Video—Red Army Icon: Soviet PPsh-41 Submachine Gun

by
posted on May 30, 2015
** 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. **
The Soviet PPsh-41 submachine gun was one of the most iconic firearms of World War II. In the hand of Soviet troops, it was instrumental in the defeat of Hitler’s Nazi Germany. Chambered for the bottle-necked 7.62x25 mm Tokarev cartridge, the PPsh41 fed from a 71-round capacity drum magazine with a cyclic rate of more than 900 rounds per minute. Designed by Georgi Shapgin, the PPsh-41 was the right gun at the right time for the Red Army. Rugged, simple and effective, the straight-blowback operated submachine gun was used in World War II, Korea and Vietnam, and more than 6 million were made. For more, watch American Rifleman TV's "I Have This Old Gun" segment above.

Latest

Keltec Pr3at 1
Keltec Pr3at 1

The PR-3AT: KelTec's Magazine-Free .380

At its heart, the KelTec PR-3AT is a compact concealed-carry pistol chambered in .380 ACP that uses the same rotary-barrel and top-loading, magazine-free design as the PR57.

The 1911 DS Warrior: Kimber's Budget-Priced Double-Stack

With its new 1911 DS Warrior, Kimber is offering a more affordably priced option to handgun enthusiasts looking for a do-it-all double-stack that still retains key 1911 features.

Staccato Expands HD Lineup With C4X Carry Models

Staccato announced a new flagship model in its HD line of guns at SHOT Show 2026: the HD C4X.

Deciphering (Mostly Nonsensical) Cartridge Nomenclature

If you’re perplexed by the naming practices used by our wildcatting forefathers and cartridge makers but are still curious about what they mean, read on.

The Armed Citizen® Jan. 19, 2026

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

"9 mm Optimized, But 10 mm Capable:" Dead Air's New RXD910Ti Suppressor

The new Dead Air RXD910Ti harnesses the technology of the patented Triskelion baffle system to make for a 9 mm-optimized silencer that is also capable for use with 10 mm pistol cartridges and more.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.