I need mg34 info. please help.

[par0thead151]

well i finish one kit and want to pick up another(never mind the fact i still have not finished my mg42 yet...)
anyways, that's not the point.
i have the opportunity to pick up a complete mg34 kit. i am wondering how much it would cost to get it running, IE parts, time, etc.
How much should i expect to pay for a 8mm mg34 kit with a good barrel?are there 308 conversions?
does it take the DM1 belts?
sorry for my ignorance, i need to make a decision relatively quickly or i may loose out on getting first dibbs on this kit from my local FFL buddy.
thanks

[flemgunner]

Well lets see
Does it come with receiver pieces? If not IMA has the rear parts for 125. The front section is hard to find, I dont know how munch those would cost.
If you have all the pieces figure around 500 for the reweld

The semi trigger and bolt parts are 180 from TNW

Im not sure of a 308 conversion

The 42 and 34 belts are the same

Finally, its an MG34. My personal favorite weapon. Even if its just a dummy gun I say get it

[12thWaffenSS]

Can we get this moved to the MG34 section? It seems that might be a more appropriate place.

[www.Prussia.us]

Flemgunner nailed all the hidden costs quite well, there are 308 modifications out there for the feed system but I cannot remember, when all else fails try Google.

I am not sure what they are asking but check Sarco's mg34 parts they use to have ex-Israeli 34 parts, and I think-though not certain, that they had the 308 '34 barrels.

Good luck on getting it togther

And yes 12WaffenSS, the 34 section would be better

[par0thead151]

sorry about the mispost in the wrong forums.
mods please move this is at all possible. thanks

one last question though, how much would a kit with all in tact parts(plasma torch cut of course) be worth? im taking what would be a very good price for a buyer(such as my self). im trying to gauge what to offer for the kit.
im sold on getting a mg34 to add to the collection now.
thanks again for all the great info

[flemgunner]

Would really need to see pix to tell you but for a ballpark start with a kit for 750 then add 250-300 for the receiver. Like I said though there are alot of factors that would make that go up or down.
Of course if you have your heart set on it and you can afford it get it
Try to get some pix if possible

[par0thead151]

i will post pix if i can.
the deal is this kit was made into a MG and the guy got busted, my FFL gets to demil the rifles under ASTF supervision(he is also SOT2 licensed) and after the MG's are clasified as kits, he can sell them.
so i am going to get a good kit, if there is any paticular way to cut the kit please let me know as i believe my FFL will be the torch man, with ATF there to supervise that the receivers are getting destroyed.
what are some key things to look for in figuring out the value of the kit?
thansk again for the info.
this site is an invaluable resource for the german MG## platforms.

[www.Prussia.us]

First off the governing regs will decide how the receiver gets torched, if the guy re-welded it once already, then it is getting torched, then you want to re-weld it semi again??? I am not a metal specialist but post that question on a forum and get good advice from guys who know welding. I would worry about fatigue but my metal skills are with planes not guns.

If you have any say, keep as much meat with the front end as possible of the receiver amd make sure (if possible) that the rear area does not end up getting the buffer threads cut, there will be 3, angled cuts; I suggest salvaging the front and buying an IMA rear regarding the receiver, it makes an easy 2-cut re-weld with a good front.

As for value, first cosmetic-is it pitted, blued, parked, pristine??? Look on the barrel jacket, look for maker marks like BSW, DOT (Brno-Czech) have the least value, (which is what I have so do not be offended if that is what you get), look at the buttstock is it an early one with the metal edges? Look at the bi-pode post war or wartime? Look at the barrel, easy enought to replace but still a $100 item. Look at the top cover.

Really if you get the whole thing for less than $700 it is a good deal, a real heavily used '34 parts set just sold on GB for far more than I ever thought it would fetch, but if you are looking to find out whether you hit the jackpot the experts here will need pictures to let you know.

Good luck, sucks for the poor guy who had to give it up.

[par0thead151]

First off the governing regs will decide how the receiver gets torched, if the guy re-welded it once already, then it is getting torched, then you want to re-weld it semi again??? I am not a metal specialist but post that question on a forum and get good advice from guys who know welding. I would worry about fatigue but my metal skills are with planes not guns.

If you have any say, keep as much meat with the front end as possible of the receiver amd make sure (if possible) that the rear area does not end up getting the buffer threads cut, there will be 3, angled cuts; I suggest salvaging the front and buying an IMA rear regarding the receiver, it makes an easy 2-cut re-weld with a good front.

As for value, first cosmetic-is it pitted, blued, parked, pristine??? Look on the barrel jacket, look for maker marks like BSW, DOT (Brno-Czech) have the least value, (which is what I have so do not be offended if that is what you get), look at the buttstock is it an early one with the metal edges? Look at the bi-pode post war or wartime? Look at the barrel, easy enought to replace but still a $100 item. Look at the top cover.

Really if you get the whole thing for less than $700 it is a good deal, a real heavily used '34 parts set just sold on GB for far more than I ever thought it would fetch, but if you are looking to find out whether you hit the jackpot the experts here will need pictures to let you know.

Good luck, sucks for the poor guy who had to give it up.

I was assuming mg34's were similar to mg42's regarding re welding rear receivers. i see rear cut sections for the 42's selling for hundreds of dollars. i will post pix as soon as i can.
as far as the previous owner... he got what was coming to him as he was manufacturing his own Full autos... not a surprise he got busted.
thanks again for all the info.

[jackxxx]

Heck guy sounds like your glad he got busted.Never mind the fact some of the people trying to build semis end up going to jail because they made one little mistake making the semis mods and had no intentions of building a F/A but what ever it sucks the goverment is sick

[Bil]

Where did that come from??? ---bil

[rocco1911]

I think he was refering to this comment .....

as far as the previous owner... he got what was coming to him as he was manufacturing his own Full autos... not a surprise he got busted.
thanks again for all the info.

[ScottD]

Hey man, cut those suckers up and send me a front section, I REALLY need one.

So let me guide you from my own experiences. I am a well versed home builder. I did my own MG42 with a HF gasless welder and a dremel. Ive got about a dozen other builds under my belt.

A MG34 build is a totally different creature. Unless you are an experienced TIG welder, you cant do this thing by yourself. The heart of this gun is the receiver and it does not lend itsself to ANY margin of error. Trust me on this one. I just spent 750 on a kit that I thought I was gonna rebuild. My receiver is cut in the worst spots. Ive looked at it every way possible, and even IF I get someone crazy enough to weld it back together, I will probably never get it to run. You say your kits were cut, re-welded, are going to be cut again, and welded again? Sounds like a nightmare. A semi 34 homebuild isnt something the average Joe can accomplish. Your receiver needs to be in good shape and you have to farm out the welding and semi mods. There are a select few that are capable of this task, you will pay for the quality of their services.

Think long and hard before you purchase a 34 kit with the intention of building a semi. Its not for everyone. I dont mean to sound like Im discouraging you, by all means, if you have the rescources, jump on it. Even if you dont, buy a couple of those kits.....and sell me the front stub.

[rocco1911]

Excellent advice Scott I'm an acomplished builder have been doing it for over 27 years I have posted just a small amount of the kits I have done so far & for what its worth I will be sending my receiver out to be welded up not that I cant do it myself but because one small mistake & its ruined as Scott said these are not forgiving builds they will not run if out of spec even slightly best left to the experts

[FKpt.Fritz]

BRP has .308 parts on there parts kit page.. and somehow they still have parts kits to bad i no longer have money to keep buying these.
http://www.brpguns.com/mg34.htm

they also have mg42 kits to after all this time.. once again im out of cash. but there kits are great i have had 7 of there mg34s and i currently have a MG42 from them that is finaly a semi auto. so im sure there .308 stuff would be top of the line. as for the receiver you said was being cut after being welded already. you may want to go with a IMA receiver and use your front section. might be more sturdy. i have one of these to and they are great to start with.

http://www.ima-usa.com/product_info.php ... ts_id/2137

[Bil]

As for the differances between the 34 and 42-think of the 34 as your cars engine-everything must be within extremely close tolerances.The 42 is more like your cars body-sheet metal,needs to fit good,but tolerances aren't quite as tight. ---bil