www.MG42.us

Possible new source for full length MG-42/MG-3 receivers over on 1919a4.com: http://www.1919a4.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16166

MSG

Here is the post from the other forum.


Well folks, here they are. The full length MG-42/MG-3 Housing production samples are on there way to Tech. Branch. It's no longer vaporware, they're real, no kidding hardware. Two configurations submitted, one with the welding complete, the other without.

These are formed from a single piece of 2.5 mm (approx. 10 G) sheet steel, as were the originals. The post war MG-3 spec. is used, because it is the best information available.

No. 1 is the basic formed sheet steel Housing (receiver) as it comes from the dies. No machining or welding operations have been performed.

No. 2 is what the original drawings refer to as the "Housing, welded." Assembly of this Housing starts with the same basic stamping shown as No. 1. To it are welded (from front to rear) the Guide Bushing, two Filler Strips, the Guide Plate, and the Welded Part (for housing). An additional weld is made on the forward right side of the feed way, to join the center of the upper and lower portions of the housing. No riveting operations have been performed, so all internal components have yet to be installed.

These are on their way to BATF Tech. Branch (be looking for them guys) as I type. An initial submission of drawings and photographs, and numerous conversations, led to these two configurations. They indicated both of these would be acceptable, but will not make final classification until actual examples are examined. This will probably take several months.

Initial guess on price is $700.00 to $800.00 for either Housing configuration No.1 (with the Guide Bushing, two Filler Strips, Guide Plate, and the Welded Part (for housing) included, but not installed), or Housing configuration No.2. I wanted to come in lower, but I just can't make it happen. This still appears very competative on price with the other available Housings, and as these are made from a single piece of sheet steel (rather than welded assemblies), they should be superior in quality. If you were able to get one of the $250.00 parts kits, this gets you built for about $1200.00, no Tig welding required.

I'll continue to post updates when there is something substantive to say. Thanks for bearing with me, at this point I've been throwing money at this for over two and a half years. I should have just bought one and been done with it.

MSG

These things look simply awresome. Over on the 1919 board I put in for one. It will be interesting to see how long they take to get approved.

Nice to see this site back up!

I also posted over on the 1919 board. I'm also in for at least one.

Wow

That's a beautiful piece of work. I'm surprized that he was able to get the price anywhere under $1000. Those of us who have spent any time at all looking into manufacturing these receivers, even parts of them, know the tremendous cost of fixtures and labor. IF the prices stay under $1000, these will be the real deal for anybody looking to make a seriously clean and functional SA.

Then there are the rest of us, who have spent many months in gathering enough original pieces to assemble a nice gun. I suppose that if everything were totalled, I've spent a decent portion of the cost of one of these new receivers, once you figure the cost of the pieces, postage, and barrel bushing repair parts, with much welding and aligning yet to come.

So, now the wait for the Big Boys to give their approval for anxious buyers to exercise their constitutional "rights." Funny, ain't it? What if journalists were required to submit their work to government authorities just to make sure that said work conformed with government standards? How'd I get off on this? . .. . . . .

Anyway, great work MSG Can't wait to see some more SA42s humming along with your receivers as the housing for all that reciprocating mass.

GeeDeeEmm

Suffered a setback on the BATFE approval. Check out the thread on 1919a4.com for more info. More to follow.

MSG

I know it was a great try and we haven't heard the end of these.Very nice work! ---bil

These are very sleek specimens and the projected price was extremely fair, hopefully the recommendations will not be too outlandish.