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In today's Freezing Rifle Test (best rifle for snow), we allow moisture/snow into the actions of different weapon systems and allow it to freeze. In order to best test how these freezing rifles would behave under a worst case scenario. For many this is a very applicable topic. The results certainly surprised us.

The AK-105 is for me one of the most iconic rifles currently in use by the famed Russian Alpha group. It is the rifle of choice due to its short size but good ballistics. As I explain in the video I believe it was pure providence that the gas tube on the AK-100 series of rifles be at such a length that when shortened put the rifle's barrel at 12.4 inches. Even more interesting to me is that the AK-100 series of rifles were purely meant for export but certain models quickly found themselves in official service of Mother Russia. Hope you enjoy this video on my favorite rifle ever. The AK-105.

Often worn to look intimidating, but do these bulletproof masks actually work? This is the question we wanted to answer with today's ballistic tests vs 22, 9mm, 45, 44 mag, 12 gauge and 308. The answer is likely what you'd expect but not for the reason you'd expect. In any case these were bought by me and not provided by any company. :)

The HK USP 45 is in my mind one of the most iconic pistols to have ever been designed. Along with other legendary handguns like the 1911, Browning Hi Power, CZ75 and others it falls into a category of handguns that endures despite the passage of time. In many ways it is certainly eclipsed by newer designs - but despite that I feel that many are still drawn to this behemoth 45 Caliber pistol. In today's video we'll talk at length about HK, the USP 45 and a lot of the considerations that brough this weapon to fruition to include the MK23 SOCOM program. :)

In today's Muddy Rifle Test we look to determine which rifle will perform best in a muddy environment. The test gets progressively more difficult the further the video goes along. The results definitely surprised us and I hope you will enjoy the content and results we got from this video.

The Beretta 1301 has already garnered itself a legendary reputation amongst shot-gunners around the world due to it's light weight, excellent ergonomics and speedy cycling of shells. The question is how does it compare to the venerable Benelli M4, a combat shotgun that has proved itself serving amongst the USMC and other services. In today's video we'll be doing a dive on the Beretta 1301, hope you enjoy.

9mm vs 45 ACP, the age old debate and the one that we end today. In today's video we utilize a human torso analog for our test.

The PSA AK-74 returns for round 2. PSA has conducted rigorous testing on my AK-74 and taken seriously the points that I brought up as well as the community that had issues with their first gen AK-74's. My original AK-74 was sent back to PSA and extensive testing was done to see what was causing the issues. In today's video we see if PSA fixed the issues I had in my first video.

This Russian Titanium Helmet is better known as the Altyn. The Altyn Helmet is frequently used among domestic counter terrorism units. In Today's video we test the strength of this Russian titanium helmet and put it to the test against common bullets in circulation.

The Mosin-Nagant was produced in massive quantities. Due to both this and their relatively simple manufacture the Mosin-Nagant has been a been a cheap rifle that has fallen to terrible modifications many a time. In today's video I lost a bet to Brandon Herrera and was forced to review this gigachad Mosin-Nagant / monstrosity. My god have mercy upon my soul.

The SKS is one of the more interesting historical rifles you will ever come across. Although the SKS is very plentiful in America it is quickly gaining in price as good examples begin to run out.

How far is a Shotgun Deadly? These are the not smart ideas we come up with related to shotguns. I've found myself focused on how deadly shotguns are because it is such a compelling weapon. Especially when we think about how far a projectile might need to travel, and given the low pressures and velocities from shotguns I really wanted to see when it would be deadly. Utilizing BirdShot, buckshot, and Slugs we'll be evaluating with intense science.

The 44 Magnum otherwise known as the BIG IRON is the quintessential hero weapon of our time. However is Magnum power (BIG IRON) truly needed in everyday carry? Today we set out to show some of the capabilities of this 44 caliber weapon. The 44 Magnum has always been a fun weapon for me to shoot, and despite the wrist breaking nature of the +P+ Super Heavy Ammunition used in this video, still showed much promise and capability in this video. So enjoy today as we delve into the 44 Magnum.

Can a Rifle (while you're holding it) Stop a bullet and save your life? Basically we're shooting a gun These are questions we ask ourselves here at Garand Thumb Science. TBH we're winging science here but more than likely we are the best source when it comes to these complex questions regarding, bullets vs anything, rifles, and their ability to stop. Anyhow hope you enjoy the video. We sure were surprised.

The SCAR-L / SCAR 16S in 5.56 is such an interesting weapon. It came at a time when the M-4's reputation was dubious amongst many in the Military community. Although the SCAR-L ultimately fell out of usage with the Military it is still none the less in usage amongst certain units in the US Military such as the 75th Ranger Regiment.

Survival / Recce / Assaulting, we're going hard on these guys and Pt 1 of the Basics of Urban Combat Survival and Assault Pack Setup is the first of a very large series exploring this topic in conjunction with our becoming deadly in the mountains series. We hope you enjoys these topics as they start of basic. We won't be able to teach you everything you need to know in this first video. It will take many. Stay tuned for more and keep the comment section spicy.

The Freezing Pistol Test. Back to start more internet arguments over whether your pistol can function in arctic environments. This was a very interesting one. We figured we could accelerate the freezing with the aid of dry ice. And accelerate the freezing process it did. Hope you enjoy.

The Springfield Hellion is finally here, after many years the famed Croatian Bullpup the VHS-2 has arrived. The question is how did Springfield do? Is the Hellion an excellent rifle? Does it perform as it should? How does it stack up against other Bullpup rifles?

From beginner to advanced, we explain helmet setups in this video. Helmets are an extremely important aspect of any conflict. We've seen many insane helmet setups recently so we thought we'd make a nice video on some things we've learned over the years. Becoming deadly with your gear takes time and training. Helmet setups are no exception to this. The longer you wear your helmet the more you're going to understand what needs to change to insure you don't get the dreaded peltor headache.

The SIG SPEAR has been selected as the US Army's new Service rifle. Many people have tons of questions about the SIG SPEAR especially since it’s such a relatively new and in many ways traditional system compared to some of the other competitors in the NGSW. In today’s video we delve into the SIG SPEAR and this video will likely be the first of several that explore the new rifle of the US Military.

The GM-6 Lynx 50 CAL is one of the most interesting Bullpup .50 BMG rifles that I have ever fired. Compact with manageable recoil it does seem to suffer from a few problems. Ultimately like many firearms the GM-6 Lynx is a tool to fit a specific job, and it performs well at that job. In today's video we'll be taking a look at the Lynx and seeing how it performs utilizing NORMA 50 CAL ammunition.

How strong is this Russian ballistic Shield? The Russian Vant Ballstic shield is the stuff of legends. In many stories this Russian ballistic shield has been able to withstand direct RPG blasts or DShK fire with no problems. But how much of this is true? Today on Garand Thumb we test the Vant Ballistic Shield and see what rounds it can stop.

The B&T TP9 / Steyr TMP is for some reason held in a very fond area of my heart. Perhaps it's Counter Strike, but for whatever reason it is the B&T TP9 is a formidable weapon albeit a very odd one. It has some very odd design choices and many sacrifices were made to make a weapon as small as this little guy is.

Should you use Airsoft for training? This is a question that has literally been tearing the community apart since Airsoft came about. In today's video we talk about our recent attendance at Milsim West and what I think of Airsoft as a training tool.

How deadly is Russia's Military Ammo? Since the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan The Legendary 7N6 Poison bullet has been widely discussed for it's wild and predictable and yet unpredictable flight path once it impacts a target. There are lots of accounts of the performance and wild yawing effects of the 7N6 but few scientific tests. Here on Garand Thumb - we strive to get to the heart of the matter.

President Biden's 9mm "blow your lungs out" statement is an interesting one. I feel compelled to test out such bold statements especially when they don't match up with my general knowledge of ballistics. Today on Garand Thumb science, we delve deep.

The Obrez is without a doubt one of the worst weapons I have ever handled. It's a Mosin Nagant made into a pistol and was done as a necessity in a time and place where pistols were scarce but a concealable weapon was needed. The results was the most cursed of all guns to have ever been made. Today we review the Obrez.

The PTR 91 is an American made copy of the legendary HK G3. Heckler and Koch are known for impressive engineering so the question is how does the PTR 91 compare? In today's video we put the PTR 91 through it's paces to see how it does.

The US Army's new belt fed Machine gun the M250 will be replacing the M249 SAW, the world is changing. Today we visit Sig and are given the rundown on the new belt fed machine gun that US Service Members will be carrying. The M250 fires the potent 6.8x51 (277 Fury) Hybrid cased round. It should be noted that due to the more secretive nature of the projectile used in this weapon that accuracy testing could not be done and all rounds after firing had to be pulled from the sand berm. In the future we will likely be visiting upon those two points.

How to stop a Mass Shooter. Here at Garand Thumb we believe very strongly in the actions of Mr. Dicken and in the carrying of concealed handguns. Mr. Dicken's actions ultimately saved many lives. There is much to learn from what occurred.

The Basics of Clearing a Room and CQB is both deceptively simple and grossly complex. This video won't make you an expert or even a beginner. This video serves as a primer for follow on training in room clearing and CQB. I hope you enjoy today's Part 2 of Urban Survival. Room Clearing.

The 45-70 Modern Lever Action is an odd concept. The Thumper V2 is a concoction from Mad Pig Customs that attempts to bring these ancient but formidable 45-70 guns to the modern era. To they succeed? We hope to delve into that with this video.

The M1 / M1D was a Garand made into a Sniper Rifle. And while it filled the role as a DMR more it still did well at it's job. The M1D never saw action in WW2 or Korea and mostly saw limited service during the Vietnam War. I hope you enjoy today's video as we delve into the M1D

The Kriss Vector is a very interesting weapon. It contains a unique recoil mechanism that has the bolt traveling down with the idea being that is eliminates recoil. Today we delve into the Kriss Vector to see how it performs in the hands of me, Charlie and Administrative Results. Hope you enjoy.

Politicians are always claiming things, but it's not that often that we get to brutally fact check them.

Basic Mountain Camouflage and how to become a ghost in the mountains centers around your efficient use of camouflage. In today's video we go over basic camouflaging in three different light spectrums; visible, IR, and Thermal. I hope you enjoy the continuation of our becoming deadly in the mountain series.

The German Army's Service Rifle has been the G36 for quite some time. Eventually very soon it will be replaced but for now it is still the symbol of HK engineering. Today we delve into the famous rifle and talk about how it stacks up against other 5.56 intermediate caliber service rifles.

The SIG MCX SPEAR LT in 5.56 is a soon to be released weapon that owes it's origins to both the NGSW program as well as recent SOCOM solicitations. It is the latest generation of SIG's MCX lineup of rifles and takes the weapon in a more professional direction. The SPEAR LT significantly reduces the weapon's weight from the Virtus lineup while giving more features that the Military / We asked for. I hope you'll join us as we go over SIG's newest offering; the MCX SPEAR LT.

The RPD in many ways set the standard for Squad based LMG’s the world round. Many cues were taken from the RPD in further designs around the world. I find this to be among my favorite and yet it seems to be a fairly forgotten weapon overall. In today’s video we go over this firearm and talk about it. This semi automatic RPD utilizes special 25 round belts for the purpose of this video.

This shotgun has some ridiculous speed due to a fairly innovative operating mechanism. All ammo used was full power buckshot and slugs. Today we take a dive on the Genesis Arms 12, a semi automatic magazine fed shotgun that actually works. We've previously reviewed a version of this gun but due to the change in operating system we felt it deserved a new video. The Gen 12 is made right here in Idaho and we're a fan. Hope you all enjoy the video.

I've always wondered if body armor could stop a 50 cal, or how many plates would be required. The more interesting question was could you survive the shot even if the plates stopped it. Today on Garand Thumb science we put this all to the test. Stay tuned.

The Mk14 Mod 0 EBR is an M-14 but tricked out and ready to go. It's perhaps the most iconic rifle to have ever been fielded as games like Call of Duty propelled it to stardom. Today we take a close look at this venerable little guy and go over the good, and lots of bad when is comes to this compelling platform.

The US Army has selected the XM-157 to work along side many new weapon systems including the X-M5 NGSW. This new optic from Vortex has a feature that ranges and calculates your exact hold to achieve first round impacts. The hold is displayed within the optic. The technology is incredible and we're excited to bring you this review.

The XCR-L is a very interesting rifle. This rifle was disqualified from the SCAR program on a technicality due to the fact that they forgot to include a blank firing adapter for their rifle. Had things been different I believe this rifle could have won that competition and been in heavy use by Special Operations Forces throughout the Global War on Terror. However that did not happen and we have this slick little rifle. Hope you enjoy the review.

Semi automatic belt feds are an interesting topic within the non-governmental gun world. Often overlooked I find them to be a compelling choice in many ways for the average larper for a large numbers of reasons that we'll delve into in this video. Today we go over the M249S and the Fitelight MCR, both semi automatic belt fed weapons that feed using M27 links.

Surviving an ambush will take way more than just a video to understand. But we hope that in today’s video we can begin to explain this vital and complex topic. We have to give a big shoutout to Spiritus System for helping with this video.

What does it sound like to be shot at? In today’s video we show you what bullets sound like at various distances from various weapons. There is much that can be gleaned from these sounds specifically in reference to distance and caliber of the shooter. It’s a very interesting topic and I hope you’ll enjoy this video.

The Flinctlock Rifle was a hunting mainstay in early America. During the Revolutionary War many of these found themselves pressed into service with irregular troops. The question is, how effective were these and what did the wounds look like?

The SPAS-12 is without a doubt the most iconic shotgun to have ever been made or designed. It's used in almost every video game and movie you can imagine. However how effective is this very interesting weapon? The SPAS-12 is without a doubt perhaps one of the worst designed shotguns to have ever hit the market

A 50 BMG produces an enormous amount of energy per trigger pull. Can you silence the immense amount of powder being put out by such a weapon? How effective can this possibly be? Today the Garand Thumb Science team investigates.

The Freezing Rifle Test PT 2, we’re here to remind you this test is fun but silly. Please consider not basing your personality off of this test. In today's Freezing Rifle Test (best rifle for snow), we allow moisture/snow into the actions of different weapon systems and allow it to freeze. In order to best test how these freezing rifles would behave under a worst case scenario.

The Heavy Counter Assault Rifle (HCAR) is an extremely interesting design based almost entirely on the WW2 BAR (A2 variant). In today's video we give our thoughts after two thousand rounds of .30-06 on this monstrous gun. We hope you enjoy!