Today I am in Vlašim in the Czech Republic, where Sellier & Bellot has allowed me to film a tour of their ammunition plant. This is one of the largest ammo manufacturers in the world, and they start with basic raw material like lead, copper, and brass and ship out complete case ammunition. The machines involved in this process are really interesting – let’s have a look!
Prototype
PDW on Steroids: the vz68 and the Skorpion 9×19
The original Scorpion was adopted in .32 ACP caliber as the vz.61 by the Czechoslovakian military – but development of the Scorpion did not end there. Prototypes were also developed in .380, 9×18 Makarov, and […]
Select-fire Rifles
Bren 2: CZ Refines Every Aspect of the 805
Launched in 2016, the Bren 2 was a significant upgrade program over the original Bren 805 rifle. In addition to being offered in both 5.56mm and 7.62x39mm with user-changeable barrels, the Bren 2 was […]
Prototype
Ladislav Findorak’s Prototype Lever-Delayed PDW
This really neat compact PDW prototype was developed by Ladislav Findorak in the 1990s for a Czech military program, although nothing was adopted as a result. The lever-delayed system allows it to have a much […]
Awesome! Thanks man, I love “how it’s made” videos.
There is some crazy industrial design going on.
And once again, Ian proves his rock-star status by being allowed anywhere near the factory floor.
Very interesting. Thanks, Ian!
Love these type of videos. Thanks.
Great video. All of those machines are cool to see. Especially the number of QA stations and the optical tech used at many of them. Also great that you actually can see how most of those are doing their tasks.
Thanks Ian and thanks S&B!
Never realized how intensive the QA was. I have to wonder how intense the QA is for other manufacturers. There did seem to be a significant rejection rate.
The rejection rate of the finished brass was insane!
I don’t know how many parallel lines they have at that facility, but quite possibly if the whole thing were switched over to belted .303, it could keep one Vickers gun running 24/7.
“(…)belted .303(…)”
What is this?
OK, the .303 (with black powder) is actually two years older than the Russian 7.62 mm rifle cartridge. Dark Ages. But you cannot really plead ignorance, because the cordite loaded versions was adopted in the same year as your 3 line, 1891.
And we should not forget that Russia in 1908 switched to the same bullet diameter the British cartridge (and Paul Mauser’s 7.65 of 1889) had had from the start.
“(…).303 (with black powder) is actually two years older than the Russian 7.62 mm rifle cartridge. Dark Ages. But you cannot really plead ignorance, because the cordite loaded versions was adopted in the same year as your 3 line, 1891.(…)”
Wait. Are you claiming ·303 British is belted? I have always though it is rimmed.
Sorry, I thought your original comment was tongue in cheek.
“Belted” refers to delivering ammunition (rimmed or rimless) already loaded into machine gun belts by the factory.
This is one of the best videos you have ever done! Especially like the fact that many of the machine movements are driven by eccentric cams, a mechanical process that has been with us for over 200 years. But then QA/QC on every case, bullet, primer and cartridge is done by extremely sophisticated computer equipment from the 21st century. Really superb look at a process I take for granted when I pull the trigger!
Now we need a video to show the contrasting method.
3rd world guys sitting on the floor reloading spent steel cases.
I realize those are all over the internet, but seeing onevwith some good voice-overs explaining what and why would be cool.
Well, all the steel cases I’ve heard of were Berdan-primered because they were European designs. And I thought you couldn’t reload Berdan primers. So yes, I would be interested.
“(…)you couldn’t reload Berdan primers(…)”
It is less popular than with Boxer-primers but nonetheless possible, see photos at https://www.gunsamerica.com/digest/a-good-stuck-at-home-project/
Funny and interesting mix of supermodern machines and the old communist tools and machine. it is actually funny. btw Sellier and Bellot where french guys who escaped from France. I assume 1. half of 19. century? not sure now