PPSh-41
Soviet State Arsenals · Submachine Gun · Discontinued · 1941
Also known as: Shpagin, Papasha, PPSch-41, Burp Gun
Overview
The PPSh-41 is a select-fire submachine gun chambered in 7.62x25mm Tokarev, produced by Soviet State Arsenals since 1941. Featuring a 71-round magazine capacity, this submachine gun offers generous firepower for duty use and home defense. Safety features include bolt handle safety notch, reflecting modern design standards that prioritize safe handling and operation. As a recognized participant in the global firearms industry, Soviet State Arsenals applies modern manufacturing technology and quality control processes to deliver products that compete effectively in a market where reliability and performance are non-negotiable requirements for both civilian and professional end users.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3630 g (128.0 oz) |
| Weight (loaded) | 5450 g (192.2 oz) |
| Overall Length | 843 mm (33.19") |
| Barrel Length | 269 mm (10.59") |
| Height | 135 mm (5.31") |
| Width | 30 mm (1.18") |
| Action Type | Blowback |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 71 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Drum |
| Muzzle Velocity | 488 m/s (1601 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 655 J (483 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 200 m (219 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 500 m (547 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 900 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 240 mm (9.45") |
| Number of Grooves | 4 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- 7.62x25mm Tokarev · primary — also known as 7.62mm Tokarev, 7.62x25mm TT, 7.62mm TT
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic, Full Automatic
- Feed systems: Drum Magazine, Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Bolt Handle Safety Notch
- Features: Chrome Lined Barrel, Open Bolt Firing, Muzzle Compensator, Select Fire, Stamped Receiver, Simple Construction
Variants
- PPSh-41 (Box Magazine) — Alternative Feed
- Type 50 — Chinese Copy
- Type 49 — North Korean Copy
- K-50M — Vietnamese Modification
- 1948 Minta Geppisztoly — Hungarian Copy
Service history
Operators
- Soviet Red Army · adopted 1942
- Chinese People's Liberation Army · adopted 1950 · as Type 50
- Korean People's Army · adopted 1949 · as Type 49
- People's Army of Vietnam · as K-50M
- Hungarian People's Army · adopted 1948 · as 1948 Minta
- Polish Armed Forces · adopted 1945 · as wz.41
- East German National People's Army · adopted 1949 · as PPSch-41
- Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces
Conflicts
- World War II (Eastern Front) (1941-1945)
- Korean War (1950-1953)
- Vietnam War (1955-1975)
- Chinese Civil War (1945-1949)
Production
Estimated total produced: 6,000,000 · Production years: 1941-1947
Approximately 6 million produced by the Soviet Union alone during WWII, making it the most-produced submachine gun of the war
Origin
Country of origin: Soviet Union
Designer: Georgi Shpagin
Discontinued: 1947
Notes
The impetus for the PPSh-41's development came from the Winter War (1939-1940) against Finland, where the Finnish Suomi KP/-31 submachine gun proved highly effective. The PPSh-41 was designed for mass production using stamped steel components and a minimum of machined parts. Exact copies were produced by China (Type 50), North Korea (Type 49), and Hungary (1948 Minta). The K-50M is a North Vietnamese modification with a MAT-49 collapsible wire stock and shortened barrel. Nazi Germany captured large quantities and converted some to 9x19mm Parabellum, designated MP 41(r). The 71-round drum magazine, though iconic, was prone to jamming and heavier than the 35-round box magazine used in late-war production. Loaded weight with drum is 5.45 kg; with box magazine 4.31 kg.
Background
American GIs in Korea nicknamed the PPSh-41 the 'Burp Gun' for its distinctive sound at 900 rounds per minute. The weapon was so effective that the Wehrmacht captured and reissued large numbers, converting some to 9x19mm Parabellum as the MP 41(r). Soviet infantry units would equip entire platoons exclusively with PPSh-41s for devastating close-range firepower.