MP40 as compared to AK-47

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Nagelfar
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MP40 as compared to AK-47

#1

Post by Nagelfar » 29 Dec 2002, 02:37

how did the MP40 compare to the AK-47? was it simply the restrictions on germany after the war in reguard to armament, and the mass production by the USSR of the AK-47 which made the AK-47 so commonly used during the time of the cold war?
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Oleg Grigoryev
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#2

Post by Oleg Grigoryev » 29 Dec 2002, 02:44

Well they are not exactly in the same category. MP- 40 is a submachine gun while Ak-47 is an assault rifle. More proper comaprecnet would be MP40 to PPS 43.

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Nagelfar
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#3

Post by Nagelfar » 29 Dec 2002, 03:28

hmm, well the first 'assault rifles' were german. how do those compare to the AK-47?

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#4

Post by Sokol » 29 Dec 2002, 03:36

Well, since there are few modern assault rifles that can compare to the AK-47, I am led to the belief that the comparison would not be in favour of the German weapons.

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#5

Post by FockeRolfe » 29 Dec 2002, 03:50

The Galil and the FN-FAL (G1) come to mind. Although the later is more of a MBR than assault rilfe.

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Scott Smith
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#6

Post by Scott Smith » 29 Dec 2002, 04:42

The AK-47 designed by Kalashnikov had all of the good features of the StG 44 "assault rifle" but was a lot simpler and probably more reliable than the older German design. They are only the same insofar that they have detachable magazines and fire a shortened rifle cartridge and have an ergonomic pistol grip. They are totally different designs. Both fired comparable mid-sized rounds: 7.62mm x 39 and 7.92mm x 33 (8mm kurz). The MP 40 fired 9mm x 19 pistol ammunition so it isn't even comparable.
:)

StG 44

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AK-47

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Mark V
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#7

Post by Mark V » 29 Dec 2002, 05:26

Nagelfar wrote:hmm, well the first 'assault rifles' were german. how do those compare to the AK-47?

some mix info...

- both used same way to accomplish the indermediate powered cartridge (full calibre - with shorter case)
- Soviet M43 ammo is slightly more powerfull
- MP-44 (MP-43, StG-44) is more cumbersome and heavier
- both recoiled very mildly - usable full-auto fire
- they used totally different locking mechanism (AK-47 -rotating bolt, MP-44 -tilting bolt), both were gas operated
- AK-47 was inspired by MP-44, but is not in any way a copy of it
- Soviet M43 cartridge is quite possibly based on German 7.75 GeCo experimental round from late 30s - which was in turn based on Italian Mannlicher-Carcano case
- German 7.92 Kurz was based on normal Mauser service cartridges case
- both suffered from curved trajectory on longer ranges - because of the low velocity ammunition
- but on other hand both were better than modern ARs when firing through foliage
- AK-47 works always !! - if the magazine is in condition and the weapon is not full of gravel.. MP-44 was reliable also - but not to that degree
- AK-47 action ejects cases almost as fast and far as the bullets :lol: , well not quite - but you get the picture - MP-44 is not as energetic
- AK-47 is easier to clean - but not after 300 tracer rounds 8O
- Germans had some innovative plans - sintered iron bullets (like for 9mm Para) were developed - but not mass-produced because war ended before that

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Assault rifles and automatic rifles

#8

Post by varjag » 29 Dec 2002, 05:50

If the difference between the two is the cartridge - the Nagelfar seems right about the Germans being the first in the field with their 8 x 33mm Kurz-Patrone. But the Russians were at it as early as 1st WW with their Federov M.1916 'Avtomat' which was a short handy selective-fire carbine
with a 20-rd (?) magazine.Oddly enough it was chambered for the Japanese 6,5mm Arisaka cartridge - perhaps the standard Russian 7,7mm was too powerful for it? The Simonov M.1936 (AVS) was another bold step towards increased firepower for the infantryman - it didn't work well but
showed the way to the Tokarev series and finally the AK 47.

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