Data Quality88%
MASS(Military Archive Scoring System)
ⓘ Regardless of era, the same scoring system applies to all units in the general purpose machine guns (gpmg) category.
01 / Overview
MG 42
Country
Production
1942–1945
Quantity
423,600
Operators
Conflicts
💰 PERFORMANCE / PRICE ASSESSMENT Methodology ↗
GENERAL PURPOSE MACHINE GUNS (GPMG) · WORLD WAR II
1
PERFORMANCE/PRICE
97
UNIT COST (2025 USD)
—
ⓘ Performance/Price and MASS score are computed across all units in the general purpose machine guns (gpmg) category, regardless of era.
02 / Specs & Design
◎General6MOD.6
- First Production Year1942
- Service Entry Year1942
- DesignerWerner Gruner
- Weight (Empty)11.6 kg
- Currently In ServiceYes
- Notable UsersWehrmacht, Waffen-SS, Algeria, Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, East Timor, Finland, France, Hungary, Israel, Italian Social Republic, Romania, Norway
◈Cartridge & Calibre6MOD.6
- Cartridge7.92×57mm Mauser
- Calibre7.92 mm
- Case Length57 mm
- Calibre Classfull-power rifle
- RimfireNo
- Caseless AmmunitionNo
▣Operation7MOD.7
- Action TypeRecoil-Operated
- Fire Modesfully automatic
- Select FireNo
- Feed SystemBelt
- Drum / Belt Capacity50
- Cyclic Rate of Fire1,200
- Practical Rate of Fire153
◇Ballistics4MOD.4
- Muzzle Velocity740 m/s
- Effective Range (point)2,000 m
- Maximum Range4,700 m
- Sighting Range2,000 m
◆Barrel & Sights4MOD.4
- Barrel Length530 mm
- Sight TypeIron sights, anti aircraft sight or telescopic sights
- Optic RailNo
- Iron SightsYes
▤Construction5MOD.5
- Receiver Materialsteel stamping
- Furniture Materialwood, metal
- Folding / Collapsing StockNo
- Bullpup LayoutNo
- Modularitymounts, barrels, feed systems
⬢Features4MOD.4
▲Production & Cost5MOD.5
- Total Production423,600
- Production Start1942
- Production End1945
- Unit Cost250 USD
- Variants6
03 / History
SERVICE LIFESPANStill in Service
- 1939First deployment: World War II
- 1942Production started
- 1945Production ended
84
years in service
3
years in production
423,600
units produced
17
countries operating
ⓘ The producing country still actively operates it. 2 countries retired it.
04 / Conflicts
MG 42 · CONFLICTS SERVED IN0% win
Total Conflicts
8
Victories
0
Ongoing
0
Losses
0
1975–1990Lebanese Civil War—→1975East Timorese civil war—→1971Bangladesh Liberation War—→1961–1990Nicaraguan Revolution—→19581958 Lebanon crisis—→1954–1962Algerian War—→1948–19491948 Arab–Israeli War—→1946–1949Greek Civil War—→
ⓘ Shown only from conflicts recorded in our database.
05 / Variants
▚ WEAPON FAMILY
06 / Operators
Operator Countries19country
07 / MASS Score
GENERAL PURPOSE MACHINE GUNS (GPMG) RANKING General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG) · World War II
MASS RANKINGSMASS ↗
3GENERAL PURPOSE MACHINE GUNS (GPMG)1WORLD WAR II · GENERAL PURPOSE MACHINE GUNS (GPMG)13GERMANY · ALL WEAPONS2PERFORMANCE/PRICE · GENERAL PURPOSE MACHINE GUNS (GPMG)
ⓘ Rankings are within theGeneral Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG)category.
📖 TERMS ON THIS PAGE4terms
A firearm feed system where ammunition is stored in a flexible or rigid container (magazine) inserted into the grip or attached externally, feeding rounds into the chamber via a spring or follower.
Integral bipod: a permanently attached, built‑in bipod that provides a two‑point support for a firearm, allowing it to be rested on a surface without separate accessories.
Adjustable metal aiming devices on firearms, consisting of a front post and rear notch, used without magnification.
Firearm action type where the energy from firing a cartridge cycles the action via rearward movement of the barrel or slide.
These terms are listed automatically because they appear on this page.full encyclopedia →
📚 Sources