Schmeisser MP-40 Submachine Gun

Am Shooting Journal ^ | 10/12/2018 | C Cocoles

[w1n1]

The German MP40 submachine gun (Schmeisser) was a weapon our Allied Forces feared in World War II.
The MP 40 was a submachine gun chambered for the 9×19mm Parabellum cartridge and an open-bolt, blowback-operated automatic arms.
It was developed in Nazi Germany and used extensively by the Axis powers during the Second World War.

This weapon shot from a standard 32-round box magazine and the caliber was the standard 9x19mm Parabellum.
Manufactured in Germany from 1940-1945, there were roughly 1.1 million of them manufactured.

Weighing just under 9 pounds, this submachine gun was not light. With a cyclic rate of 500-550 rounds per minute, this heavy, quick-firing gun held on target well when fired in fully automatic bursts.

Although the MP 40 was generally reliable, a major weakness was its 32-round magazine. Unlike the double-column, dual-feed magazine insert found on the Thompson M1921-28 variants, the MP 40 used a double-column, single-feed insert.
The single-feed insert resulted in increased friction against the remaining cartridges moving upwards towards the feed lips, occasionally resulting in feed failures; this problem was exacerbated by the presence of dirt or other debris. Read the rest of Schmeisser MP-40.

[Yo-Yo]

You can still buy one that is er, not registered. It's a semi-automatic only new production clone:

https://www.atlanticfirearms.com/products/gsg-mp40-9mm-pistol

[circlecity]

The report also determined that the most effective way to use a handgun in a shootout situation was multiple, accurate follow up shots. It found that the idea of superior “stopping power” of the 40 or 45 was a myth and that no handgun has “knock down” ability unless the target is hit in the brain or spinal column. Thus, the ability to put multiple shots on target was essential. This is magnified by the fact their studies showed that even their best shooters miss with 75% of their shots in a shootout. Because of less recoil, the 9 is more effective at putting faster, more accurate follow up shots. That’s the exact reason the thousands of law enforcement agencies state that they have returned to the 9 and well as the US army deciding to stick with the 9.

[bruoz]

It slam fires from the open bolt going foward. The bolt has to be heavy enough to absorb most of the recoil.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

The Germans rated Ma Deuce as THE most effective weapon in the American arsenal.

Can't dispute that. Mom was a nasty broad.

[itsahoot]

The German infantry really disliked the M16 halftrack with its quad 50s.

I got to fire one of those in 1954 on a Ft. Hood firing range. It was considered AAA back then even after it was demonstrated to be a perfect anti-personell weapon.

Wear hearing aids today. {:-)

[Vaquero]

A TRUE Schmeisser would be the STG 44. The Sturmgewehr44 (or originally the MP 43) was designed by Hugo Schmeisser. It was named Sturmgewehr by Hitler himself. It means Assault Rifle and it was the first of its kind. Kalashnikov based much of his assault weapon on the stg44.
It’s caliber being 7.92×33mm Kurz, (aka. 8mm Kurz or Pistolenpatrone 43)

A shortened 8mm Mauser round way more powerful than the 9mm of MP 38/40 fame.

[Vinnie]

One item that did engender respect was the German MP42 MG with its high rate of fire.

That must have been the one my brother told me about.
He said it sounded like a zipper being pulled open..

[Manly Warrior]

Let a few facts interrupt:

Recoil comparison 9, 40, 45 all in standard loadings and common duty pistol characterisitics:

9mm assuming 123 grn at 1150 from a 1.75lb fully loaded pistol
40 cal 165 grn at 1000 from a 2 lb fully loaded pistol
45 230 grn at 850 from a fully loaded 2.25 lb pistol

Recoil impulse recoil vel Recoil Energy
lb/sec fps ftlb

9mm .74 13.59 5.02

40 .89 14.29 6.34

45 .98 14.00 6.85

So, WTF?

Now, the ubiquitous 380 in a mini gun....90/850 12 oz

380 .41 17.43 3.54

FYI

[DCBryan1]

Good weapon for close quarters combat and room cleaning.

German military manuals wanted it for the leader to suppress a small area with a lot of fire while the fire team elements flanked to throw grenades. MG18/34 and later MG42 were used for suppressing and countering an assault.

Germans LOVED captured PPshs because of high volume of fire and large drums. Great for street to street warfare.

[vigilence]

While analyzing the merits of the 9mm vs. the .40 as I bought my S&W Shield concealed carry weapon, I read that modern 9mm ammo was equal to or, in some instances, slightly superior to standard .40 cal ammo. And especially when using +P ammo in the 9mm. Of course the +P ammo would produce more recoil thereby negating the multiple rounds on target arguement. I settled on the 9mm with hollowpoint ammo for personal protection figuring that in a SHTF scenario 9mm would more likely to be obtainable than the .40 cal.

[Paal Gulli]

Another swing and a miss from ASJ.

The MP-40 was made by Steyr-Mannlicher, not Schmeisser.

What a bunch of buffoons.