Carl · Sniper Rifle
Gewehr 43 (G43/K43) Sniper
Gas operated short stroke · 7.92x57mm Mauser · introduced 1943
Also known as G43 Sniper, K43 Sniper, Gew 43 mit ZF4
About the Gewehr 43 (G43/K43) Sniper
The Gewehr 43 sniper variant was the primary German semi-automatic sniper rifle of the later stages of World War II, fitted with the ZF 4 (Zielfernrohr 4) 4x magnification telescopic sight. Designed by Walther and heavily influenced by the Soviet SVT-40's gas system, the G43 gave German designated marksmen a semi-automatic capability that the bolt-action K98k could not provide. Approximately 53,435 scoped sniper variants were produced out of a total of 402,713 G43/K43 rifles manufactured, serving primarily on the Eastern Front where rapid follow-up shots against Soviet infantry were essential.
The G43 sniper was born of necessity after German forces on the Eastern Front found themselves outgunned by Soviet snipers equipped with semi-automatic SVT-40 rifles. Ironically, the G43's gas system was a direct copy of the SVT-40 it was designed to counter. German snipers valued the semi-automatic capability for engaging multiple targets in rapid succession, though many still preferred the K98k for long-range precision work.
Gewehr 43 (G43/K43) Sniper specifications
General
- Type
- Sniper Rifle
- Action
- Gas operated short stroke
- Firing mechanism
- Hammer-fired
- Trigger
- Single stage
- Calibres
- 7.92x57mm Mauser
- Magazine capacity
- 10 rounds
- Magazine
- Detachable box magazine
Dimensions
- Barrel length
- 546 mm (21.5 in)
- Overall length
- 1115 mm (43.9 in)
- Weight (empty)
- 4.40 kg (9.70 lb)
- Weight (loaded)
- 4.70 kg (10.36 lb)
Barrel
- Rifling twist
- 1:9 in (240 mm)
- Rifling
- Right hand
- Grooves
- 4
Materials
- Barrel
- Steel
- Receiver / frame
- Steel
- Stock
- Wood
- Finish
- blued
Performance
- Muzzle velocity (typical)
- 746 m/s (2448 fps)
- Muzzle energy (typical)
- 3560 J (2626 ft·lb)
- Effective range
- 500 m
History
- Introduced
- 1943
- Discontinued
- 1945
- Production status
- Out of production
- Country of origin
- DE
- Designer
- Carl Walther GmbH
Features
- Zf4 4x telescopic sight
- Semi automatic action
- Detachable magazine
- Gas operated short stroke piston
- Iron sights retained
Safety
- Cross bolt safety
The G43 was renamed K43 (Karabiner 43) in 1944, though the weapon itself was identical. The gas system was a short-stroke piston design copied from the Soviet SVT-40 after German engineers studied captured examples. The ZF 4 scope was itself based on the Soviet PU scope design. While the semi-automatic action provided a higher rate of fire than the K98k, accuracy was generally considered inferior to the bolt-action rifle for precision sniping. The rifle could also be loaded using two standard 5-round stripper clips through the top of the receiver with the scope mounted.
