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Attached File |
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"If men define situations as real, they are real in their consequences."--W.I. Thomas
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"If men define situations as real, they are real in their consequences."--W.I. Thomas
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"If you ever really need a gun, you'll need it more than anything else you've ever needed in your life."
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Originally Posted By mechanicuss: ETA: I notice in that pic they're running a bca with fa serrations. Also, would the N1 Fiberlite be the correct stock? They may not have bothered changing an aluminum 2-position stock, but if a replacement was ordered after it was discontinued they'd receive the N1 stock, or (sometime after 2002) the M4 "waffle" stock. Most I've seen in photos have either the aluminum or N1 stock. Colt stopped producing the slick BCGs for the military around 1966 when they agreed to accept M16A1 carriers for every model. |
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IDF SOLDIER Attached File |
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"If men define situations as real, they are real in their consequences."--W.I. Thomas
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"If you ever really need a gun, you'll need it more than anything else you've ever needed in your life."
"If men define situations as real, they are real in their consequences."--W.I. Thomas
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I did basic (19K) in 2004, deployed in 2005 and was a Armour from 2007 until 2009. We had a lot all N1 stocks in basic, quite a few in 2005 but as an armor as they broke the replacements were the ones pictured below. The N1 or car-15 stock had a tendency to break the flats off under hard use. Falls, strikes and so on. Some carbines had the B5 SOPMOD stock but I never did find the NSN to order those. All of them were flattop, Irons for basic but everyone deployed with an M68.
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| What do you mean by "break the flats off?" |
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"If men define situations as real, they are real in their consequences."--W.I. Thomas
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I'm guessing he's talking about the toe of the stock. It's a flat piece of plastic that is unsupported by the rest of the stock. If you were "mortaring" the stock to clear a malfunction or IMT'ing aggressively and use the stock to break your fall into the prone, I could see a section of it breaking. If you look at the Improved stock on the pic above, there are no flat pieces of the stock hanging out there by themselves. It's all supported structurally by the design. |
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Originally Posted By mechanicuss: Dont archive Doc; still a viable thread... @DocApocalypse Originally Posted By mechanicuss: Originally Posted By DocApocalypse: Bump. I spent hours going through hundreds of pics to create this thread. I hope nobody minds if I keep it from archiving for a while. Dont archive Doc; still a viable thread... @DocApocalypse If I might blow my own horn here, I personally think this should be a "pinned" thread. I used to be able to go to that website and download all the photos I want. It even said on the home page that the photos are in the public domain. Well, now, some bright person decided to put a paywall on the site so I can't do shit now. If this thread archives (which I have no control over), these photos fade into history. I don't even have the same computer anymore that I saved them to. If this thread dies it means I spent hours saving pics for nothing. Mods: If it be thy will, please "sticky" this thread. |
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"If men define situations as real, they are real in their consequences."--W.I. Thomas
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"If you ever really need a gun, you'll need it more than anything else you've ever needed in your life."
"If men define situations as real, they are real in their consequences."--W.I. Thomas
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"If you ever really need a gun, you'll need it more than anything else you've ever needed in your life."
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Attached File |
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"If men define situations as real, they are real in their consequences."--W.I. Thomas
_____________________
"If you ever really need a gun, you'll need it more than anything else you've ever needed in your life."
"If men define situations as real, they are real in their consequences."--W.I. Thomas
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"If you ever really need a gun, you'll need it more than anything else you've ever needed in your life."
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Well I’ll throw this into the fold. Pictures of my issued M4 from the 2006-2007 time frame. Details: Colt M4 Carbine w/ SOCOM barrel, std 3rd burst. -personal TA31, Vltor or SOPMOD stock, TD VFG (ran a KAC for a while), redimag, along with issued PEQ2 and M3X tac light. Attached File Attached File Back story on the SOCOM barrel: At the later stages of the training cycle for our deployment about half the M4’s were given SOCOM barrels. Never received an explaination given to the why we got them. One guess was that we received them by mistake when the battalion armorer screwed up an order with incorrect NSN or we were just testing the use in the regular forces. |
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Attached File |
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"If men define situations as real, they are real in their consequences."--W.I. Thomas
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"If you ever really need a gun, you'll need it more than anything else you've ever needed in your life."
"If men define situations as real, they are real in their consequences."--W.I. Thomas
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Replica of Larry Vickers' carbine. "The official Colt designation was Model 723, but we simply referred to those carbines as CAR-15s. " Attached File |
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"If men define situations as real, they are real in their consequences."--W.I. Thomas
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"If you ever really need a gun, you'll need it more than anything else you've ever needed in your life."
"If men define situations as real, they are real in their consequences."--W.I. Thomas
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Attached File Attached File Attached File |
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"If men define situations as real, they are real in their consequences."--W.I. Thomas
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"If you ever really need a gun, you'll need it more than anything else you've ever needed in your life."
"If men define situations as real, they are real in their consequences."--W.I. Thomas
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Hellenic Navy DYK operator discharging his Colt 727. Attached File |
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"If men define situations as real, they are real in their consequences."--W.I. Thomas
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"If you ever really need a gun, you'll need it more than anything else you've ever needed in your life."
"If men define situations as real, they are real in their consequences."--W.I. Thomas
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Originally Posted By Dunderway: Pre-M4 but some good discussion here  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6zfTYQ09Rs Larry's Delta CAR-15 |
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"If men define situations as real, they are real in their consequences."--W.I. Thomas
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"If you ever really need a gun, you'll need it more than anything else you've ever needed in your life."
"If men define situations as real, they are real in their consequences."--W.I. Thomas
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"If you ever really need a gun, you'll need it more than anything else you've ever needed in your life."
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Don't remember if I posted this here. M4 Carbine SN: W000489 would have been issued in Colt Gray with a fixed A2 upper, 14.5" Govt bbl, double heat shield handguards, Safe, Semi, Brust and Colt N1 stock and issued during late 94' to the 82nd ABN DIV. Its been rebuilt to M4A1 standard and still in service with 82nd when I inspected in Afghanistan in 2019. Also sister under 10,000 units. M4 series started at W000001 and M4A1 series started at W300001. The M4A1s that 5th SFGA received beginning of 95' were in the W302xxx-W303xxx range. Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File |
De Oppresso Liber
Iraq: 91,03,04,05,06,08,09,15,16,22’&23'
Afghanistan: 09,10,11',14',17',18',19',20'&21'
Iraq: 91,03,04,05,06,08,09,15,16,22’&23'
Afghanistan: 09,10,11',14',17',18',19',20'&21'
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Originally Posted By Combat_Diver: Don't remember if I posted this here. M4 Carbine SN: W000489 would have been issued in Colt Gray with a fixed A2 upper, 14.5" Govt bbl, double heat shield handguards, Safe, Semi, Brust and Colt N1 stock and issued during late 94' to the 82nd ABN DIV. Its been rebuilt to M4A1 standard and still in service with 82nd when I inspected in Afghanistan in 2019. Also sister under 10,000 units. M4 series started at W000001 and M4A1 series started at W300001. The M4A1s that 5th SFGA received beginning of 95' were in the W302xxx-W303xxx range. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/32677/IMG_8539_rz_jpg-3123262.JPG https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/32677/IMG_8544_rz_jpg-3123265.JPG https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/32677/IMG_8545_JPG-3123254.JPG https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/32677/IMG_8542_rz_jpg-3123252.JPG When I first started this thread, I was hoping for more posts like this. There's nothing more satisfying than to see these old war horses that have been repaired, refurbished, and upgraded who knows how many times and are still front line combat weapons. |
_______________
"If men define situations as real, they are real in their consequences."--W.I. Thomas
_____________________
"If you ever really need a gun, you'll need it more than anything else you've ever needed in your life."
"If men define situations as real, they are real in their consequences."--W.I. Thomas
_____________________
"If you ever really need a gun, you'll need it more than anything else you've ever needed in your life."
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We started to get M4s in late ‘96 in Division. They were not A2 but we did not have optics yet. I don’t remember seeing a fixed carry handle M4 but that’s 30 years ago. I saw what I think were early M4s in September ‘94 when we were staging with 1/75 for the Haiti jump that never happened. Knowing what I know now they may have been CAR15/723 models and not M4s. I got out 03/97. I believe the first M68 CCO’s started to arrive later that year, but I have friends that still were running plain M4s in 1999/2000 in Kosovo. |
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Just found this. Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File |
_______________
"If men define situations as real, they are real in their consequences."--W.I. Thomas
_____________________
"If you ever really need a gun, you'll need it more than anything else you've ever needed in your life."
"If men define situations as real, they are real in their consequences."--W.I. Thomas
_____________________
"If you ever really need a gun, you'll need it more than anything else you've ever needed in your life."
"An age of glory passed like a lightning flash. The mandate of heaven passed from you but you didn't see. Times change and power passes. It is the pity of the world."
Song dynasty poet
Song dynasty poet
Do tell!!!!
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Originally Posted By DocApocalypse: If I might blow my own horn here, I personally think this should be a "pinned" thread. I used to be able to go to that website and download all the photos I want. It even said on the home page that the photos are in the public domain. Well, now, some bright person decided to put a paywall on the site so I can't do shit now. If this thread archives (which I have no control over), these photos fade into history. I don't even have the same computer anymore that I saved them to. If this thread dies it means I spent hours saving pics for nothing. Mods: If it be thy will, please "sticky" this thread. I agree. @docapocalypse has done an amazing job cataloging and making this thread. I vote to pin it or atleast set to not archive |
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Let's go Brandon
Staff NCO in the Arfcom pro-Ukraine Army
Let's go Brandon
Staff NCO in the Arfcom pro-Ukraine Army
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75th Ranger Regiment's M4 carbine, early 2000s Attached File |
_______________
"If men define situations as real, they are real in their consequences."--W.I. Thomas
_____________________
"If you ever really need a gun, you'll need it more than anything else you've ever needed in your life."
"If men define situations as real, they are real in their consequences."--W.I. Thomas
_____________________
"If you ever really need a gun, you'll need it more than anything else you've ever needed in your life."
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Originally Posted By mechanicuss: Answering my own question, looks like the Gen 2 aluminum stock is the correct config: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f0/USAFSecurity.jpg I was issued exactly this and carried it from 2005-10ish before we switched to M4's. I preferred the GUU over the M4. Yes they were two position with aluminum stocks. Ours were converted from GAU's, pretty much a barrel swap from the old pencil 12 twist barrels to the M4 contour 7 twists. I'd say about half of ours had the plastic stocks. |
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| Clone Builds |
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"If men define situations as real, they are real in their consequences."--W.I. Thomas
_____________________
"If you ever really need a gun, you'll need it more than anything else you've ever needed in your life."
"If men define situations as real, they are real in their consequences."--W.I. Thomas
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"If you ever really need a gun, you'll need it more than anything else you've ever needed in your life."
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 Colt AR6320 'Blackhawk Down' AR15 Lightweight Carbine (History & Range Time) |
_______________
"If men define situations as real, they are real in their consequences."--W.I. Thomas
_____________________
"If you ever really need a gun, you'll need it more than anything else you've ever needed in your life."
"If men define situations as real, they are real in their consequences."--W.I. Thomas
_____________________
"If you ever really need a gun, you'll need it more than anything else you've ever needed in your life."
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Originally Posted By Combat_Diver: Parts on hand. Assembled this a last week. A2 upper on a M4 lower, 10.3” FSB and NT4 https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/32677/9A504DE5-3EA0-49E0-A077-40DAAFF50272_jpe-2951961.JPG I was going through this thread and when I got to this pic I realized I had everything in my spare parts box to replicate this rifle. Surplus Colt A2 upper, Colt MK18 barrel, NT4, surplus KAC RAS, N stock, and unfortunately only an SSA-E trigger in a SBR Colt lower. 
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Originally Posted By fullmedaljacket8: https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/46983/30B7B3BB-DE39-4A30-A411-01586FCF0056_jpe-2465277.JPG https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/46983/50E317F8-5A3C-4132-8AD4-595EF3D4506F_jpe-2465279.JPG Here’s mine from 07 Very similar to mine in '05  
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Late 94’ production M4A1. SN in first 3800 made (W3038XX). Colt grey lower Attached File |
De Oppresso Liber
Iraq: 91,03,04,05,06,08,09,15,16,22,23,24'
Afghanistan: 09,10,11',14',17',18',19',20'&21'
Iraq: 91,03,04,05,06,08,09,15,16,22,23,24'
Afghanistan: 09,10,11',14',17',18',19',20'&21'
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I was just looking through this thread again. I'd love to see some more heavily worn examples in military or law enforcement service. |
_______________
"If men define situations as real, they are real in their consequences."--W.I. Thomas
_____________________
"If you ever really need a gun, you'll need it more than anything else you've ever needed in your life."
"If men define situations as real, they are real in their consequences."--W.I. Thomas
_____________________
"If you ever really need a gun, you'll need it more than anything else you've ever needed in your life."
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Originally Posted By DocApocalypse: I'd love to see some more heavily worn examples in military or law enforcement service. I picked them up at Anniston Army Depot in 2016 and repurposed the serviceable ones for LE use. The few barrels which were too eroded I swapped for 14.5" M4 barrels, which we also received as DLA surplus via the LESO program. These went onto M16 and M16A1 lowers (which are in much better shape, since they all came from the USAF or Anniston Army Depot). Here's a thread from 2019 showing a LESO M16A1 that's got as much wear as the worst ones at my office: https://www.ar15.com/forums/AR-15/The-PD-I-work-for-got-17-M16s-from-the-fedgov/118-739759/ Many of ours look better than that one. We've got the original uppers stored in the armory now, since we have to return the weapons as-received if we ever turn them in. (They'd prefer we transfer them to another agency rather than return them to DLA however.) EDIT: Here's one I snapped of my issued M4A1 built from a surplus M16A1 lower. There's a CS round in the M203. This was taken on perimeter of a house that had a wanted fugitive spotted inside. Attached File |
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Originally Posted By KitBuilder: Photos here of some worn out CQBR uppers retired by the US Navy around 2015. I picked them up at Anniston Army Depot in 2016 and repurposed the serviceable ones for LE use. The few barrels which were too eroded I swapped for 14.5" M4 barrels, which we also received as DLA surplus via the LESO program. These went onto M16 and M16A1 lowers (which are in much better shape, since they all came from the USAF or Anniston Army Depot). Here's a thread from 2019 showing a LESO M16A1 that's got as much wear as the worst ones at my office: https://www.ar15.com/forums/AR-15/The-PD-I-work-for-got-17-M16s-from-the-fedgov/118-739759 Many of ours look better than that one. We've got the original uppers stored in the armory now, since we have to return the weapons as-received if we ever turn them in. (They'd prefer we transfer them to another agency rather than return them to DLA however.) EDIT: Here's one I snapped of my issued M4A1 built from a surplus M16A1 lower. There's a CS round in the M203. This was taken on perimeter of a house that had a wanted fugitive spotted inside. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/13082/IMG_9849_jpeg-2842059.JPG Originally Posted By KitBuilder: Originally Posted By DocApocalypse: I'd love to see some more heavily worn examples in military or law enforcement service. I picked them up at Anniston Army Depot in 2016 and repurposed the serviceable ones for LE use. The few barrels which were too eroded I swapped for 14.5" M4 barrels, which we also received as DLA surplus via the LESO program. These went onto M16 and M16A1 lowers (which are in much better shape, since they all came from the USAF or Anniston Army Depot). Here's a thread from 2019 showing a LESO M16A1 that's got as much wear as the worst ones at my office: https://www.ar15.com/forums/AR-15/The-PD-I-work-for-got-17-M16s-from-the-fedgov/118-739759 Many of ours look better than that one. We've got the original uppers stored in the armory now, since we have to return the weapons as-received if we ever turn them in. (They'd prefer we transfer them to another agency rather than return them to DLA however.) EDIT: Here's one I snapped of my issued M4A1 built from a surplus M16A1 lower. There's a CS round in the M203. This was taken on perimeter of a house that had a wanted fugitive spotted inside. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/13082/IMG_9849_jpeg-2842059.JPG Looks like the LESO thread is in the secret LEO forum. 
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Your painted rifle is ugly, but I’m uglier, so send it to me and I’ll make it look good!
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Originally Posted By Claytonhoneyberry: Looks like the LESO thread is in the secret LEO forum. |
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Originally Posted By DocApocalypse: Attached File Holy Chin Weld, Batman! @BeowulfX |
I sell firearms produced by the finest child labor in the world, be it Filipino, Muslim, Mormon, Arizonan, or Texan.
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COTS M4 Issued M4 won't have the Snake Colt and missing PROPERTY OF U.S. GOVT, M4 Carbine font different. Prefix should be a "W" not "A" in front of SN. Also Colt Defense is commerical marking address. Attached File Attached File Compared to Attached File |
De Oppresso Liber
Iraq: 91,03,04,05,06,08,09,15,16,22,23,24'
Afghanistan: 09,10,11',14',17',18',19',20'&21'
Iraq: 91,03,04,05,06,08,09,15,16,22,23,24'
Afghanistan: 09,10,11',14',17',18',19',20'&21'
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Originally Posted By 18B30: Kosovo trip 1996-97? M4 with 2 position N stock, A2 handle, 3rd burst, no issued optics. Afgn 2001, M4A1, multi position N stock, early ACOG and M 68, Gem Tech M4/96D Irq 2005, Mk18 with all the kit @18B30 About Kosovo M4, when you say A2 handle was it actual A2 upper or a M4 with the removable carry handle sight? Thanks |
Originally Posted By McGuy,
No matter how much you hate the media, it's not enough.
Originally Posted By Guitargod1985,
How much crack did you have to smoke to reach that conclusion, a $20 rock or Whitney Houston level shit?
No matter how much you hate the media, it's not enough.
Originally Posted By Guitargod1985,
How much crack did you have to smoke to reach that conclusion, a $20 rock or Whitney Houston level shit?
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@Combat_Diver Sorry about this temporary thread derailment. I have to ask, what happened to those beautiful STG44’s? Did you shoot them and if you did your thoughts? |
Originally Posted By McGuy,
No matter how much you hate the media, it's not enough.
Originally Posted By Guitargod1985,
How much crack did you have to smoke to reach that conclusion, a $20 rock or Whitney Houston level shit?
No matter how much you hate the media, it's not enough.
Originally Posted By Guitargod1985,
How much crack did you have to smoke to reach that conclusion, a $20 rock or Whitney Houston level shit?
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Originally Posted By mstennes: @Combat_Diver Sorry about this temporary thread derailment. I have to ask, what happened to those beautiful STG44’s? Did you shoot them and if you did your thoughts? They disappeared when I came back 3 months later. Yes, I shot them and will post the article I wrote for them 20+ yrs ago. |
De Oppresso Liber
Iraq: 91,03,04,05,06,08,09,15,16,22,23,24'
Afghanistan: 09,10,11',14',17',18',19',20'&21'
Iraq: 91,03,04,05,06,08,09,15,16,22,23,24'
Afghanistan: 09,10,11',14',17',18',19',20'&21'
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Originally Posted By Combat_Diver: They disappeared when I came back 3 months later. Yes, I shot them and will post the article I wrote for them 20+ yrs ago. Originally Posted By Combat_Diver: Originally Posted By mstennes: @Combat_Diver Sorry about this temporary thread derailment. I have to ask, what happened to those beautiful STG44’s? Did you shoot them and if you did your thoughts? They disappeared when I came back 3 months later. Yes, I shot them and will post the article I wrote for them 20+ yrs ago. Awesome! I look forward to reading it. Thank you and have a safe and Merry Christmas! |
Originally Posted By McGuy,
No matter how much you hate the media, it's not enough.
Originally Posted By Guitargod1985,
How much crack did you have to smoke to reach that conclusion, a $20 rock or Whitney Houston level shit?
No matter how much you hate the media, it's not enough.
Originally Posted By Guitargod1985,
How much crack did you have to smoke to reach that conclusion, a $20 rock or Whitney Houston level shit?
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Originally Posted By mstennes: Awesome! I look forward to reading it. Thank you and have a safe and Merry Christmas! @mstennes Don't know if links are still available at bottom. Again I wrote this in Iraq end of 03'/early 04', 3 miles where I'm at right now. (note to self, time to leave here?) Machinenpistole 44- From A Lucky Shooter’s Perspective By Combat_Diver in Iraq 04' What’s a MP44? It’s the first truly developed assault rifle designed by Germany during WWII firing a reduced cartridge known as the 7.92x33 Kurz. Guns saw service primary on the eastern front and are a select fire weapon. Attached File Characteristics Caliber: 7.92x33 Kurz (short) Weight: 11.5 lbs Length: 37” Cyclic Rate: 500 rpm Magazine Capacity: 30 rounds I won’t go into the full history of these rifles, just a brief description of the two MP44 captured here in Iraq and a shooters opinon. The first was found here in Baghdad at one of Saddam’s palaces. Saddam and family have shown to have a love of collecting firearms, unlike his own people. An SF and Coalition Force found the second during a raid on a weapons market out in the western part of the country. There is a known third specimen further north with another SF team. Rifle #1 is in excellent condition (Saddam’s) and #2 is in very good condition with a slight wobble to the stock. Rifle #1 is all matching (upper receiver, lower receiver, stock, operating rod, and bolt.) #2 is also mostly all matching. Sometime during the war several parts (operating rod, stock extension and butt stock) had been replaced. The operating rod has another serial number over-stamped and the butt extension contains two serial number strikeouts and a third number forged. The weapon appears to have been rebuilt at an arsenal during the war. The ammunition appears to be East German and manufactured in 1961. The 15rd cardboard boxes are in German and labeled as 7.92-mm-Patr.Kz 43 SmE mit St. Hulse. Bullet weight is 8.1gm (124gr) and listed velocity is 686mps (2,247fps). I don’t remember what the SmE is, but I do know it’s the bullet construction code, Splitzer. The cases are Berdan primed and made of steel (St. Hulse). I obtained the ammo from another source, which claims that it was recovered from Uday’s palace. (I'm curious where his MP44 is located?) The magazine capacity is 30 rounds and quite long (about 1” longer than a 30rd AK mag and 2.5” longer than a 30rd M16 mag). The magazine is manufactured from steel stampings and marked MP44. There is one RZM (3rd Reich quality acceptance) eagle on the front and marked "gq" over another eagle stamp. One of the original German complaints was that the magazine was too long, especially when shooting from the prone. Last note on the magazine is that its curve is not as severe as the AK and slightly straighter that of an M16 30 rd mag. |
De Oppresso Liber
Iraq: 91,03,04,05,06,08,09,15,16,22,23,24'
Afghanistan: 09,10,11',14',17',18',19',20'&21'
Iraq: 91,03,04,05,06,08,09,15,16,22,23,24'
Afghanistan: 09,10,11',14',17',18',19',20'&21'
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Stocks on both weapons are made of plywood. In other words, laminated thin strips glued together. #1 is light in color and #2 is darker. There is a cutout near the middle bottom for a sling (front sling swivel is forward hand guard on right side). There is no butt plate per se, the butt is ribbed wood. There are two metal guards around each toe. The top strap wraps around, and found on top of the stock is a trap door drilled thru for a cleaning kit/oiler. Unfortunately, the kit was missing from both rifles. Stock is attached with wood screws to a stock extension, and the extension attached to both upper and lower receivers with one push- pin (a design feature later incorporated in the Spanish CEMTE and German G3 rifles). Pistol grips are two wood pieces with horizontal grooves attached with one screw. Forward hand guard is a steel stamping with vent holes around the bottom. After firing one magazine the hand guards became quite warm. Sustained firing would certainly yield burns to unprotected hands, arguably not a major concern given the ambient temperatures of the Eastern front! Lower receiver group includes the pistol grip, trigger assembly, safety and selector. Safety and semi/auto selector are separate entities. Safety is located on left side above the pistol grip with safe in the "up" position. The operator need only push down with thumb to fire. Stroke is longer than I’m accustomed to, but in the right place. The semi/auto selector is located approximately 1/2" above the safety, and is a push- through system. When pushed to the left an “E” is shown for Einzelfeuer (Semi) and pushes to the right side a “D” for Dauerfeuer (Auto) is shown. Lower receiver pivots down for cleaning when stock is removed, allowing access for cleaning of firing system. Attached File The upper receiver has the rear sight on top graduated in hundred meter increments 1-8. There is a spring-loaded dust cover over the ejection port (a feature which likely influenced Eugene Stoner when designing the M-16, though the MP-44 cover springs up rather than down as on the M-16) on the right side. Operating rod handle distends from the left side. Immediately beneath the handle is the round magazine release. The rifle fires from the closed bolt, and the operating rod reciprocates with each round fired. The operating rod racetrack is open to dirt and other materials. There is no dust cover or cut for a bolt hold-open as with previous and current German submachine guns. The weapon's gas system is located atop the barrel and operating rod rides inside, similar to the AK. The front sight post is cast. Weapon #1's front sight is hooded, while weapon #2 is not. The end of the barrel is threaded and has a muzzle nut screwed on, again reminiscent of the AK. Disassembly resembles any HK weapon. If you can disassemble any HK roller lock rifles (MP5, G3, HK91, etc) you can take this apart for they are very similar. Receivers are also very similar in design and shape. Again the HK lineage certainly is apparent. Modern HK weapons clearly benefit from improvements and innovations, which began with the development of the STG43/MP44. The weapon was renamed MP44 by Hitler himself –Strumgewehr/Assualt Rifle) Shooting results. All firing was done from the 25-meter line with weapon #1. Firing was conducted in Iraq. Fired 5-6 snaps semi auto from the low-ready position at various targets. Rifle swung smoothly. The safety takes some time to get used to after training on the M4 but still very similar to the HK MP5. The MP5 has a longer swing from safe to auto, but semi to auto is slightly shorter. Again, the HK is a 3-position safety, where as |
De Oppresso Liber
Iraq: 91,03,04,05,06,08,09,15,16,22,23,24'
Afghanistan: 09,10,11',14',17',18',19',20'&21'
Iraq: 91,03,04,05,06,08,09,15,16,22,23,24'
Afghanistan: 09,10,11',14',17',18',19',20'&21'
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the MP44 is 2-position. After pushing the selector to auto, I again tried a few snaps. That’s when I started having trouble. Not a problem with the gun but my training! I would fire and only get one round off! I’m used to firing 2-3 rd bursts with the M-4 carbine with a cycle rate in excess of 700 rpm. The M-4 trigger has a very short pull and release. I was unable to use that technique with the MP-44. The cyclic rate is approximately 500rpm, but felt somewhat slower. I had to make a conscious effort to depress the trigger longer to achieve 2-3 round bursts. There’s always that training and muscle memory thing! I found the weapon quite controllable for the close range I was shooting. I experienced one misfire. Upon inspection of the round, I noticed the 43- year old ammo had a dent. I re-loaded the round and the weapon fired without further incident. Attached File Two observations I made after firing one magazine: One, there is no bolt hold- open device, either manually or after the last shot. The second was the hand guard was starting to get warm after one magazine. The barrel is right next to the side of the hand guard with a small space on the bottom of the guard. I’m sure this would have been corrected in due time, but the conclusion of the war terminated development on the MP and fostered the beginning of the CEMTE/HK era. I let a few other shooters to fire 15 rounds a piece from these historical weapons. One of the shooters shot #2 and it functioned flawlessly. The unit will consider taking these weapons home to display in the United States Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center Museum at Fort Bragg, NC. I currently only have one magazine between the two weapons. 14 rounds of ammo are reserved for the Battalion Commander to fire, as he has permitted me the time to follow this quest. I have definitely enjoyed the chance to travel back through history and observe the development of assault weapons and their lasting impact on military history. I hope you, as a shooter and/or military history enthusiast enjoyed the observations from the perspective of the operator, instead of merely a rehash of the already plentiful material regarding the historical development. Here are two links to further read the history and development of the assault cartridges: “Gun of Many Names” by Richard Gainely http://www.wwiitech.net/main/germany/weapons/mp43mp44stg44/ “Assault Rifles and their Ammunition” by Anthony G. Williams http://www.quarry.nildram.co.uk/assault.htm |
De Oppresso Liber
Iraq: 91,03,04,05,06,08,09,15,16,22,23,24'
Afghanistan: 09,10,11',14',17',18',19',20'&21'
Iraq: 91,03,04,05,06,08,09,15,16,22,23,24'
Afghanistan: 09,10,11',14',17',18',19',20'&21'
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