Gewehr 43

The following report on the German Gewehr 43 semi-automatic rifle was published in Foreign Military Weapons and Equipment, Vol. III, Infantry Weapons, Pamphlet No. 30-7-4, Department of the Army, 1954.

 

7.92-mm Model 43 Semi-Automatic Rifle
(KARABINER 43 or GEWEHR 43) 

This rifle is a semi-automatic, gas-operated, air-cooled, magazine-fed, shoulder weapon. The original designation was the Gewehr 43, but this nomenclature was later changed to Karabiner 43.

It is a simplified and improved development of the 41M and 41W, earlier World War II German models. The major changes are that the M43: (1) Uses principally forgings and stampings rather than machined parts; (2) is lighter and better balanced; (3) employs a better system of gas operation, a gas vent and gas piston being used rather than a gas trap assembly and long piston rod; and (4) does not have a bayonet stud for use of a bayonet.

Salient recognition features of this rifle are: (1) Location of telescopic sight base on right side of the receiver near the rear; (2) a high ramp-type front sight base; (3) an enlarged trigger guard to permit the firer to wear heavy gloves; and (4) three-eighths of an inch of the muzzle is threaded for attachment of a flash hider.

This rifle is in service in the Czechoslovak Army as a sniper rifle.

 

RECOGNITION FEATURES 

 

CHARACTERISTICS 

 

System of operation	Gas-operated, air-cooled, magazine-fed semi-automatic
Caliber	7.92-mm (cal. .312)
Weight: (incl. sling, bayonet)
Unloaded	4 kg (9 lb. aprx)
Loaded	4.5 kg (10 lb aprx)
Length over-all	112 cm (44.2 in)
Length of barrel	56 cm (22 in)
Feeding device	10-round detachable box magazine
Sights:
Front	Flat-top blade
Rear	Tangent, U-notch; graduated 100-1,200 m in 100 m increments (equipped for telescopic sight)
Muzzle velocity	745 m/sec (2,445 fps)
Effective rate of fire	30 rpm
Effective range	400 m (440 yd)
Ammunition	Standard German 7.92-mm ammunition