MP-40 Clone
- Category
- Submachine Gun
- Barrel
- 254 mm
- Weight, empty
- 3.50 kg
- Introduced
- 2016
About
What it is, and why it matters
The MP-40 Clone is a semi-automatic submachine gun chambered in 9x19mm Parabellum, manufactured by German Sport Guns as a modern civilian-legal reproduction of the World War II MP40. Faithfully recreating the silhouette of the wartime original -- the underfolding metal stock, ribbed receiver and bakelite-style grip -- it replaces the open-bolt full-automatic mechanism with a fully redesigned closed-bolt, semi-automatic-only action that fires a single round per trigger pull and cannot be converted to full-auto. The 254mm barrel and 833mm extended length mirror the proportions of the 1940s weapon, while the zinc-alloy frame keeps weight and cost down for the collector and recreational shooter. Fed by a 25-round detachable box magazine, the clone is sold both as a stockless pistol and a long-barrelled carbine, and is also offered in a .22 LR plinking variant and a 9mm P.A.K. blank-firing model for re-enactment use. Imported into the United States by American Tactical, it lets enthusiasts handle and shoot a convincing MP40 lookalike without the legal burden of a registered machine gun.
When demand for the iconic MP40 silhouette outpaced the shrinking, expensive supply of transferable wartime originals, German Sport Guns answered with a faithful semi-automatic clone. By swapping the open-bolt machine-gun action for a closed-bolt, semi-auto-only fire-control group and re-engineering the internals so the gun cannot be converted to full-auto, GSG put a shootable, affordable 'Schmeisser' lookalike into the hands of collectors, re-enactors and movie armorers worldwide -- the same profile that armed the Wehrmacht, now legal on a civilian shelf.
This entry covers the modern semi-automatic MP40 reproduction (commonly the German Sport Guns / American Tactical MP40) rather than the original wartime Maschinenpistole 40. The clone uses an all-new closed-bolt, semi-automatic-only fire-control group and redesigned internal parts so it complies with civilian import and ownership laws and is not readily convertible to automatic fire. A pistol version ships with no stock, while carbine versions add a longer barrel (often a 16-inch barrel under a faux-suppressor shroud) to meet rifle length requirements. Magazine capacity varies from 5 to 25 or 30 rounds depending on local regulations. Weight, finish and exact length differ slightly between the pistol, carbine and rimfire models.
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- German Sport Guns GmbH
- Category
- Submachine Gun
- Country
- Germany
- Status
- In production
- Produced
- 2016
- Variant of
- Semi automatic reproduction
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 254 mm
- Overall length
- 833 mm
- Height
- 178 mm
- Width
- 50 mm
- Weight, empty
- 3.50 kg
- Weight, loaded
- 3.78 kg
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Action
- Blowback
- Firing mechanism
- Closed bolt
- Trigger
- Single action
- Capacity
- 25
- Magazine
- Detachable box
MaterialsEach swatch is the material itself, not a colour chosen to stand for it.
- Frame
- Zinc alloy
- Barrel
- Steel
- Stock
- Steel
- Finish
- Phosphate
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Muzzle velocity
- 380 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 538 J
- Effective range
- 50 m
- Maximum range
- 150 m
Trajectory
What the round does downrange
Solved from the muzzle figures and the bullet. The dashed rule is the effective range on the record, and the crosses are the steps the solver returned.
Features
What it has
What the record lists as fitted, drawn from the catalogue.
Folding stock
Closed bolt firing- Semi auto only
- Redesigned internals
Hooded front sight
Flip up rear sight- Blank firing variant
- 22lr variant
Standing
How it compares
Each figure against the firearms of the same type and cartridge that record it, or of the same type where that cartridge has too few. Positions are read to the nearest tenth.
| Measurement | This firearm | Median | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty weightAmong 201 9x19mm Parabellum submachine guns | 3.50 kg | 3.18 kg | Heavier than about 70% |
| Overall lengthAmong 200 9x19mm Parabellum submachine guns | 833 mm | 723 mm | Longer than about 80% |
| Barrel lengthAmong 202 9x19mm Parabellum submachine guns | 254 mm | 213 mm | Longer than about 70% |
| Magazine capacityAmong 204 9x19mm Parabellum submachine guns | 25 | 32 | Holds fewer rounds than about 90% |
Answers
Questions about the MP-40 Clone
How much does the MP-40 Clone weigh?
The MP-40 Clone weighs 3.50 kg (7.72 lb) empty and 3.78 kg (8.33 lb) loaded.
What caliber is the MP-40 Clone?
The MP-40 Clone is chambered in 9x19mm Parabellum.
How many rounds does the MP-40 Clone hold?
The MP-40 Clone holds 25 rounds, fed from a detachable box magazine.
How long is the MP-40 Clone?
The MP-40 Clone is 833 mm (32.8 in) long overall, with a 254 mm (10.00 in) barrel.
Who makes the MP-40 Clone?
The MP-40 Clone is made by German Sport Guns GmbH (Germany). It was designed by German Sport Guns.
When was the MP-40 Clone introduced?
The MP-40 Clone was introduced in 2016.
How does the MP-40 Clone operate?
The MP-40 Clone uses a blowback action, and its firing mechanism is closed bolt.
Compatibility
Which parts fit this firearm
Studio
Every part that mounts on this, resolved
Not a list the maker typed out: the answer comes from the mounts this firearm exposes and the interface each part needs, so it stays right when either one changes.
- Every part that mounts on any firearm in the catalogue
- Interface standards, platforms and fit overrides
- The same answers through the API and the MCP server
Requires a signed-in GunSpec account on the Studio plan. The answer is computed per part, so it is not part of the public record.
Provenance
What the record holds
Every figure above was taken from one of these pages. The confidence reflects how much of the record came from a page a claim can be checked against.
In service
- Civilian Collectors
- 2016
- Sport Shooters
- 2016
Provenance
Confidence in this record
70%
Stockists
Where to buy
Offers link straight to the shop. GunSpec never takes the order.
No shop has listed this firearm yet
Stock and prices come from the shops themselves. If you sell this firearm, you can list it and it appears here.
List a firearmMCP
Ask an assistant about it
The same record, reached the way a person asks for it rather than the way a program does.
Ask GunSpec
Works with
Point an MCP client at GunSpec and it answers from the catalogue rather than from memory. A free key covers the read tools.
API
The call that returns this record
The same fields, in the same units, from the same endpoint the page reads.
curl --request GET \ --url 'https://api.gunspec.io/v1/firearms/erma-mp40-clone' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "erma-mp40-clone", "name": "MP-40 Clone", "manufacturer": { "id": "german-sport-guns", "name": "German Sport Guns GmbH", "countryCode": "DE", "foundedYear": 2003, "website": "https://german-sport-guns.com", "logoUrl": null, "description": null, "status": null, "defunctYear": null, "stateOwned": null, "makesFirearms": null, "parentId": null, "predecessorId": null, "createdAt": "2026-07-06 11:00:16", "updatedAt": "2026-07-06 11:00:16", "version": "ea9bc180d372c6f09897bc4545db0b89c9ef748b69da4415589370b11122c2d5" }, "category": { "id": "submachine-gun", "name": "Submachine Gun", "description": "Automatic firearms chambered in pistol calibers" }, "country_of_origin": "DE", "year_introduced": 2016, "barrel_length_mm": 254, "weight_empty_g": 3500, "action_type": "blowback"}