Maschinen Pistole/ Sturmgewehr

Maschinen Pistole 40 (MP40)

This main production machine pistol was developed from the MP38, an earlier model designed for issue to Fallschirmjaeger and mechanized troops and was still used until the end of the war. Developed and produced by ERMA (not Hugo Schmeisser, who worked for Haenel, as commonly believed), the MP40 was constructed with a combination of stamped, welded and formed parts (plastic and metal). The magazines were ribbed for strength and held 32 rounds of 9mm ammunition. The weapon is a blowback operated and has a cyclic rate of fire of 500 rounds per minute, and a practical rate of 180 per minute. The weapon weighs 9lbs, without a magazine and the overall length is 33 1/2 inches.

Maschinen Pistole 43/44 (MP43/44) Sturmgewehr 44 (StG 44)

The StG 44, originally referred to as the MP43, and later the MP44, was developed from the Mkb42 (MachinenKarabiner 42), an earlier model that was constructed of pressed steel, gas operated and was magazine fed with 30 rounds of Kurz Patrone 7.92x33 mm ammunition. For propaganda reasons the MP43/MP44 was renamed Sturmgewehr 44 (Assault Rifle 44). The overall length is 37 inches and weighs 11lbs. It has a cyclic rate of fire between 500-600 rounds per minute, and a practical rate of 180-200 rounds per minute.

PPSh 41

The PPSh-41 (Pistolet Pulemjot Shpagina 41) was a major infantry weapon of the Soviet troops during the World War 2. Chambered in 7.62 x 25mm, the total number of PPSh's manufactured during WW2 estimates to more than 6 million. The PPSh-41 was designed as a cheap and simple but effective war-time weapon. It featured simple blowback operated action, and fired from open bolt.. Early PPSch-41's were issued with drum magazines with capacity of 71 rounds, similar to ones used in PPD-40. Such high capacity increased the firepower but the magazines were too slow to refill and not very reliable, in 1942 a curved box magazine was developed. This magazine held 35 rounds and was much more comfortable to carry in pouches. Usually, infantrymen carried one drum in the gun and some box magazines in the pouches or pockets. Early guns featured elevation-adjustable rear sights, marked up to 500 meters; late production guns had flip-type "L"-shaped rear sights marked for 100 and 200 meters range. Capable of 900 rds per min, it weighs roughly 15 lbs.

PPS 43

The PPS-43 (Pistolet Pulemyot Sudayeva-43) was created as a result of a Red Army requirement for a compact and lightweight weapon that would provide similar accuracy (with a reduced rate of fire) using more cost-effective production methods than the standard Soviet 7.62 x 25mm PPSh-41 submachine gun being issued at the time. During the design phase, emphasis was placed on simplifying the production process and as a result, sheet-steel stamping was chosen to manufacture most of the firearm's assemblies. The ventilated hand guard was integrated into the receiver housing and is now a single component, both the barrel and stock were shortened, the stock's locking mechanism was simplified, the casing ejector was moved to the rear of the recoil spring guide rod, the magazine well angle was increased in the receiver as to enhance feeding reliability and the safety was improved to block the trigger and lock the bolt in either the open or closed position. The weapon is feed by an arch shaped 35 round box magazine (will not interchange with the PPSh-41) and has a maximum range of 200 meters. It weighs approx 6.7 lbs and is 24 inches long. Rates of fire are, 600 and 100 rounds per minute cyclic and effective respectively