Video: German MP40 Submachine Gun

by
posted on April 11, 2016
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **

Based on the then-revolutionary Machinenpistole 38, the MP40 with its stamped steel receiver and simpler bolt was the most-produced German submachine gun of World War II. Chambered in 9 mm and feeding from a 32-round, detachable-box magazine, the MP40 with its folding stock was compact, handy and reliable. Although the MP40 was called the “Schmeisser’ or “Hitler’s burp gun” by G.I.s, Hugo Schmeisser had about as much to do with its actual design as Mary Queen of Scots. Watch this "I Have This Old Gun" segment from a recent episode of American Rifleman TV, as our editors and panel of firearm experts reflect on the history and use of the MP40 submachine gun … and run it hard at the range.

Latest

French Charleville Ihtog 1
French Charleville Ihtog 1

I Have This Old Gun: The French Charleville Musket

One of the most important military arms ever made, the French Charleville musket saw use in the American Revolution and armed French troops throughout the Napoleonic Wars.

CVA Endura Series: The Modernized Muzzleloader Of 2025

CVA built on the success of its Paramount muzzleloader to create the Endura, a design that the company calls "the most advanced muzzleloader series CVA has ever built."

Review: FN 15 Guardian

FN America has sought to bring its legendary quality and reliability to an AR-15 that lists for just $999, and we believe that it has done this well with its 15 Guardian carbine.

Springfield Armory Hellcat Now Available In .380 ACP

Despite the extensive number of Hellcat models in its lineup, Springfield Armory has only offered the pistol in one chambering, 9 mm Luger, until now. The .380 ACP model offers similar capabilities with softer recoil.

Arms Of The Mail Guard Marines

While difficult to imagine today, brazen armed thefts of the U.S. Mail in the 1920s became all too common and beyond the abilities of mail personnel to handle. Enter the U.S. Marines—armed to the teeth.

The Armed Citizen® Oct. 13, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.