WTB: MG42 Barrel Change Door SCREW (large flathead)

[WaffenDuckMeister]

Hello all, I am in search of the large flathead screw that holds the latch onto the outside of the barrel change door for an MG42 (or its postwar derivatives). Postwar manufacture or original makes no difference to me, I am willing to compensate you for all it's worth to you in addition to the shipping. I have been unable to find one for weeks of searching and unfortunately mine arrived broken on a gun I purchased due to someone trying to remove it improperly and I really want to bring this gun to an event at year's end. Thank you very much in advance for any leads!

[42rocker]

I'll check on Monday

Later 42rocker

[JBaum]

Buying a rivet set and replacing the entire barrel door is also an option. If Rocker doesn't have just a screw, you may be able to find the whole door.
The screw is a rivet on the end, with threads in the middle. The rivet part holds it from unscrewing from the door. Often if removed, it's ruined because the rivet pieces break off.

[WaffenDuckMeister]

Buying a rivet set and replacing the entire barrel door is also an option. If Rocker doesn't have just a screw, you may be able to find the whole door.
The screw is a rivet on the end, with threads in the middle. The rivet part holds it from unscrewing from the door. Often if removed, it's ruined because the rivet pieces break off.

Yeah I've been looking into that as well and my biggest thing against it is cost - I just don't want to spend $250-$400 for a whole door like I have seen on the interwebs if I can buy a screw for (hopefully) less and save a good door for someone else. That's close to what happened to this one, I bought the gun whole and when it arrived the barrel door latch was laying in the bottom of the box - got to looking and found that someone must've tried to remove it once and didn't realize the rear of the screw was peened over to prevent removal (or just didn't care and applied too much force) and once they broke it they used GORILLA GLUE to GLUE the screw back into what was left of the hole (not kidding, unfortunately) and the force of rough shipping broke it off (whereas sitting on a shelf it was probably fine). I'm going to weld the hole closed, drill a new one in the same place and re-tap the hole for a new screw - no big deal on that, pretty straightforward, but I need this screw and saving the additional work of buying a complete door and extracting the screw without causing the same headache if someone was able to remove one whole. I will pony up for a door if all other efforts are fruitless!

[bjrmg]

I think barrel change screw and top cover latch screw are the same. If so RTG parts has them in stock. Check Centerfire Systems also.
bjrmg

[JBaum]

For the cost of a barrel door, someone could set up a CNC machine to make some for you, and then you could sell the extras to recover your costs.

[WaffenDuckMeister]

I think barrel change screw and top cover latch screw are the same. If so RTG parts has them in stock. Check Centerfire Systems also.
bjrmg

I don't think they are, I've looked at as many pictures of the top cover latch screw as I could and it seems significantly shorter than the barrel change door latch screw - at least on the one that came out of this gun, there's a much taller unthreaded section on the barrel door one where the top cover is threaded all the way to the screw head and significantly shorter. If someone who knows these guns can confirm they are the same or useable then I'll order it, I've seen that screw on RTG and thought I was lucky but I don't think so

[42rocker]

Sorry to all, I forgot that today my Son had surgery and I overlooked going for the screw I will see what I've got later tonight or tomorrow.

Everything went well for my Son.

Later 42rocker

[JBaum]

The problem with getting a used screw is that someone getting it out of the door latch will likely break off the peened part that makes it stay in place.

[42rocker]

What John is talking about. See how it's staked.

Later 42rocker

See the head difference -- German Top cover on left, German barrel gate on right

Some of my other stuff