CODE – 04-040-944
NAME – MG 81 Ground Gun
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN – Germany
DATE OF MANUFACTURE – 1944
CALIBER – 7.92×57 mm
OVERALL LENGTH – 121.5 cm (47.83 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) – 7.45 kg (16 lb 7 oz) with shoulder stock, mount bearing, sights
WEIGHT (LOADED) – 17.35 kg (38 lb 4 oz) with shoulder stock, mount bearing, sights, loaded with 250 rounds in Patronenkast 15
WEIGHT (MOUNTED) – 18.4 kg (40 lb 9 oz) with shoulder stock, mount bearing, sights, bipod, loaded with 250 rounds in Patronenkast 15
TYPE OF MOUNT – Folding bipod
WEIGHT OF MOUNT – 1.05 kg (2 lb 5 oz)
SIGHTS – Open, iron, non-adjustable, Front sight – Speed ring (6.5 cm (2.56 in) dia.) with crosshairs, Rear sight – Rounded point on post
WEIGHT OF SIGHTS – 0.25 kg (8.8 oz)
EFFECTIVE RANGE – 800 m (875 yards)
OPERATION – Short recoil with gas booster, fires from open bolt
TYPE OF FIRE – Full automatic
RATE OF FIRE – 200 rpm
CYCLIC ROF – 1200 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 Military, Volkssturm
