Impressions from rather limited hands-on experience
I've fired a few magazinesful through an StG44 and thought it was a hoot. I viewed it much like shooting a Sten Gun or MP40 -- it is a link to another age, to the historical era that was World War II. I couldn't really consider my experience as anything like tactical training, and I haven't even fired the gun in a match. It was an experience I value, and I'm grateful to the owner of this particular piece for his generosity in submitting his gun to my tender mercies, and for allowing me to burn a fairly large number of his rather dear cartridges.
Impressions? Controlable rate of fire, adequate power for the mission, superior placement of safety and selector, compared to the AK47/AKM series. Both are handy to the thumb, without moving the firing hand. I think the left-side position of the bolt handle is superior as well. I believe the actual firing of the AK is easier than the StG44, but then I've shot AKs a lot more.
I cannot make educated comment on the potential long range accuracy of the StG, having shot it at about 50 yards max. A purely subjective impression: I cannot believe it has the intrinsic accuracy to make it an even marginal "sniper rifle," no matter what sights are fitted. Area fire to 300 -- 400 meters? Sure, but NOT
pick out an enemy and take him down accurate at that range. That's okay; neither is any SMG, or even the US Carbine M1. This family of weapons were the original mass produced
Sturmgewehrs, ASSAULT rifles, some of the few properly deserving that nomenclature.
Somebody once told me it was probably the best firearm of WW2, excluding the Garand.
I respectfully doubt that. Not gainsaying that this series is a benchmark in firearms development, I believe they came, made their contribution, and departed. We must note that they were never picked up in production after WWII. The AK47, with its entirely different locking system and "peasant proof" construction, was far superior in the long run. During WWII? The StG didn't successfully combine the best characteristics of the SMG and battle rifle weapons systems. Short range, high volume fire was better provided by the MP40, the Thompson, the PPSh series, and yes, even the Sten and M3. If you rule out the M1 Garand, the runnerup would probably be the GEW43 - - rather long, rather heavy, semiauto only, but accurate, powerful, and reliable.
Like the first generation SMGs (Thompsons,) the StG44 had its niche, filled it pretty well, and then progress passed it by. Today, there are at least a half dozen designs which would serve the soldier better.
Best regards,
Johnny