USMC Johnson LMG at the Range (Ad-free)
Added 2022-10-25 13:00:07 +0000 UTCThe Johnson LMG was adopted by the US Marine Corps for specialist units like Paramarines and Raiders, and saw use in some of the fiercest island campaign of the Pacific (in addition to use in Europe by the 1st Special Service Force and others). It was a light and hard-hitting weapon that was well-liked by the men who used it. I've been wanting to try one for a while, and this was a great opportunity to do so.
While the Johnson is light and handy compared to similar arms like the BAR, it has substantially more muzzle blast, climb, and felt recoil than other designs that use the same .30-06 cartridge.
Comments
Ian, I remember you talking about the fg-42 still having a lot of moving mass when shooting from closed bolt. How does the Johnson compare to that? Recoil wise neither is known for gentleness, which was more controllable for you?
Manimal
2022-10-27 22:33:34 +0000 UTCAlways loved that weapon , wish they would of put more into the development of that weapon , I read Johnson got a lot of pushback from Springfields cronnies .
Reed Gregory
2022-10-27 00:13:58 +0000 UTCyeah but who needs a bayo with 10 or 20rounds of 06 at the fingertip? just for the weight between bar and johnson... the later (but the bulk of mags).
Guido Schriewer
2022-10-26 16:13:27 +0000 UTCYeah, hard to make a valid judgment on a sample of one. Didn't Ian have similar and worse problems with the Israeli Dror?
ViejoLobo
2022-10-26 14:29:34 +0000 UTCLike 30 round BAR-compatible mags that could be fed with 1903 clips, improved springs and buffers, and an M16-style carry handle with a flip-up open battle sight.
ViejoLobo
2022-10-26 14:22:16 +0000 UTCVery much suspect that the mainspring is below par after so many years. A modern, progressive wound chrome-silicon spring would likely do wonders for recoil reduction and reliability both!
Bruce Brodnax
2022-10-26 12:00:45 +0000 UTCRecoil operated; the great downfall of Johnson's small arm designs. Recoil guaranteed, no muzzle brakes allowed. He even had to come up with a special lightweight spike bayonet for the M1941 rifle in hopes of it becoming a substitute standard, because w/o a bayo, it was no sale...
Bruce Brodnax
2022-10-26 11:58:40 +0000 UTCVery much so, only in this case, the brain child of an independent inventor, instead of the product of a military command RFQ and competition among corporate bidders. "If only" is the byword for Johnson's career: if only he hadn't been so committed to recoil operation [because "ma patent!.."] and had paired his bolt with gas operation. If only he hadn't made enemies of US Ordnance so he wouldn't have been sabotaged in their test of his LMG, we might have had one that used (proven) BAR double-stack mags, for better logistics and less awkwardness. And on & on...
Bruce Brodnax
2022-10-26 11:48:40 +0000 UTCThe American version of the FG42 idea.
Martin Morehouse
2022-10-25 21:07:25 +0000 UTCFor a guy who likes getting kicked to death with his two Chauchats, I would think one of these would be on your bucket list!
DaveJD
2022-10-25 14:45:23 +0000 UTCGas op v. short recoil. Who knew?
ViejoLobo
2022-10-25 14:43:50 +0000 UTCWhat a great gun. Thanks for the video!
Glenn Miller
2022-10-25 14:42:19 +0000 UTCAny day a person gets trigger time on a Johnson is gotta be a Great Day!!! π€ π
Paul Beck
2022-10-25 14:16:04 +0000 UTCThanks for the video, Looks like you earn your pay shootin it.
Fred V PATTERSON
2022-10-25 14:02:25 +0000 UTCThanks for the range review!
The Bone Clock
2022-10-25 13:32:25 +0000 UTCthough from open and closed and side feed mags... that thing would need a fg42 brake on it! something in common between both airborne arms, huh. certainly rather a garand but the johnson rifle ain't exactly bad either.
Guido Schriewer
2022-10-25 13:26:04 +0000 UTC
