Madsen M/50 SMG Handbook

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SUB-
COPENHAG EN
HANDBOOK
for the
MADSEN
SUB-MACHINE GUN
DANSK INDUSTRI SYNDIKAT
COMPAGN I E MADSEN
COPENHAGEN
Z45.E.E].
CO NTEN TS
Page
Principle of design . ...... . . . ... .
Short description of the main parts .. . .. . . . . .... .
9
Action of the gun . ........ .
13
Firing . . .... .
17
I nstructio n s for loading the magazine ... . ... . ... .
19
Instructions for stripping and assembling . ...... .
19
Components of gun .... ... . . ......... . ... . .. .
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Sectional view of gun .... . .. . . .. .. ...... . .. .. .
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PRINCIPLE OF DESIGN
The MADSEN sub-machine gun was developed to fill th e
need for a sub-machine gun which would be absolutely reli able, and sti ll a li ghtweight weapon , combining the fewest
possible parts with simpl icity of manufacture. This aim was
achieved mainly by means of a special safety device to exclude accidental firing , and a flat shape of the frame, thi s
latter being divided vertically in longitudinal section permitting the two halves , which are hinged at the rear and form
the receiver , the magazine housing and the pistol grip , to be
opened like a box .
Constructed in this manner the MADSEN sub-machine
gun is easy to strip for inspecting and cleaning; furthermore
all the parts are easy to survey, so that the action of the gun
is easi ly learned. The sub-machine gun has a bottommounted magazine , and it is fitted with a carrying sling
which , ow ing to the flat shape of the gun, permits it to be
carried hanging on the gunner 's back , the s lin g over his left
shoulder , muzzle downwards and magazine inserted , thereb y
enabl in g the gunner to open fire alm ost instantan eously in
case of surprise encounters. It is equiped with a folding
skeleton butt , and the gun can be fired with this shoulder
piece extended or wi th the shoulder piece fo ld ed.
Most of the sub-machine guns developed during the Second World War have th e fault that it is dangerous to carry
the weapon with a loaded magazine inserted and the mechanism cocked , as a jar may fire it , and a shot may also be
fired acciden tall y by a cocking motion being performed too
s hort; in the MADSEN s ub -machine gun there is, in addi-
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ti on to an ordin a ry safety dev ice ac ting on th e trigger mechanis m , a lso a fro nt sa fe ty, th e b reec h bl ock re taine r ,
w hi c h prevents the gun fr om be in g fire d with ou t the gun ne r
hav ing hi s hand round th e magazin e hous in g to s upp ort th e
gu n and s imul ta neous ly re le as in g th e breech bl ock re tain e r ,
th e re lease of w hic h does not r eq ui re any atte nti on as h is
thumb in the most natu ra l way presses agains t the dow nward leve r of the breech bl oc k re tain er.
T he ra te of fir e is 500- 550 r ounds pe r minute , whi ch is
ge ne rall y cons idered to be very nearl y the ideal ra te fo r s ub m ac hin e guns used in full au tomati c fire; th e gun was de lib erate ly s lowed down to thi s figu re .
Norm all y it is c hambe red for the 9 mm Pa rabe llum pi s tol
cartrid ge, but it ca n also be chamb e re d for the s tandard .45
automati c pi s tol cart r idge with out increasing th e weig ht of
th e g un . Whil e it is norm a ll y inten de d to be used at a range
under I 00 me tres , it may be us e d s till with good accu rac y
up to 200 me tres.
Fig. 1.
MADSEN sub-ma ch ine g un with ex tended shoulde r p iece.
Th e rora l length o f th e gun is now 780 rnm .
W eig h t 3 kg.
The magaz ine h o lds 32 ro un ds.
Fig . 2.
MADSEN sub -machin e gun with cl osed shou lde r p iece.
The total le ngth is no w 530 mm .
G
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SHORT DESCRIPTION OF
THE MAIN PARTS
Data of th e MAD SEN sub -mac hin e gun :
Calibre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
W e ight with out magazin e and s lin g.
W e ight of empt y m agazin e . . . . . . . . . . .
W e ig ht of fill e d magazin e . . . . . . . . . . . .
Le ngth .of barrel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Len gth with s houlde r pi ece ex te nd ed
Le ngth with s hould er pi ece fold ed . . .
Rate of fire
500- 550 rounds
9 mm
3. 15 kg
200 g
5 90 g
200 mm
78 0 mm
530 mm
pe r min .
The s ub -machin e gun co ns ists of th e foll owing main
pa rts:
Th e fram e ,
the barre l,
th e breech bl ock with cockin g handl e,
th e re turn sprin g,
th e tri gge r mechani s m ,
the sa fe ty devices,
th e magaz in e and
th e s houlde r pi ece.
Th e frame cons is ts of two alm ost id entical pieces of
pressed s heet s teel , s hape d with pi s tol grip and magazine
hous in g . The tw o pa rts are hin ged at th e rear , and at the
fore end asse mbl e d and locked by the barre l-bearin g nut.
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Th e ie ft half, whi c h acts as a lid on th e ri ght ha lf, ca rr ies
the s ling swi vels and also the s ights cons is ting of the fores ight and the backs ig ht ; th e fo resight is blad e s haped and
ca pabl e of late ra l adju s tm e nt , th e bac ks ig ht is a fixed ape rture s ig ht . Th e gun is s ighted for I 0 0 m ra nge.
Th e oute r wall s of the fr ame have a s moo th s urface, and
whe n th e m agazin e is in pos iti on , th e frame is dus tp roof.
T he left inn er wa ll has a t the fro nt e nd a p rojec ting rib ,
w hi c h ac ts as ejec tor. In the ri ght wa ll of th e frame is an
ope ning fo r ejectio n of th e s pe nt ca rt r idge case.
T he trigger mechanism is pl aced at the bottom of the
r ight fr ame par t. It cons is ts of the tri gge r and the tri gge r
rod w ith th eir res pec ti ve sprin gs; the tri gger rod is fo rce d
upwa rds b y its s prin g to catch in a notch at the b ottom of
the breech bl ock w hen th e latte r is in cocked positi on. T he
long arm of th e tr igge r , p rojectin g dow nwards th ro ugh an
ope nin g in th e bottom wall of th e ri ght fra me part , is protec te d by a tri gge r guard .
The barrel has a s mooth e xte ri or with no radi a tin g rin gs,
an d th e bore has 4 g rooves. Th e breech e nd of th e bar re l
res ts in the b reech secti on of the fr ame and has an ex te rn al
rib whi ch fits into a correspo ndin g groove in the two fra me
halves and prevents th e bar re l fro m mov in g in long itu din al
di rec ti on ; on the left s id e of the barre l-c hamb er a groove is
cu t away , co rrespond ing to th e e jec tor r ib , thus preventin g
the barre l from rotating .
Th e safety catch, w hi ch can onl y be appli ed w he n the
b reec h bl ock is in cocke d pos iti on , is pl aced at th e bottom
of th e fr ame and is wo rkin g on th e tri gge r rod . A finger
pi ece at th e left en d of th e safety ca tch passes th ro ugh a
s hort s lot in the left fra me part , and pu s hing it bac kward
will lock the tri gger rod .
T he breech block moves ins id e th e fra me e n th e botto m
wall of th e r ig ht frame par t. Th e fir in g pin is s tati onary in
the breech bl oc k , but re movabl e. In a groove at the front
e nd of th e ri ght s id e of th e breec h block is pl aced the extracto r w hi c h is secure d by means of a ver tica l pin.
Th e cocldng handle has a dow n wa rd pointing plu g w hi ch
passes throug h a s lot at the top of th e frame between th e
two frame par ts and e nte rs the cock in g handl e hole in top
of the breec h bloc k and secure d by mea ns of a pin.
T he return s pri ng is pl ace d in a pil ot hole of th e breech
bl oc k . Th e rear e nd of the re turn s pr in g wor ks aga in s t th e
s pr in g base wh ic h is loosely inserte d in th e fra me against
the rea r wall of the ri g ht frame pa r t ; at its fo re e nd th e
s prin g base has a p ro trudin g tubular s prin g guide.
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The safety de vises are tw o:
Th e breech block retainer is also pl aced at th e bottom
of th e fra me, but somew hat forwa rd of the safety catch , and
it wo rks on th e b reec h bl ock and prevents it from movin g
compl ete ly for wa rd .
Th e magazine is of th e box type , holdin g 32 ca rtrid ges.
It is inserted fr om be low into th e magaz in e hous in g, and it
is loc ke d in pos iti on by means of th e magazin e catch at th e
rea r wall of the magazin e hous in g; the m agazin e catch is re leased by pu s hin g it bac kwa rd . The m agazin e can be in serted whe th e r the breec h bl ock is in its forward or its rea r
( cocke d ) pos iti on . Whe n th e breec h bl ock is in its for ward
positi on , a littl e more fo rce mus t be exer te d to insert th e
magaz in e as th e top car tr id ge presses again s t th e und ersid e
of th e breec h bl ock .
Th e shoulder piece is a s ke le ton butt ; th e s ke le ton is of
s teel tubin g, par tl y leath e r-covered .
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It is hinged to the rea r e nd of th e ri ght frame part , the
lower hin ge bei ng be hind the pi sto l grip . It is retained in
ex te nd ed and in fold e d pos ition by me ans of a notch and a
lu g in the hin ge, and it can be moved from th e one pos ition
to th e othe r by a s li g ht je rk . By means of the loc k on th e
uppe r s houlder piece bolt the s hould er pi ece can be loc ke d
in ex te nd e d positi on. When sw un g forward it li es partl y
a long th e right s id e of the frame , and in thi s posi tion it is
very compact , makin g it poss ibl e to use th e weapon as an
au tomatic pistol us in g both hands.
ACTION OF THE GUN
The MA DSEN s ub-m ac hine gun has si mpl e blowback
action. i. e . the re lative ly heavy weight of the breech bl ock
and th e tens ion of the return s prin g hold th e breec h closed
until breech pressure drops to safe limits after firing.
Start ing from loaded and cocked position , i. e. th e loaded
m agazi ne inserted in the magazi ne hous ing and the breech
bl ock in its rear position caught by the tri gger rod , the acti on is as follows:
Wh e n the tri gger is pressed its forw ard poin tin g ar m
moves th e tri gger ro d downw ards out of its contact wi th
th e breech bl ock. The compressed return s prin g is now free
to drive th e breech bl ock forward, and if th e breech block
retainer is pressed forward, the breech block will run comple tel y forward, and durin g thi s movem ent it will s trip th e
top cartridge from between th e cutaway lips of th e magazine
and push it forward. The bulle t nose is guid ed by the barrel
feed of the breech secti on of the frame up into the chamber
as th e rear of th e cartridge clears the lips of the magazin e,
and as it enters th e chamber the cartridge lines up with th e
firing pin fixed in th e breech bl oc k, enabling the firing pin
to hit th e cap of the cartridge whereby the round is fired. At
this tim e th e extractor on th e ri g ht s id e of the breech bl ock
is s prun g over the groove in th e cartridge case .
The powder gases gene rate d in th e cartridge case drive
th e bullet forward and thrus t the cartridge case backwards
aga ins t the face of the breech bl ock. The breech block s tarts
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to move to th e rear , but in vi ew of much greate r we ig ht of
th e breech bl oc k and th e re turn s prin g te ns ion in re lati on to
th e compa rativ e ly li g ht bull e t we ight, the chamber is not
ope ne d appreciabl y until the bull e t has le ft th e mu zzle. By
thi s tim e the breech pressure has dr opped to sa fe limit.
As the breech bl ock s tarts to th e re ar , th e now e mpt y
ca rtridge case is he ld at th e fa ce of the breech bl ock g ripped
by th e ex trac tor and dra wn out of th e ch ambe r . Whe n it
c lears the chamber th e left s id e of its head is s truck again s t
th e ejector , and the case is pi vo te d out through the ej ecti on
ope nin g.
The breech bl ock continu es to travel to th e re ar , and as
it passes th e m outh of th e magazin e, the m agazin e s pring
fo rces th e nex t cartrid ge s li ghtl y upwards re ad y to be picked
up on th e forward moti on .
The re turn spring is co mpressed and the breech bl ock
trave ls back on th e trac ks in th e fram e walls until the e ne rgy
is abso rbe d ; the cockin g handl e trav e ls with its plu g in the
cocking s lot, w hich is long e noug h to permit it to travel s till
furth e r to th e re ar th an re quired for jus t cockin g th e gun ,
thu s preve ntin g a s udd e n s hock to th e plu g.
If th e tri gger is not ac tu ated an y more , th e tri gger rod ,
fo rce d up by the tri gger rod s prin g , catch es in th e und e rs id e
of the breec h bl oc k, holding it ready for the nex t s hot. If th e
tri gger is s till pressed , the breech block will , however , not
be in g e ngaged by th e tri gger rod , move fo rw ard pu s he d by
th e re turn s prin g, and thi s cycl e of operati on continu es as
long as th e tri gge r is pressed and the re are any rounds left
in th e magazin e .
Fig. 3.
MADSEN s ub-ma chine gun
Fig. 4.
MADSEN sub-mach ine gun
carri ed o n gua rd d ury.
ca rr ie d o n th e march.
Fro m thi s posi tio n th e g un ca n be shi fted
ro un d ro rh e back, rh e mu zzle po in ting
downwa rds
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w
rh e rig h t.
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FIRING
Fig. 5.
The sub -mac hin e gun can be fired fro m m any di ffere nt
positi ons, bu t w he th er firin g from th e hip , kn ee lin g, s ittin g,
s tandin g or pro ne, th e correct grip is always with left hand
fi rml y round the magaz in e hous ing , the thumb pressing
against the b reec h block re ta ine r , and w ith th e r ight han d
round th e pis tol grip and as us ua l press in g th e tri gge r wh e n
a burst is to be fire d . S in gle s hots may be fire d by qui c kl y
re leasin g the tri gger, the normal, however , bei ng s hort
burs ts of tw o or three r ounds.
It s hould always be re memb e re d that thi s wea pon fir es
whe n the b reec h block goes full y forwar d ; if the b reec h bl oc k
re tain e r, howeve r , is not re leased , th e breech bl ock will be
s toppe d on its way fo rward and no round will be fir e d . In
ord er to continu e firin g th e coc kin g handl e mu s t th en be
pulle d bac k as fa r as it will go. Acc id e ntal fir ing caused by
an incompl ete cocking moti on or by an uninte nd e d rear wa rd
move me nt of th e breec h bl ock as a result of a s hoc k to th e
gun if dr oppe d or la id down ha rd , is a lso exc lude d ow in g
to th e b reec h bl oc k retain er.
Fig. 6.
Firing rhe MADSEN sub-machine gun.
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INSTRUCTIONS
F OR LOADING TH E MA GAZ I NE
AN D FO R ST RIPPI NG A ND ASSE M BLI NG
T H E GUN
Fig. 7.
Th e prone pos iti o n.
Magazine resring on rhe grou nd.
Loading the magazine. A s pec ial magaz in e loadin g appa ratu s is issue d w ith each s ub -mac hin e gun and can be
carri e d ins id e ' th e pi s tol grip . It cons is ts of a s hort housi ng
into w hich th e m agazin e can be inserte d ; on to p of th e
hous in g is a sprin g-actuate d button . By pu shin g dow n f irml y
on th e button the m agazin e s pr in g and any cartridge will be
pressed dow n by a plun ge r .
H old the loadin g appa ratu s and the magazin e together by
th e left hand in s uch a mann e r th at the thumb can p ress th e
button ; th e m agaz in e mu s t be s upp orte d in a s uitabl e manne r . Insert a ro und und e r the lips of the magazin e mouth ,
base firs t, with the ri ght hand , release th e bu tton when the
ca rtridge e ncounte rs the plun ge r of th e ap para tu s and press
th e ca rtridge in u ntil it meets the rear wall of the magaz in e .
Re peat th ese ac ti ons until the m agazi ne is fill e d.
If no loadin g appara tus is ava i!abl e, cart r idges m ay be
in serted by hand .
Strippin g and as s embling the gun . F oll ow in g pa rts
can be re moved wi th ou t too ls : barre l-bearin g nut , barre l.
s prin g base. re tu rn sprin g and breech bl ock with cock in g
handl e . Wh e n th ese are removed . th e fr ame is eas il y accessible fo r clea nin g in s id e.
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When the sub-mach in e gun is to be stripped, the magazine must be withdrawn, the shou lder piece folded and the
breech block in its forward pos ition. The first thing to do is
to unscrew the barrel-bearing nut.
Lay the gun on its right side on table or knee. Open the
frame by pulling at the front sli ng swivel with the right
hand , the left hand pressing against the barrel. Remove the
barrel.
Remove the return spring by pressing the spring base
forward and upwards, whereafter the return spring can be
withdrawn from the pilot hole in the breech block. Lift the
breech block up . Any further stripping should be done only
by qualified armourer.
After cleaning the parts shou ld be oiled very li ghtly. Assembly is carried out in opposite order.
The magazine can be cleaned by removing the bottom.
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COMPONENTS OF GUN
1
2
:3
4
Barrel-bea ri ng nut
Sling sw ivel
Ejecto r
Extractor p in
5 Extractor
G Breech block
7 Frame half (left)
8 Fra me half (righ t)
9 Safety catch
10 Sling swivel
11 Barrel
12 Barrel beari ng
13 Corn
H Firi ng pin
15 Cocking hand le
1(; R etu rn sprin g
1 i Breech block retai ner
18 T rigge r rod
1!) Tri gge r
20 T rigger p late
21 Return sp ring gu ide (complete)
22 R ear sig h t p late
23 Shou lde r piece bolt (uppe r)
2± Should er pi ece
25 Shou lder piece spri ng
21) Firing pi n rivet
27 M agaz ine
28 Magazine ca tch pin
29 M agazi ne catch
30 M agaz in e catch sp ring
31 Tr igge r rod pin
:{2 Trigge r rod spring
33 Trigge r g uard
3± Trigge r sp ring
35 M agazi ne load ing appa ratus
3G Sho ulder p iece bolt (l ower)
37 Shou lder piece bo lt nut
38 Sho ul der piece lock
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