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StG-44 22 comes packed in a wooden crate.
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The German StG-44 changed the armament and
tactics of the world’s armies. In the Second World War, combat
had changed from the infantry fighting at distances of several
hundred yards to that of more close to moderate range
engagements, with the submachine gun finding favor among the
troops for a high rate of firepower at short distances, using
the heavier bolt action and semi-automatic rifles for longer
engagements. The Germans set out to develop a short rifle that
used a reduced-power cartridge, compared to the 7.92x57mm (8mm
Mauser) used in the German infantry rifle. The StG-44 was the
culmination of the development of the MKB42. The StG-44 used a
7.92mm cartridge that was made by shortening the 8mm Mauser
cartridge, creating the 7.92x33mm Kurz. This new cartridge has a
much greater effective range than the submachine gun cartridges
of the time, yet in the StG-44 was controllable in automatic
fire. The StG-44 fired in either semi-automatic or automatic
mode, and its magazine held thirty rounds, giving the German
soldier a much greater firepower advantage than the bolt action
K98 rifle provided, and a greater effective range than the
various pistol-caliber submachine guns in use by the German army
at the time. The new weapon was dubbed “Sturmgewehr”,
meaning “storm rifle” or “assault rifle“.
While on that topic, contrary to what the
news media and anti-gunners would have you to believe, a
semi-automatic rifle is not an “assault rifle”. The AR-15,
AR-10, AR-180, M1 Carbine, Mini-14, nor any other rifle that is
incapable of automatic fire is not an assault rifle. That is
propaganda spewed from the mouths of those who wish to disarm
the citizenry. It is very similar tactically to their use of the
term “Saturday Night Special” in reference to a small
handgun.
While the StG-44 was a heavy weapon, weighing
in at around ten pounds, it proved to be very effective in
combat, and was the predecessor of today’s modern “Assault
Rifles” in use around the world. Being capable of automatic
fire, and with 7.92 Kurz ammo exceedingly difficult to find, the
StG-44 is very rare in the US, but now American Tactical Imports
is importing a semi-automatic version of this carbine, chambered
for the exceedingly popular 22 Long Rifle cartridge; the GSG
Schmeisser StG-44.
While I have only briefly handled an original
StG-44, the GSG version comes very close in replicating the heft
and feel of the original assault rifle. The test gun shown here
weighs in at nine pounds, fifteen and one-half ounces on my
scale with an empty twenty-five round magazine in place. The GSG
StG-44 uses a blowback action, and proved to be very reliable
with high-velocity 22 LR ammunition. The charging handle is on
the upper left side, and serves to manually lock open the bolt.
Also, the magazine has a pin which protrudes from the top when
empty, locking the bolt open after the last shot. The ejection
port has a stamped steel dust cover, much like the original. The
pistol grip and trigger are also of authentic design, as are the
sights and the overall look and feel of the entire weapon. The
rear sight is easily adjustable for a great latitude of
elevation, and also has ample windage adjustment. The carbine
has a sixteen and one-half inch barrel, with an overall length
of thirty-seven and one-quarter inches.
The GSG StG-44 comes packed in a wooden
shipping crate that has a hinged lid and rope handles on each
end, which adds to the classic flavor of this military style
weapon. The carbine is supplied with one polymer magazine of
either ten or twenty-five round capacity. The one shown here is
the standard-capacity twenty-five round version, not the
low-capacity ten-round magazine.
I tested the GSG StG-44 carbine with several
brands of 22 Long Rifle ammunition for velocity and function.
The results with each brand and type of ammunition are listed in
the chart below. HP is a lead hollowpoint bullet. Solid is a
lead roundnose bullet. Velocity readings were taken at an
elevation of 541 feet above sea level, with an air temperature
of 88 degrees Fahrenheit, with humidity in the sixty-three
percent range. Velocities are listed in feet-per-second (FPS),
and were recorded ten feet from the muzzle of the carbine.
Bullet weights are listed in grains.
Ammunition |
Bullet Weight |
Velocity |
Federal Bulk HP |
36 |
1237 |
Winchester DynaPoint HP |
40 |
1101 |
PMC Match Solid |
40 |
1035 |
Wolf Match Solid |
40 |
1044 |
CCI Mini-Mag HP |
36 |
1222 |
CCI Mini-Mag Solid |
40 |
1212 |
CCI Velocitor HP |
40 |
1365 |
Remington Yellow Jacket
HP |
33 |
1381 |
Remington Hi-Speed
Solid |
40 |
1214 |
American Eagle HP |
36 |
1134 |
PMC Zapper HP |
38 |
1204 |
Olin Solid |
40 |
1009 |
Winchester XPert HP |
36 |
1166 |
Hansen Solid |
40 |
1078 |
CCI Blazer Solid |
40 |
1209 |
CCI Stinger HP |
32 |
1486 |
Functioning was best when using 40 grain high
velocity ammunition. Some of the lighter bullet loads did not
feed well, and the Wolf and other standard velocity ammunition
failed to fully cycle the action. However, even the bulk CCI
Blazer ammunition functioned perfectly, as did all other high
velocity 40 grain ammunition, as well as the hyper velocity
Yellow Jacket and Stinger ammunition. I really like that
bulk-pack Blazer, and recently ordered 21,000 rounds in from
Luckygunner.
The accuracy of this carbine really surprised
me, not because of anything unusual about the weapon, but
because of my ability to see mechanical sights clearly. Still,
most ammo grouped well under two inches at twenty-five yards,
using a rest under the hand guard. I know that with a good scope
attached, or with a better shooter pulling the trigger, the
rifle would be capable of really fine accuracy. The trigger pull
measured a very smooth five and one-half pounds.
I first saw the GSG StG-44 on display at the NRA
Show back in April, and have been anxious to try one out
ever since. The StG-44 is a fun gun to shoot; a plinker of the
highest order. For hunting and paper-punching, there are other
22 rifles which fill those roles better, but for an afternoon of
blasting away at cans, small rocks, or other targets, the GSG
StG-44 is about as fun as it gets. It is the best way for most
of us to get to fire something that is very similar to the
original, and costs a lot less to shoot.
Check out the new GSG StG-44 online at www.americantactical.us.
For the location of an ATI dealer near you,
click on the DEALER FINDER at www.lipseys.com.
To order the StG-44 online, go to www.galleryofguns.com.
To order quality 22 Long Rifle ammunition, go
to www.luckygunner.com.
Jeff Quinn
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