What is the purpose of a muzzle brake on a rifle?

A muzzle brake or recoil compensator is a device connected to, or a feature integral to the construction of, the muzzle or barrel of a firearm or cannon that is intended to redirect a portion of propellant gases to counter recoil and unwanted muzzle rise.

What does a flash suppressor do?

A well-designed flash hider can reduce the “bloom” caused by the muzzle blast while viewing through night vision goggles. The reduced flash also helps keep a shooter’s night vision, the ability to see in low-light conditions, from being disabled.

What does ported barrel mean?

Porting involves precision-drilled holes also called ports in the barrel and/or slide on pistols, shotguns and revolvers. These ports reduce recoil by diverting the gases expelled before the departure of a projectile. The gases are directed out the top of the barrel which forces the barrel down.

What sidearm was used in WW2?

The .45 caliber rounds of the Colt offered just that. It was a reliable and powerful sidearm for U.S. infantry during World War II. Polish soldiers with the PCA , 1951. The PPSh-41, or Shpagin Machine Pistol, was the Soviet Union’s sub-machine gun of choice for World War II and over the many years that followed it.

What did WWI soldiers carry in their bags?

The basic issue wasn’t anything like what troops receive today, but they made it work. Here’s what they carried to victory: This waterproof bag carried everything the troop needed to sustain themselves while in the field, including toiletries, socks, a few rations, and whatever personal belongings they wanted to haul.

What were the rifles used in WW2?

Rifles were a widely used type of weapon during the Second World War. A nation would field one or more types of infantry rifles. While some were more specifically identified with particular nations, others were used by various countries more randomly with no apparent partialities.

Did the Soviets send soldiers into combat without enough rifles?

The above describes the opening scene to the Hollywood blockbuster Enemy at the Gates and sustains a myth that the Soviets sent soldiers into combat without enough rifles. But this concept is mostly a product of Hollywood movies, propaganda, and the disastrous performance of the Soviet army in the early stages of the war.