Tag: carbine

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German

7.92 mm Karbiner 98K (Mauser-Kar. 98K): Rifle

7.92 mm Karbiner 98K (Mauser-Kar. 98K): Rifle

This is the standard shoulder weapon of the German Army and is very similar to the M1903 rifle used in the American Army. Known as the Mauser Kar. 98K, it may be regarded as a carbine or a short rifle.

This rifle has no windage adjustment or peep sight but gives good results at medium range. It is a bolt-operated, magazine-fed shoulder weapon.

Older models of this weapon, which operate in the same fashion, differ only in having longer barrels and in minor variations in fittings. They are known as the Gewehr 98, Kar. 98, and Kar. 98B.

The safety is a thumb-operated lever mounted on the bolt plug, operating in the same manner as the safety on the U.S. Rifle, M1903 (Springfield). The rifle is also loaded in the same manner as the M1903 rifle—the empty clip being ejected as the bolt is closed. Double-pull trigger action is also similar. A short knife bayonet is made for this rifle and several types of rifle grenade launchers may be attached. At least two different types of telescopic sights are found when this rifle is used for sniping. One is the ZF39, a conventional Zeiss 4X sight attached to mounts which are fitted to the receiver ring and bridge. The other, the ZF41, is a short 1 1/2 x scope with long eye-relief of 16 3/4 in. which is attached to the rifle by a side mount which is attached to the left side of the rear sight base.

SPECIFICATIONS

Caliber         7.92 mm (.312 in.)
Weight (approx.) 9 lb.
Overall length 43.5 ins.
Length of barrel 23.4 ins.
Principle of operation Manually operated bolt action
Capacity of magazine 5 rds.
Sights
     Front Inverted V blade (which is sometimes equipped with a hood)
     Rear Leaf with open V notch sliding on ramp, graduated from 100 to 2,000 meters.
     Telescopic See Text
Muzzle velocity 2,600-2,700 f/s
Range
     Maximum (approx.) 2,500 to 3,000 yds.
     Effective (approx.) 600 to 800 yds.
Ammunition 7.92 mm German Mauser ground types

German: p. 207

Categories
German

7.92 mm Karabiner 43 (Kar. 43): Semiautomatic Rifle

7.92 mm Karabiner 43 (Kar. 43): Semiautomatic Rifle

The Karabiner 43, a gas-operated, semi-automatic, magazine-fed, air-cooled shoulder weapon, is basically the same in design as the Gewehr 41 (W) described on page 208. Two notable changes found in the later weapon are a modified gas operation and a change in manufacturing policy.

This weapon utilizes a gas vent and gas piston, a method used for the first time in German small arms weapons in the Fallschirmjäger Gewehr 42. The improved gas operation insures more positive operation, and malfunctions due to carbonization are less likely to occur.

A great deal of effort was put into an attempt to reduce the time and expense in the manufacture of this weapon. In order to accomplish this, forgings and stampings were used in as many parts as was practical. Machined or ground surfaces are found only where necessary to insure proper operation. The bolt, bolt channel, and contacting surfaces of the trigger group are included in these. Such surfaces as the outside of the receiver, the top of the retractor slide, and the non-contacting surfaces of the trigger group are left untouched.

Several other slight changes were made, the most notable being the use of a ten-round, detachable box-type magazine; the addition of a threaded section on the muzzle making it possible to attach a flash hider or an adapter which is used with blank ammunition; the omission of the bayonet stud; and the addition of a telescopic sight base indicating that the Kar. 43 is intended for use as a special weapon. The weapon is lighter and better balanced than the Gewehr 41 (W) due to the elimination of the gas trap assembly at the muzzle and the long piston rod.

SPECIFICATIONS


Caliber       7.92 mm (.312 in.)
Weight 8 lb., 9 oz.
Length 44 1/4 ins.
Principle of operationGas
Feeding deviceDetachable box-type magazine
Capacity of feeding device10 rounds
Cooling systemAir
Ammunition usedAll 7.92 mm Mauser types
Type of sightParallel sided, flat top blade type front sight. Tangent leaf rear sight graduated from 100 to 1,200 meters. Telescopic sight base at rear of right side of receiver.
Length of barrel22 ins.
Rifling
   Twist Uniform R.H.
   Form
   No. of grooves4
   Depth of grooves
   Width of grooves
Chamber pressure
Muzzle velocity
Muzzle energy
Maximum range
Effective range

German: p. 208.2

Categories
German

7.92 mm Gewehr 33/40: Carbine

German 7.92 mm Gewehr 33/40: Carbine

This carbine, a typical Mauser, is very similar to the latest model of the Kar 98K. It is a manually operated, air-cooled, clip-fed shoulder weapon, having a laminated wood stock, a large metal butt plate to protect the stock when grenades are launched, and a sling mounted on the left-hand side.

The Gewehr 33/40 and the Kar 98K have interchangeable bolts. The most obvious differences are found in the length, weight, hand guards, and bolt handles.

The present weapon has an overall length of 39 1/8 inches as compared to the 43 1/2 inches of the Kar 98K. The barrel length is 19 3/8 inches instead of 23 1/2 inches. The carbine weighs 7 pounds 11 ounces; the rifle 9 pounds. The hand guard on the Gewehr 33/40 extends behind the rear sight and covers a greater percentage of the barrel than the one on the Kar 98K. The bolt handle on the carbine is turned down uniformly forming a semi-circle, and the knob on the end of the handle has been hollowed out and milled flat on the underside to reduce weight. On the Kar 98K, the bolt handle slopes down abruptly at right angles and the knob is solid.

SPECIFICATIONS

Caliber       7.92 mm (.312 in.)
Weight 7 lbs., 11 ozs.
Length (overall) 39 1/8 ins.
Principle of operation Manually operated, bolt action
Feeding device Clip-fed, hand-loaded magazine
Capacity of feeding device 5 rounds
Cooling system Air
Ammunition All 7.92 mm Mauser Types
Type of sight Inverted “V” or barleycorn front sight with hood protector and tangent leaf rear sight graduated from 100 to 1,000 meters.
Length of barrel 19 3/8 ins.
Length of rifling
Rifling
   Twist Uniform R.H.
   No. of grooves 4
Muzzle velocity 2,509 f/s

German: p. 206.2 (March 1, 1945)