scarface saying “Say hello to my little friend” while firing a grenade launcher on the bottom of a Colt AR-15 converted to shoot full auto. The weapon was made to look like a M16A1 with an M203.

This weapon, scene, and line are so iconic that it’s ingrained in popular culture, copied, and quoted so many times I’m sure many Millennials don’t even know the true source of the line. Scarface would not be the same without the final shootout and the final shootout would not be the same without the use of this iconic weapon.

Even the double “jungle Style” magazines Tony has on the weapon adds to the overall intensity of the scene and character. Facing off against overwhelming odds and enemies, gallantly fighting to his last breath. Plus as a little fact for you, the weapon used in Scarface is the exact weapon later used in the first Predator film by Arnold Schwarzenegger.   

• Model: M16A1
• Caliber: 5.56mm
• Capacity: 30-Round Mag
• Barrel Length: 20″
• Overall Length: 38.8
• Sights: Aperture Flip-up Rear and Protected Front Post
• Weight: 6.4 lbs Empty
• Attachments: (Fake) M203 Grenade Launcher

AK-47

I’m usually not a fan of Nicolas Cage, and it kills me to put him on this list, but he was actually cast perfectly for this role as a slightly twitchy arms dealer. This film flawlessly showed how international weapons deals are conducted and how corruption is involved in getting weapons to conflict zones in poorer regions.

The AK-47 is synonymous with conflicts across the globe, especially in Africa. The way Yuri (Nicolas Cage) describes the AK-47 in the film was very iconic. Finally letting the masses know what the A (Avtomat) and K (Kalashnikov) stand for in AK-47. The AK-47 is an iconic weapon that is so ingrained in so many nations’ history and countless conflicts. This film places the AK-47 in an iconic way that helps to explain why and how it has become so involved in the world’s history.

• Caliber: 7.62×39
• Capacity: 30-Round Mag
• Barrel Length: 16.3″
• Overall Length: 35″
• Sights: Adjustable Iron Sights
• Weight: 7.7 lbs

Mosin Nagant

One of the rare English speaking films about the battle of Stalingrad and the story about the legendary Soviet sniper Vasily Zaitsev. The Mosin Nagant rifle was the standard issue rifle of the Russian forces during WWI and Soviet forces during WWII. The M91/30 was a variant of the Mosin Nagant rifle with a bolt handle that is slightly angled down and a scope mount. If you’re looking for a film filled with iconic sniper duels look no further. 

The film is based on the memoirs of Zaytev, where he mentions the three-day sniper duel he had against the German Major who was an instructor at the German Sniper school. However the only evidence that Major Erwin Konig ever existed comes from Vasily’s Memoirs. Looking past the likelihood of the entire story being Soviet War propaganda to boost morale, it’s still an iconic film and iconic rifle. The multiple sniper duels are solidified by the realistic choices of weapons, camouflage,and equipment used by both combatants. 

• Model: Mosin Nagant M1891/30 
• Caliber: 7.62×54mmR
• Capacity: 5-Round Mag
• Barrel Length: 29″
• Overall Length: 48.5″
• Sights: Rear Ladder Front Fixed Post
• Weight: 8.8 lbs

Zorg ZF-1 Pod Weapon System

The Fifth Element is my favorite sci-fi movies of all time. If you haven’t seen it I highly recommend it. Most of the special effects hold up well today and some are arguably better than movies that have come out recently. I won’t spoil anything but the acting, props, and story are all amazing. Plus, the weapons in this film are just familiar enough that makes a gun enthusiast comfortable and entertained, but new and exciting enough that you know the universe of the Fifth Element is not our own.

The pinnacle of this combination is the ZF-1 Pod weapon with its lightweight, ambidextrous titanium recharger, shot replay, rocket launcher, arrow launcher with explosive or poisonous heads, net launcher, flame thrower, and ice cube system design. The ZF-1 does not get enough screen time, but the screen time it does get makes it so memorable and iconic, after seeing the film you’ll never forget it.

Unfortunately the majority of these features are only shown during a demonstration of the weapon and never used in combat. This is likely because when would you really want an ice cube system or arrows in a real firefight. I had to do some research to discover that the ZF-1 was built over an Ak74SU and the original from the film was destroyed so the owner of the very expensive class 3 AK74 SU could get his gun back. 

We hope you enjoyed and please let us know your thoughts below!

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Revolvers are the epitome of a cool, rugged, and reliable firearm. These six-shooters were made famous by cowboys in the old Western films, but the use of revolvers in films goes well beyond the Wild West. They were the first repeating firearm in the days of percussion cap rifles and continue to be popular. There is an old saying that “God made Man, Sam Colt made them equal” was a genius marketing ploy in the 1800s that was fundamentally true in ways that shaped the forming of the United States. 

Revolvers are still popular today, especially when firing a magnum round, as many automatics cannot handle the additional power. Many of our favorite films and actors would simply not be the same without these iconic revolvers. Join us as we take a look at some of the most iconic revolvers to hit the screen over the years.

Colt Buntline Special

Wyatt Earp was one of the most legendary lawmen of the Wild West. He was well known during the era as being a badass no-nonsense lawman. The shootout at the O.K Corral is one of the best-known shootouts of the Wild West in which Earp was the only member left unscathed. The film Tombstone gives a fantastic depiction of the leading up and following the shootout.

There are some minor historical inaccuracies in the film, (if that interests you history buffs) however, one thing they got accurate was Wyatt Earp’s classic revolver. Nevertheless, court files show the real Wyatt Earp didn’t use his go-to revolver in the shootout at the O.K. Corral for whatever reason.

Regardless, the film did portray that Earp’s Colt Buntline Special was more than just his sidearm of choice. Without that revolver, the epic scene of him removing this legendary handgun from its case and carrying it the rest of the film, signifying his return to law enforcement and his return to a life of fighting crime, wouldn’t be as special.

This single action Colt has an extra-long barrel, especially for the era. Most cowboys and lawmen want a shorter barrel to have a faster drawl, but Wyatt Earp’s larger than life persona is personified in this long-barreled version of a classic pistol. 

• Caliber: .45 Long Colt
• Action: Single-Action
• Capacity: 6
• Barrel Length: 12 Inches
• Overall Length: 
• Weight: 2.7 lbs.

Smith & Wesson Model 29 Revolvers

The best-known revolver from any film in history has to be Dirty Harry’s Smith and Wesson Model 29 .44 magnum. Nowadays, Clint Eastwood probably would’ve been carrying a Smith and Wesson Model 500 but the .44 Mag Model 29 was the most domineering revolver in the world at the time.

People who have never seen any of the films from the Dirty Harry franchise probably still know that Dirty Harry carried a .44 magnum. “Do you feel lucky, punk?” was made famous by Dirty Harry not knowing if he shot 5 or six rounds out of his revolver. That scene and all of the associated props are immortalized in film and for good reason.

The power of the .44 magnum is honestly no joke. It’s not a standard-issue by police departments since not many individuals can handle the recoil from this beast, yet Clint Eastwood wields it with one hand and accurately fires off rounds at a very high rate of fire for such a large caliber. If Dirty Harry had any other firearm the film it just wouldn’t be the same. If you ask your average person to name a movie gun, they will likely spit this one at your first. 

• Caliber: 44 Magnum
• Action: Double Action
• Capacity: 6
• Barrel Length: 8 ½”, 6 ½”
• Overall Length: 12″
• Weight: 47.7 oz

Colt 1851 Navy Revolvers

The Navy Colt is all over The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly, not to mention countless other Western films due to its prevalence in that era. This was one of the most popular guns in the West because it was able to be converted from a cap and ball revolver to a revolver that could fire cartridges.

The iconic scene of Tuco mixing and matching different parts from a variety of Navy colts was such a memorable scene. It was an amazing way to quietly demonstrate his prowess as a gunman. Having him pick the best parts and put together his ideal Navy Colt shows the variability in the production of the revolver while simultaneously showing the superb craftsmanship in design and production. The final 3-way shoot out in at the end of the film solidifies the Navy Colt as the ultimate Western firearm and historically significant revolvers in film. 

• Caliber (Cartridge): .38 Rimfire / .38 Centerfire
• Action: Single Action
• Capacity: 6
• Barrel Length: 7.5″
• Overall Length: 14″
• Weight: 2.6 lbs

Smith & Wesson Model 19

The Lethal Weapon franchise was one of the most iconic action movie series of the past century. Definitely in part to the unique dynamic of old school and new school police and firearms that are depicted in all of the movies. This dynamic is heavily dependent upon the use of a revolver by Riggs, the embodiment of the old school badass police detective played by Danny Glover. “I’m getting too old for this shit” was made famous by this iconic franchise and was helped by this iconic revolver.

When he dispatches the bad guy in the second film, at an incredibly long range, after doing his signature neck roll, is partly iconic because of his use of an arguably outdated revolver. His attachment to his revolver is made evident in the scene when he is put back as a beat cop and forced to carry a new S&W semi-auto pistol which accidentally discharges while in the locker room. The revolver was an essential part of the character of Riggs and an essential part of this iconic movie franchise. 

• Caliber: .357 Magnum
• Action: Double Action
• Capacity: 6
• Barrel Length: 4″
• Overall Length: 9.9″
• Weight: 37 oz

The Samaritan

One of the most memorable revolvers in film comes from Hellboy, the original film (naturally). The custom rounds that the samaritan fired were just as memorable as the revolver itself. All of the weaknesses of the underworld creatures all put into one single round filled with white oak, holy water, garlic, and silver shavings. These bullets could take out a vampire, werewolf, and everything in between.

The revolver looks so big that it seems like an impossible thing for anyone but the protagonists to shoot. He even admits that he isn’t that adept at shooting it, which I always enjoy a bit of honesty from a leading character. The revolver only chambers four rounds, but he does shoot eight in the film without reloading, but who is counting. The Samaritan does leave ammo capacity to be desired but makes up for it with the large rounds of 22mm. To put the size of the round into perspective, the M61 Vulcan cannon that is commonly mounted on jets and anti-aircraft guns uses a 20mm round. Hands down the biggest revolver on this list, possibly the biggest revolver in film history, to not have the Samaritan on this list would have been a travesty. 

• Caliber: 22mm
• Action: SA/DA
• Capacity: 4
• Barrel Length: Unknown
• Overall Length: Unknown
• Weight: 10 lbs.

We hope you enjoyed this edition of Fast Five and be sure to check out our picks for the most iconic movie shotguns & pistols and let us know your favorite revolvers from the movies.

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In addition to that, any layman can swap the barrel out of the ACR, allowing for caliber conversion kits to be swapped in with relative ease. There are conversion kits offered by Bushmaster to convert the ACR to chamber .450, 6.8, 300 Blackout, and 5.56. The ease of dropping in a conversion kit it’s easy to have a bolt and barrel outfitting with essentially any medium caliber cartage you’d like, I’ve also seen 7.62×39 and 5.45 conversion kits out there. Since the Bushmaster takes AR-15 magazines, any cartridge that has an AR-15 compatible magazine could have a conversion kit mocked up for the ACR. The barrels come ready to accept a suppressor and even have an adjustable gas piston system for suppressed and unsuppressed. 

Bushmaster

Bushmaster is a company that has been around for the better part of 30 years. They are a well recognized and well-respected brand in the gun community and AR-15 world. Never known as the absolute best AR-15, Bushmaster is known as a dependable, reliable, and attainable company that makes quality affordable products. They developed their own round the .450 round that takes an AR-15 lower and made it into a large bore rifle. If you’re interested in using your AR to hunt big game. They also offer the .450 in the ACR. 

Bushmaster ACR for Sale

ACR is a widely available rifle, many gun stores keep them in stock, and if you visit a gun show you’ll likely see them there. Buying a new one will not be cheap. They run $2,149 new for a basic model chambered in 5.56. Only going up in price the more attachments and features you add. For the cost of two quality AR-15s, you can get a more ergonomic, ambidextrous, and modular rifle. If you’re planning on filling your safe with a variety of calibers it may be more cost-effective to get an ACR and a few conversion kits. 

Bushmaster ACR Enhanced

ACR enhanced is essentially the same firearm as the ACR basic except it has a rail system in the front ready to mount lights, bipods, grips, and other accessories. Other than that the internals of both weapons are exactly the same and all the other features are identical. If you live in a state where folding and adjustable stocks are illegal they do offer a static stock that doesn’t fold. You can even make an ACR California compliant with relative ease if you add a small attachment to the pistol grip, put on a static stock, and only put in a 10 round AR mag. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, the ACR is a solid rifle that can fix several issues that plague the AR-15 platform, however, I feel like they really missed the ball with their ability to convert it to full rifle rounds. I am not an engineer, nor do I know why the designers didn’t make the ACR compatible with 7.62 NATO. But being that the idea of the rifle was to have it be modular they should have just expanded the magazine port and allowed it to fit 7.62×51 cartridges. Left-handed shooters would probably jump at the opportunity to get an ACR or they could just get the wipe array of bullpups out there that do the same thing for ambidextrous shooters for less money with a shorter overall profile and the same length barrel. 

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Sharps Rifle Manufacturing remained open until 1881 when they declared bankruptcy. New repeating rifles were all the rage and the old falling block design couldn’t compete with newer models of the day. The legacy and impact of Sharps Rifles can certainly be seen in history and still be felt today.

Sharps Rifle

When thinking of rifles from the American Civil War the majority of casual historians will picture muzzleloading percussion cap rifles, which is not wrong. However, many cavalry units and sniper units used breech-loading percussion cap rifles.

These were by no means the first break loading rifles, the first breech-loading rifle is nearly as old as rifles themselves going back to the 14th century. However, Sharps’ design was original in many ways. It was one of the first breech-loading rifles to use the new percussion cap and utilized a falling block design.

This made reloading much faster especially when kneeling or in the prone position. The Sharps Rifle was a carbine and was preferred by calvary men on both sides. The use of cavalry during the civil war differed from wars in the past. They would usually dismount when using their weapons. Calvary soldiers were among the more elite units of the day and would get better quality weapons.

Sharpshooters also favored Sharps rifles for their greater accuracy and rate of fire compared to muzzle-loading rifles of the day, like the Springfield 1861. Sharps Rifle had double the rate of fire of the Springfield 61. This feat was accomplished without the use of cartridges.

Obviously the implementation of cartridges would make the rate of fire of the Sharps rifle obsolete. Its muzzle loading feature was used by Springfield in the US Army’s next standard issue rifle the Springfield model 1873 which utilized a trapdoor breech-loading action along with a cartridge. A testament to its popularity among soldiers and effectiveness at the time.

Sharps Rifle Ammo

Sharps rifles were also popularized after the civil war in the Wild West. The classic rifle’s large-caliber cartridge and fantastic accuracy made it ideal for buffalo hunting. In fact, Buffalo Bill famously used the .50-70 cartridge in a buffalo hunting competition where he came in the victor even though his competitor was using a repeating rifle. 

Conclusion

The Sharps Rifles made a significant impact on the philosophy of military firearms. Many military leaders of the day didn’t want their soldiers to have the ability to have a high rate of fire, worrying they would waste ammunition. Sharps rifles certainly impacted the ideas of effective tactical loading and the philosophy of rate of fire for military leadership. 

Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments and request more historical firearms reviews at Gunivore.

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Star Model B

Pulp Fiction easily one of my favorite movies of all time. Part of that reason is the flawless soliloquy given by Samuel L. Jackson’s character in the opening scene and in the final scene of the film. The classic “Bible” verse Jules recites in the opening scene and closing scene wouldn’t be the same if he hadn’t pulled out that beautifully nickel plated Star Model B pistol, which you find out in the closing scene is no ordinary 1911 because he calls his sidearm ‘Mr. 9mm over here’.

There are so many classic props in Pulp Fiction, few as prominent as Jules’ gorgeous Star Model B Spanish pistol. To not have this firearm as number one on this list would be blasphemy. ‘Mr. 9mm’ takes up the majority of the screen time for the final scene of the movie while he has it shoved into Pumpkin’s face while taking his time explaining to him the intricacies of his beloved bible verse, how he found G-d earlier in the day, and why he wasn’t going to kill him. 

Beretta 92

This sidearm was carried in both classic Christmas movies Die Hard and Lethal Weapon both with equal levels of effectiveness against the bad guys. Yes, both films take place during Christmas, look it up. I have to say its connection to Die Hard has to be more intense. From the iconic movie poster of John McClane holding it and in the final standoff with Hans Gruber with it taped to his back this classic 9mm was beautifully cast. The fact that ammo conservation was even a factor in this movie set it apart from other action films of the era.

Also, the fact that the Berretta 92 was a relatively high tech new weapon of the day, makes a lot of sense why it was chosen and stays the trusted sidearm of John McClane. This classic Christmas tale would certainly not be the same without the Berretta 92. So often in sequels, they try to give the main character a new fancier sidearm that often makes no sense, *cough cough* Boondocks Saints 2. The fact that the filmmakers have consistently used it in all the sequels is a testament to its importance and validity as a sidearm in the franchise.

Walter PPK

No list about iconic movie handguns would be complete without one of the most iconic and recognized firearms from movies, James Bond’s Walter PPK. Very few firearms have survived reboots and actor changes, but 007’s favorite sidearm doesn’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon. Regardless of the new gadgets and tools given to 007, he will always carry his trusted Walter PPK.

Originally, 007 was carrying a Beretta M1934 but was forced to switch to the Walter PPK because the Beretta M1934 malfunctioned on his last assignment, this occurred when Sean Connery was playing Bond in Dr. No. Tossing back martinis and utilizing that license to kill solidified the Walther PPK into movie history. Its subcompact size, smooths lines, and reliability make it an obvious pick for an assassin or secret agent. 

BlasTech DL-44 Heavy Blaster Pistol (Broom Handle Mauser C96)

Han Solo is an iconic action hero who has been featured in six Star Wars films in addition to many other non-canon books, comics, and other media. Besides for his beloved hair sidekick Chewbacca, Han Solo is attached to his trusted sidearm, the DL-44 Heavy Blaster Pistol. While they may have outfitted this pistol to look futuristic, Solo’s Blaster is actually a slightly tweaked Mauser C96, commonly known as the Broom Handle Mauser first developed all the way back in 1895.

The Mauser box cannon went on to be reproduced all over the world and has been featured in well over 100 films and television programs, though none are as iconic as Han Solo’s. This is the gun that’s caused a whole lot of controversy in the famous Cantina scene in A New Hope where it’s not quite clear who shoots first, Han Solo or the green Greedo. 

Para-Ordnance Nite Tac 

Milla Jovovich has solidified herself as an action hero particularly for her role in the Resident Evil film series. The star character wields plenty of firearms throughout the films but it’s her dual-wielding of the Para-Ordnance Nite Tacs in Resident Evil: Extinction that has become so iconic. These pistols serve as her primary sidearms throughout the film and she uses them gracefully to wreak havoc on crazy survivors and battle the dead in the ruins of Las Vegas. However, her proclivity for Para-Ordnance goes back to Resident Evil: Apocalypse in which she can also be seen dual-wielding Para-Ordnance pistols, this time the .45 ACP P-14s. 

Conclusion

To be an iconic movie pistol partially means that the firearm and the film are almost inseparable. We understand that this is an incomplete list so we ask that you share with us your picks for the most iconic movie pistols. Also don’t forget to check out our picks for the most iconic movie shotguns, which may have a few surprises.       

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