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Boys Anti-Tank Rifle
nunn
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gdhU5cigarette_w
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Disney 1942
That is what I got for showing off, I guess.
For those that are not familiar with the PTRD-41; it is an Soviet Anti-tank rifle in 14.5x 114mm, they weigh about 37#. It is bolt action and single shot and it looks like a big pipe. These things are brutal, they make a Barret fell like a nothing.
They used to drink beer and shoot old cars at a local dump with it!
A year or so later the guys with sunglasses and black suits showed up demanding to see his rifle. When he showed them, they opened a folder made some marks and said thanks!
Apparently a couple weeks previous someone shot an armored car and left there rifle behind!!
In order to use it as designed, I had 1,000 rounds of ammo made up with a 5.26" overall length so that it would work with an unmodified magazine. A number of these rifles are available with the a slot cut in the front of the magazine to accommodate the longer .50 BMG round, but it seemed somewhat more authentic if I could keep the original magazine intact.
I have fired 3 or four magazines through it during a single session, and have never thought the recoil was harsh or at all unmanageable. The muzzle brake is surprisingly effective, the 36+ pounds of rifle, and a well designed recoil pad combine for, as mrmike states, a push that is not uncomfortable at all.
Regarding value, it is a crap shoot as almost no two of these are alike. Mine has a stainless barrel, but everything else is original. There was an episode of Cajun Pawn Stars where their expert valued one in .50BMG with the slotted magazines and a blued barrel at $ 7,500.00. Obviously a made-for-TV price cannot be taken as gospel, particularly because it is more than twice what I paid for this one 8 - 10 years ago. There have been a few up on the auction side over the years, but I do not remember if they sold or what the final price was if they did.
The rifle remained useful against Japanese tanks throughout WWII, but became ineffective against German tanks very early in the conflict.
It is always a fun rifle to take out to a range. It is obnoxiously loud, and the blowback along side the shooter is unpleasant, so I always bring plenty of ammo and let everyone take a shot or two. It always puts a smile on their face, and no one objects to me putting 10 - 15 rounds down range when they are done. Obviously its performance is much like any other .50 BMG rifle, and the sights are such that it can be very accurate out to 500+ yards, depending upon your eyesight.
Brad Steele
Don, Yours had a muzzle break...lucky you ! The ones available in the 'late 50's and 60's had a flash suppressor...that did not help with recoil issues. I'm sure the Brits had figured out that after the first shot, you were just going to be a target...so why waste precious war materials on a one shot weapon.
I would think that does make a difference.[:)] Mine is a Mark 1, and though I am no expert on the weapon, there was a later version with a shorter barrel and no muzzle brake. You may have had the good fortune to shoot one of those.
Brad Steele