Last year American Tactical Imports announced they were importing the German Sport Guns Stg 44 patterned .22 rifle. ATI now has ATF approval and it will go on sale shortly.
The rifle will be shipped in a wooden crate. The crate is handmade by a Amish community in New York state.
Its MSRP is $599.
Those are going to sell WELL, as in every one they can import. The AR pattern 22LR’s sell VERY well in CA, and this StG 44 and that M1 Carbine clone are both going drop into a market ready for the idea of “fun” 22LR’s that are still affordable to shoot.
Cracks me up that all these commenters would rather not shoot at all than shoot 22LR – must be tough living the hard-core life.
Regards,
Brian in CA
15 
0Wish they would make a 7.62×39 version instead…
14 0Good idea but it probably would not work without major strenghtening (receiver is welded out of stampings) since 7.62×39 has quite a bit more impulse. Also, since that shot is 6mm longer, it would require whole lot of chages which would yield different appearance.
This difference is clearly indicative of false (and so much repeated) presumption that Stg war ‘granpa’ for AK.
3 0I don’t know why the hate on for 22. I have had more fun with a 22 than with my 1911- I just cannot justify literally blowing 300 bucks in an evening and not getting blown. Hell, 3 times to the range is a flight to Hawaii.
Much rather go to hawaii than go shooting. But with 22 you can shoot until the place closes or your barrel fouls from all the lead build up. I would think shooting volume if abit at a smaller caliber would make you a better shooter overall, if this is the goal.
12 0Smartest comment I have heard, anywhere.
0 0is .22, but still want
11 0I cant help but imagine Randy Quaid from ‘Kingpin’ laboring on a gun crate assembly line in some Amish sweat shop.
10 0Regardless of .22 cal…I would buy this. Wooden crate is a nice touch!
8 0Got excited until I saw .22… 
12 4I believe it wouldn’t be imported if it were in a rifle caliber due to 922r restricting the number of parts on an imported weapon. This is the same reason the SVD and SVT-40 aren’t imported to my understanding, and companies in Germany do actually produce semi-auto reproductions in the original chambering, made from the original blue prints. To get full repros, an American company will need to make compliant parts, and then you might as well make a full reproduction, something that wouldn’t garner as much profit seeing as it then would be something only dedicated collectors would be very interested in.
7 0To be honest, I would love a G43.
1 0Allegheny Trade in Duncansville, PA has a WWII bringback Gewehr 43 for $2800 right now.
0 0It is Russia, not the US, that is preventing SVD rifles from being imported to the US.
http://www.ttb.gov/rrd/tdatf6.htm
0 3i think you need to read your link again…
It is pretty clear the importation restriction is on the United States’ side and, in order to maintain the agreement, Russia must also comply and not try to circumvent the US import restriction.
3 0By the *Amish*?
7 0For everyone asking why it can’t be another caliber the answer is simple. Making a .22lr rifle is incredibly easy and inexpensive. There is absolutely no need for any locking system so all you are required to make are a barrel and a cubic inch of steel’s worth of bolt. Everything else on the gun is just eye candy.
Creating an M43 variant (which has nothing to do with the misconception about the AK-47 deriving anything but ergonomics from the StG-44) would require a scaling of the receiver. It would also require new magazines (not that StG-44 mags are just lying around all over) unless you wanted to modify the receiver to take AK mags, but when you start doing that, what exactly is the point?
Handgun calibers wouldn’t require as much work because you could be lazy and make them blowback. Same magazine issue/non-issue as above, but but then again, what exactly is the point?
That said, this is the first .22 I actually *want* to buy.
7 0The concept of an assault rifle is smaller size, lighter weight rounds (not 7.92×57) and large capacity mags so each soldier could carry more ammo and unleash a STORM of lead on the enemy. It was conceived by Hitlers generals and named the stormrifle or sturmgewehr. The AK47 came along years later.
0 0To bad it’s a .22 but…”The crate is handmade by a Amish community in New York state.”
…wait, what?
6 0No 300 Blackout version?
6 0Can I just buy the crate instead?
6 0Why is the Amish part of this story stick with me the most?
5 0The irony is indeed quite remarkable.
1 0It is amazing what people can do with a .22 rifle and an outer shell.
5 0How am I supposed to lead a skinhead third Reich uprising when these are .22? weaksauce man.
12 8There’s a company in Germany that manufactures a replica in 7.92×33
I have to admit I once considered getting one but ammunition availability is so-so at best. I might reconsider though.
Anyway I fear US import laws would make it quite difficult for you all to get one ?
3 0I have about 2500 rounds of 7.92K that I would be willing to sell to you.
2 0martin, you can only own 12 “restricted” firearms (handguns, semi-auto rifles with detachable magazines, firearms chambering a “military round”) in France, including 7 centerfire firearms. I happen to already have 7 centrefire restricted firearms.
Hence I would not be able to get that Stg 44 replica and buy your ammo ! Life’s unfair !
Plus I don’t know what side of the pond your are ? Europe or USA ?
0 0Why not make this in a real caliber like 5.56 or 7.62? Although honestly, this is more of a fun then utilitarian type gun.
The wooden crate is awesome though.
3 0Because of the narrow “sporting purposes” restriction on imports enforced by the US BATF.
9 0im already weary about it. take a look at the front sight hood in the second pic. it’s already starting to to slide off
2 0Any word if a .22lr reproduction of the FG42 or Haenel Gerat 06 are to come?
2 0I’ve got an ATI GSG-5 carbine in .22 LR which bears a striking resemblance to an MP-5. It’s also a very reliable nail-driver, extremely economical and fun to shoot. That’s the attraction here, particularly the “economical” part. Cool gun. On my wish list now.
2 0Cool box. Very cool gun.
2 0I’d like to meet the ATI woman in the first picture. Who is she?
Much better at sales than the other gents. 
1 0keep it in your pants there, slutbumwalla.
3 1I think it’s great that it’s a .22, cheap to shoot, it’ll cost about $450 instead of $2,500, I’ve already got enough 7.62 and 5.45′s to shoot, too bad it comes with a wood box that won’t be used and probably adds $75 to the price!
1 0Forget the rifle, let’s start talking about the girl!
3 2Anything for a buck…its the good ol’ american way.
2 2I thought they were also doing a Mp40 in .22lr also? where is that? I want both.
0 0That looks like a really fun gun to plink with. With the cost of ammo nowadays it’s nice to have something that looks so cool that shoots 22′s and therefore is affordable to shoot. I just hope that it will be legal to own it in my state, “The People’s Republic of New Jersey”.
0 0Could they legally get the ATF “sporting purposes” import approval on the .22 model and then sell a separate US-made conversion to a rifle caliber, to be purchased separately by the US owner? Just assume the .22 model was machined to a spec high enough to tolerate the conversion safely.
0 0I’m not knowledgeable in the field, but is it possible to replace the .22 barrel with an overseas produced one? Or does this violate all kinds of laws?
0 0overseas produced barrel meaning an upchambered one, my bad
0 0Big rifle + tiny cartridge = boring to shoot
Might be nice to look at and hold, but as thrilling to shoot as a bb gun.
3 4Big rifle + tiny cartridge = cheap to shoot!
9 0How is this different from almost EVERY other .22 out there?
7 5Its .22lr doesn’t make up for a pretty Ruger 10/22. Can they make one in 7.92×33 or 7.62×39? be much more fun.
12 13I’m not up on the legalities, but can any of these guns be re-arsenaled to pistol cartridges once they’ve arrived in the US?
0 1That gets complicated in a hurry. Whatever the toughness of the originals, you can bet these were machined to tolerate .22 pressures.
There are full power FG-42 clones out there, though.
4 0Never understood the draw of these .22 rifles that looked like other rifles or sub guns. .22 is a great round for what it’s for but I would never spend money on a .22 just because it looks like a gun I otherwise want. Real thing or nothing. If I can’t afford the real thing or a real clone then I can live without it.
5 7The draw is “fun” and “it looks cool”. Some people are willing to pay for this. Isn’t capitalism great?
4 0Joe, the point of .22 guns looking like real guns (AR-15 being the prime), is that you can train and practice with it the way you would with the larger caliber. More so if you have doo-dads and add-ons. The intent for those kinds of .22 guns is not because it’s trying to pose, it’s just an extremely for affordable way to shoot that rifle with a specific caliber. Just putting on a .22 conversion on an AR-15 is not the best because it’s still a smaller (barely) bullet that the barrel.
1 0Indeed, the .22 LR is a great round for what it’s for. For me, what it’s for is TRAINING.
I get more trigger time for less money with a .22, and if I can get a platform that mimics the balance, sight picture, manual of arms, safety operation, etc., of larger-caliber weapons I own, why not?
0 0Good point. If you need a hammer, you don’t grab one from a toddler workbench.
0 0Well, they can’t claim low cost training as a selling point and I can’t claim Grandpa brought back a .22. I am more interested in Beretta’s ARX .22 anyway.
0 4A rifle hand made by the Amish? Was GSG intentionally shooting for irony? xD
0 6he said the crate was made by the amish not the rifle.
9 0I stand corrected. Still ironic.
0 0The crate.
8 0
That looks like a really fun gun to plink with. With the cost of ammo nowadays it’s nice to have something that looks so cool that shoots 22′s and therefore is affordable to shoot. I just hope that it will be legal to own it in my state, “The People’s Republic of New Jersey”.
I think it’s great that it’s a .22, cheap to shoot, it’ll cost about $450 instead of $2,500, I’ve already got enough 7.62 and 5.45′s to shoot, too bad it comes with a wood box that won’t be used and probably adds $75 to the price!
Any word if a .22lr reproduction of the FG42 or Haenel Gerat 06 are to come?
How am I supposed to lead a skinhead third Reich uprising when these are .22? weaksauce man.
I’m not knowledgeable in the field, but is it possible to replace the .22 barrel with an overseas produced one? Or does this violate all kinds of laws?
overseas produced barrel meaning an upchambered one, my bad
Those are going to sell WELL, as in every one they can import. The AR pattern 22LR’s sell VERY well in CA, and this StG 44 and that M1 Carbine clone are both going drop into a market ready for the idea of “fun” 22LR’s that are still affordable to shoot.
Cracks me up that all these commenters would rather not shoot at all than shoot 22LR – must be tough living the hard-core life.
Regards,
Brian in CA
Could they legally get the ATF “sporting purposes” import approval on the .22 model and then sell a separate US-made conversion to a rifle caliber, to be purchased separately by the US owner? Just assume the .22 model was machined to a spec high enough to tolerate the conversion safely.
I don’t know why the hate on for 22. I have had more fun with a 22 than with my 1911- I just cannot justify literally blowing 300 bucks in an evening and not getting blown. Hell, 3 times to the range is a flight to Hawaii.
Much rather go to hawaii than go shooting. But with 22 you can shoot until the place closes or your barrel fouls from all the lead build up. I would think shooting volume if abit at a smaller caliber would make you a better shooter overall, if this is the goal.
Smartest comment I have heard, anywhere.
Never understood the draw of these .22 rifles that looked like other rifles or sub guns. .22 is a great round for what it’s for but I would never spend money on a .22 just because it looks like a gun I otherwise want. Real thing or nothing. If I can’t afford the real thing or a real clone then I can live without it.
The draw is “fun” and “it looks cool”. Some people are willing to pay for this. Isn’t capitalism great?
Good point. If you need a hammer, you don’t grab one from a toddler workbench.
Joe, the point of .22 guns looking like real guns (AR-15 being the prime), is that you can train and practice with it the way you would with the larger caliber. More so if you have doo-dads and add-ons. The intent for those kinds of .22 guns is not because it’s trying to pose, it’s just an extremely for affordable way to shoot that rifle with a specific caliber. Just putting on a .22 conversion on an AR-15 is not the best because it’s still a smaller (barely) bullet that the barrel.
Indeed, the .22 LR is a great round for what it’s for. For me, what it’s for is TRAINING.
I get more trigger time for less money with a .22, and if I can get a platform that mimics the balance, sight picture, manual of arms, safety operation, etc., of larger-caliber weapons I own, why not?
im already weary about it. take a look at the front sight hood in the second pic. it’s already starting to to slide off
No 300 Blackout version?
There’s a company in Germany that manufactures a replica in 7.92×33
==> http://hza-kulmbach.de/
I have to admit I once considered getting one but ammunition availability is so-so at best. I might reconsider though.
Anyway I fear US import laws would make it quite difficult for you all to get one ?
I have about 2500 rounds of 7.92K that I would be willing to sell to you.
martin, you can only own 12 “restricted” firearms (handguns, semi-auto rifles with detachable magazines, firearms chambering a “military round”) in France, including 7 centerfire firearms. I happen to already have 7 centrefire restricted firearms.
Hence I would not be able to get that Stg 44 replica and buy your ammo ! Life’s unfair !
Plus I don’t know what side of the pond your are ? Europe or USA ?
I’d like to meet the ATI woman in the first picture. Who is she?
Much better at sales than the other gents.
keep it in your pants there, slutbumwalla.
I thought they were also doing a Mp40 in .22lr also? where is that? I want both.
I’ve got an ATI GSG-5 carbine in .22 LR which bears a striking resemblance to an MP-5. It’s also a very reliable nail-driver, extremely economical and fun to shoot. That’s the attraction here, particularly the “economical” part. Cool gun. On my wish list now.
Why is the Amish part of this story stick with me the most?
The irony is indeed quite remarkable.
Big rifle + tiny cartridge = boring to shoot
Might be nice to look at and hold, but as thrilling to shoot as a bb gun.
How is this different from almost EVERY other .22 out there?
Big rifle + tiny cartridge = cheap to shoot!
Can I just buy the crate instead?
I cant help but imagine Randy Quaid from ‘Kingpin’ laboring on a gun crate assembly line in some Amish sweat shop.
For everyone asking why it can’t be another caliber the answer is simple. Making a .22lr rifle is incredibly easy and inexpensive. There is absolutely no need for any locking system so all you are required to make are a barrel and a cubic inch of steel’s worth of bolt. Everything else on the gun is just eye candy.
Creating an M43 variant (which has nothing to do with the misconception about the AK-47 deriving anything but ergonomics from the StG-44) would require a scaling of the receiver. It would also require new magazines (not that StG-44 mags are just lying around all over) unless you wanted to modify the receiver to take AK mags, but when you start doing that, what exactly is the point?
Handgun calibers wouldn’t require as much work because you could be lazy and make them blowback. Same magazine issue/non-issue as above, but but then again, what exactly is the point?
That said, this is the first .22 I actually *want* to buy.
The concept of an assault rifle is smaller size, lighter weight rounds (not 7.92×57) and large capacity mags so each soldier could carry more ammo and unleash a STORM of lead on the enemy. It was conceived by Hitlers generals and named the stormrifle or sturmgewehr. The AK47 came along years later.
To bad it’s a .22 but…”The crate is handmade by a Amish community in New York state.”
…wait, what?
A rifle hand made by the Amish? Was GSG intentionally shooting for irony? xD
he said the crate was made by the amish not the rifle.
I stand corrected. Still ironic.
The crate.
It is amazing what people can do with a .22 rifle and an outer shell.
Cool box. Very cool gun.
Regardless of .22 cal…I would buy this. Wooden crate is a nice touch!
Well, they can’t claim low cost training as a selling point and I can’t claim Grandpa brought back a .22. I am more interested in Beretta’s ARX .22 anyway.
Wish they would make a 7.62×39 version instead…
Good idea but it probably would not work without major strenghtening (receiver is welded out of stampings) since 7.62×39 has quite a bit more impulse. Also, since that shot is 6mm longer, it would require whole lot of chages which would yield different appearance.
This difference is clearly indicative of false (and so much repeated) presumption that Stg war ‘granpa’ for AK.
I believe it wouldn’t be imported if it were in a rifle caliber due to 922r restricting the number of parts on an imported weapon. This is the same reason the SVD and SVT-40 aren’t imported to my understanding, and companies in Germany do actually produce semi-auto reproductions in the original chambering, made from the original blue prints. To get full repros, an American company will need to make compliant parts, and then you might as well make a full reproduction, something that wouldn’t garner as much profit seeing as it then would be something only dedicated collectors would be very interested in.
To be honest, I would love a G43.
Allegheny Trade in Duncansville, PA has a WWII bringback Gewehr 43 for $2800 right now.
It is Russia, not the US, that is preventing SVD rifles from being imported to the US.
http://www.ttb.gov/rrd/tdatf6.htm
i think you need to read your link again…
It is pretty clear the importation restriction is on the United States’ side and, in order to maintain the agreement, Russia must also comply and not try to circumvent the US import restriction.
By the *Amish*?
Forget the rifle, let’s start talking about the girl!
Anything for a buck…its the good ol’ american way.
I’m not up on the legalities, but can any of these guns be re-arsenaled to pistol cartridges once they’ve arrived in the US?
That gets complicated in a hurry. Whatever the toughness of the originals, you can bet these were machined to tolerate .22 pressures.
There are full power FG-42 clones out there, though.
Why not make this in a real caliber like 5.56 or 7.62? Although honestly, this is more of a fun then utilitarian type gun.
The wooden crate is awesome though.
Because of the narrow “sporting purposes” restriction on imports enforced by the US BATF.
Its .22lr doesn’t make up for a pretty Ruger 10/22. Can they make one in 7.92×33 or 7.62×39? be much more fun.
is .22, but still want
Got excited until I saw .22…