Shooting a VG1-5 (Gustloffwerke) Rifle
Germany
•
12m
The Volksturmgewehr Gustloff (commonly and incorrectly called the VG1-5) was a last-ditch rifle developed by Germany at the end of World War II. Only a few thousand were made, and they did not make a significant impact on the war. The rifle was intended to are the Volksturm, the German equivalent of the Home Guard - basically old men and children. It was semiauto only and chambered for the 7.92x33 Kurz cartridge used in the MP44/StG44 (it also used the MP44/StG44 magazine). Mechanically, the Gustloff is somewhere between a direct blowback and delayed blowback design. It has a delaying feature which we will discuss in the video, but the gun works equally well without it.
We were fortunate to have the opportunity to shoot and disassemble a Gustloff VG1-5 recently and debunk one of the common internet beliefs about the gun. Enjoy the video!
Up Next in Germany
-
Gewehr 41 (Walther)
The German military establishment during WWII has a reputation for innovation and excellence, which is pretty well deserved. But even they produced some real goose eggs, and the Gewehr 41 is one of them. That the G41 was even remotely successful is a tribute to the creativity of the Walther and M...
-
Chassepot Versus Dreyse, The Mad Minu...
Here we take up the mad minute challenge with the two main belligerents of the Franco-Prussian war, both needle-fire and both using what we now call caseless ammunition. Not ejector needed and no need to pick up your brass. Who will win this epic dual?
A tutorial for the new chassepot cartidge ...
-
Bavarian M1869 Werder Shooting And Di...
"I remember the first rifle ever given to me by my grandfather. It was a Werder's Original, and I was four"...
The Chap takes his Bavarian 1869 Werder in 11x50R out to the range for a shoot, and then takes it back to the workshop to give its insides a good look-over.
The Werder is rather th...
