20 round G-43 magazines?

[Griff Murphey]

There is a picture of a G-43 with what appears to be a 20 Rd. Magazine, in the book OUT OF NOWHERE. I had no idea the Germans ever made them. Has anyone here ever seen one?

[Michaelp]

Somebody has referred to them as modified WW1 GEW trench mags.

[Griff Murphey]

Well the photo I'm referring to made it, at least to me, look like a giant G-43 mag. I did some checking just now and Wikipedia says "an unknown number of late war G-43s were converted to 7.92X 33mm caliber, using standard Stg-44 magazines..." Perhaps that's what I saw....

Interestingly Jackson Armory in Dallas has two G-43s (at least they did a couple of months ago) made or rebuilt in Brazil, .30'06 cal., modified to use U.S. BAR mags. I was told they were a real issue weapon in the Brazilian forces. Wikpedia confirmed Brazlian production by Itajuba.

[RCS]

The G-43 extended magazine in the book "Out of Nowhere" appears to be in 7,92x57mm not 7,92x33, they did have experimental magazines for these rifles. A common magazine that is adopted to the G-43 is the MG13 magazine which holds 25 rds. The German WW1 trench magazine is without feed lips and has a smooth sides being designed for a bolt action using strpper clips.

Some of the G-43 rifles made in Brazil for the 30-06 have been for sale here in the US.

[Griff Murphey]

Thanks! The book is at my office and I'll report back tomorrow. What you suggest about the MG-13 mag sounds right.

I haven't examined one of the trench mags for the '98 but I do own its opposite number; the '03 air service one and it did not make sense to me you could adapt something made to replace an M-98 floorplate as a magazine to work in a G-43. At least, not without welding-on new feed lips etc.

[RCS]

The extended G-43 magazine pictured in "Out of Nowhere" is not the MG13 magazine as the indents on the sides are different

[Griff Murphey]

RCS:
Yes, I just looked at an MG-13 mag on the web and you are absolutely right. The detents on the MG-13 mag look very close to the G-43, however.

But that said... "Close" in magazines is not very "close," sometimes....

[jgaynor]

Some "authorities" installed 25 round "air service" magazines in m1903 snipers (W&S). While it makes fun picture is there any real reason to believe these oversized magazines were really used as sniping equipment?

Regards,
Jim

[Griff Murphey]

I don't think I said the Air Service mag was ever used in sniping. I said that TYPE of magazine, which replaces the magazine floor plate, did not seem to be practical for conversion (of a Gew 98 trench mag) to fit in the G-43 without welding up mag lips, etc. In fact I think the A/S mag would have been VERY impractical on any type of 03 sniper variant, because the shooter would have had to fire a very high prone and may NOT have been able to use some concealment and support otherwise available due to the huge box mag.

[jgaynor]

Griff, you didn't make the comment about the 03 w/Air Service mag but back in the 60's a little booklet on sniper rifles was published that did. Just for good measure the author also included a grenade launching boot on the buttstock.
I agree with your points. The size and weight would make these very impractical for sniping use. The one exception might be for a sniper firing from a prepared armored loophole.

Regards,
Jim

[Griff Murphey]

I have used one on an 03A3 sporter in 3 gun. Beautiful gun in magazine-rest prone. Of course nobody is shooting back at you so the high prone is no problem. But if there are multiple targets, particularly short- range, the AR-15s will beat you, bad.

Thanks for the story about the booklet on sniper rifles.

[MJ1]

MG13 mags are not the best one to use, ZB26 magazines were prefered and lock up tight and have fewer loading problems. There was one on display in '66 with a stright 20 round magazine at the school I went to.

[Griff Murphey]

Looks like you would need a detent cut in the spine to make it work. Suggestion much appreciated... as you may have guessed I am toying with the idea of using the 43 in 3 gun.

[MJ1]

Zb26 magazines are generaly well made and finished with lots of war time German proof marks but I still prefer the ten rounder. I will have to dig out my Zb26 magazines and post a photo.

[emmagee1917]

A little off topic , but perhaps you could answer a little question that's bugged me for years. Why does the lower pockets of the paratrooper's bandoleer have two flaps and the upper ones only one ?
Chris