Canadian AR has some great points.
If you want a non VOPO G/K43 - almost cheaper to import from the US. Better pricing and more examples, Canadian AR and agentcq have done this - as well as others.
The rifle didn't lose the was due to function/reliability - but perhaps led to a speedier defeat. The problem was in 1940-42 the German Arms industry had at least 3x mass produced semi-auto/full auto 'rifles' competing for resources at the same time - not a bright idea in the middle of a war. FG42 - Luftwaffe design, G41-G/K43 and the Mkhb(42) and MP43/44/STG44 lineage of rifles. At the same time they were also trying to meet K98 production.
In my opinion the FG42 and MP44 were way better than the G series rifles. If the war had gone longer I am sure the G series rifles would have been a footnote in the war and production wouldn't have lasted much longer. The FG42 was also very expensive so the MP series probably would have won the competition and made the biggest impact in the war.
There were many reasons for this diversion of resources. Goering wanted his own rifle, Hitler initially disliked the idea of a select fire weapon which hindered the production of MP rifles and the G rifles were developed as an afterthought so to speak. Even the thought of changing the names of rifles as often as they did was a waste of resources (Mkb42, MP43, MP44, STG44) - changing out stamps takes times - let alone the time to write and process orders - days of production would have been lost just in changing the name of a rifle. Its a good thing the Nazi's were somewhat crazy or they possibly could have one the war.
The Soviets did the right thing. Had a bolt rifle, tried a semi, realized a bolt rifle with the intermediate PPSH was better/cheaper and more expedient. As a result - not as many resources wasted, more rifles and machine pistols on the front lines killing Nazi's. Problem solved.
