CODE 03-040-944
NAME – StG 44 mit Vorsatz J
NAME (NATIVE) – StG44 mit der Gebogene Lauf [Storm Rifle 44 with the Curved Barrel]
COMMON NAMES – Krummen Lauf [Crooked Barrel]
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN – Germany
DATE OF MANUFACTURE – 1944
CALIBER – 7.92×33 mm
BARREL LENGTH – 35.6 cm (14 in)
RIFLING (TYPE & TWIST) – 4 groove, Right hand twist, 1 turn in 24 cm (9.45 in)
LOAD – Full jacketed ball with iron core
BULLET DIAMETER – 8.23 mm (0.324 in)
BULLET WEIGHT – 8.19 g (126.4 grains)
MUZZLE VELOCITY – 686 m/s (2250 fps)
MUZZLE ENERGY – 1927 j (1421 ft/lb)
WEIGHT (EMPTY) – 2.51 kg (5 lb 8.5 oz) Weight of curved barrel, connecting clamp, and Prismatic sight
WEIGHT (LOADED) – 8.01 kg (17 lb 10.5 oz) Barrel and Sight mounted on StG 44 loaded with 30 rounds Pist.Patr.43 SmE
TYPE OF MOUNT – Barrel clamp from the German GGRGer (Schiessbecher [Shooting Cup]) Rifle Grenade launcher
WEIGHT OF MOUNT – 0.37 kg (13 oz) Connecting clamp
SIGHTS – Prismatic sight manufactured by Carl Zeiss
WEIGHT OF SIGHT – 1.89 kg (4 lb 2.7 oz)
EFFECTIVE RANGE – 10 to 20 m (11 to 22 yards) due to bullet breakup
MANUFACTURER – Rheinmetall-Borsig,
STATUS – Obsolete
SERVICE – Very limited production late in WWII. Not known to have been introduced for active field use
Primary development of the device had been completed by June, 1944 with the new Zeiss prismatic sight available in December for tests. The prismatic sight had been determined to be the best way of aiming the Vorsatz J when used with the mechanical sights on the barrel.
