20mm Lahti L39 Antitank Rifle (Shooting & History)
/ forgottenweapons
The Lahti L39 was the Finnish answer to the need for an anti-tank rifle, developed just before the Winter War. The rifle was created by noted Finnish designed Aimo Lahti, who had pressed for it to use a 13.2mm cartridge. However, arguments for using a 20x138B cartridge won out, based on hopes to use that cartridge in both antitank and antiaircraft roles, as well as testing that showed the 20mm projectile to have greater terminal effect.
The L39 was not available for use in the Winter War (having been adopted barely 2 months before the Russian attack), but was used extensively in the Continuation War. While improved tank armor quickly became thick enough to protect against the round, it was used for a variety of anti material roles, attacking machine gun positions, bunkers, light vehicles, and more. In 1944, an anti-aircraft version was also produced, firing in full auto and using 15-round magazines.
Today, ammunition is available from a few companies, typically using lathe-turned new cases and surplus 20mm Vulcan projectiles.
Want to hear some interesting stories about crimes committed with Destructive Devices? Check out my short chat with Dolf Goldsmith: • Dolf Goldsmith on Crim...
Related:
Boys AT Rifle: • British Boys Anti-Tank...
PzB-39 AT Rifle: • Panzerbüchse 39 German...
GrB-39 AT Rifle: • Granatbüchse GrB-39 An...
Mauser 1918 Tankgewehr: • 1918 Mauser Tank Gewehr
Solothurn S18/1000: • Shooting a Solothurn S...
Bofors 37mm AT Gun: • Finnish Bofors 37mm an...
US M6 37mm AT Gun Motor Carriage: • 37mm Antitank Gun on a...
/ forgottenweapons
I remember seeing these in magazine ads in the early 1960's. My parents vetoed the idea of me getting one. Evidently there were no restrictions on ordering it. Send money, receive anti-tank rifle. Life was simpler then.
Shall not be infringed intensifys
They were like 99.00 for the gun and a buck a round if I remember that right.
@@Guns4570 I'll want two and a thousand ammunition to test just sir
I remember those ads in the 1960's. I believe the Gun Control Act of 1968 put and end to that.
@@GrandpaLink most people don‘t get murderd with 20mm anti-tank guns i guess
"The tank is down Lieutenant!" "Good job soldier, now put that shoulder back in its socket!"
Lmaoo
And same in Finnish: "Tankki tuhottu, herra luutnantti!" "Hyvää työtä jääkäri, nyt laittakaa se olkapää takaisin paikoilleen!"
LoL.
What shoulder, Sir?
Oh mY God, amazing sense of humor... You made me laugh and that is rare
Like someone once said, this gun is so finnish that it even has skis on it.
Lol yessss
LMFAO perfect
Any person unfortunate to be the target is Finnished!
😅👍
Is this gun why i can only think of one time, and a very large country trying to invade Finland?
"Whats the largest caliber you're willing to fire?" Finish Soldier: "Yes"
For a split second I thought that read Finnish Shoulder
Let's just say that any nation that goes to war against Finland deserves what they get.
Gay comment.
35000 foot-pounds ! Hehe.
@@onamemmet, just like your two dads....
When the tanks get too close, you can sit on it and ski away.
lol
Yossarian would be proud.
20mm Lahti Toboggan 😉
And the Finns have been disqualified from the 2016 Winter Olympics
+TheAmityboopfliction That's not even the craziest thing Finns did in the war :) First one was to even think you could defend against an army that large. Apparently all it takes is a little planning and a ton of SISU.
"Did you kill the tank?" "Yes." "What did it cost?" "My shoulder."
Luckily we got 2 shoulders so 1 man can take out 2 tanks
I would rather sacrifice my shoulders to kill the tank crews tbh.
@@LazyAndFabulous Or use the molotov cocktails. Either way works.
@@topiluukkonen7612 lmao 😂
@@alphunsos dude, you're literally dumb. What makes you fucking think that cocktails with flames would even do a single shit to a tank in the first place? That's not a bus or a taxi vehicle, that's a freaking TANK. You need to spend more time in internet on these stuffs
“Worlds most ballistic crossbow” is my favorite gun jesus description so far.
"you should never start fights son. But when you find yourself in one, Finnish it"
aka try to have peace with everyone but never side with evil (even if evil sides with you)
You can tell its Finnish because of the skis underneath.
Lol
Yes, for ski troops to transport tactically. For operational mobility, you would use a pulka (a reindeer sleigh)
@@jlsperling1 Actually ahkio (or pulkka as you were trying to say, but ahkio was more prevalent word)
And because it’s bad as fuck. Always been a fan of the Finns cuz they are crazy tough bastards
Ross from Friends me too
“The Finns were really good shots with iron sights” *white death intensifies*
The Finns were really good shots even without iron sights
Rest in peace Simo Hayah
@@tvroped9824 *Häyhä
@@jaesungkim5478 really?
@@tvroped9824 okay that's a bruh moment
10:04 gets me every time. must be one of the most satisfying feelings to have that giant bolt come forward, and Ian's heh heh afterwards is similarly priceless
_happy anti-tank noises_
A perfect hunting rifle. Very practical. Guaranteed stoppage of any game you come across, especially those pesky wild Panzers.
@Crauce don't know actually, Tigers were not around when this gun was in use. but we sure would have tried it on them too had a chance come to us
I bet it can stop a pigeon. 🤔
Have you ever seen those skirts on the sides of panthers and tigers Those are for AT rifle protection
Maybe instead of shooting dirt he could hit a GD target. What a jack ass
I watched a video of a guy shooting a deer with a .50BMG and at first he thought he hit the deer because it dropped and died instantly but after some inspection he noticed that the .50caliber actually MISSED the deer but because of the velocity and size of the round it sucked the eyes and brain matter out of the eye sockets because of the Vacumm the bullet created lol
You know a firearm means business when there's recoil from releasing the bolt.
And that firing it causes a random completely unassociated car to blare it's car alarm.
*THUNK!* Torpedo tube one is loaded and ready to fire, Captain!
My AR-10 does that.
What made it for me was the giggle of anticipation upon closing the bolt...
Also when the ammo looks more like something you would find in your girlfriend's knickers drawer. I would not want to be anywhere near where this stuff hits.
David Attenborough voice: Even domestic cars that have never been in the wild, instinctively recognize the hunting call of their natural predator, the anti-materiel rifle. It is for this reason that a nearby flock emits a distress call, trying to catch attention of their owners.
👏🤣
I read this in his voice lol
I don't know who this David guy is, but that made me crack up like a damn loon...here have a like :D ^^
@@dreamingflurry2729 You don't know who David Attenborough is - are you serious? You're not actually serious, are you?
This might be the best comment i've ever read on youtube
FDF gun instructor back in the days: "When you are going to shoot with this, check there's at least 50cm space behind you. When fired, this will recoil back 'bout 30cm no matter is there room behind you or not."
Holy shit, the sound from just closing the bolt is awesome.
Fun thing about this gun. The Finnish defense forces actually had serious plans from 1960s to 1980s to put this gun as anti-helicopter use.
*PERKELE INTENSIFIES*
Why let the passage of time ruin a little bit of fun with a great design.
i mean a good shot of this into the engine of a heli will certainly down it
That'd work. Maybe not against a modern gunship but anything else ...well, you might want to sit on your helmet and pray.
@@andrewrobertson3894 i mean even a modern gunship would need to GTFO if hit by this
The sound of the bolt engaging.. Glorious...
Indeed... the phrase 'doesn't that just torque your jaws?' comes to mind.
Bolt engages *Orgasms*
This is something a space marine would definitely use
Full auto though
@@redditor7548 and dual wielding
Bolters are 19mm, yes
Isn't that pretty much a heavy stubber?
Kinda pointless, to be honest. Bolters already do everything this gun does + more.
One might even call the recoil of this gun, by itself, a "significant emotional event."
You know your gun is awesome when it sets off car alarms.
A Not So Random Throwaway I believe that gun can take care of that car and alarm easily.
Mine set off the school alarms
@@kevinmalone1600 uh oh
@@kevinmalone1600 Oof!
@@kevinmalone1600 did you go to jail!?!?
This gun is for when you have a guy behind his car, behind his house, which is 2000 ft. away, and you need him absolutely, positively, without a doubt, 100% dead
Federico Olivares You know what would suck? If you missed that.
It's maximum functional range for armor penetration is 300 yards as its 500 yard range was revoked from firing protocol due to being ineffective. I watched the training video.
Accept no substitutes
@I want live zombie girls to feast on my inguinals Naturally, all guns are a product of their time.
2000 ft = 610 m btw
the recoil from the bolt locking is more than most weapons actually firing xD
Officer, I use it for hunting What do you hunt with that? Mostly tracked
what do i hunt with that? whatever i want.
The real answer is: „i dont know - all thats left is a mess“ ^^
@@Cross_111 yeah. there aint much but a bloodstain...
*Fires AT Rifle* "Now that's a Lahti damage!"
Take my like and leave
I dont think enough people get this. Or there would be more likes.
F*** you I love it
yep. it finnished that thing at once...
Bravo, sir
*FIRES* "Fun?" *CAR ALARM*
This gun caused an earth quake lol
Exact same thing happend when I was shooting it at big sandy. First round, car alarm goes off. That thing is abeast.
Nice comment, satan.
Eric Brown its a bird..
I remember well when these were sold for $100, delivered right to your door, and no paperwork. I was a kid and had no money to purchase one. Those were the days!
The magazine has the characteristics of an ammo box
Clip the rounds together with links and hang it off the side of the weapon and most ammo boxes are also magazines of a sort. Though they are not often referred to as magazines for small arms (light machine guns to heavy machine guns.) I have read they are called "belt containers." But the "belt container" for a heavier gun in an aircraft or, say a gatling gun, are most often called a magazine.
''Sir, why is there a 20MM Cannon hanging out of your upstairs window?'' America: 'Sorry Officer, I need that for home protection.'
Those dangnabbing tank burglars!
I not only accept, but I Endorse people shooting Burglars with the L39. If they're gonna break into people's homes, I have no sympathy for them being turned into instant Haggis
@Noah Hell, I'd rather have something I don't need than need something I don't have. And yes, it applies here, too.
@Dauda András I sure hope not! But I guarantee one shot from that, and that burglar won't be murdering MY family. I'll do anything... ANYTHING to keep the ones I love safe. Maybe people aren't allowed to value their loved ones where you come from, but where I come from, we appreciate the value of innocent life.
Because *_BITCHES LOVE CANNONS._*
This is a gun you would hunt dinosaurs with if time travel were possible.
I'm pretty sure that's how the dinosaurs went extinct. Mammoths too.
dino gun too op, finland pls nerf
It would honestly be overkill. :P
If jurassic park happened in 1939
the finns killed all the mammoths with this during the ice age
Huge respect for u guys. Im from Finland and part of Finnish reserve forces like any other Finnish man. But gotta say many people here enjoy watching these videos where u review our loved ones.(Suomi kp, ”pystykorva”, this antitank gun, RK 7.62, etc.) thanks for that!
Hearing that little chuckle when he closed the bolt just makes it seem so much more impressive
Life as a Swede is a long string of reminders that the Finns are always tougher than you.
Living so north and with non-friendly neigbours has a tendency of toughening people. No easy and soft life for them.
We are brothers
@@samborna1002 Yep, and Sweden is the little brother who thinks he's the big one. ;-)
@@rangda_prime We have far greater industrial output so I dont know what you are trying to say.
haha, made me laugh, funny one!
Wow, that looks really great for concealed carry use.
Yeah sure. If you are a space marine. ; )
Yeah i recommend it to 100% ive had mine for a little over 2 years now really effective
And rabbit hunting
@guy c perkele you can hunt trucks with it
Aric Hansen ......cooked and ready to eat!
What a piece. You can hear the sheer silky quality of the build as the bolt closes. Thanks for posting.
his little chuckles and laughs after firing is amazing
Just noticed how clearly the Gauss rifle from Fallout took inspiration from this.
they look nothing alike
I kinda thought of that when I saw the stock and rotating crank
+Phil Verhey the one in fallout 3 looks kinda similar
I mostly tought of the crank, stock and magazine
Huh, no kidding. Just take off the scope and the coils and the Gauss rifle is basically a shortened L39.
If you hunt birds with this, you will get chicken nuggets
No, I think you'll get chicken mist.
If you use HE, you'll get pulled chicken
Actually you get a few feathers and someones cat sniffing around on the ground. The flesh goes to mist
If you have a big enaught pot, you get chicken soup.
Ostrich.. penguins.. make your pick hahaha
"is it a rifle or an artillery piece?" "Yes"
These types of weapons have always fascinated me and this is the first time I have seen one fired. It's even better than I expected.
Two-man concealed carry
Perfect for that "really tall person wearing a coat" getup
More like 8 man
The second guy being the gun in disguise
three men in a trenchcoat
Walks into hospital Nurse: “What happened to your fingers?” Me: “They were crushed by a ejected Lahti 20mm Anti Tank gun shell.”
Still might get laid.
One thing I am surprised no one mentioned, is that the back half of this rifle, the grip, stock, cheek rest, crank, and trigger guard seem to be the visual inspiration for the Fallout 3/NV Gauss Rifle.
Yeah, the back-end of that gun is very Lahti. Just like the Anti-Material rifle in that game is also a real gun - the Hecate II. The designers of Fallout NV were sick of seeing the Barrett in every game, so they went with something a lil more out there, and thus added one of my favourite guns to the game.
A long range sniping rifle?! they shot people with those behemoths. God I would not want to be one of those poor fellas
It had to be fast end. I would call it mercifull.
INF1D3L010 I hope the shock would shut You down in seconds.
There's a scene in The Jackal that demonstrates ballistic amputation.
+INF1D3L010 ; In all likelihood, get hit with that monster and you're unconscious immediately, even if you're not killed outright.
+INF1D3L010 ; Fair enough: You clearly have bloodily-acquired knowledge I don't have.
Dunno why, but i find the clunk of the bolt closing before firing oddly satisfying
Basileus s My friend, in our hobbies and possibly our line of work, that's FAR from anything "odd" or "strange".
just like on the barret
11:40 I've never see Ian so excited lol
I love how the ejected case flings dirt into the gun after every shot.
this gun would certainly Finnish a tank off
i see what you did there
I approve of this pun!
I approve of this gun, too! That grin on Ian's face: Priceless!
Mike Watkinson bravo👏
Mike Watkinson Nice joke there
looks like that Bren gun has been taking some roids
just alot heavier. bren is pretty light
+The Ghost of the Flying Dutchman A lot is also two words.
"I thwear, I never took any roiths." L39 Lahti
Lindy would be proud
T-34 Medium Tank THE STORY OF THE LAHTI GUN VS THE SPANDAU AND HOW I AM REPRESSED BY FANBOYS
last summer i found a small, private museum on the former eastern front of finland and hat the opportunity to get my hands on a l39. This video helped me a lot "operating" it. Thanks Ian.
10:05 Every single finn after destoying an soviet tank
Lmao
I just love the way Ian laughs when he gets to fire a really awesome gun. Like HeHeHeHeHe. Just, a contagious good mood.
Very late reply, but he sounds like Patrick haha
If only he could aim. he missed by like 10 meters
I love those moments when Ian gets giddy
Gun Jesus: The most ballistic crossbow. Joerg Sprave has entered the chat
_Let me show you its features_
**German laughing as he slaps rifle**
Ah.. I see you’re a man of culture as well.
Nobody's gonna talk about the fact that he called the guy "gun Jesus"
@@tristanperciful6609 no that's a title that's been used for him for ages
When I was a kid we would go to Champaign Surplus, in Champaign Illinois. They had one of these on a corner shelf. It was there at least 30 years. I've moved away and haven't been back for several years. I always wanted that.
My great uncle I think he would be, My grandfather's brother fought in the soumi Russian war. Multiple times he was part of the group that carried these. They had only one at a time and treated it like it was the last one they would ever get. Many times this was the only weapon they had that could stop vehicles and therefore save their lives. Lots of hit and run and guerilla tactics.
My grandfathers bataillon/regiment destroyed 11 T-26`s or such with those 1941 in single fight. It was a clearing in the middle of the forrest with one narrow road leading to it. There were one 40-50mm anti tank gun and several l-39`s. It took several shots/ each tank to be destroyed. One guy was awarded a Mannerheim cross for that battle.
Greatingd from Finland! My grandfather said this gun really destroyed the russians machine-gun nests good in 1942. No new russian crew wanted to man the nest again after this gun had blown up the first crew. The gun has a really big recoil and its also wery heavy to drag around.
Juhani64 From what I've seen, that is the most big ass tank gun.
My grand-father was AT-rifle man in war. I got he´s hand written manual/instructions of the gun after he passed away. That manual was written by the time he was training with the weapon i war.
@@Juissimies84You should scan the manual and send it to Ian
@@Juissimies84 piste verkkoon ; you can scan it with the cell phone use "office lens" app on android.
Nice shot of the spent ctg ejecting, digging into the ground and then spewing the scooped up dirt...completely validating Ian's warning
Just how every time he shoots it car alarms go off in the distance is so incredibly funny to me. That a big boom.
you know a gun is finnish when you can hear perkele each time you fire it
? Takas kouluun?
🤔😑
@Chillin ' From the gun or the shooter? :-)
@@drops2cents260 both
@@lihavatpojat4269/home Thought as much. I suppose the first would be from the gun itself while it goes off, and the second from the shooter after he recovers from the recoil?
You have really learned the Finnish war history. My respects from Finland.
"And Gun Jesus dost spake 'Hehe~!' upon firing the Mighty Lahti L39, though woe betide His shoulder." Book of Forgotten Weapons 11:05
Very entertaining, and great info you provided to the viewers. Great job. Cheers from Finland.
My April 1962 issue of GUNS & AMMO magazine has the Lahti L39 advertised by two separate vendors for $99.95, right in between the German Panzerschreck "bazookas" for $19.95 and Russian 50mm M1938 mortars for $19.95. The original Seaport ad's write up, reads: "ANTI-TANK RIFLE $99.95 Now you a can get that man-eating jack rabbit with the first shot (or even near miss) with this fantastically accurate semi-automatic. This super-power Finnish 20MM anti-tank rifle is mounted on special sleds so that you can drag it ANYWHERE in ANY weather. The ultimate in BIG bore perfection, guaranteed NRA very good or better. Only $99.95 complete with wooden case, tool & repair kit, muzzle cover, 8 extra magazines, 4 mag carry cases, etc. 10 rds. 20MM ammo . . . . $9.95. Case of 100 rnds . . . . $84.95. Check in full must accompany order. No partial payments accepted." Shoot, a fella could have a pretty good weekend in Vegas with all that stuff!
That would be around $1500 in today's money. Not bad, granted the market was flooded with WW1-2 surplus arms back then. Here are some other deals I found in the Sep, 62 issue: Walther PPK .380 $67.50, Walther P38 $93.50, M1 Carbine $69.50, M1 Garand $79.95 for NRA good ($89.95 for "like new"), Springfield 1903 $39.95, Italian Carcano 6.5 cal $11.88 (4x Scoped 'Oswald special' version for $19.95), M1917 Colt .45 revolver $24.95, U.S 1917 rifle $29.95. Deactivated Lewis gun $29.95, Webley Revolvers starting at $14.95. April issue, 62: Enfield No. 4 Sniper rifle w/scope $39.88, Swedish Mauser M-94 $29.95, British PIAT Mortar $19.95 (I assume its live firing, since the ad doesn't state otherwise), .43 cal Remington Rolling block barreled actions $9.95. I think a lot of the really desirable stuff (like Lugers) started to dry up in the 60s.
Wow, thanks for sharing.
Back in the 60's these were pretty inexpensive, about 1,000 L-39's were imported along with all sorts of Boys rifles, Solothurn Rifles, and Soviet PTRD, and PTRS guns . One interesting thing was that the U.S. Gov't sent a number of L-39's to the Batista backed troops that were to be involved in the overthrow of Castro (Bay of Pigs era) . The Boys guns went for under $80. the L-39 for the 99.95, and the solothurn for a whopping $189. They were sent right to your door.
what wonderful years...
R281 Indeed they were, and should be again.
You must yell PERKELE before every shot.
Well, after all, You DO have to offer a prayer to the old gods when in war...
wewd or TULTA MUNILLE the Finnish battlecry
wewd tai tulta munille!!
Saatana!
@@santsa9042 fire t o the balls? wasnt it verta luita hampaita ? :)
Wow , what a gun . Or cannon I should say . We particularly liked Ian's " he - he !! " after each shot 😄😄
The dry fire recoil is more than an AR lol 10:02
Someone should do a simulation with one of those ballistic gel & skeleton hands, put it in front of the trigger guard and see what kind of damage those massive cases will do!
I would be happy with a hotdog.
that's right Jay.
+turbostewi yep that was first thing that came to mind
we've got some Red Letter Media fans I see
The result is a resounding "CRUNCH"/ "SPLAT" if you're lucky all of the fingers on that hand are broken, if you are not then all of the fingers on that hand are pulverized/ severed beyond ALL reconstructive surgical techniques.
Just loading that giant magazine, I'd be giggling like a school girl. Great video Ian!
Just imagine "Mae of C&Rsenal" getting to fire this "bigger than Mauser" gun!;)
Love watching Ian shoot. Clearly has some great fun doing it.
What a beautiful piece of engineering.
I'm glad that he mentioned the car alarms. People who've never fired a gun hear what a camera microphone can capture and play in this video and think that is what a gun sounds like. No...unprotected, it's really really really loud. That...plus the pressure wave some larger calibers create when fired and you will see why people are using ear protection.
There's also the fact of this rifle's muzzle brake. This Lahti is like a punch in the face for breakfast, man, I can't help but love those physics.
someone fired a short barred 30-06 next to me and it felt like getting smacked in the face
Midironica .........and why owning a Suppressor or “Silencer” should be easy and common. Not only does it help protect the Human but hunting Dogs benefit.
They couldn't penetrate the newer, heavier-armored Russian tanks so they fired phosphorus rounds to burn the forests around their enemy instead...lol!
I would pay to see that.
It was more common to shoot at bunker ports with phosphorous rounds. Anyone splattered by the phosphor was in for a very long hospital stay.
Well it was effective againts the BT series and the T26 but not against T-34s and, of course, KVs
It was not phosphorus. They just cranked the handle one extra round, for that little extra boost.
Wonder if any SPecial Forces guys had that along when they found an enemy depot. Shoot a hot round through the ammo cases or gasoline barrels… Stops many tanks
You are like a professor of war! So informative. Thanx for the entertaining yet highly educational content.
Shooting an anti-tank gargantuan into trees; making car alarms angry! That is so ....BRIGHT!
Is this good weapon to hunt some snow-dinosaurs that have invaded my village? Also, does it come with pistol variant for every day carry?
Pfeifer-Zeliska .600 Nitro Express.
It is but You have to shoot them young before those bstards grow that thick armor. ;-)
There is a Lahti pistol, but it's just an ordinary pistol, nothing so grand as the Rifle.
MLG_420 QUICKSCOPE Yes, I know, Aimo Lahti designed most of the weapons for Finland. The man was a genius as far as I'm concerned. He, John Browning, and just a few others were brought to Earth by very advanced Aliens. :)
Another moron that prefers 20mm over 30mm for EDC.
jesus. just the bolt closing has more recoil than my ar and ak combined....lol wow
That is a sign that you are dealing with a man's gun.
I got to shoot one in the early 90s and it was amazing. I lived in Dallas TX and was friends with the owner of the Ammo Depot. He sent me and one of his workers to "The Farm" outside of Hot Springs AR for a full auto shooting weekend. He loaded my full sized Bronco and we sold ammo all weekend and got to shoot. The guy in the stall to my left was selling 50cals and full autos and the guy in the stall to my right was an Organic Chemist (according to him) and he had the Lahti. I got to shoot 3 different 50cals (he let us shoot them because he sold many because we had ammo for them) and the guy with the Lahti let us shoot it once each. Made my FN FAL seem rather anemic. An experience I will never forget.
Me: Can I buy a gun? California: Only ten rounds! **comically large gun**
You cant own a caliber bigger then 458 i believe in California and well 20mm is like an inch in diameter
@@michealrachid3232 That seems like a perfectly reasonable limit for private ownership, for hunting whales I guess?
_Well, it's only a rifle anyways..._
funniest shit i ever seen
Anything over .50 cal is considered a destructive devise and falls under the NFA Because this is a “ Rifle” it might bypass that if you are lucky
A 20mm semi-automatic anti-tank rifle. With skis. Finland, you are a brilliant country!
just to put the recoil mechanism into perspective, you put this flat on a table and lock the bolt in, the gun will jump 1-2 inches on a flat surface, just from the recoil of the loading. So be smart people. This gun can and will go through a car and large buildings. So be safe, and enjoy. Also, This gun has always been on my gun bucket list to own ever since I was 14 yrs. old. This just makes me want it even more.
boogerboy87 It is good till one day you lose those fingers, damn it's scary to think about it!
It's literally a "moving" experience to shoot the Lahti L39. Beautiful piece of artillery! The stock/cheek piece is gorgeous! And a muzzle break that is so large you could machine the frame of a small handgun from it. 1,400 yard iron sights...I wouldn't be able to see the target! -WICKED!!! 9:06 ...Damn! 9:23 -The door knob?
Anti gunners: No one needs an assault rifle Me: EVERYONE SHOULD OWN AT LEAST ONE ANTI TANK RIFLE
I couldn't agree with you more on proper hand placement to avoid injury. A close friend gave me the honors of firing first round on his recently purchased Lahti 20mm. I still have the 2 centimeter long scar on my left hand index finger as a reminder. As I understand I'm fortunate to still have my index finger attached! Lesson learned.
I though that gun fired first time when it got clocked back by a recoil but it was releasing bolt. Man this gun is monster...
I love the skids on the gun. makes it really easy to tow around behind your vehicle.
It’s not often we see Ian laugh but every time it’s special
But what does it's bayonette look like ?
i want to look at the holster for this gun
In Finland, we put swords to our guns
You had your choice of Mjöllnir or Excalibur
Twohanded claymore.
It doesn't have a bayonette . They fit an M203 grenade launcher on the end instead.
I love how just closing the bold creates more recoil than a 9mm carabine
when the enitre upper half of boris disapears you know its time to get the hell out of there
Tank in front of Boris also has big hole. So has tree behind Boris, and the tank behind that.
poor boris. it was not his idea to piss off the finns...
@Lassi Kinnunen As long as commisar stands, you move forward
@@danisrusski6297 what if Boris was the commisar
It Is IlLeGaL tO uSe AnTi-TaNk WeApOnS aGaInSt InFaTrY
My Dad bought one of these rifles in '66, with two 800 round crates of ammo. Just because he thought is was "neat". He paid $425 for everything shipped to the house. I still have the shipping receipt. I have to agree, I've had it since he passed in '94. So now if the SHTF, I can acquire targets out at 2500-3000 meters. 😁 Happy day's.
Man the sound when that bolt closes, and then Boom man what a rifle!
In the continuation war these were mounted on tree stumps and used as anti-air guns, because of the ineffectiveness against enemy tanks. They were quite effective against low flying enemy attack aircraft, if you managed to hit them.
Good job, you said what he said.
***** No, he said the automatic version was developed and used for AA. I said that the basic version was also used for that role.
I'd imagine more than a few guys earned themselves nice periods of not buying their own beer for downing aircraft in this fashion.
Lazarus Long, actually there was very little "partying" with soldiers during the three wars 1939-1945. Whole Finland actually had a "dance ban" because it was considered wrong and unmoral to have fun in the home front when soldiers were killed every minute. This greatly increased the bond between home and front lines as soldiers felt they were not alone in the fight. What time off soldiers had from front lines was usually in the back lines and short leaves and then soldiers opted to go home to family. And from what i have understood, war things were not discussed much and alchohol was not a top priority. There was some alcohol use in the back lines from distilling own moonshine or smuggled spirits but being under the influense was penalized heavily (duh) so use was moderate.
Alaric Balthi To add to that, soldiers who got some leave usually went home to do farm work to help food production. Since men were fighting a war, women and children did most of the farm work. All kinds of supplies were very scarce and there was a government controlled ticket system for foodstuffs and so on, so you could only buy a certain amount of products in a certain time period. This prevented wealthy people from hoarding stuff, so that everyone could get what they need, and also to make sure there was enough food for the soldiers.
My dads roommate in college came back from winter break with one of these. He said it took the, all semester to save enough money to load a couple of rounds for post-finals fun ( on top of all the other ammo they put together). 1960s Colorado sounded a lot more fun than the current.
*them
did he still get to keep it? :3
oh yeah, he still had it when they graduated. no clue what happened after that though.
These days you're not allowed to bring a BB gun to college but in the 60s you were allowed to bring your anti-tank rifle? How times have changed.. :D
Endlessly fascinating, as usual!
Its very cool to see a rifle that you actually shoot at a tank. Old school but very cool.
11:11 The ejected cartridge throws dirt in the receiver.
Acts as a lubricant for Finnish guns
Hunni Attila i guess they’d throw snow in the receiver instead since the weapon is most likely to be used in winter.
@@ZETH_27 it normally has a cover that closes with a spring after the cartridge is ejected.
Ate it right up
You have Eagle eyes
"The Finns were very good with iron sights" Indeed they were... Simo you will never be forgotten for being an absolute mad man and living to tell the tale.
Ian’s breathing before the first shot was exactly what I expected. Firing a rifle with a cannon round will do that!
Geez that is a violent work of art