CODE – 04-040-938

NAME – MG 81

NAME (NATIVE) – 7,9 mm-Flugzeugmaschinengewehr 81 [7.9 mm Aircraft Machine Gun 81]

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN – Germany

DATE OF MANUFACTURE – 1938

CALIBER – 7.92×57 mm

OVERALL LENGTH – 91.5 cm (36.02 in) without flash hider

OVERALL LENGTH – 96.5 cm (38 in) with flash hider

BARREL LENGTH – 47.5 cm (18.70 in)

RIFLING (TYPE & TWIST) – 6-Grooves, Right-hand twist, 1 turn in 24 cm (9.45 in)

LOAD – s.S. Pointed (Spitzer) Full Metal jacket

BULLET DIAMETER – 8.20 mm (0.323 in)

BULLET WEIGHT – 12.83 g (198 grains)

MUZZLE VELOCITY – 705 m/s (2313 fps)

MUZZLE ENERGY – 3190 j (2353 ft/lb)

WEIGHT (EMPTY) – 6.5 kg (14 lb 5 oz)

WEIGHT (LOADED) – 14.3 kg (31 lb 8 oz) loaded with 250 rounds

TYPE OF MOUNT – Various aircraft mountings

SIGHTS – Varies according to mount, Aiming by tracer also done

EFFECTIVE RANGE – 800 m (875 yards)

OPERATION – Short recoil with gas booster, fires from open bolt

TYPE OF FIRE – Full automatic

RATE OF FIRE – 300 rpm

CYCLIC ROF – 1600 rpm

FEED DEVICE – Gurt 17/81 disintegrating metallic link belt

FEED DEVICE WEIGHT (EMPTY) – 1.19 kg (2 lb 10 oz) 250 link belt

Patronenkast 15 ammunition can – 2.4 kg (5 lb 4.7 oz)

FEED DEVICE WEIGHT (LOADED) – 7.8 kg (17 lb 3 oz) with 250 rounds)

Patronenkast 15 ammunition can with 250-round belt – 9.9 kg (21 lb 13 oz)

BASIC AMMUNITION LOAD – Two belts (500 rounds)

LOAD WEIGHT – 15.6 kg (34 lb 6 oz)

MANUFACTURER – Mauser-Werke A.G., Oberndorf am Neckar, Germany

STATUS – Obsolescent

SERVICE – German Air Force