30th March : STG 44 Sturmgewehr

Name     :   STG44

AKA       :   Sturmgewehr, MP 43, MP 44, 

7.92x33mm 

Caliber   :   7.92x33mm Kurz

Capacity :   30 Round Magazine 

Weight   :   4.81Kg or 10.6lbs

Length    :  930mm or 36.6in

Cyclic     :   500 Rounds per minute

Origin     :   Nazi Germany

In the late 1930's German military analysts had done extensive research into battlefield tactics, units and equipment used during the First World War and the then recent Spanish Civil War,  some of the conclusions found around infantry was that most firefights take place at 300 meters or less, one or two man portable machines that were light allowed troops to capture more ground increasing the pace of a battle creating a momentum and that combat was taking place within cities and built up areas.  Though most armies in the world at the time were developing and testing semi-automatic rifle's including the Germans, they were all developing them around a full sized rifle cartridge.  All nations had seen the benefit of sub-machineguns but these all fired a pistol cartridge with limited range and power. The findings of the analysts called for an intermediate weapon, something with lighter ammunition with a shorter range than the 2000 meter effective 8mm Mauser but more powerful than a sub-machinegun.  A weapon that was capable of semi automatic and full automatic fire. A weapon that was light enough to be one man portable.

A suitable cartridge was developed with all of this in mind, the 7.92x33mm round with a maximum effective range of 700 meters by a company called Polte in 1938.  Proposals were sent out to Walther and Haenel, with Haenel winning with their design. When the first prototypes were being fielded at the same time Adolf Hitler was informed of the testing.  Hitler was of the mind that a soldier needed the power of the Mauser bolt action (similar to that which Hitler himself had served with) and that the MP-40 sub machinegun already in use was sufficent, so he cancelled the project.  Realizing what a great weapon the intermediate rifle was going to be the German military continued with the project in secret referring to the intermediate rifle as a machinepistol (sub-machinegun) as to avoid a confrontation with the Fuehrer.

The initial field trails were astounding, the effect on the battlefield could not be ignored and the intermediate rifle's production went into full swing.  Haenel was never able to keep up with demand from the military brass, then the day of judgement came in 1943.  Hitler had traveled to the Eastern Front to over look operations, in a conversation with a general -

Hitler asked "What are you most in need of?"  

The general replied "As many MP-43's as you can send"

Hitler asks "What is this MP-43 ? this isn't that rifle I vetoed is it?"

(Please note there is no transcript of the conversation, but this is commonly believed to be what was said).

The general offered to Hitler a demonstration of the weapon, and Hitler by all accounts was impressed, and it is said he was the first to call it the 'Strumgewehr' or in English 'Assault Rifle' a term by which all modern select fire intermediate rifles are classed.  

The STG.44 as it became known was in too smaller number to save Germany's infantry, but this would not be the final resting place for the rifle.  The STG.44  was used by the Czech army and East German army after World War 2, and the rifle has even turned up in the hands of insurgents in the latest war in Iraq.

INTERESTING FACT   :  The Russian's took a lot of interest in this rifle after the war as they were undoubtedly the largest user of sub-machineguns.  Though heavily denied by Mikhail Kalashnikov, it is without doubt the basis and then some, of the Avtomat Kalashnikova Model of 1947 or otherwise known as the AK-47.

PRO'S  :  INOVATION, COLLECTABLE, 30 ROUND MAGAZINE, SEMI/FULL AUTO

             IT WAS A REVOLUTIONARY RIFLE AT THE TIME!

CON'S  :  HEAVY, A LOT OF USELESS ACCESSORIES, NOT ENOUGH                                       

             DISTRIBUTED.  QUALITY DEGRADED AT THE END OF WW2.

COOL FACTOR :  7/10

29th March : Beretta 92FS

Name    :   Beretta 92FS

AKA       :   M9 (U.S. Military Designation)

92FS Magazine    

Caliber   :   9mm Parabellum

Weight   :   2.1lbs or 970g

Length   :   8.54in or 217mm

Capacity :   15 rounds (standard)

Locking   :   Walther Falling Block

Action     :   Semi Auto, Double Action

Origin      :   Italy 

The 92FS comes from the well established heritage of Beretta, which is said to be the oldest firearm company still in business.  The beautiful appearance of this fine pistol dates back to the Model 1951 Brigadier a single action pistol with an 8 round magazine.  Like the Brigadier, the slide has a cut out section exposing the barrel, the gripping serrations on the slide are the same and the grip angle show a design simularity.  And with the right kind of eyes you may even see its lineage in the Model 1935 as well.

The 1985 U.S. Military pistol trial chose the 92 pistol  to replace one of the most revered pistols of all time, the Colt M1911A1 with an order for just over 300,000 pistols.  Though choice was controversial, as the 92F's closest rival the SIG P226 was only beaten on price.  Once the decision was made some alterations to the 92F had to be made to satisfy the U.S. Military Brass, one being the squaring of the trigger guard, Chroming of the barrel, interchangeability of parts and a new coating to decrease wear.  

The pistol was not without issue after it was implemented.  Slides on approximately fourteen pistols cracked during firing giving the shooters minor injuries, and some pistols frames had small cracks appearing in them after extended firing sessions.  Both of these faults were the result of poor metallurgy in the construction.  This was rectified by producing the pistol in the U.S. with stricter production standards.

The 92FS has enjoyed popularity in films and popular culture for its stunning lines and styling.  Helped also by the widespread adoption by military's around the world such as France, Italy, U.S. as well as acceptance by many law enforcement agencies.  Beretta once gave L.A.P.D. some pistols free of charge.  

The 92FS is pleasant to shoot, though some may find its large grip a bit too big.  For a 9mm the pistol is a little on the large size.  The 92FS will function with a wide variety of ammunition types and other variants of this pistol come in .40 Smith and Wesson. Accurate and reliable (with decent magazines) the 92FS is a wonderful pistol which I would recommend you  try if at all possible.

INTERESTING FACT :  Mel Gibson carried the 92FS in the movie "Lethal Weapon" but he did in fact own one in real life until he had to hand it over to the police while he was being investigated for domestic violence.  

PROS: STYLISH, DOUBLE ACTION, RESPECTED MANUFACTURER, ACCURATE
......... EATS ALL THE +P AMMO YOU CAN FEED IT


CONS: SOME HAVE MAGAZINE ISSUES, GIANT 9mm, EARLY MODELS HAD                                                                ..........ISSUES AS DISCUSSED

COOL FACTOR : 7/10

28th March : M1 Garand

Name     -   Rifle, Caliber .30, M1 


AKA       -   The Garand, The greatest Battle implement ever devised

Loaded EN Block Clip

Caliber   -   .30-06 or 7.62x63mm


Capacity -   8 rounds via EN Block Clip


Weight   -   9.5lbs or 4.31kg (models did vary)


Length    -  43 inches or 1.1m



Origin     -  U.S.A.




The M1 Garand, a staple of power and innovation at a time when bolt actions ruled the military world. In the Pacific and in Europe the Garand was present, enduring the elements, fighting on to eventually gain a venerable title as the best general issue rifle available in large numbers.  Numbers vary on the total production number but it is generally accepted to be around 6 million, production coming mainly from Springfield Armory who at the time was a state owned arsenal, but also from Harrington and Richardson, international Harvester, Winchester and others.  


The rifle is a semi automatic, firing from a closed bolt, air cooled, and fed from an 8 round EN block clip which was inserted into an internal magazine.  Once inserted the operator would quickly release pressure on the clip and bolt would slam closed loading the first round into the chamber.  If the operator was too slow with removing his thumb, it could become caught between the bolt and breach face causing the infamous garand thumb 'ouch'.  Once loaded the operator was encouraged to expend all 8 rounds before reloading as topping up the weapon was a time consuming process, though many would simply release the partially used clip through a release switch at the base of the rifle and eject the chambered round and insert a new clip.  The barrels on the garand are generally between 22 and 24 inches long.


One of the most recognizable things of the M1 Garand is the sound of the EN block clip ejecting making a loud "PING" after the last round has been fired. This was sometimes seen as a drawback as often enemy combatants would hear that the firers rifle was empty and would then attack.  As always in war there are clever cookies out there that take note of enemy behavior, in particular U.S. marines fighting the japanese would sometimes throw or bang empty clips on the ground to replicate the noise of an empty rifle and wait for the enemy to pop their heads up only to find that 'empty' garand isn't so empty after all.


The rifle was designed by Canadian born gun designer John Garand and served as the standard U.S. Military rifle replacing the Springfield M1903 from 1936 (though they werent in widespread use until 1937/38) until offically 1957. Though use of the rifle continued through various conflicts including Vietnam, and is in use today as a parade rifle by some U.S. units.


Today the Garand enjoys high popularity as target shooting rifle and collectors piece sold to the American public through the Civilian Marksmanship Program as well as through normal surplus channels.  


INTERESTING FACT : 
During WW2 the German Army in times of poor weapon supply would issue captured U.S. M1's as the 7.62mm Selbstladegewehr 251 (a).


PROS : Reliable, Accurate, Semi Automatic firepower, 
CONS : Heavy, Time consuming maintenance, 


COOL FACTOR : 9 / 10