The Most Successful Machine Gun in the World?

Taking the mantra of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" to an extreme, the MG 3 machine gun has remained almost technologically unchanged going back to its inception during World War 2.

The formidable weapon that was used to strike fear in Allied soldiers for its outstanding performance, accuracy, and rate of fire in its original MG 42 iteration now continues to strengthen NATO forces as the implacable MG 3.

With over 60 years at the forefront of machine-gun performance, the astonishing feat of German engineering promises to continue to serve as an essential asset for the German military and its allies worldwide.

Notably, the historic and timeproof weapon that would arm the world for over six decades was designed by a man who had never made a gun in his life…

[andrewstrongman]

As an Australian Armoured Corps soldier, I was first trained to use the Browning .30 and .50 cal machineguns. I was also trained to use the Mg 3, which was by far the best weapon I've ever used. We weren't given any special instructions - we already knew to fire in short bursts, both to keep the barrel cool and to conserve ammo. There is no need for long bursts anyway, the Mg 3 is incredibly accurate.

[saschab.]

I was a machine gunner in the German Army, the MG3 is wonderful to use and everyone knows how dangerous it is. But you have to say that it's a nuisance to walk through the woods for miles with it. After several hours you have tried every possible carrying method at least once and cursed every single kilogram. Even when cleaning you have a lot of time to invent new curses. Still, I loved every single shot with it and I highly recommend not being on the wrong side.

[mrkanangra]

I spent plenty of time using the MG-3 as a Leopard Gunner in 1st Armoured Regiment and School of Armour in the Aussie Army. It is truly a magnificent weapon. Easy to use, even easier to maintain, and barrel swaps are extremely quick. Not to mention that stoppages are very rare. I've used M-60, L1A2 ( SLR LMG ), M240, Bren, M249, and both Browning M1919 in 7.62, and of course the 50 cal. And the MG-3 was by far the best of the lot. BY FAR!. I even remember my first time using it out on Puckapunyal Range as a 19 y.o. It was the best day!. Really sad when we went from Leopard to Abrams. The only other weapons I enjoyed almost as much were the 76mm Cannon on the MRV, and the 25mm Chain Gun on the LAV-25.

[grunt]

I was an M60 gunner on and off with the 7th ID (LIGHT) and in Germany 2AD (FWD), during the mid-'80s. I thought the M60 was a pretty good MG, it needed some TLC but still good MG. Thenl I got to fire the MG3, the M60 was never the same for me after that.

[thundereagle]

Another reason why the Germans opted to use the MG42 backbone instead of making a new MG from scratch was because there where still a lot of MG42's in warehouses (mostly in other countries), so they made conversion kits for them to be able to fit NATO rounds. If im not mistake there are still MG3's that where originally MG42's from WW2 still in service.

[murgel]

Also a good thing: Once you are used to handling it will never go away, like driving a bicycle. I had not used it for over 20 years but recently I did it again and I still had the muscle memory and knew exactly how to react to the recoil, to a misfire etc. This Lady is so intuitive in its handling.

[leolos]

I wouldn't be surprised if the MG-3 still remains in some form of service 100 years after it was first introduced. Some developments simply cannot be further improved.

[coast]

The design was so successful it was adopted by the Colonial Marines as the M56 Smartgun in the movie Aliens.

[stevew]

Still, the MG 34 stayed in production until the end of WWII due to the quick-change barrel mechanism for use in the fighting compartment of tanks and other such armored fighting vehicals.

[Bragi]

During my armytime in Germany in the early 90s I loved to fire the MG3 - what a feeling!!! Such a great weapon. It never jammed and was so easy to handle - cleaning, maintenance, barrel change…

[nateb]

Had the honor of throwing 150 rounds down range with the MG-42 last summer. As a history buff I was in heaven.

[ReggieMarshale]

This, as well as the M2 Browning, is definitely one of the, if not the most timeless weapon designs in history

[fireantfury]

Sometimes, the best stuff comes from someone who hasn't done it before. They get a new and fresh perspective which increases the ability to create something new and inventive.

[sammyseguin]

Very impressive piece of kit. Along with the MA2, both universally recognizable by sight and sound.

[luiscosta]

The man who has never built a gun made the best one! This is commitment and genius!

[paoloviti]

I always liked very much the MG 42 but also the very high quality MG 34 and the MG 3 that said when I was doing compulsory military service in Italy, I'm Italian, I had the great fortune to shoot all three of them in 1968 as the warehouses was well stockpiled with 2nd WW guns. Great fun! I could hear and feel the difference compared to the MG 42 but not much. It was was quite heavy to handle both the guns and the ammo trough...

[thomaslinton]

"Powerful" is an intersting word, considering the existence of the M-2 .50 Bowning, in use for OVER a century.

[Braun]

In the Swiss Army we had the M51 which traces back directly to the German products of WW2, replaced by the Minimi in the infantry, still used on vehicles and tanks.

[stevenbrown]

I remember playing brothers in arms on my grandparents computer after getting it on Christmas. What I didn’t know was my uncle heard the MG42 fire from a distance in game while napping in the lazy boy and I also didn’t know at the time he landed with the 29th infantry on Omaha. He heard that through the speakers and hit the deck. The funny thing was he wanted to try the game out after hearing the ruckus and was a badass at the game. Me and him would play the coop missions together. Leave it to someone who fought the actual war to love a video game portraying it and have the tactical ability at his age to slay it. He really liked the tactical part of it. It was when EIB dropped.

[KyrreStalsberg]

I love the MG 3. We shot it almost every day when in the infantry, 2. battalion, northern Norway.