SMG Guns is building a fully functional reproduction of the second model FG-42 in Texas. A big one was manufacturing the bolts. This months NRA Rifleman Mag has an article on the FG-42 and it is a disgrace. Instead, he cut the chamber in the barrel to be cylindrical instead of tapered, so that while gas pressure was very high during the initial bit of extraction, the case would be blown out to fit the cylindrical chamber and retain a gas seal. That means the surplus ammo I used had rims 25% thicker than spec – I’m actually a bit surprised I didn’t have more problems. Flash signature off the complex brake is pronounced and highly visibly. At the same time, muzzle rise was equally surprising for its absence. When I interviewed Rick for this article my first question was simply, “Why build an FG 42?” It is after all a complex design and difficult to manufacture. Of these numerous models, the most influential proved to be Nazi Germany’s MP 43/44 and StG 44 series of Sturmgewehr (Storm or Assault rifle) chambered for the Polte 7.92x33mm Kurz cartridge. Also, be aware production of the late model Type II FG 42 seen here is going to be suspended for a time with SMG Guns introducing the early Type I model. Breaking a rifle this expensive, and it is very expensive indeed, during testing is never a good thing. I don’t have a bench at my range, so my accuracy testing was done from the 300 yard line, off the rifle’s integral bipod. Inline design. Leather, hand stitched with correct buckles: €89.95 / £74.95 GBP / $118.45 USD . |   It is worth noting that for folks interested in precision shooting with an FG42, these new rifles all have an integrated dovetail mount that will fit both original and reproduction ZF41 telescopic sights. Shipping and handling charges paid in the Continental U.S. E-MAIL CONTACT Please note FG-42 or MP-44 in the subject line. Rick commented, “We knew it was going to be cool as soon as we got it up and running and saw how soft shooting it was.” In my opinion it is indeed soft shooting and it is very, very cool. The Luftwaffe came away from Crete dissatisfied with the performance of the standard Wehrmacht infantry weapons issued to their elite troops. The company consists of Rick Smith the owner, and his two sons Bryan and Aaron. It had to be no longer, heavier, or bulkier than the K98k bolt action rifle, and it had to be capable of closed bolt fire in semiauto and open bolt fire in full auto. It would later be incorporated in the US Army’s M60 machine gun. The receiver of the FG-42 is surprisingly short, because the side-mounted magazine is located directly above the trigger mechanism, instead of forward like most rifles. Approximately 2,000 early model guns were produced and approximately 5,000 late models. Price is $5,000. But if you remember your basic fundamentals it is easily managed. Rick at SMG says it is comparable to an AK in 7.62×39, and he is not exaggerating. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. This is a non-firing model that can be loaded and disassembled just like a real FG 42. The FG42 had the firepower of a light machine gun which could be fired from the … Just read the information which comes with the rifle, use the proper ammunition and enjoy. Troops felt the sharply angled pistolgrip, designed to reduce the height and chance of snagging during a jump, should be replaced by a more vertical one. That’s what I like so much about this sort of very high-quality reproduction – you can appreciate it for the original design and its place in history, but you can also take it out to the range and blaze away to your heart’s content. SMG Guns of Decatur, Texas, a company specializing in high-quality replications of scarce World War II-vintage full-autos-turned-semi introduces the SMG semi-automatic Type II FG42. I have a lot of time behind a Lee Enfield No. I was able to hit my larger (10″ and 12″) steel plates fairly consistently offhand, which is about as good as my shooting gets with any iron sights. How does the FG 42 compare to the lowly No. A cammed track in the bolt body forces it to rotate and lock as the gas piston moves forward under spring pressure, and the trigger mechanism catches the piston and stops it from moving fully forward until the trigger is pulled. However, the Army disagreed with the basic concept and expressed no interest in the project. SMG Guns is building a fully functional reproduction of the second model FG-42 in Texas. Weight. Then we got back at it and, since the light was fading rapidly, did a night fire. There are several factors that allow this to happen: I fired about 250 rounds in a couple hours, and had absolutely no discomfort at all. In the golden age of daily carry options, the Springfield Armory Hellcat OSP pistol is a... Hi-Point has YEETed its way to internet fame with the new YEET Cannon G1. My only complaint in this area was that the handguard on the rifle began to crack at the front after a few hundred rounds. In addition, the buttstock is spring-loaded and reciprocates a short distance. A tough, reliable design well-liked by the troops, it proved very effective during two World Wars and many smaller actions. It had to be chambered for the standard 8×57 cartridge (the Wehrmacht was developing the 8mm Kurz at this time, but the Luftwaffe insisted on the full size rifle round for maximum firepower), and it had to use detachable box magazines. No it is not an exact 100% reproduction. This should be just as exciting. I can’t help it, the first thing I want to do with an interesting new gun is take it apart and see how it works – and this this FG-42 was certainly no exception. Over the course of my firing, I did have several malfunctions. Looking at slow-motion footage of my shooting, you can see the action recoiling into the stock, and the push against my shoulder, but the muzzle just stays locked in place. This was ideal terrain for the FG 42 allowing it to showcase its full capabilities. I was shooting at an ad-hoc silhouette target with decent contrast, still using the Romanian milsurp ammo. They changed heat treaters and the bolts made it to 150 rounds. I started by shooting at steel plates (from 4″ to 12″ in diameter) at 100 yards, both offhand and prone. Time left 2d 17h left. The requirements set out for this new rifle were quite stringent. On further examination, however, they rejected the … Two firms, Rheinmetall and Kreighoff, produced prototypes and the Rheinmetall one was chosen for development. New (Other) C $22.76. I will not type the exact word which came to mind. Reproduction FG-42 by SMG Guns 0. A revolutionary new type of weapon, the Sturmgewehr series combined the best features of the submachinegun and battle rifle into one compact package. About six thousand were made before the end of the war, and today they are one of the most valuable WWII firearms in the US, with prices in excess of $100,000. After adjusting my point of aim to the bottom of the silhouette, I was able to put 8 of 10 rounds into the paper, which I’m pretty happy with (they were all in the upper left quadrant of the target). Krieghoff and Rheinmetall both responded by submitting prototypes based upon the Luftwaffe requirements. This is a full size working replica of the famous WWII German FG42 Type assault rifle is made of metal with real wood forward hand stock. The TII FG42 is still $4,995.00 + 75.00 shipping/insurance But 0n 09-01-18 the base price will be 5,495.00 These presented no problem at all to hit, and the 8mm slugs made a nice authoritative clang with each hit. In the far distance was my 800 yard berm with a number of steel targets. Many components were too fragile, as weight had been savagely cut wherever possible to meet the strict weight limit imposed on the design. To order one you must first get on their waiting list, and then it will be about six months before delivery. The Germans launched Operation Mecury (Unternehmen Merkur) which was the first mass use of airborne forces in history. This is how the first model German guns were made, but the second model (which is what SMG has recreated) was originally made with a stamped receiver. The second model rifles were more successful, and their increased weight also made full-auto fire more controllable. 358 Views Share Embed Download ... We have gotten our hands on a sample of the second model FG-42 being made by SMG out of Texas, with instructions to go nuts, and not baby it in any way. The average of four 5-shot groups was a respectable 2.9 inches using the issue iron sights. One of the most interesting firearms to come out of World War II is the Fallschirmjaegergewehr 42 – the FG-42. The malfunctions that weren’t my fault were several failures to extract. Tactical Deals: Heckler & Koch AR15 HK-Style Micro Sight Set $135.42 FREE S&H Gun Deals: LSI Citadel Boss-25 AR-12 Gauge, Semi-automatic, Shotgun $474.99 FREE S&H The FG 42 (German: Fallschirmjägergewehr 42, "paratrooper rifle 42") is a selective-fire 7.92×57mm Mauser automatic rifle produced in Nazi Germany during World War II. A decent optical sight would be a game changer on this rifle. The German Army did their own testing with the FG 42, comparing it to their MP 43. Of all the guns of World War II, the German FG-42, designed for use by German Fallschirmjäger or “Green Devils,” stands out as one of the rarest, most unique and timeless designs. Certainly the price will place it out of reach of many folks, but it’s simply a fact of life that really nice things are expensive. You can probably figure it out. I did have a few failures to feed with the Open Tip Match ammunition which I don’t think I would have had with FMJ. Accuracy wise I made some nice hits on steel with the rest of my shots just off target. Shooting the FG-42 from the 300 yard line. And then, disaster struck. There is a brass deflector behind the ejection port, but the rifle is clearly intended for right-hand firing. I was frankly surprised by how comfortable the FG 42 is. FG-42 (Fallschirmjagergewehr 42, FjG42) Type: Automatic assault rifle. This is a fairly typical requirement and not much different than that of the M16A2. Firing prone from the bipod at 800 yards I found the 8mm Mauser load a bit lazy in the Kansas wind compared to what I normally shoot. Test ammunition was Hornady 196-grain Open Tip Match. Top Rated Seller Top Rated Seller. This system is authentically copied from the original German design, quirks and all. As for me, I will happily save up my pennies for one of these outstanding rifles from SMG. It’s not really a test of the rifle’s accuracy potential, but I’m more interested in what results I can achieve in a practical test. SMG, however, is making these in small numbers on modern CNC machinery and a milled receiver is by far the more practical method for them. All Firearms News subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. While they didn’t know it in the aftermath of the battle, the Luftwaffe’s elite Fallschirmjäger units would spend the rest of the war fighting as conventional ground forces. He says he stands solidly behind his rifle. It does not use any original parts (there are virtually no originals available), and everything is being made from scratch on modern CNC machines and with modern high-quality steels (German wartime production often had to make do with whatever was available). It is a very fun rifle to run drills with and shoot. The SMG Guns reproduction is a semi-automatic design firing from the closed bolt position. German paratroops (fallschirmjaeger) jumped with only light weapons (pistols and submachine guns), while their heavier arms were dropped in separate weapons canisters. This is a small three man shop in Decatur, Texas which became known for building semi-automatic Bren Guns, DP-28s and PPS-43s from kits. A gas operated design; it utilized a bottom mounted long-stroke piston. However, it could not provide accurate fire on full-automatic at long range. SMG Guns didn’t have the capability to duplicate the original chamber design, so they had to tune their design in a different manner. Undeterred, the Luftwaffe bypassed the Heereswaffenamt (Army Ordnance Department) and went directly to German industry. It took some deliberate effort to not handle this rifle with kid gloves, because I am so used to knowing them only as astronomically expensive originals. History: When the MP43 development began, the German Parachute Troops took an interest in it, since they felt that a selective-fire weapon would fill a void in their armoury, since airborne operations always demand the maximum firepower in the smallest package. The rifle is relatively heavy, at about 12.5 pounds, but pretty well balanced. So a more effective muzzle brake was desired. The rifle comes with an excellent reproduction leather sling as well. This was done to decrease dispersion. The rifle is as enjoyable to shoot as anything else I’ve handled (and better than most) on top of its historical significance. I also took it to a local 3-gun match, where the minimal muzzle climb helped me put close-range shots on target much more quickly than my M1 Garand can. For the collectors and reenactors who have missed the last batch of the SHOEI G43 Air Blowback Rifle and the FG42 Type 1 Model Gun, good news! As it turns out, there are enough differences that original parts will not interchange with the new rifles, but the operating principles are all the same (with the exception of the new ATF-approved semiauto trigger mechanism). Past 400 meters the FG 42 had an advantage. Simply handling it transports you back in time, and puts a smile on your face. While it is a fun rifle to shoot Fudd style from the bench, it really shines running drills, both near and far. I don’t think I could ask for much more. The FG-42 has a very effective muzzle brake.