www.MG42.us

wanted to get some opinions. wanting to build a m53 but plan on using only .308 since the 8mm barrels and ammo are hard to come by. would it be worth the money and time to install the mg3 recuperator instead of the stock m53 one? what would the benefits be? i figure it would add on another $200 with the recoup, mg3 buffer, mg3 buffer tabs, grip mount and some hardware. thanks for any input im just kind of torn on my decision

For all practical purposes with a semi-suto gun, there is no advantage to using the MG3 recuperator setup.

Thanks for the reply. Would anyone know if it was developed to improve the operation and maybe harmonics, or if it was only to improve spring life? Thanks again

From what I've read the .308 (7.62 NATO) round has a sharper recoil pulse than the 8mm. In full auto the added spring may make a difference, but in semi there really is none.

That said, the reason I use the MG3 recuperator when building is I like using the RTG rear German MG3 receiver section which saves me from dealing with buffer tab alignment, riveting and receiver buffer cuts.

The MG3 recuperator support is built into the MG3 type lower buffer tab. So with that in mind when building its easier for me to just splice and weld this rear section on and using the original specs measuring from the rear of the camming window to the rear edge...this in turn gives me the exact recuperator hole (front to back) location.

The German bakelite buttstock looks much better IMO than the Yugo stock, though it can be adapted to the Yugo buffer (the threads are pitched different). You don't really need a MG3 grip mount either in order to use the MG3 recuperator, you can just cut the "tail" support off the M53 grip mount, again so long as you are using the MG3 rear receiver stub.

That said it would be less costly to just stick with the M53 parts assuming thats what your kit is.

thats a pretty good idea, thanks.