How does the STG stack up to the AK?

[CapnMac]

The comparison is natural, if a bit flawed.
The Germans needed a semi-auto that could got full auto in extremis. And the STG-44 meets that need (there's an argument that the STG-45 actually does it better, if largely academic).

The Soviets needed a weapon meant to be used in full auto for suppression (that's why it's the first notch), that was to only be semi-auto at direction of Higher. The AK design meets that need, too.

The comparison is complicated in that the original AKs were all milled, the stamped versions came out much later, when the sovs matured that technology. So, really, they were of a similar weight to start. So, AKM versus Stg-44 has unfairness built in.

And, the question is somewhat mooted by the entire world (mostly) having committed to ±5.5mm rounds, which are not really an "intermediate" round as a full-size rifle round of smaller dimension. (Much echoing the inter-bellum 6.5x55 cartridges.)

 

[briansmithwins]

The comparison is natural, if a bit flawed.
The Germans needed a semi-auto that could got full auto in extremis. And the STG-44 meets that need (there's an argument that the STG-45 actually does it better, if largely academic).

The Soviets needed a weapon meant to be used in full auto for suppression (that's why it's the first notch), that was to only be semi-auto at direction of Higher. The AK design meets that need, too.

The comparison is complicated in that the original AKs were all milled, the stamped versions came out much later, when the sovs matured that technology. So, really, they were of a similar weight to start. So, AKM versus Stg-44 has unfairness built in.

And, the question is somewhat mooted by the entire world (mostly) having committed to ±5.5mm rounds, which are not really an "intermediate" round as a full-size rifle round of smaller dimension. (Much echoing the inter-bellum 6.5x55 cartridges.)

The original AKs were a hybrid design with larger front and rear trunnions that were riveted to a sheet steel connecting piece that formed the body of the receiver. That design had manufacturability problems that were resolved by going to the milled design.

https://www.forgottenweapons.com/type-1-russian-ak-the-actual-ak-47/
"The AK-47 rifle was formally adopted in 1947, as the name implies, and went into production in 1948. In this very first form, it used a stamped receiver with front and rear trunnions riveted in place."

BSW

 

[The Exile]

I like the STG more then the AK. Shooting both tend to give you a better perspective.
View attachment 933242 View attachment 933243

Just a "it feels good in my hands" sorta thing?

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Just a "it feels good in my hands" sorta thing?

Better ergonomic, in my opinion, And lighter recoil. And then it has the cool factor too.

 

[12Bravo20]

I got to shoot pretty much all the military variants of the AK while I was in the Army. I did get to handle and check out a STG44 but we couldn't shoot it
I sure wish They would have let us shoot the STG44. Out of all the AK variants, I would say the AK74 was the smoothest shooter out of them all.