Mg-43...

[littlefrench]

Hi !

Firstly, a few pictures of the last HK's machine gun...

http://www.gun-world.net/old/H&K/mp7/PDW_MG43_G36.jpg
http://www.hksystems.com.au/images/millaw/mguns/bigMg43.jpg
http://hkpro.com/MG43_1.jpg
http://hkpro.com/mg43strip.jpg

I'm writting an article about this mg on my website : http://air-defense.net/index.php?cat=10 and I have a few questions : did the Bundeswehr officialy choose the MG-43 as it's future light machine gun ? On the official website of HK I've found this weapon under the name of "MG-4", what is the good designation and what is the difference between MG-4 and MG-43 ?

Very important : if you have good pictures of this gun, put them on this topic, as you can see mine are quite poor.

Thanks a lot !

[JoaMei]

Hi !

Firstly, a few pictures of the last HK's machine gun...

http://www.gun-world.net/old/H&K/mp7/PDW_MG43_G36.jpg
http://www.hksystems.com.au/images/millaw/mguns/bigMg43.jpg
http://hkpro.com/MG43_1.jpg
http://hkpro.com/mg43strip.jpg

I'm writting an article about this mg on my website : http://air-defense.net/index.php?cat=10 and I have a few questions : did the Bundeswehr officialy choose the MG-43 as it's future light machine gun ? On the official website of HK I've found this weapon under the name of "MG-4", what is the good designation and what is the difference between MG-4 and MG-43 ?

Very important : if you have good pictures of this gun, put them on this topic, as you can see mine are quite poor.

Thanks a lot !

MG-4 is the designation the german Army uses, MG-43 is the name under which HK sells it.

[Swedish Chef]

I don't know if ant of these are what you call good, but here goes anyway.
http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/8238/mg433pk.th.jpg (http://img339.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mg433pk.jpg)

http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/2198/mg43mg4011ch.th.jpg (http://img339.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mg43mg4011ch.jpg)

http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/9421/mg43mg4024wl.th.jpg (http://img339.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mg43mg4024wl.jpg)

http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/7923/mg43mg4038go.th.jpg (http://img339.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mg43mg4038go.jpg)

http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/2416/mg43ontripod023lp.th.jpg (http://img339.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mg43ontripod023lp.jpg)

http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/9099/mg43024wg.th.jpg (http://img339.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mg43024wg.jpg)

http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/7158/mg43034nn.th.jpg (http://img339.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mg43034nn.jpg)

http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/2562/mg43041fs.th.jpg (http://img339.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mg43041fs.jpg)

http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/8615/mg43054xd.th.jpg (http://img339.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mg43054xd.jpg)

http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/2451/mg43067ao.th.jpg (http://img339.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mg43067ao.jpg)

http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/7623/mg43076cq.th.jpg (http://img339.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mg43076cq.jpg)

http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/6629/mg43085df.th.jpg (http://img339.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mg43085df.jpg)

[Swedish Chef]

A few more:
http://img314.imageshack.us/img314/9590/mg43ontripodm122011kd.th.jpg (http://img314.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mg43ontripodm122011kd.jpg)

http://img314.imageshack.us/img314/8818/mg43ontripod015la.th.jpg (http://img314.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mg43ontripod015la.jpg)

http://img314.imageshack.us/img314/4181/mg43015ry.th.jpg (http://img314.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mg43015ry.jpg)

http://img314.imageshack.us/img314/7280/mg43037sa.th.jpg (http://img314.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mg43037sa.jpg)

http://img314.imageshack.us/img314/7636/mg43046ch.th.jpg (http://img314.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mg43046ch.jpg)

http://img314.imageshack.us/img314/5765/mg43052ca.th.jpg (http://img314.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mg43052ca.jpg)

http://img314.imageshack.us/img314/1277/mg43066vx.th.jpg (http://img314.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mg43066vx.jpg)

http://img314.imageshack.us/img314/7748/mg43078qs.th.jpg (http://img314.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mg43078qs.jpg)

http://img314.imageshack.us/img314/2462/mg43094mi.th.jpg (http://img314.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mg43094mi.jpg)

http://img314.imageshack.us/img314/7107/mg43105ew.th.jpg (http://img314.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mg43105ew.jpg)

http://img314.imageshack.us/img314/770/mg43116bh.th.jpg (http://img314.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mg43116bh.jpg)

http://img314.imageshack.us/img314/5130/mg43126od.th.jpg (http://img314.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mg43126od.jpg)

[Pille1234]

from Afghanistan:

http://img124.echo.cx/img124/1315/mg414gq.jpg

http://img124.echo.cx/img124/6550/mg43dz.jpg

[G-Capo]

Great images.More please!

[larryzou]

Great images htinks lot.

[Catch22]

Few of my shots of the MG4.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/Catch22/MP_net/P8296238.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/Catch22/MP_net/P8296243.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/Catch22/MP_net/P8296247.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/Catch22/MP_net/P8296250.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/Catch22/MP_net/P8296244.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/Catch22/MP_net/P8296236.jpg

Some pimpin' ;-)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/Catch22/MP_net/P8296253.jpg

I wonder when they make some "Para" wersion. The standard one is nice but it may be just better with some features of the Minimi - such as telescopic stock, and shorter barrel as an option. Even with heavy lump of Elcan this gun felt preety light for a SAW.

[hotiron]

MG 43 was the name of the prototype/demonstrator. Then it was decided that the name is MG 4. It was also a question of history I think (M 42 -> MG 43).

The hill of bullet casing could be in Arizona. The H&K test often there.

The MG 4 on top of the G-Wagon "Wolf" is original from the "future infantry man" equipment - It has an optinal sight (3x) with picatinny rail on top and the laser light module on the side rails.

So it is the officialy light maschine gun of the Bundeswehr, starting launch in infantry.

http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=558&stc=1&d=1136968640


Future Infantry unit with GTK, AGL 40mm in background, G82 .50 sniper, two MG 4 and so on...

[Baur]

Quite interesting!
How is the MG-4 compared with the MG-3? I don't think they look very similar.

[Catch22]

Well it has nothing to do with MG 3 except for the next in line Bundeswehr designation number. MG 3 is a 7,62x51 GPMG and MG 4 is 5,56x45 Light Machine Gun/SAW. Hard to compare them, since they are diffrent weapons, with diffrent applications.

[Michael RVR]

Hey dig, seems even the germans are into adi gear :P

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/Catch22/MP_net/P8296247.jpg

[Catch22]

Nope, it was only for the show then, this one is from Minimi. Normally soft box for the MG4 in assymetrical, bit diffrent, I've seen them in flecktarn. You know the Germas sind accurate, they wont miss making the right box in their own pattern.

Its hard to spot but here you have MG 4 with flectarn ammo box.
http://sklep.magnum-x.pl/images/02_czasopisma_STRZAL/rocznik2005/strzal11_05.jpg

[littlefrench]

Thanks a lot, excellent pictures ! :D

Most of them will be in the gallery of my article :D

Other question : Does someone have news of the future 7.62x51 MG-43 ?

[Adam Wilhelm]

Do anyone know why HK put the ammo box on the side of the MG instead under it, like the Minimi?

[ClydeFrog]

Thanks a lot, excellent pictures ! :D

Most of them will be in the gallery of my article :D

Other question : Does someone have news of the future 7.62x51 MG-43 ?
No, unfortunately not. But last year the Bundeswehr announced they want a new 7.62mm NATO MG (MG3s are getting too old, most are from the 60s or early 70s). I guess that will be the 7.62mm-MG43.

BTW: AFAIK, 'MG-4' is now the official (HK-) name, not just the Bundeswehr-designation anymore.

[ClydeFrog]

Do anyone know why HK put the ammo box on the side of the MG instead under it, like the Minimi?
Because that's where the shells are ejected ;)

[Catch22]

Do anyone know why HK put the ammo box on the side of the MG instead under it, like the Minimi?

No, it's strictly confidential information. ;-)

Honestly - it bites me as well. MG4 with 200 rounds must be somewhat left side heavy.

Ah Clyde answered that.

[mobius06]

do someone have a link to live-fire video ?

[Swedish Chef]

You can find three of them here (http://www.armietiro.it/edisport/Armi/extramag.nsf/1021a8c770387e40c1256b8f00535433/16170939039968cfc1256d510039ee7c).

[RS_Leo1A5]

Because that's where the shells are ejected ;)
A matter of tradition it seems (has been the same with the MG3 which is based on WW2 era MG42) - spent cases get ejected downwards, belt or belt parts (if disintegrating) come out of the right side.

Different than with the G3 family that is known to eject cases quite high and quite far.

[udt87]

Do anyone know why HK put the ammo box on the side of the MG instead under it, like the Minimi?

No idea. The Minimi is made by FN, so I guess HK just did something different (mabey make it look more like it was it's own design, not stolen off of FN).

[PaulClift]

The pic with the apc, is that the boxer? Are they operational now?

[ClydeFrog]

The pic with the apc, is that the boxer? Are they operational now?
Not quite. Final modifications are going to be completed until november '06. Then it's up to German and Netherlands parliaments to make their decision.

[Adam Wilhelm]

Because that's where the shells are ejected ;)

Doh... i was slow that day! :-P

Good rep for you. ;-)

[Bulabash]

ah well, half a copy of the Minimi, they say imitation is the supreme form of appreciation :), a bit of comptetion is good for the clients :) looks nifty enough. only took em 20 years to copy it.

HK make good quality weapons though and the germans will never buy a Belgian weapon again i think.

[RS_Leo1A5]

HK make good quality weapons though and the germans will never buy a Belgian weapon again i think.
Well, Germany would have used the FN G1 (FAL) instead of the HK G3 since the 1950s if only FN would've allowed us to lincense-produce it in Germany.
Perhaps we would be using the FNC or F2000 instead of the G36 today...

[IDF-Godzilla]

This gun remind me somehow of the Negev SAW
http://www.gun-world.net/old/isreal/imi/negev/negev-co_3.jpg

[Bulabash]

Well, Germany would have used the FN G1 (FAL) instead of the HK G3 since the 1950s if only FN would've allowed us to lincense-produce it in Germany.
Perhaps we would be using the FNC or F2000 instead of the G36 today...


I know the Germans had FAL for a while, didnt know the reason for them changing it later to G3. Anyways, Minimi, MG4, NEGEV, all same type of weapon with similar characteristics.

[MARINO]

hope we will change our MG-3 by this beauty.

[RS_Leo1A5]

I know the Germans had FAL for a while, didnt know the reason for them changing it later to G3.
Originally there were three contestants for the Bundeswehr service rifle:
G1 (FN FAL, Belgium)
G2 (SIG Model 57, Switzerland)
G3 (CETME, Spain)
The SIG was too heavy and too expensive, IIRC.
The FAL was prime choice but Germany would have had to import it as FN would not allow license production by German companies.

[JoaMei]

I know the Germans had FAL for a while, didnt know the reason for them changing it later to G3. Anyways, Minimi, MG4, NEGEV, all same type of weapon with similar characteristics.

They didnt want to give Germany a Production License, mainly because the wounds of WW2 were still deep and fresh.
That was possibly the worst Mistake the Company ever made, they created their main copetitor by doing so and lost millions...

[Chris O`Crooh]

Originally there were three contestants for the Bundeswehr service rifle:
G1 (FN FAL, Belgium)
G2 (SIG Model 57, Switzerland)
G3 (CETME, Spain)
The SIG was too heavy and too expensive, IIRC.
The FAL was prime choice but Germany would have had to import it as FN would not allow license production by German companies.
I`ve heard, that designation "G-2" had been given to a batch of CETME B, bought in Spain, and "G-3" was given to Germany-build rifles. Was that true or false?