* The PPSH-41 has a much longer sight radius - the distance between front and rear sights is 388mm on the PPSH-41 and 295mm for the Sten. Shooting from prone, standing and kneeling positions was considered uncomfortable, compared to the PPSH-41. The initial bullet speed was lower than the PPSH-41 (384 m/s for the Sten, instead of 489 m/s for PPSH-41), the average rate of fire was 694 shots per minute for the Sten, 1,100 for the PPSH-41.Ĭarrying the Sten SMG in different conditions, going through bushes, climbing walls and trees, was considered to be comfortable. The Sten was also lighter than the PPSH-41 (3.018 kg instead of 3.5 kg).Īccuracy at distances over 100 meters from a standing position was considered unacceptable, while the PPSH-41 had "suitable" results (the report does not say what they are).
The trigger assembly is more reliable and simpler, the trigger pull weight for the Sten was 2.3 kg, for the PPSH-41 - 4.5 kg. The general conclusion of the report mentions that the Sten SMG is simpler in production than the PPSH-41 and that a smaller amount of milling operations is required to produce it (the total number of parts is 42 for the Sten, 32 for PPSH-41). In all other conditions the Sten functioned well. As a result, the recoil spring was not able to move the bolt (the force of the Sten spring when the trigger is cocked is 2.1 kg, for the PPSH41 it's 3.6 kg) After the Sten was pulled 20 meters (on each side) on the ground, some sand and dust was caught by the receiver through the hole for the bolt handle. It was discovered that it is sensitive to heavy grease and dust - when the bolt had a thick layer of summer grease, which hardened due to low temperatures (2 Degrees Celsius), the Sten ceased to function. Then Sten SMG was tested for reliability. When shooting from a standing position, the PPSH-41 was more accurateįull auto mode (approximately 5 shots series) - 139 cm (46.6 - best 50%) / 103 cm (44.3 cm - best 50%) * It should be mentioned that the Sten was tested with Belgian made 9 mm cartridges, which likely had much better accuracy than Soviet wartime 7.62x25 cartridges When shooting from the bench at 100 meters, the Sten showed better results than the PPSH-41Īccuracy at 100 meters - Sten MK II / PPSH-41
It was decided not to shoot at 200 and 300 meter distances during further trials because these results were unacceptable for the Soviets.
At 200 meters, during full auto-shooting, a 3x3 meter target wasn't always hit, at 300 meters - less than 50% of shots hit it.
Three series were made for semi-auto and full-auto modes, 20 shots each. Initially it was tested at 100, 200 and 300 meter distances, with the shooter sitting at a bench. No issues were discovered and it was sent for accuracy trials. Photos courtesy of the Central Archives of the Russian Ministry of Defenceīefore the accuracy tests, the Sten was tested by shooting 100 rounds in semi auto and 100 rounds in full auto bursts (3-5 rounds in each burst). It was possible to disassemble the Sten in 15 seconds, to assemble it in 33 seconds. They also paid attention to the shaking of the magazine housing, which did not cause any feeding problems, and the simple trigger assembly. Polishing of the internal part of the receiver, in areas where it comes into contact with the bolt, was considered good. The Soviets pointed out the fact that a minimal amount of milling was used in production and that welding and lathe operations were widely used.
The trial report contains a detailed description of the Sten SMG in general and details about all of its parts.
The serial number of the Sten tested was FC5352, it was a used/issued gun with an unknown round count. In October 1942 the Scientific Research Proving grounds made a trial of the British Sten MK II SMG and compared it to the PPSH-41.