How far rearward the barrel will go in the barrel housing is limited by the recuperator. If I remember right, the bolt starts to unlock after the barrel goes 7mm rearward, but has to go further, of course, to finish unlocking. While holding the barrel rearward (as far as possible) with the top cover...

Pictures will tell the tale. Please post them here.

The bolt rollers are pushed in by the cams when the bolt/barrel recoils. This can be simulated by taking out the recoil spring and buffer, and removing the grip, then pushing on the barrel with a broom handle while someone holds the gun vertical and pulls on the charging handle. The possibility also...

"Whilst messing about my MG..." What does that mean exactly? "the bolt got stuck in the camming piece" I don't understand how that can happen. The only function of the cams is to push the rollers inward when the barrel/bolt recoil together. Did you mean that the bolt head is stuc...

First thing I'd do is swap the feed tray with your other gun. It sounds like the cartridge isn't being guided ("aimed at") the chamber properly. It's my guess that will solve that problem. If it doesn't, swap the top cover.

1. If you put the belted cartridge into the middle of the feed tray with the bolt forward, close the feed tray, and then pull the charging handle back, of course it doesn't feed. That's not the way to load the gun. The bolt should be rearward when the belt is laid in and the top cover gets closed. T...

Most certainly there were bakelite stocks made for the MG34 and MG42, but there were a lot that were wood, too. Every MG74 I've seen had a Steyer green plastic stock on it, and many have shown up in parts kits or as surplus. I can't prove or guarantee that this is or isn't a stock for any particular...

Below are the pictures Tybie25 sent me. It looks wartime to me. The post war bakelite stocks have a flat circular area around the rear plate bolt, and there is a part number stamped inside the metal cup that goes onto the buffer. The rear buttplate of a wartime bakelite stock has grooves that go to ...

It's supposed to be pressed in, not dropped in.

A little JBWeld epoxy would take care of that. You're quite right, it shouldn't fall out.

It may just need the lenses wiped off, or what happens sometimes is that the glue that holds the layers of glass together to form a lens goes bad. One is a relatively easy fix. If the glue is bad, it's not repairable. You didn't say which sight you have. There are two different styles. One has the l...

I never argue with anyone, when I know I'm right. :lol: :lol: :lol: The member list is a little smaller since I took over. I got rid of anyone who hadn't been on here since 12-31-2011. I figure if they haven't been on for 5-1/2 years, they don't need an account. I'm not impressed with meaningless nu...

Tracers don't hurt the barrel, but watch out for field fires.

Striker hasn't been on here for two years. If you click on his name (in his first message of this thread, you can send him an email or at least a private message.

180 degrees off... It doesn't work that way. DOH!

If it was easy, they wouldn't have needed manuals.

http://www.germanmanuals.com/manuals.html The M.G. 34 Trigger System. This booklet has been created by combining the graphics from a WWII MG34 trigger system training poster and information from MG34 manual D 124/1, and the MG34 Glass Slide Manual 131c. Until now, the complicated design and method o...

mg34.com might have one, but you'll have to call and ask them. They have a lot of stuff not listed on their website.

Bil! He's alive!!! (said with a Gene Wilder big-eyed smile)

According to the MG3 operator manual, the MG3 belt filler hopper is taken off and the unbelting adapter is put on with the brush to the left.

I don't think the WW2 style loader does that.

First, is your gun semi or full? My full auto MG42 shoots in .308 just fine without changing the nozzle. Semi autos are on the borderline of having enough recoil to operate the gun, and therefore are more likely to need a booster with a smaller hole. Try it first and see if it works with the nozzle ...

You're in for a lot of work to make that gun shoot. Start with the stickies section and go from there so see what is involved in general.