{"id":54957,"date":"2016-03-26T10:56:16","date_gmt":"2016-03-26T14:56:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/?p=54957"},"modified":"2016-03-26T10:56:16","modified_gmt":"2023-08-19T13:33:58","slug":"legacy-mp40-full-auto-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/legacy-mp40-full-auto-review\/","title":{"rendered":"The Legacy of the MP40–Full Auto Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

Check out the MP40 Reproductions from ATI on GunsAmerica (and the S&W .40 M&Ps that populate in the same search!):<\/strong>
\nhttps:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/Search.aspx?T=mp40<\/a>
\n
\nAnd word on the street is that ATI has gotten approval to bring in their 9mm MP40. Until then, you can still shoot the rimfire version: <\/strong>https:\/\/www.americantactical.us\/5008\/detail.html<\/a><\/p>\n

World War II is an iconic era in gun history, and the MP40 is, in my estimation, the 2nd most recognizable German firearm from that time period, after the Luger pistol. Anyone who has ever seen a movie or documentary will know this weapon by sight. As we look at this weapon of war, I want to be clear that I have no praise or love for the acts men and women committed through the course of that war. My intent is to look at why well over 1 million copies of this machine pistol were produced and utilized in just five years.<\/p>\n

\"Instruction<\/a>

Instruction sheet showing for armor.<\/p><\/div>\n

History<\/h2>\n

Heinrich Vollmer’s design for the MP40 was based on a simplification of the design and manufacturing process of the MP38. Both guns utilized the “blowback with advanced primer ignition (API)” system, in which the round is detonated by a blowback operated bolt\/recoil system. The ignition of the primer of the 9mm round is ignited a fraction of a second before the round is completely seated in the chamber of the barrel. The result of this system is that the bolt never comes to an abrupt stop. The advantages of this are much the same as the advantages to having shocks on your car- prevention of wear-and-tear, and smoother operation.<\/p>\n

Another change from the MP38 was the addition of a resting bar under the barrel. This was used to steady the MP40 when firing over an open-topped vehicle. Vollmer chose highly innovative materials for that era- sheet metal over machined steel, and Bakelite rather than wood. The manufacturing process itself was designed to utilize subcontracted assemblies wherever possible, and made use of stampings rather than millings, which was revolutionary in 1938.<\/p>\n

\"Full<\/a>

Full auto magazine dump. What was a formidable tool of war in the 1940s is still a relevant design. Too bad politics keep the original full-auto only MP40 out of reach.<\/p><\/div>\n

Context<\/h2>\n

To fully understand the MP40 and its development choices, one must first realize that in 1938, Germany was still under the surrender terms of World War 1. The German army was not allowed to have submachine guns at all- although the German police were permitted these weapons to combat Communism. The Germans exploited this loophole by creating secret production codes for the MP40, licensing their production out to the Swiss and Belgians, who were more than willing to profit in the Germans’ secret re-arming effort.<\/p>\n

The MP40 was designed as an intermediate weapon between the handgun and rifle, to be carried by a squad NCO\u2019s, one per unit. However, as the war moved to the Eastern front, the Germans found themselves decimated by the Soviets’ use of submachine guns at the battle of Stalingrad. Urban conflicts such as this quickly demonstrated that the K98 rifle could not hold off entire squads of Soviet troops armed with automatic weapons. Thus, the German tactics of fielding a squad of K98 infantry men backed up by a single MG42 were adapted, and more and more infantry were armed with MP40s themselves. By the end of the war, some special units were armed entirely with MP40s.<\/p>\n

Editor’s note: Check below for graphs that illustrate how the unit make-up changed as a result of this gun.<\/em><\/p>\n

About Hugo Schmeisser<\/h2>\n

If you have even a cursory knowledge of the MP40, you will have heard of the name Hugo Schmeisser. You may have heard that he designed or manufactured the gun; you may have heard that he was just an urban legend and had nothing to do with the MP40. In my research, I attempted to get to the bottom of the many contradictory tales, and was able to line out some hard narrative.<\/p>\n

Hugo Schmeisser developed the MP18- predecessor to the MP38. Hugo Schmeisser was also heavily entrenched in the German military’s manufacturing efforts, and was very influential in their decision-making processes. Schmeisser\u2019s blowback-operated open bolt system was a game changer in submachine gun designs, and was used in several submachine guns, including the MP40. Let\u2019s take a look at the patents that he held:<\/p>\n