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SHOEI
MACHINEN PISTOLE 44 AEG
review by Lyndon
Haywood,
edited by Arnie
 The illustration from SAR magazine shows the Vampir infrared system trialed in 1945. |
Real-steel history: The MP 44 was developed in the Second World War by Germany to replace both the rifle and the machine pistol, (sub-machine gun); a new short cartridge of standard rifle calibre was developed for the gun. The theory was that the maximum engagement range for infantry in the European and Western Russian theatres was only 800 metres, the standard rifle cartridge with a maximum range of 2400 metres was considered too powerful and would be restricted to machine guns. At first Hitler opposed the introduction of this new weapon, development had to be carried on in secret with the designation "Machine pistol". The trial batches performed so well in Russia that Hitler changed his mind and even demanded a designation change to the Wagnerian "Sturmgewehr", literally "assault rifle". The name has passed into history as the designation for all similar kinds of rifle. The AK 47 owes features of it's design to the MP 44. The principal designer was Hugo Schmeisser who is seldom credited with this innovation, instead Schmeisser is often named as the designer of the MP38 and MP40 machine pistols, he had no part in their design at all. |
The story behind the Airsoft replica: The SHOEI company of Japan began to make highly detailed replicas of German assault riffles in the 1980s using metal and wood, some of these are now produced as cap firing "Blowback" models. A few years ago SHOEI redesigned the MP 44 to function as an AEG. The gear boxes were copied from those used with the Tokyo Marui XM 177, presumably under license, an AK type 8.4V stick battery was fitted into the recoil spring cavity in the wooden butt.
The MP 44 model is impressive and heavy, weighing 5.21Kg compared to the unloaded weight of the real gun of 5.22KG. The materials are Mazak, steel, aluminium and wood, dimensions are accurate. The model represents a 1945 late model MP 44 or StG 44. A minor discrepancy is the rear sight with GWZ 41 sight mounts which only appeared on the earlier MP 43/1.
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So what's it like? As an AEG the model is average, I fitted a 130% spring with a new piston and cylinder and use 9.6V stick batteries custom built by Overlander; these are like 8.4v sticks with one extra cell, the rate of fire is fine with a muzzle velocity of 310 to 320 fps with .20 BBs. The battery can be changed by taking out the butt retaining catch and pulling the butt off. The gear box can be accessed by removing a pin and four Allen head bolts. |
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The magazine supplied is a full length type, the loading tube fits between the magazine lips, it holds 90 BBs. I made a 700 round hi-cap from a real magazine and the reliable clockwork of the M16 HI-CAP.
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Discrepancies and changes: There are minor discrepancies; the wooden butt is rather stylised and does not have the butt trap fitted to the original, the selector is a slide switch not cross-bolt, the safety catch is deleted, and the cocking handle is fixed. I replaced the butt with a real one, (these are sometimes available from dealers such as ASI or Arsenale in Belgium), I extended the recoil spring cavity for the longer battery. The butt trap holds a small manual and the stripping tool which can be used on the model to unscrew the gas block and take of the sheet metal foregrip. I replaced the foregrip, rear sight and foresight hood with spares from a real gun. |
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The most significant addition was the mount and GWZ-4F telescopic sight, this is an excellent compact 4 power scope with long focus, (the sight picture is in focus at any range). The scope is easily removed for transport without losing zero. The scope is battered, but, original, the mount is a good steel copy. The scope was designed for the K43 self-loading sniper rifle, only around 1000 MP44's were fitted with scopes. The 'hop-up' up close: The image to the right shows the hop-up control inside the ejection port. The white knob is loosened to adjust the hop, then tightened to fix the setting. |
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The 'out the box'
manual:
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