PTR-44 Sturmgewehr at a 2-Gun Match

[@ForgottenWeapons]

Get Entered to WIN this legendary PTR44 Sturmgewehr! go.getenteredtowin.com/forgottenweapons DEADLINE to ENTER is 05/26/23 @ 11:59pm (PST).

[@richmondneo1]

Damm if only i was an American hahaha

[@marcl.1346]

Too bad I don't live in the US and I presume I can only enter if I'm in the US as the website doesn't allow me to change the +1 area code to something else.

[@StephenRWilliams]

@@marcl.1346 "The Sweepstakes is open to legal residents of the USA who are at least twenty-one (21) years of age at the time of entry and are able to legally possess the firearm Prize listed below (the “Entrants”)." www.getenteredtowin.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Sturmgewehr-Sweepstakes-Official-Rules-5.3.23.docx.pdf

[@captaincrazyhat]

I entered to win! I hope I do win because it’s probably my only shot of getting one of these rare beauties. Either way I love the mug and the video!

[@richmondneo1]

@@captaincrazyhat Good luck

[@DACFalloutRanger]

"80 year old rifle" is honestly a crazy thing. Its still a modern gun.

[@mikeb5063]

@@rdrrr The VZ 58 is closer to the Stg 44 i think

[@madcapHPS]

@@rdrrr Well... appearance and concepts, engineering choices, and team of germans that were retained and forced to help design guns.

[@CarolusR3x]

Just a gentle reminder that the AK turns 100 in 24 more years.

[@trashcompactorYT]

@@madcapHPSlol no

[@blackore64]

​@@off6848Well, not really. "Assault rifle" is not really a word in russian language, and 'Automat' is a word used in Soviet manuals for Submachine guns such as PPSh-41 and PPS-43, and similary, Warsaw Pact countries designated AK as submachine gun.

[@BlazingOwnager]

Ah the Strumgewehr, the gun that makes you drop whatever gun you are using in any WW2 FPS.

[@roadsweeper1]

Hmm I dunno, I'd take the FG42 over the ST44. Mainly for the optics for those longer shots. But it's a close thing lol.

[@zombies4evadude24]

@@roadsweeper1 not in call of duty though. Too much recoil…

[@roadsweeper1]

@nolanharris2341 haven't played that for a couple of years, since they sold it and it went downhill.

[@nohow4715]

This is half true for Enlisted

[@hugsteelrain]

@@nohow4715same for hell let loose

[@darthmartinez]

I remember seeing those years ago in a shotgun news adds for $5000 each. There was also the mp-38 pistols for $4000. Way out of my price range as a poor college student.

[@davidmendez9256]

Good news! The PSA one will only be like $2500 to $3000

[@DrtyZero]

@@davidmendez9256 wrong. They said it would be more than the hmg guns, you're looking more at the 3.5 to 4k range

[@davidmendez9256]

@@DrtyZero huh really? Well shit my bad

[@DrtyZero]

@@davidmendez9256 it's unfortunate. Stg44 is easily one of my favorite weapon designs, aesthetically at least

[@ragingjaguarknight86]

Try finding a GSG StG-44 in .22LR. I've got one and it's pretty fun to shoot.

[@goosemanVEVO]

I love how the STG-44 looks. It has a long slim and very pragmatic kind of design that I really enjoy.

[@AshleyPomeroy]

With all the kibble - the reinforcing ribs, the stacking prong, the pins etc - it looks like some kind of sci-fi blaster. Like something from Rogue Trooper. I'm not surprised it was used as a prop in Star Wars.

[@stevenbobbybills]

​@Ashley Pomeroy yeeep, the Galactic War rebel classic, the A280.

[@User_Un_Friendly]

Leave it to Ian to somehow justify a replica Sturmgewehr 44 with a French kit. 🤣

[@Sam-gz7om]

I can help as a french here, a lot of german soldiers joined the foreign legion (légion étrangère) after WWII and some still used german weaponry. Some german songs were also translated in French and adopted by the legion like "teufelslied" le chant du diable. Hope I could help :D

[@User_Un_Friendly]

@@Sam-gz7om Yep! A lot of German soldiers did indeed join the Foreign Legion after WW2. One of the more ironic events post World War 2. 😮

[@TrangleC]

@@Sam-gz7om I once heard a historian make a joke and call the Battle of Dien Bien Phu in Vietnam "The Wehrmacht's Last Battle", because there were so many ex Wehrmacht soldiers there. There also is this irony that the Soviets had given most of the StG-44 they took from Germany after WW2 to the Communist rebels in Vietnam, so at that Dien Bien Phu battle you had this weird situation of having lots of former Wehrmacht soldiers in French uniforms, using American surplus guns from WW2 that had been shooting at them in WW2, being shot at by their own former guns in the hands of Vietnamese Communists.

[@jean-pascalesparceil9008]

In Algeria some Sturmgewehrs (given by Warsaw Pact countries) were used by the outlaws/freedom fighters, Georg Puchert, a German arms trafficker was killed by a shadow organisation called La Main Rouge = The Red Hand, likely a front for French intelligence service.

[@stanislavczebinski994]

A whole bunch of them quite recently popped up in Syria. Therefore, whatever they wear there today would be appropriate, too.

[@nextcaesargaming5469]

Would love to have one of these; from what I've heard, most of the problems of the Sturmgewehr had to do with the quality control (assembly or metal quality, ect) which can be blamed on the time period and circumstances under which it was introduced. A modern production run of it should be absent of those issues and render unto us the rifle it was truly meant to be.

[@trioptimum9027]

Hopefully, although you can sometimes get toothing problems in the other direction as well: if a design is meant for a certain grade of steel, and all you can get on the modern market is a "better" grade that isn't identical, that can take a little troubleshooting to work out. Or the specs call for a certain kind of tempering with the knowledge that impurities in the metal are going to mean you won't actually get quite that hard, and then you temper exactly to spec, you'll get a part that's too hard. Similarly, if the designers really knew their business and built in allowances for the oddities of wartime German machining, and your machines don't have those oddities...

[@jonesclantd]

7:32 Looked like a failure to go into battery. Once the hammer dropped, you can see the bolt handle travel that last little bit into battery.

[@MatoVuc]

There's something funny to me about Ian having to do the AK underside charging on that PTR-44 because the charging handle is on the left. :)

[@johnswoboda9809]

The cab of that Bronco II in the final stage brings me back... My first truck was an '86 Ranger XLT extended cab, basically the same as the Bronco II except a pickup with rear jump seats instead of the little bench. I had so much fun with with truck and I miss her dearly...

[@peterfinland1370]

Should have taken the P-38 pistol for secondary gun.

[@geodkyt]

Totally would have fit the French post WWII theme

[@dwaneanderson8039]

That, or the P35.

[@actionjksn]

Or better yet a Luger,

[@stevenbobbybills]

​@@actionjksn nah, they were waning out during WWII.

[@VikingTeddy]

Or PP and PPK. The Germans also still had some broomhandles and FN Browning high powereds in service iirc.

[@DarthMirasshtar]

It's nice to see history live again. I'm sure the machine spirit enjoyed it. Beautiful rifle.

[@angrymetalhead]

Glory to the Omnissiah!

[@Steven-p4j]

Very impressive shooting Ian, and the Sturmgewehr is a beautiful and practical weapon. Its profound influence is so very clearly justified.

[@Derecq]

I've got to agree with Ian about it being a soft shooting gun. Back in the late 1980's I got to shoot an original Stg-44 using 1944 dated steel cased ammunition, not much recoil, really pleasant to shoot, not my gun unfortunately.

[@kwongyeang]

For the lucky new winner / owner of this rifle, I think Ian just doubled the "collector" value by using it in a 2-gun match. We all like a gun with provenance...

[@AllAboutSurvival]

Great content as always, Ian! It's awesome to see the PTR-44 Sturmgewehr in action at a 2-Gun match. The historical context you provided about its use in various global conflicts adds an extra layer of interest. The choice of the Arex Delta L pistol and the French Algerian outfit for the desert environment adds authenticity and makes the experience even more immersive. Thanks for sharing this exciting and educational content with us. Keep up the great work!

[@Stormcloakvictory]

Kinda love how the French Algerian uniform looked like a starwars robe. Together with the Stg44 made a fun combo. (Since SW used more German guns) Starwars desert cowboy

[@PowermadNavigator]

That's a very, very impressive result given everything and I am jealous that I couldn't shoot that just for fun.

[@Jordan-rb28]

This gun literally looks more futuristic and high tech than an AK47 if that tells you how incredible war efforts were in WW2

[@shanewilliams8577]

Gorgeous firearm. I wish i didn't live in Canada. God bless America. Run and gun, nice shooting Ian!

[@bluescatreimer]

Hi Ian, I see your a left handed shooter also. Back when I was growing up there were no left handed guns available. Now that they are available I prefer shooting right handed guns since I have been shooting them all my life. That is an awesome rifle, it came out to late in the war to really make a difference.

[@bigchimptactical]

One of my favorite historical weapons!! And watching you shoot is always impressive

[@dwaneanderson8039]

Not bad for iron sights. I suspect most of the other competitors were using modern optics, which is a big advantage.

[@titiparisien7485]

For information, the folded side on the hat should always be onn the right side: it was done to allow carrying the rifle at the right shoulder for the parades.

[@DJJAW11]

... Wunderbar Ian, Big love from a Englander !.

[@ernestbamburg329]

Thank's for showing this rifle... very cool!!!!

[@metal--babble346]

PSA is making a brand new Stg-44. That's going on my wishlist.

[@RyanRyzzo]

If there's ever a new Jagged Alliance game set during the Cold War, I'd love Ian to be one of the characters for hire... d:

[@jackpowell518]

Excellent video illustrating the advanced capabilities of an 80 year old military marvel(unfortunately, developed by the wrong side). One concern though ... the $50.00 "collectible" is a rubber desk mat available from various outlets for less than half that price. Obviously the sponsor is expecting a decent profit to offset the rifles cost,but maybe something as pedestrian as a coffee mug would have more appeal, and seem to be of a little more "bang for my buck"

[@colemanmoore9871]

I'm already not excited about "must make purchase to enter", but $50 a pop is a little much. And its just an over-priced mat that I don't need even at a normal price? No thank you. Good luck to everyone else.

[@recondo886]

Daddy wants! I will definitely be looking for the PSA STG44 but I really wish PTR would start a production line.

[@richardbreisch8049]

Shooting a legend! Does not get any better. Nice shooting...

[@chethaynes5802]

Great Report. Thank You. That looks like a lot of fun !

[@emilmihaidragomir8329]

Beautiful match Mr. Ian!👏

[@rockbutcher]

Ian, I'm Canadian and my glorious leader won't allow me to have one of those because I might contribute to street crime BUT I will enter anyway and if I win I'll gift it to you. You really look like you'd like to have that rifle.😉

[@sendmelocation5283]

I live just over the border in Michigan. I feel so bad for freedom loving people like yourself every time I look across the River and see your country. It’s such a shame that such a beautiful country is being run by tyrants.

[@doriangray2347]

Trudeau is to busy wearing a traditional Indian banquet outfit and wearing blackface to listen to your problem. Namaste.

[@wes11bravo]

Thankfully, Trudeau enacted all those laws thus ending all criminal use of firearms in Canada. Umm, right?

[@enix4141]

PTR-44 knows its heritage refuses to be shot single fire.

[@loupiscanis9449]

Thank you , Ian . 🐺

[@comiketiger]

Good shooting brother! 😊😊 God bless all here.

[@keithplymale2374]

I was impressed enough with the Arex that I have the Delta-M with a red dot. The only striker fired pistol I have and the only pistol with a red dot. The closest I could come to the rifle he used is a 20 with iron sights I got in 2018.

[@cubeflinger]

What I love about your work is that you make me feel that shooting is a normal sport.

[@Kerithanos]

Whatever made you feel that it wasn't?

[@cubeflinger]

@@Kerithanos does that really need explaining ?

[@MythicMagus]

Good luck to anyone who enters the giveaway. It would be really cool to have something like that myself but I'd rather leave it to those of you who actually have the means to take it to the range.

[@hanskurtmann6781]

LOL! Wonder how many backed out when they found out they had to buy a $60 gun mat? 🤣 From my 40's of shooting and 25yrs of gun collecting. So many gun owners do NOT even donate or join the NRA, GOA or whatever. I am a lifelong member of the GOA and NRA and you would not believe how many new shooters that I see and hear hwo only whine online about some new ATF rule etc. But never join the fight for our rights. Nor do they donate to these great guys like Ian etc.

[@austinhughes1924]

I really like Ian’s costume!

[@terry7907]

I am astonished you were bracing the magazine of the rifle on the barrels in stage one.

[@Rickyborby912]

Heck yeah

[@kellyford8832]

wow man.. 8 out of 42 is pretty awesome 💪🏽💪🏽👍🏽👍🏽

[@anttitheinternetguy3213]

I always thought StG would recoil quite sharply, interesting to hear its pleasant to shoot

[@HE-162]

I got to spend the day shooting an original one that a friend owns. Spent a long time handling it, not just a quick ten rounds like a rental…it’s a brilliant gun. It’s very very pleasant to shoot, soft and smooth controllable recoil, very comfortable ergonomics, extremely easy to shoot well because of how well it handles despite the weight. It feels super cool as it cycles, it’s oddly mechanical feeling/sounding in a way that is really satisfying. The Germans really hit the ball out of the park with the design, and it’s one of the relatively few iconic historical firearms that absolutely lives up to the hype. The biggest user experience flaw, in my opinion, is the hand guard and chamber area…it gets very hot very fast, even shooting it semi. With enough rounds/heat soak, the front of the mag well can even get too hot to touch. And it doesn’t cool down very quickly. Gloves are absolutely necessary if much more than a mag or two gets put through it, even slowly. Not a gun you can plink with unless you let it cool down regularly.

[@DIVeltro]

Is there any chance that someone will make a replica of an EM-2?

[@PobortzaPl]

Kid: Mom, I want life round replica of EM-2! Mom: We have a life round replica of EM t... Kid: Don't. You. Dare. To say. It's SA-80. Just. Don't. Mom: wo at home... Kid: Really, mom. Don't.

[@ForgottenWeapons]

Anything is possible, but almost certainly not.

[@richardelliott9511]

@Forgotten Weapons this would be a great place to insert a link to your video about the economics of making gun replicas...

[@freddyfox5102]

Me: *Hears that you can win PTR-44* :D Also me: *Remembers I live in England* D:

[@toolthoughts]

Why cater to international supporters? And partnering with a lottery business is super sleazy to begin with.

[@Gwendlethred]

@@AdamantLightLP Us Brits are gonna have to wait for the French to invade again before we get to use any of these bits of kit!

[@actionjksn]

Eighty-year-old technology and it's so close to modern versions that it really comes down to the shooter in a competition. The Germans were well ahead of their time at least those particular engineers who designed it. It looks like you can take this design and totally modernize it and use it today. Basically trim a couple of pounds of weight at least and add some picatinny rails and you have a modern combat rifle. You would probably want to chamber it for a new around but still.

[@alijankhan3330]

The materials used to make them and accessory rails are all that separate a lot of modern firearms from 20th century firearms...

[@ScottKenny1978]

Since Ian forgot to link the PTR-44 episode: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qHTcdWyep9Z-bpY Just a heads up, this is an old one, YT says 11 years ago, and the camera was not as good then.

[@N238E]

You have to use that with a P38 and matching kit.

[@lorenzogiuliani9144]

Right Choise

[@anteshell]

6:42 That fourth plate is moving way too agile for Ian. Dodging bullet like Neo.

[@kaymio6547]

Haven't seen the Laugo Alien for a long time. Would be nice to see it again in a match.

[@briankuczynski6884]

I agree that it's great to see in a video, but I'm afraid in a normal match video it'd be gilding the lily. No one is going to be shocked if Ian just top-3's a BUG match on a given day with it. Putting it in the hands of someone new to it and seeing how THEY perform might be interesting though, maybe as an investigation of the question 'does this top-shelf pistol also overperform?'

[@MGB-learning]

Great video!

[@TheHelghast4life]

7:33, gun was out of battery so the hammer just dropped and was enough to push the bolt closed. You can see the charging handle twitch forward when you pull the trigger. @Forgotten Weapons

[@jfess1911]

I am just awaiting the time that Ian gets bored and decides to compete with a blowgun and spear (with spear-thrower for longer targets).

[@GarGhuul]

I am sure PETA supports Ian moving away from tanned coyotes on the handgun.

[@cassidy109]

Ian, Would it be possible for you to give a rundown on the uniform that you wore?

[@kilonamz]

Gun Jesus 😮

[@shawnoandrew]

I want to buy a PSA STG44.

[@mare2971]

It's called Sturmgewehr. Singular. Plural is Sturmgewehre. I've heard and seen some pictures that it's still in use in Lebanon and some areas of Syria. Ammunition in 7,92x33 for the original weapon is still in production by a factory in former Yugoslavia called Prvi Partizan.

[@Natedawgontheright]

that's crazy. I assumed all the ammo in 8mm Kurtz died with the 3rd Reich. I didn't hear him say what this was chambered in but I assume 7.62x39 .

[@ForgottenWeapons]

It's in 8x33. PPU (Prvi Partisan) makes ammo still.

[@Salieri47]

Ian, it's brutal work, but somebody has to do it. Your job reminds me of Rick Steves' job.

[@joko2882]

Hey Ian on your french-algerian kit there are these long "sleeves" attached to the belt. What was the purpose of those?

[@wodinloki9504]

Wonder if the French using the stg-44 had anything to due with the influx of german soldiers at the end of ww2 into the FFL. Wonder what jacket that is pretty cool, love canvas. Canvas is great out in Nevada/Arizona less rain.

[@patroller579]

Being left-handed, do you ever get hit by the spent brass like shooting an earlier AR with no deflector?

[@jakefromstatefarm1405]

Ian, what hearing protection do you use?

[@glueguzzler9548]

7:40 Hey Ian I think it might not have gone fully into battery. You can see the charging handle jump forward a bit when you pulled the trigger, maybe something was retarding the bolt a little bit. Not sure though

[@richardpowell4281]

Can't wait for the PSA STG-44 to come out so Ian can review

[@j.e.v.5016]

Magnificent rifle. Iconic. I would love to do similar mods for an AK...

[@mtnbound2764]

what caliber are the prt-44"s chanbered for? seems like .300 blk or 7.62x39 would make more sense than 8mm kurz

[@roywall5231]

I remember an HK pro forum steering me from grabbing one on the first batch. "ptr is just importing, no way these are good clones no one has stg tooling blah blah blah no one makes 7.92, let them work out the kinks blah blah" They were like $2,000 then and PPU makes good 7.92 ammo. I kick myself every single day for not getting one at that price range.

[@Ompasikom]

Just curious; what modern cartridge would the 7.92x33 be comparable to?

[@tricksterjoy9740]

Probably somewhere between a milder 7.62x39 and a hotter .44 magnum. I know that’s a pretty wide range but I’m just basing that off of the effect of the cartridges on targets that I’ve seen. (Someone I know owns a STG-44.)

[@ForgottenWeapons]

Pretty similar to 7.62x39mm.

[@onelonecelt9168]

I have read that 300 blackout is rather similar.

[@reddo84]

that's so rad Cheers Jim

[@ItsSteeeeeve]

Looking at those malfunctions, it looked like a failed to eject or a dud round on the first. The second was a fail to feed / the round wasn't fully chambered. then there was a third malfunction on the last shot, a failure to feed

[@RAMPED]

Looks like it failed to eject.

[@RJM1011]

We get these new STG 44's in the UK where I live they have to be a straight pull bolt.

[@ArcofZen]

Really? I fired a replica STG 44 but it was a semi auto .22 and so a bit underwhelming. Still fun though.

[@Phantom_Vader]

0:28 - I too wish I had the ability to teleport at will

[@joebandura8822]

What happened with the handguard at 3:08 in? Looks like it's coming apart.

[@ForgottenWeapons]

It's a bit loose-fitting. Just like the originals.

[@gljnjo]

Should have used the luger with the stg for full SS look

[@russelsellick316]

Your reference to the French using them post WWII explains why 5000 were found in Syria a couple of years ago...with ammo!

[@rustyshackleford3053]

As a hobbyist SO, picking back up a previously grounded, live handgun always skeezes me out.

[@pongsakvittayarumpa9233]

Great !

[@aaronsauer6628]

congratulations 8th is still a great achievement

[@notahotshot]

Ermahgerd Sturmgewehr!

[@happylittlewarlus]

I have a question about Ians boots. Mainly, where can I get?

[@williamwood6795]

Where did you get that green jacket/waist and beyond coat?? nice. Like the hat too.. I could never afford the rifle..

[@ForgottenWeapons]

My mother made it for me.

[@stormtrooper612]

@@ForgottenWeapons Now that's a big flex from Ian

[@JamesLaserpimpWalsh]

Not a bad round as it goes. Well done squire me lad.

[@owen368]

For the algorithm! STG always good.

[@MesaOracle]

Given your frequent use of the Arex in video, do you feel it performs better than or as good as the Laugo Alien?

[@tsclly2377]

I think the round is superior for the intended application due to the wider bullet diameter..

[@dennisyoung4631]

Wonders aloud, “that clothing inspires me regarding fiction-writing, and I wonder where I can get pictures of it - if not reproduction copies?

[@mrfancypanzer549]

Had a teacher who knew a firearms collector, described the STG as recoil less.

[@mrfancypanzer549]

@@LaughingMan44 Wait until you hear about stainless steel.

[@mrfancypanzer549]

@@LaughingMan44 You know, i think there might be a slight chance my teacher might have been using hyperbole, not expecting someone to be pedantic about it on the internet 13 years later.

[@yovany87]

I just got an ad while watching this video, stating.. German technology, simply.. the best

[@Jesses001]

That rifle seems very modern. I really doubt you could had done any better with a modern AK. Maybe slightly better with an AR. It really seems despite its age, that rifle could still hold its own on a battle field.

[@russelsellick316]

A batch of 5000 turned up in Syria fairly recently... No idea how they went. Ammo as well.

[@edward9674]

So compared to the usual assault rifles how good of a design is it?

[@dallesamllhals9161]

1:00...and if from Denmark?

[@Eric-kn4yn]

The big capacity mag would have added to the heavy weight.

[@richardluvsford7849]

Who owns the tooling for repros?...

[@judgejimbobrowntown3214]

Good shootin 8 out of 42 is pretty dang good for the equipment

[@wittsullivan8130]

I had a "derr" moment when I thought it would be cool if someone made an aluminum/polymer version and then realized that's what the H&K rifles are. Like I said, "Derrrr!" :)

[@randompanda876]

Convinced this video is just Ian flexing his rare guns and clothes 😂

[@mattsamoto4451]

The sturmgewehr is a pretty chunky gun.