...my buddy's been flaunting his MG34 now for awhile and I think it's so neat I can't hardly stand it. Prices on those are a little out of my league now... but this MG53 kit wasn't at $254 delivered. Now that I've got it... I have no idea what I've got. So, my question(s) is... could those of you more knowledgeable tell me if everything I need is here?? It looks to me I'll need the bushing that goes in the front being that it's torched through. I know (obviously) I'll need a rear receiver section as well as bolt mods, gripstick and etc... but for a basic kit, how'd I do and what (if anything else) will I need that doesn't come with the new back half?? Am I wrong in thinking it won't be hard to salvage the front half with a new bushing (what is the technical name for that piece??).. or will I need a new shroud/front half as well?
Concerning back halves... I'd really like to keep the build as true to the original form, albeit in semi-auto. I know WiseLite has the 100%er... what are the other alternatives since I haven't got the reciever pieces to do a weld? Is there a blank or 80%er out there?
Did I get hosed on this kit? Any crucial parts missing? There's virtually no bluing wear. What you see in the pics is a light coat of oil. The thing came smothered in cosmo. Not the new fresh stuff either.. the old, super sticky stubborn kind. So much so I had a hard time peeling the plastic bag off of it. Even after that, it was this giant conglomerate of sticky caramel like cosmo, slag and parts. So am I boned for breaking into the belt-fed world or what? All opinions welcome.
To finish the kit you will need the back half of the receiver, and a barrel bushing. Looking at $800 for the rear half of the receiver (rear receiver stampings). I think barrel bushings are around $100. Alternatively, you can purchase a complete receiver for approx $1200.
Your kit looks real good,only thing I don't see are the recuperator bolts,no biggie,they are availlable.The front bushing repair part is from Wise-Lite,around $125.They also have the deal on the receiver half,the thread is in the FS section.There are more parts that come with it,and is a fairly easy weld-up.Check the tutorial here and on Pirates site,lots of info.The best think you can do now is sit down for a few evenings and do the reading here.The FAQs,stickies,and as many of the posts as you can before your eyes get blurry.This site has all the info you will need,you will have to dig for some of it.You are off to a good start with your kit-good luck! ---bil
"I dream of a world where I can buy alcohol,tobacco and firearms from the same drive-up window,and use them all on the way home from work!" Dogbert
There is a tutorial here for building the wise lite rear: viewtopic.php?f=10&t=6312
it is a quality part and possibly the best option available at the moment
You can get the bushing from wise lite, there is a tutoriial here for instaling it: viewtopic.php?f=10&t=5144
I can supply you with parts or completed mods for the bolt and grip.
Pirate, excellent... I'm sure to call on you for the bolt mods. The gripstick, however... guess I jumped the gun and bought the WiseLite one since I was already buying the bushing. (is that good or bad, aside from the extra $$ spent?)
Gentleman, thanks for having a look. I absolutely plan on sitting down and getting educated, I just figured I had about 3 days to report any missing parts in the kit and since I had no idea what was supposed to come with it... your help is greatly appreciated! Recuperator bolts?? Are these cheap to replace or should I call the place I bought the kit from and tell them they shorted me on parts?
It wouldn't hurt to call,they are staked and sometimes it is better to use new,but if you can get them to send you some,go for it.They are odd,not like regular bolts.More of a part,actually.New is around $30 for the set,2 diferant bolts with nuts.Look in the 'recuperator' stickie for pics. ---bil
"I dream of a world where I can buy alcohol,tobacco and firearms from the same drive-up window,and use them all on the way home from work!" Dogbert
Bil wrote:It wouldn't hurt to call,they are staked and sometimes it is better to use new,but if you can get them to send you some,go for it.They are odd,not like regular bolts.More of a part,actually.New is around $30 for the set,2 diferant bolts with nuts.Look in the 'recuperator' stickie for pics. ---bil
Just called and they're going to get one to me asap (sweet). Beats dishing out the $40-50 for a new set. Anybody know of a source for 8mm barrels or are they all bought up/out at this point? Another question, just out of curiosity... my stock looks like black plastic/rubber.. but it has a wood grain in it. Is there wood under there or did they take the mold off a wood stock and picked up the grain?
FAL_specialist wrote:99.99% chance it's a wood buttstock painted black. Every M53 butt I have seen was wood.
If you EVER run across a bakelite (synthetic) butt, it will be a smooth finish.
Larry
No, definately not bakelite. Probably painted wood. That's gotta be some paint they use though... I had all my parts soaking in lacquer thinner and it never even touched that paint.
Oh ya, my missing recuperator bolts made it in from the place I bought the kit today... rock on. With the way things are going I'm tempted to buy another kit just to sit on.
Yeah, I'm afraid to say you certainly got hosed, alrighty. Tell you what you should do; you should put all that mess back in the box it came in, seal it up tight, and send it to me, where I will promptly "dispose" of it in a suitable manner...
Nahh, you did fine. Just understand that the kit is the "free taste"; the crack addiction comes with getting all the rest of the parts, and the mods, and the accessories, and the ammo, and... You get the idea.
But look at what you got when you get finished! Welcome to the club!
nice clean kit,look at your cam/trunnion and look for wear or chipping- if your going to use your kit rails put them on a granite table or a surface you know to be true an look for warpage and wear- run a depth gauge down the rail or use a metal rod a hold your thumb nail tight against it and run it down to feel for noticeable wear--check your barrel ex. for wear against your trunnion. if these are satisfactory your on your way. you say your going to use the WLA rear section, from your photos, looks saw cut , make sure you have enough material left behind your rear sight base ,yours looks very slim. this portion i refer to as the Bell, it is critical to have this area to the T or this area will become the source of all trouble. Good luck to you
blackreichswehr wrote:nice clean kit,look at your cam/trunnion and look for wear or chipping- if your going to use your kit rails put them on a granite table or a surface you know to be true an look for warpage and wear- run a depth gauge down the rail or use a metal rod a hold your thumb nail tight against it and run it down to feel for noticeable wear--check your barrel ex. for wear against your trunnion. if these are satisfactory your on your way. you say your going to use the WLA rear section, from your photos, looks saw cut , make sure you have enough material left behind your rear sight base ,yours looks very slim. this portion i refer to as the Bell, it is critical to have this area to the T or this area will become the source of all trouble. Good luck to you
....I checked the trunnion/barrel wear and everything looks in pretty good shape. About how much material behind the rear sight base do you think I'll be needing with using the WiseLite receiver??
Welcome to the club!