GSG StG44 and MP 40

As an ex-soldier and also in my chequered firearms career outside of the military, I have had the chance to shoot most things big and small. I have always had a technical interest in modern military small arms; one obviously today not covered by a Section 1 certificate. So look but don’t touch! So the growing trend in what I call 22 semi-auto military look-A-likes is to me a good way of scratching an otherwise unreachable itch. Plus they’re cheap to shoot and legal to own compared to the real thing! Truth is they’re all near the same under the skin with the biggest differences being in reliability and functionality. So it’s good to see designs other than the ubiquitous AR15/M16 establishing themselves.

GSG (German Sport Gun) first came on the scene with their .22 H&K MP5. Originally called the GSG5 that name was changed to GSG-522 as I think H&K weren’t impressed! This 22 semi-auto rifle caused a lot of interest and proved to be good looking but far from reliable. Their next attempt - an AK47 -was little better, but I have not shot later production versions so do not know if they have improved! There were then interesting rumours of two classic (if not iconic) German World War II small arms the StG44 Sturmgewehr (assault rifle) and the MP40 Maschinenpistole (SMG).

WHEN IF EVER?

Rumour control said they were the same as the GSG MP5 and AK inside (not good) and came in a wooden crate (why?). Also the MP40 would have to have a dummy moddy to make it UK legal as it had a folding stock. I had glimpses of both at IWA over the years and yes the MP had a dummy can, which put me right off. I first got to test the StG in 2013 and I loved how realistic it was in both looks and weight, though this example which was far from new suffered from magazine problems. Again an inconclusive result!

After a couple of importers did little with GSG one of the big boys has got hold of it and on my desk now are a brand new StG44 and MP40 courtesy of Edgar Brothers who announced the acquisition at CLA 2014.

The history of both guns is significant; more so perhaps the StG44 as it was the first practical assault rifle and doubtless the inspiration for the AK47 in terms of layout and certainly calibre as it used what is known as an intermediate cartridge. Something that sat between the German pistol/SMG calibre of 9x19mm and the German full service rifle/MG round the 7.92x57mm. Called the 7.92x33mm Kurz (short) it offered a selective fire weapon better suited to modern combat needs!

The MP40 was hardly the first sub machine gun, as it was pre-dated by the German wood-stocked, side-mounted magazine MP18 (used in WW1) and the later and similar MP28, which also saw service in WW2. But and like the US Tommy Gun it is probably the most recognised SMG ever! Where it scores is in its method of manufacture with stamped and pressed steel parts and it’s trademark under folding stock – something else the AK stole. It was a simplification of the earlier MP38 which was machined and more expensive to produce. It was also the inspiration for our British STEN gun and even to a degree the American M3 (Grease Gun) sharing a very similar magazine design.

The StG used a gas/piston operating system and offered selective fire (semi & full-auto), whereas the MP40 was a blow-back action and full-auto only. Truth is the generic assault rifles that sprung from the StG concept and evolved into the modern battle rifle have near made the SMG redundant in the military with few exceptions. I could go on forever but I won’t, maybe I will in Gun Mart!

LOOK-A-LIKE

Compared to the GSG-522 and AK47 the StG and MP are both better made and certainly better designed. The main bodies are made from what looks like a hi-strength zinc alloy (Zamak). This dense material gives them both near their real combat weights, with the MP40 at around 8lbs and the StG44 at 10.5 lbs. Yes the original 44 is very heavy! The detail is near perfect with all the fullering in the metal and even the cross bolt selector on the 44 moulded in; though non-functioning.

Both use a standard-type blow-back bolt not unlike that of a comparable 22 AR15 that can be easily stripped for cleaning. Two small anomalies are the MP40 has an applied safety, which the original didn’t and the safety on the StG operates in reverse. They also use a slim, rifled barrel/tube that is covered by a dummy outer to give the look.

LEGAL & GENERAL

The legal requirements for a large firearm says - a minimum overall length of 24” and a barrel no shorter than 12” looked like it could pose a problem for the MP40 as the original had a 9.9” tube. As I said the only guns I had ever seen had a dummy moddy fitted, which was hideous. However, Edgar’s are to be congratulated as theirs has a 12” barrel that makes the gun a 12/24” the upshot of which is an extended muzzle cap! OK not kosher but far preferable and still offering a very handy rifle. The StG has no problems as it was and is a 16”!

Edgars also supplied some Fiocchi 22 LR standard velocity ammo. Both magazines have an external pull down tag on the follower that makes loading easy; capacity is 23 – MP40 and 24 – StG44. In both cases the magazine well is flared and features a large release button on the left, so very natural to operate. The cocking handles are set on the left and do not reciprocate with the action, there’s also an automatic last round hold open facility. Backing this is a cut-out that the cocking handle can be physically locked into.

HIDDEN SAFETY

The safety on the StG is a lever on the left of the pistol grip; it pushes up for FIRE (red dot exposed) and flips down to 45° for SAFE. It is not instinctive to operate as might be expected being back to front! With the MP40 GSG have been crafty as the safety is a rotary lug in the forward section of the plastic forend. On the 9mm gun this was a stripping catch and the only safety systems were the aforementioned cut-out in the top cover and on later models (MP40/II) a push-in cocking handle that locked the bolt forward. The safety rotates and has an arrow on its base, which when aligned with the bore is in FIRE mode and rotated through 90° it’s SAFE.

Sights follow the originals to a greater degree as the MP40 has a twin-leaf rear sight with the back one flipping up for longer ranges; it’s also windage-adjustable in a dovetail. Up front the protector is removable and GSG provide five inserts for zeroing. The StG is more sophisticated with a high, fixed front blade in a tunnel and a tangent-type at the rear. Unlike the original it offers windage correction by a rotary drum. Of the two it’s more sophisticated and easier to use!

PLEASED AND DISAPPOINTED

The magazines fill easily, but check the rims stack one in front of the other for reliability. Push the mag in until it locks, cycle the action, disengage safety and shoot. The MP40 to its credit ran as sweet as a nut cutting through magazines reliably and it did not matter if you held the mag or the well. Accuracy was surprisingly good for what are primitive, battle sights, though the front blade is bit thick. GSG offer scope rails for both rifles, though the MP is going to look damn odd with glass! The folding stock is identical to the original and controlled by a push-in button on the left of the grip. Once disengaged it swings down and locks out (a tad higher than the real thing) and the butt plate folds down. It’s a bit short and a tad wobbly, but it is what it is!

The StG came next, visually and physically I prefer it! It’s greater weight offers a solid firing position but 10.5 lbs will be too heavy for some! The deep/high butt gives a good shoulder/head position and the angled pistol grip feels natural. Conversely the Twiggy-like steel handguard offers little to get hold of! The better rear sight pays dividends as I could easily get out to 100 yards and stay inside a 6” circle. The fine/pointed blade and larger hood give a better target view too. Triggers are a bit mushy but not too heavy and easy enough to get the best out of. The StG features an ejection port cover, which automatically springs up as the bolt closes – sounds familiar?

FRUSTRATING

However, the inexplicable magazine hang ups I experienced on the 2013 test reoccurred. You would be firing then click! Open the bolt, chamber is empty and the top round sitting below the feed lips, the action cycled properly but there was nothing to pick up. A quick pull and release on the platform follower saw it rise and continue to feed, slapping the base of the mag worked too. This did not occur every time. Normally it happened once, occasionally twice. In the past I had tried stripping and cleaning the mag with no improvement and I conclude that somehow a cartridge is tipping at the vital moment causing the freeze! It could be a running-in issue but I put 250-rounds through the StG and it was still doing it.

Both the mechanisms proved reliable and will easily do 400-rounds + and unlike the 522 and AK47 stripping is easy. The StG’s butt slides off by removing a sprung cross pin underneath and you hinge down the pistol grip and draw out the working parts and you’re done. The MP40 does not take down like the original as the stripping button is the safety. On the 9mm gun you pulled this out and rotated the barrel and upper up and to 9 o’clock and slid it forward. On the 22 there’s a recessed Allan screw on the right side of the mag well housing, this is backed out (key included) and the lower receiver pulls back about an inch and comes away. You then have to unscrew the cocking handle and the bolt slides out rearwards.

The rifles leave me with mixed feelings. GSG have built far better actions that are more reliable and easier to strip, being near exact reproductions of famous firearms certainly appeals to me too. I’d like to think they might be making the FG42 paratrooper rifle or the G43 in keeping with this Germanic theme.

Annoying is the feed issues on the StG44, as that would be my choice, as it is the most shootable and potentially accurate, saying that the MP40 proved a great little gun too. They are however for the purist who is more interested in something that looks like a piece of firearms history, which is why I would want one! Derek Edgar told me the MP40s are selling like hot cakes, which is not surprising as it’s probably the more famous of the two and doubtless a fun and eye catching design! I shall however persevere with the magazine issue and if I can sort it will get the StG44!

PRICE: £459 £569
AMMUNITION: Fiocchi standard velocity 22 LR £99 per 1000
CONTACT: Edgar Brothers Ltd, 01625 613177