www.MG42.us

I had an MG15 and a couple watercooled kits. The rear of the jacket pictured looks exactly like the MG15 kits I have. The inside of the rear of that jacket is threaded just like the MG15 jackets. On the other hand the MG34 has no threads on its receiver and does not use that mounting method. I agree...

While I wholeheartedly believe that TIG is the way to go I do have a friend who uses a stick welder for everything. His post samples were very well done and until I saw him welding on a ZB26 I didn't know he wasn't using TIG. If you want to try the stick then use smaller welding rod and turn the amp...

Unsynchronized the MG17 runs about 1000-1200rpm. Synchronized they run about 800-900rpm. Since they shoot standard 7.92 mauser the cost per round should be about $.80/rd in quantity or less for surplus. Still a major cost however. Belts could be a tough deal since they won't run well with MG34/42 be...

I don't think any of these quads were standard issue weapons. They were built up by waffenmeisters to use up guns that were otherwise fairly useless. They were replaced by MG131's or MG151's in the aircraft so MG17's and MG15's were available for ground troops. The MG15 was useable by groundpounders...

I think it all depends on what you want and where you live or shoot. I had a couple 42's and a yugo rebuild lafette. It was pretty neat to take it out in New Mexico and Colorado where we could shoot out to a mile or more. The search fire function was amazing at that range. On the other hand at the s...

Zinc will foul as bad or worse than lead. There is a reason we have been using copper or copper based plated jackets on bullets since the late 1800's and fouling is one of them. If you want to shoot lower velocity single shot hand loaded guns then lead is the way to go. Its cheap, easy to cast and t...

I think cast bullets through a high velocity machinegun is a bad idea. You get enough heat to lead up shooting semi or singles....why would you ever want to plug the pipe up solid by shooting lead full auto? If you are talking about a gun that is not an MG as in one of the semi's that guys are build...

7.65 Argentine could work. You might be able to use more or less standard 7.62X51 parts other than the barrel. 7.65 Argy is a .311" bore so its probably a good idea to use a proper bore diameter on the barrel. If you reload you might be able to buy dies for the .308 diameter bullets like you find in...

Actually the 7.5 Swiss has a larger rim and body diameter. Its not going to be simple and the cost of ammo will be much higher...I've got lots of 7.5 Swiss rifles and I don't get to shoot them much unless I reload. You will find that opening up the bolt face is going to be difficult and you will nee...

Its been done......not sure why though. I found a 7mm barrel in a friends pile of MG42 stuff and it had Belgian proofs on it. We put it in his MG42 and tried running it with some venezuelan and some DWM 7mm military ammo. The gun would function somewhat but didn't have enough poop to cycle reliably....

Thats the first serial numbered and proofed wooden mag bottom I've seen on a WWI luger. I collected Artillery lugers back in the 70' and 80's and all the wood bottom mags were unmarked. It wasn't until I bought a Swiss 06 Bern luger that I saw wood bottoms marked in any way......are you sure that is...

Thanks for posting that info. I've known Dan for many years and had no idea he had anything going on healthwise. He will be missed.


Frank

Not sure about Jennifer as I don't know any german girls by that name....how about Gisele, Uve, Ilse, Ute.....lots to choose from if you look.

Frank

Not to be a butthead but the MG53 is actually a colt aircraft machinegun in .50 cal. The M53 is the yugo version of the MG42. It appears you've been working on a semi-auto variant of the M53.......I realize that other uninformed individuals use the term MG53 to refer to the yugo gun but it sounds as...

Wasn't Lafayette the french general who helped out George Washington??? I think you're looking for a Lafette....
do you want a postwar or wartime Lafette? Exactly what sort of rangefinder are you looking for? There are a number of makers and types and countries of origin.

Thanks
Frank

Part II of above.... Other advice here is don't use crap ammo in these guns. Lots of guys used turkish 8mm ammo in these guns and I got a lot of work out of their mistake. The primers in the turk ammo are widely varied in their timing and when you add the huge variation in pressure from round to rou...

The spring thing is called a Bolt Catch. Its purpose is to upset a harmonic whereby the bolt head hits the barrel extension, the rollers move outward to lock than bounce back toward the unlocked position and then return toward locked. The rollers basically cycle back and forth. The bolt catch bounce...

The material is mild steel in the MG42 receivers. Not sure of carbon content. Normalizing would likely cause warpage and wouldn't help any with the welding or life extension. The load in the MG42 is primarily in the bolt head and barrel extension. The buffer end of the receiver does take some beatin...

The front of the MG3 feed tray has a protrusion that may or may not clear the cutout in your WWII MG42 receiver. I believe it is there to help guide the round into the barrel. It it won't fit in your gun you can either open up the receiver slightly or relieve the feedtray. It doesn't normally take a...

Kind of interesting to see the US Watercooled .50cal Browning on a DShK mount....wonder how they did that. Doesn't seem that our govt is much interested in preserving any of our military history. With the tank museum at ft knox being pretty much left out to rust in georgia to an unknown fate and the...