M53/MG42 rebuild assistance needed

[johnb593]

I have been working on rebuilding my gun which started out as a M53 parts kit (see my earlier posts "Looking for demilitarized MG42"). I have come to the stage where just about everything is done except for finishing the BRP receiver. All the cuts have been made, except for the grooves for the butt, and the new muzzle welded in place. I want to try to be sure that, when completed, it will function in SA mode. What I need is for someone who has experience and know how to finish the receiver internals assembly. I am not in a BIG hurry to finish it but would like to have it ready to take to the range when the weather gets nice in a couple of months (fingers crossed). Please PM me if interested and hopefully we can work something out.

[johnb593]

Still need some help please. Needless to say I'm not asking for "a freebie".

[K98dkmauser]

hey i still think you can do it

you have access to a mill right ? there have been guy that did most of the work with a dremel .

just have some confidence and remember that a lot of the people that have built an mg didnt have experience with it either but it still worked out fine .

[42rocker]

Another person to try is Glen -- flemgunner -- from this site and others. Has helped out several folks on this site with their mg42's

Good Luck and like was said you can do it.

Later 42rocker

[johnb593]

Another person to try is Glen -- flemgunner -- from this site and others. Has helped out several folks on this site with their mg42's

Good Luck and like was said you can do it.

Later 42rocker

I e-mailed Glenn and asked for some help but he's pretty busy. If he could find a little time in March or even April that would be a huge help. I could take the gun down to his shop and go over everything. One of my main concerns is getting the "innards" positioned correctly and set in place.

[Der Alder]

Like the others said, I think you can do it too. You've got some of the hard stuff done already. I'm just getting started on my first semi build as well. I admit this build is imtimidating at times looking at it. If you just keep taking it one step at a time you'll get there.

Good luck.

[johnb593]

Like the others said, I think you can do it too. You've got some of the hard stuff done already. I'm just getting started on my first semi build as well. I admit this build is imtimidating at times looking at it. If you just keep taking it one step at a time you'll get there.

Good luck.

I agree. It's quite intimidating if you don't look at it one step at a time. I just want to be sure I do the steps in the proper order and not have to go back and undo or redo something.

[johnb593]

I've been doing some test fitting and am having a bit of trouble with the trunnion/barrel shroud fit. See photo. I don't want to try to force it so I'm considering lightly sanding the outside of the shroud and the inside of the trunnion to see if that will sort it out. Input appreciated.

[K98dkmauser]

mine is the same way it takes a little work but it goes in eventually

[42rocker]

Ok, first it's not a trunnion.
2nd you want it tight, not drive on with a large hammer tight, but.
3rd if you must sand do it to the receiver (my thoughts) not the camming pair.
4th do the numbers match??
5th do the camming pieces do together nicely off the receiver?

Later 42rocker

[johnb593]

Ok, first it's not a trunnion.
2nd you want it tight, not drive on with a large hammer tight, but.
3rd if you must sand do it to the receiver (my thoughts) not the camming pair.
4th do the numbers match??
5th do the camming pieces do together nicely off the receiver?

Later 42rocker

No, the numbers do not match and they do not go together smoothly off the receiver.

[johnb593]

The main "camming piece/trunnion" has the German emblem on it. The rest does not.

[42rocker]

German piece is nice. One of the folks that has done a lot of review on this is Brian BRP. In semi auto things are different from Full Auto and not quite as important. Please give him a cal about this.

Might want to check out the middle section that rtg has for sale.

Later 42rocker

[johnb593]

German piece is nice. One of the folks that has done a lot of review on this is Brian BRP. In semi auto things are different from Full Auto and not quite as important. Please give him a cal about this.

Might want to check out the middle section that rtg has for sale.

Later 42rocker

Thanks. I'll call Brian and see what he says. And will also check out the RTG middle section.
John

Note:
I checked out the RTG trunnion/camming piece. It looks like that would do okay but he's out of stock right now unfortunately.

[johnb593]

I need a cam piece for a M53. The one I have evidently is for a MG42 and just will not fit the shroud properly. Does anyone here have one they will sell me?

Thanks