Lmg42 5.56 concept

[MG42ed]

This is a concept for a one manned version of the mg42 in 5.56, as you can see by the picture green parts cover part of the mg and the barrel is a bit shorter to decrease weight, the green parts are polymer with rail systems and cooling holes that don't really change the mg's orginal barrel shroud just go around it, I'm not a machinist but I was wondering if someone might try this design and see how it works?
http://s569.photobucket.com/albums/ss13 ... 2parts.jpg

[Michael J]

Looks pretty sweet, but..
1) ejection port leaves little room for a fore-grip, and getting one of those spent shells in the arm sounds unpleasant! Just try holding your M53 / mg42 lol, you will see you will get a shell to your arm or elbow !
2) everything would have to be resized, as 5.56 is way smaller than 8mm, not efficient to simply convert existing parts, therefore all new smaller-scaled parts would have to be made. Maybe making some sort of one-manned "lightweight" lmg in .308 might be better and more likely, as existing parts are readily available?
3) mg42 parts are real complicated, and replicating things like the bolt on a smaller scale would be extremely costly. I have gone over reproducing some mg42 parts for different calibers with a local gun manufacturer (they make ar-15's).

Best "likely" option would be to make some sort of lightweight handheld lmg in .308. A bullpup design and short barrel, about a few inches long might work? This would eliminate the quick change feature, but it would reduce weight. I'm in the early stages of a prototype right now, too early to know if it will ever be completed, or if it will remain in the drawing boards.

[Blanksguy]

This concept is really "old-news".

There was the "Arminee" (spelling) in 5.56x45mm...........and a conversion available for the MG3/MG42 to fire 5.56x45mm (which had a really good write-up w/photos on the old MG42 sight.).

Do a search for either on the "web" and let us know what comes up.

Regards, RichardS in MI.
Blanksguy2001@chartermi.net

[JBaum]

Once again, the picture of the MG42 5.56 kit:

1 & 2 Barrels
3 Feed tray
4 Nozzle
5 Barrel bushing
6 Top cover
7 Bolt head
8 Latches
9 Carry handle

It was made in Italy, and was never sold to any outside markets. None were imported, but it certainly doesn't look all that hard to engineer.

[Intruder196]

The Spanish have already made one. The CETME Ameli.

http://www.probertencyclopaedia.com/cgi ... 2&offset=0

[salt6]

And on this forum

http://mg42.us/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=339 ... ELI#p25516