Sterling or Sten?

General Firearms NFA
1

I’m interested in buying a machinegun. I have a few SBR’s and they are my serious guns. As much as I would love to own an M16 or a Thompson it is just not in the cards for me.

I’ve always been interested in a Sterling or a Sten. I know the Sterling is more refined and more expensive but I don’t know much more than that. I don’t even know where to look for one. I’ve looked online and have seen prices all over the place.

I’d be interested I. Hearing what you guys have and how they’ve worked for you. Spare parts and magazines would also be a concern as I would plan to own this “forever” and will it to my kids.

Templar I know I’ve seen some photos of you shooting your Sterling!

Thanks.

2

No contest, get a Sterling, or STEnling. A STEnling is a Sterling parts kit built on a registered STEn tube. There are some modifications that must be made to the kit so it fits the STEn tube.

3

Thanks Doug.

4

I am surprised that no one else has responded.

In my opinion the Sterling is one of smoothest cycling, most reliable open bolt sub-machineguns ever made. The mags are extremely smooth and reliable.

If I remember correctly, you can use STEn mags in a Sterling, but you cannot use Sterling mags in a STEn.

STEn’s are less refined and the magazines are hit and miss for function.

I recommend you buy the Sterling as long as it is in your price range.

For those trying to get into a subgun as inexpensively as possible I recommend an M-11 9mm and a Lage Mfg upper. I also recommend one of Lage’s .22 conversion kits for his upper. I must disclose that I consider Richard Lage a friend, so yes I am biased. I am not however employed by, nor do I receive any monetary gain from Lage Mfg.

5

I would agree with AZ Doug on the Sterling. Several friends of mine all have Andrewski built Sterlings done on DLO registered tubes. BEAUTIFUL smgs. They are among the smoothest, most controllable, and enjoyable smgs to shoot in my opinion. Mags are built like a tank and very easy to load.

Another to consider is the UZI. Spare parts and mags are still very widely available. Mags are very inexpensive. Barrels are easily swapped and the UZI is simple to suppress with several different mounting options. I have a fullsize Vector UZI and love it…it is one of my guns that always seems to make it to the range with me when I go. I usually have a 3-lugged IMI barrel installed and shoot mine with an SWR QD3K suppressor.

As AZ Doug also mentioned, the MAC-11 with Lage upper is also a very nice option. If you are wanting to use modern optics, there is really no comparison. It is also a very smooth shooter with the option to buy bolts of varying weight to adjust your rate of fire. I don’t own a Lage upper for my MAC, but a friend has one for his and it is really fun to shoot. It also suppresses well using a 3-lugged barrel.

I personally don’t have any trigger time on the STEn, so I cannot comment. For my money, I would choose one of the above options over the STEn as the above are much more refined platforms. I would like a STEn one day to round out the collection, but I would not choose it as my only MG.

6

Thanks guys. It looks like the Sterling’s are made, on the registered tubes, right next door in NH! I should make a trip to check them out.

7

The Sten has a bad reputation for NDs.

I carried a sterling for a few years, and enjoyed it. The Brits I work with have high regards for it, but it also has the stigma of having NDs, though I never had any issues. I carried it with the bolt closed on an empty chamber.

8

usmcvet, what’s your budget? Give me a hard $ ceiling…

In the $7K range, a John Andrewski/DLO Mk.4 Sterling, or a Vector UZI would be my first choices. The UZI will be more sustainable as far as parts, magazines, and they are easily suppressed. Also, if you up the rate of fire on an UZI with a recoil buffer, they actually become more controllable.

The Sterling, as well as the UZI, are legendary open bolt sub guns. The Sterling is by far the smoothest shooting out of the box of any open bolt sub gun. Low rate of fire, around 550-600 rpm. Not easy to mount optics on. The Sterling is also a fairly light weight open bolt sub gun, and is always a hit with both novice shooters as well as salty guys.

Both the Sterling and UZI have operated and continue to operate in just about every environment on earth, and do it well.

I’d personally avoid a STEN unless it’s either 1) a C&R GI bring back Mk.II or MK.V, or built by one of the well known and well thought of smiths on a good tube. Avoid the Mk.III’s.

The STEN was developed at a time when the invasion of Great Britain was a real possibility and they needed something that a bicycle factory could make. It’s a spring, a tube, and a prayer…

STEN magazines tend to need fitting to the gun, as there are millions and millions of STEN mags produced, and they tend to not be consistent.

If you want to get into a sub gun for around $4K or there about, then definitely go with a MAC-10 manufactured in the original Powder Springs GA facility (if you want old school), or a SWD M11-9 and get upgrades on it from Lage for a more modern open bolt.

I’ll be MORE than happy to help you spend money. :big_boss:

Novice shooter with my Sterling Mk.4 in semi auto engaging steel @ 30 yards.

VERY novice shooter getting her first taste of full auto fun.

Trigger control/bursts on the Sterling

9

If those are your only two choices, then Sterling all the way. It’s a far better weapon than the Sten. The first time I shot a Sterling, I was honestly surprised at how smooth and controllable it was. As a pure shooter, I have to say I like it better than any other open-bolt SMG I’ve tried. That said, I haven’t had any time on the Lage-modified M11s, but compared to the MP40, Sten, Uzi, unmodified MAC or even the Thompson, I’d take a Sterling any day of the week.

10

For smooth shooting open bolt SMGs I would go with this list

  1. Beretta P12S - no transferables that I know of.
  2. Beretta 38A - pretty rare gun
  3. Swedish K - good tube guns but more expensive
  4. Sterling - only get the ones built on DLO tubes
  5. MP40 - Good selection of original and tube guns but more expensive.
  6. Uzi - get a vector

The first 4 and the UZI have excellent magazines.

I sold my MP-5 and kept the the Swedish K. Still looking for a nice Beretta 38A.

11

If you decide on the Uzi I have a Coastal Suppressor that needs a home. :stuck_out_tongue:

12

Thanks Guys.

$8,500 is my Max. Less would be easier. I don’t have all of the money yet but want to know what I need to budget and save.

I shot an MKP about 15 years ago and loved that little gun. It had a nice slow cyclic rate if fire. The Sterling is just something I’ve always liked and it really comes down to money.

13

Recon Ord/John Andrewski Sterling Mk.4 on a DLO tube or a Vector UZI would be my choices in that price range. You can definitely buy new in box.

I might be able to hook a brother up. :ph34r:

14

Can you please elaborate more on this, rather than start another thread on the same thing I am going to poke around for information here. If I do need to start my own thread someone please let me know.

I would like to get into something in the $3K-$4K range, and saw a few videos of an M11 on full auto in .22 and it just looks like way too much fun to be legal, this would work well for me as I load for 9mm and .22 is cheap to buy in bulk.

I would appreciate any info on this

15

Rather than elaborating I will give you a link to Lage Mfg web-site.

http://www.max-11.com/

If you have any questions after looking at the web-site let me know, or ask Richard Lage himself. He has great customer service and willingly answers your questions.

16

Thanks brother, I have been doing a lot of research since my post and found most of the answers to my questions, and sent Richard an email which he responded to.

PM incoming…

17

As much as I would love to own an M16 or a Thompson it is just not in the cards for me.

No input on the subguns. But if you are interested in a rifle caliber “affordable” MG, have you considered the FNC?

18

I have had a DLO Sten, an Erb Mk 5 Sten and Don’s gunshop converted Erb Sten tube into a Stenling Sterling Mk 4.

Of all, the Sterling Mk 4 was the smoothest shooter and nicest subgun of the 3…something to watch out for on the Sterling conversions is whether the rear stock locks up properly. My DGS conversion sucked in that respect and I had to have some major work done to correct something DGS should not have left the shop.

Saying that, The Sten does have tons of spares and in the Mk 5 version, it is very comfortable and collectable. The Sterling conversion of the Sten is sexy and shoots smoother, but the mags and spare parts can be hard to find. The major parts like mags, a spare barrel and driver springs/spare extractor will be hard to find in a price that you want to pay.

Depends on what you want and how much you want to pay. Like the man said, if these are your two choices, they are both fine weapons and shooters.

Good luck on your search.

19

I actually have some cash stashed away, and when the funds are available will end up getting a DLO Sterling L34A1 (Integral Suppressed Sterling) clone.

Between that and an H&K MP5SD clone.