G.33/40

[pitfighter]

I had often heard and read about the recoil/muzzle blast difference between a K98 and a G33.
I was quite excited when I finally took my G33 to the private range I shared that day with 12 FBI shooters.

We shot a selection of German weapons with several shooters - trying the weapons and me video'ing on my cell-phone.
I was almost disappointed, when we found there to be no significant difference in recoil or muzzle blast between the K98 and G33 rifles - period.
Yugo, Turk, German, Privi, and commercial hunting ammo.

This was a whole day of shooting - warranted we were wearing ear cans, and there was nothing scientific about the exercise, lol.

But - side by side one after another, no significant or perceptible difference.

This is just my experience and as I said above there was nothing scientific about it.
But, when I hear about the deafening muzzle blast and uncontrollable recoil of the little pioneer G33 - I feel I should share my personal experience - if for no other reason than to defend the value of this terrific little pointer.

Happy shooting - and nice rifle, OP!

[captainhoot]

Crusader.

Very nice rifle. indeed.
I have to weight in on the recoil/ muzzle blast issue here, as I have been lucky enough to own one as well.
Mine is marked "945" 1940 on the reciever.
I found these to be wicked guns to fire...
Probably on the order of a short barrelled .308 round...
It's interesting to read the other points of view on this though...
Wicked.
Congrats.


~ Captainhoot

[Crusader17]

Thanks for the replies. I am accustomed to heavy caliber rifles. The deer woods in my backyard is about as thick with brush as possible, so I use heavy rounds. I hunt in trees, and like the mobility of the short rifles. I could shoot this G.33 without issue. To say it "rocks" is appropriate. Pun intended....but it isn't the worst thing I've ever shot.

I'll post an updated pic when I install the sight hood.

I can see another one of these in the not-to-distant future. These rifles are very cool indeed.

[pitfighter]

Try them side by side, you may be surprised.

You can see it is quite an open space - perhaps this was the reason for the deadened muzzle signature.
But, as I wrote it was an unscientific comparison.

I was actually disappointed, as I had rather set myself up for something a little more exciting. Instead, I discovered a terrific pointing, handy to shoot little rifle. If given the choice in the field I would take a G33 over the K98 any day of the week.
(The above is 100% subjective of course, many believe this rifle to be a lion tamer, and I am truly hesitant to take away from that, so believe as you wish to .)


The MG34 and Maxim are mine, the double tapping HK belongs to Uncle Sam.

I am also a 945 - perhaps our rifles are cousins?

[Crusader17]

I think my AK47 has more recoil.

[tsmgguy]

Order of scarcity/rarity, IMHE:

945 1941 Rarest
DOT 1942 Rare
945 1940 Scarce
DOT 1941 Probably Most Commonly Seen /Encountered.

No G33/40 rifles were made after 1942 (unless you count the unserial numbered rifles) so there are no 1943 dated G33/40s. No dot 98Ks are dated earlier than 1943, because that is the year that dot 98K production began. Production was shifted over to the 98K from the G33/40 in that year.

Living with the G33/40: don't pull it tightly into your shoulder as you've always been taught. Roll with the recoil punch!

[captainhoot]

Pitfighter.

Perhaps are rifles are cousins !!
Mine is 7873 'C' block. What's yours ??
Nice MG-34. Mine is a DOT 44.
TSMG: thanks for that helpful information !!
That's great !!
Cheers.

~ Captainhoot

[Crusader17]

Order of scarcity/rarity, IMHE:

945 1941 Rarest
DOT 1942 Rare
945 1940 Scarce
DOT 1941 Probably Most Commonly Seen /Encountered.

No G33/40 rifles were made after 1942 (unless you count the unserial numbered rifles) so there are no 1943 dated G33/40s. No dot 98Ks are dated earlier than 1943, because that is the year that dot 98K production began. Production was shifted over to the 98K from the G33/40 in that year.

Living with the G33/40: don't pull it tightly into your shoulder as you've always been taught. Roll with the recoil punch!

Great to know this info as my search for another begins.

[Crusader17]

Help!!!!

Sight Hood arrived today, but the darn thing is so stiff I can't get it spread far enough to put it on.

Can anyone give guidance on how to install it?.....please.

[Alan Smith]

Go to Home Depot and purchase (for about $25) a pair of the "reverse" pliars that are used to remove/install compression rings. These work the opposite of normal pliars; when you squeeze the grips the little prongs on the end spread open. These pliars worked great for me installing 98k sight hoods.

[Crusader17]

Thanks Alan. I'll give that a try.

Bob

[bodes]

Wow, you found the recoil to be moderate?? I am not a wuss but I found the recoil on one of these to be not fun at all!! Maybe it is my age and that I fired it from a seated bench position.

New ammo, or older surplus?

Yeah Willi, I was perplexed too as to his reply.....I thought these had the reputation for having a nasty kick and bright muzzle flash.....Bodes

[pitfighter]

I promise I am not posting for the sake of being contrary, lol.

Bodes - no great kick and definitely no greater muzzle flash in daylight -
Side by side - nothing exceptionally different to the regular K98.
A few of us took turns, we had all read about the G33 being a bit of a beast.

Matching K98, and matching G33-40 - shot possibly six different commercial and military brands side by side, we had a lot of 8mm platforms shooting that day so the choice of ammo was more varied than usual.

There was one load of Turkish which did kick and blast, but it did so unpleasantly in the K98, too.

I'm not superman, and neither were any of the other shooters that day.
I wouldn't down play it to appear tough, that wasn't the point of my post at all - I am not tough!

We shot prone, seated and standing.

I filmed myself shooting the MG34 and Maxim that day, but didn't keep the rifle comparison on my phone, and that has been what everyone was interested in.

I will go again and film it - without telling the subjects shooting the reason for my filming, and see what we get.
Until then I will refrain from posting on the subject, as it would appear to need verification beyond my writing

Great info. on the rarity of these rifles TSMGguy - good to know, mine has been sanded and polished I think, so not a primo example, which makes shooting it more pleasant.

Timothy J. Mullin - has a nice piece on it in "Testing the War Weapons" - he says the recoil is heavier by a 15 percent margin, certainly nothing a trained soldier would complain about. He downplays the reputation for muzzle blast and noise. Playing up the handiness and practicality. Although he hates Mauser sights.

*The MG15 worked on a film last weekend, and that did have a bit of a muzzle flash issue.

[Crusader17]

Sorry my thread about this rifle has created a gun-fight so to speak.

All I will say about recoil is that I did not notice it being significantly greater than any other compact rifle I have had the pleasure to fire.

Bob

[pitfighter]

Sorry for gamming up your thread, Bob -

Awesome rifle - from my end it is all friendly conversation - I think it is from everyone else, too.

Happy shooting!

Pit.