I actually got to handle, but not fire, a captured Sturmgewehr a couple of years ago. We're damned lucky the Germans weren't able to crank out 500,000 of them. If Hitler hadn't been so recalcitrant and allowed full production of them earlier, the outcome of WWII might have been a bit different. L They're making a semi-auto version now, which sort of misses the point, but which should be soon available for anyone who really wants one. And though a little hard to find, factory loaded 7,92 x 33mm MP44/Sturmgewehr ammo is now available, a bit more reliable than the 60-year old WWII German fodder or the French and Syrian surplus that showed up from time to time, and less labor intensive than turning the stuff out of former 7.62 NATO blanks.
At, 5 grand or so each, a semi-auto MP44 would not be my first choice. But there's an outfit in Washington state turning out semiauto copies of the WWII German paratroopers' FG42 rifle in the 7,92 x 57mm r5ifle cartridge. At 11K each, they're not exactly disposable, but there are worse weapons around with higher price tags. And if you really, REALLY need one, they're priceless. And at least you get a nice case with it.
Cool. Thanks for the links.
I got to handle the Sturm at the First Army Division Museum. They used to have it on display, but it's been removed from public view.
I brought it to the attention of the Curator that fully automatic weapons are completely forbidden in my fine State even if one had a Class III Federal License.
She asked "What's that?"
So I filled her in on the current state of Federal and State laws regarding the ownership of machine guns including the fact that if this particular weapon wasn't registered prior to 1968 it could never be registered.
I don't think she quite believed me initially, but the item in question was removed from public viewing shortly thereafter.
That's the same day I pointed up a mistake in the labelling of some of the personal firearms owned by the good Colonel, but that's a story for another day....
L