correct way to hold an MP 40?

there is no other way
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQo9yZT_m8w
u can’t hold the barrel and if you could it would have got too hot for you to do so, holding mags whilst firing real guns (in my experience) don’t cause stoppages

Yes, they do. But if you hold high up, where the mag feed joins the mag, that is authentic.

I think the gun was designed to be fired with the stock extended and the forehand griping the gun behind the magwell where the bakelite actually has grips molded into it.

But the magwell grip feels more natural.

that is authentic.

thats not what concerns me its the fact i might get slaped at my local site for holding it by the mag like i did with my sten

holding by the mag can cause stoppages, but not always.

I used to fire a real sterling SMG holding the magazine, and never had a stoppage in 2 years of use. I once fired a real sa80 over a car roof holding it by the pistol grip and magazine over my head, and got a stoppage after about 10 rounds of automatic fire.

also i was issued a browning pistol that jammed every second round fired, it could only fire two rounds, then had to be recocked, EVERY SINGLE TIME, blat blat, recock, blat blat, recock, and so on if i held it with the palm of my left hand pressing the mag up, it would fire all 13 rounds as fast as i liked.

as for the airsoft mp40, i never use the stock, and always fire from the hip holding pistol grip and magazine, and i walk the rounds on target. (thats how it looks in the films, and i think it looks cool, a lot better than gun in shoulder black hawk down style)

in the heat of a firefight, no-ones bothered to correct my weapon handling

The Sten gun had a big problem if you held the mag due to the design it would/ could shake loose. On an MP40 I would tend to hold my left hand on the mag well with my thumb on the right side and fingers round the front as shown here. The mag well is rib stamped so I would presume for the purpose of holding as much as adding strength to it also the flaring of the well helps keep your grip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuhQdvkORu4

LOOK IN THIS VIDEO

1:14 mins in
genuine ww2 footage, guy fireing mp40 HOLDING THE MAGAZINE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdGwKt0tzgA

can someone embed it, ive no idea how to

thats not what concerns me its the fact i might get slaped at my local site for holding it by the mag like i did with my sten

Slap them back. Richard Todd holds the mag in "The Longest Day" - Not authentic WW2 footage, but he is someone who was there...

Real Steel:
An MP40 was designed to be fired with the supporting hand gripping the bulge on the bakelite furniture just behind the magazine housing.
In practical terms this led to the weapon feeling unbalanced as it is short even with the stock extended.
Gripping the magazine housing is an acceptable method of supporting the weapon when firing but care MUST be taken to keep the thumb clear of the ejection port as the bolt is unforgiving and will amputate the portion of digit that is trapped.
Gripping the magazine is also acceptable but it is best to hold above the mid point and if stoppages occur this is usually due to slack fit of the mag and movement of that component due to the hand/firing cycle combo. To alleviate this I have found that pushing forwards on the magazine whilst holding the weapon causes the mag to tilt forwards slightly allowing the feed ramps to strip a round every time.
Holding a mag at the bottom can cause it to rock during the firing cycle and stoppages can occur. Again pushing it forwards has been known to assist.

Airsoft - Just hold it around the mag housing. It's most comfy and affords a good grip and a steady stance when the stock is extended.

If anyone criticises you explain sex and travel to them then inform them that if it works - it works......

Sten guns - funny beasts..... You are supposed to hold the shroud forward of the mag housing and wrap your fingers around it but invariably you will find this little piggy overlaps the ejection port! Holding them by the mag housing can result in the mag release being depressed and the mag popping out. Holding the mag is much like an MP40 - snug fitting mags are fine - Loose ones need rocking one way or the other to allow the rounds to feed consistently. I have fired a MkII live using the front of the trigger group housing as my support and achieved a reasonable group at 25m.

Live fire - Firing from the hip is a proper acquired skill. You must obtain muscle memory and learn to mentally point the weapon about a foot to 18 inches lower than the point you are looking at as a target. If you point at what you are looking at then you will more often than not find the rounds sail over it. Once you get the knack it's a proper buzz thudding rounds into what you point the gat at......

hold the underside of the weapon or the mag housing, holding the mag caused stoppages, its there on the wiki page so it must be true!

its there on the wiki page so it must be true!

*slap*

hold the underside of the weapon or the mag housing, holding the mag caused stoppages, its there on the wiki page so it must be true!

I really have no clue how i'd grip one Probably like PAPASHA