The FG 42 was intended to fill a niche in Nazi Germany’s arsenal and was produced only in small numbers. It was somewhat well received by paratroopers when tested, but it did have its drawbacks. The FG 42 had a 20-round, or sometimes 10 round, magazine that was mounted on the left side of the rifle. Though a side-mounted magazine was common in submachine guns of the time, the larger magazine with heavier ammunition of a full-powered rifle tended to unbalance the weapon. In addition controllable bursts were difficult. This made full-automatic fire only marginally useful. The FG 42 used a fairly sophisticated muzzle device that did help with recoil and muzzle flash, but made blast and noise much greater than on other similar weapons. The US M14 rifle had similar problems, and attempts were made to upgrade that rifle the same way with an in-line stock and muzzle device.
The FG 42 (German: Fallschirmjägergewehr 42, “paratrooper rifle 42”)
Never heard of it.
Impressive lack of muzzle jump in the video.
A lot more detail. Gun Jesus there knows his stuff.
Search online for much more.
The rifle never really reached a fully completed design phase, and therefore was fielded somewhat prematurely. Still, it was a pioneering arm in some ways. Conceptually, it’s only post-war successor was the Swiss Stg 57. Design wise, the U.S. M60 machine gun borrowed from some of its design features.