MG42 Propane Gun Build

Post by **gdmoore28** » Wed Jan 31, 2007 10:44 pm

Hi Bro Bil--

I'm not really sure why the flame seems to be coming from below the barrel position. Could it be some part of the British deact requirements? I really don't know.

BTW, have you started on any of your '42 builds yet? I know you have a good stockpile of parts, but I haven't seen any word on any actual building you've done yet.

Don't you have at least one '34 parts kit, too? I would love to stash back a couple of '34 kits for a later build, but the price of the '34 kits are simply out of my range right now. In all honesty, I like the build quality and overall look of the '34 better than the '42 -- if looks matter for anything. But the '34 just looks like a truely beautiful example of old world manufacturing techniques and firearm philosophy. (Maybe the Teutonic FA Fairy will have grace toward me and leave a '34 kit under my pillow the next time I lose a tooth out of my dentures!)

Barring that, I'll just have to be content with the '42 kits I have waiting for attention. Here in central Arkansas we currently have sleet and ice building up outside so I'll be delayed in any further work on this propane gun until things clear up and I can get back to my son's shop. I'll post further pictures of this little adventure once the build resumes.

Are you still on the left coast or back home?

GeeDeeEmm

Post by **gdmoore28** » Wed Feb 07, 2007 12:09 am

Jumped into fabbing a means of mounting the buttstock while eliminating the buffer assembly. Decided to simply build a simple sleeve that would slide tightly inside the rear of the receiver. To make it easy and fast to remove, I'll be building in a spring-loaded "button" into the inner sleeve that will pop into a relief inside the receiver. (It'll be clearer what I'm saying once I build it. Right now, even I don't know exactly how it's going to function

)

Post by **gdmoore28** » Wed Feb 07, 2007 12:12 am

A nice, tight fit.

Post by **gdmoore28** » Wed Feb 07, 2007 12:18 am

Also spent a few minutes making the initial shaping of the welded-in nose section. Next time I'll fill in the voids and shape again. Starting to look a little more like a real weapon.

Post by **Bil** » Wed Feb 07, 2007 2:29 pm

Garry-missed your post of 1/31. Am still a 'lefty' and cant work on my stuff.The spring loaded parts you need are like the ones in tent posts and lawn furniture . my hardware store back home has them,prob same near you. I think that will work good. ---bil

Post by **gdmoore28** » Wed Feb 07, 2007 3:10 pm

Bil--

Has anybody ever told you that you're a good guy? Oh yeah -- just about everybody on this board!

(If you ever stop torturing small animals you'll be darn-near perfect

)

Seriously, though, corresponding with good folks like you on this board makes me wonder what everybody looks like. We should establish a topic where we could all post pics of ourselves (I've already done it, as has DA and John Baum).

How 'bout it? Do you think others would bite? What about suggesting that we post pics of ourselves in humorous situations (weapon's related, of course) and offer a prize for the pic voted best by the rest of the board?

I think it would be a kick.

Anyway, thanks once more for the suggestion for the spring-loaded components.

GeeDeeEmm

Post by **Bil** » Wed Feb 07, 2007 5:02 pm

Garry-thanks for the compliment!.It is easy to be a good guy when you are dealing with people like those on this site-a really good bunch.The marginal ones seem to drift away.The picture idea is good-especially the weapons part.I could use the picture from the Post Office from my weapons smuggling days.And giving up on the small animals-NEVER!!!

---bil

Post by **Bil** » Wed Feb 07, 2007 5:04 pm

PS-JBaum's pic is especially good-doesnt he remind you of Sgt Schultz?? ---bil

Post by **gdmoore28** » Wed Feb 07, 2007 5:49 pm

Bil wrote:PS-JBaum's pic is especially good-doesnt he remind you of Sgt Schultz?? ---bil

I'm saying nothing. NOTHING!!!!!!!!

GeeDeeEmm

Post by **gdmoore28** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 1:05 am

Today I decided to try to fabricate the guide plate (aka, ratchet plate) before taking the plunge and buying one. It turned out much better than I expected it to, so that's $30-40 saved. I made it by fabbing a jig from two pieces of 3/8" steel plate. I forgot to take pics, so I'll have to do that and post them. In short, I made the jig so that after clamping it onto the guide plate blank I could form the dimples with a rounded-tip punch. The jig is indexed so that it automatically aligns the next dimple position. From there, it's just a matter of hitting the punch, moving the jig to the next position, and hitting the punch again. The pics will make the process much clearer.

I then trimmed the charging handle so that the normally exposed sections of the handle can be welded in their proper positions on the receiver's exterior. The picture shows me holding the guide plate and charging handle in place prior to welding.

Post by **gdmoore28** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 1:07 am

Test fitting the guide plate and the charging handle.

Post by **helix60** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 8:14 am

Very very nice work. You could probably sell those ratchet plates for $30.

Regards,
Heli

Post by **gdmoore28** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 3:02 pm

helix60 wrote:Very very nice work. You could probably sell those ratchet plates for $30.

Regards,
Heli

Thanks, Helix. Unfortunately this entire build is being done in 16ga sheet steel. I'd be VERY hesitant to use them on a real weapon. I might try to form a couple out of correct guage steel when I get time. Appreciate the compliment.

GeeDeeEmm

Post by **gdmoore28** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 6:02 pm

I was throwing away some crutches today and noticed that the adjustable leg had a spring-loaded button inside that might work as the retainer for the buttstock assembly that I made a few weeks ago.

So I re-shaped the spring so that it covered a wider span, alligned and drilled the appropriate holes in the buttstock assembly and receiver rear, and there we go.

I've also included a pic of the gun with the glide plate and cocking lever welded on. I'm very happy with the overall appearance of the gun so far. After a few more minor cosmetic additions it will be time to get down to the real guts of the gun -- fire control circuit, expansion chamber, etc. -- and that's when the real work starts.

Stay tuned. (Thanks again to those of you who have commented, made suggestions, and PM'd with ideas. I appreciate it all.)

GeeDeeEmm

Post by **gdmoore28** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 6:04 pm

Overall view of new glide (ratchet) plate and cocking handle in place:

Post by **gdmoore28** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 12:11 am

While browsing around the net looking for more ideas for miniaturizing the propane gun components, I ran across an interesting patent from the eighties. The inventor proposed a propane simulator that would drop into the receivers of current US weapons and allow live-fire simulations during training.

A very complicated contraption -- don't know if it ever made it into production or was adopted by the military -- but it's an interesting read if you have any interest in the propane gun subject. Here's the patent with drawings:

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/465400 ... 3089db05a0

GeeDeeEmm

AlexHH · Post by **AlexHH** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 12:08 pm

Hello GeeDeeEmm,

I'm new at this forum, but very impressed to see your nice work on your propane gas gun.

Did you already designed the inner parts ?

I'm asking, because I'm working on my MG 42 to convert it into a Gas Gun. I constructed the chamber and made a first prototype.
I will try to post some pics this evening.

Alexander

Post by **gdmoore28** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 4:07 pm

Welcome aboard, AlexHH--

Please post pics of your propane build. I'd love to see it, and there are a number of people here who enjoy the process, too.

I've been sidetracked by some family matters, but hope to resume the build soon.

I was forging ahead with the internals, but have come across several possible directions that I may want to follow, so I'm held up for a while as I experiment with some ideas I have for the combustion chamber and fuel system.

Bil and a couple of other members here have been quite helpful in offering their suggestions in miniaturizing the fuel components and combustion chamber. I also ran across some patents for military use of propane guns in simulated battle (see references above). One of these patents has some interesting ideas for providing oxygen for combustion and for producing louder reports by compressing the gasses prior to ignition. I'm working on modifying these ideas for possible use in the propane MG42.

Another member made suggestions about using the combustion process to create an actual recoil so that the gun doesn't just sit there while firing.

I'm doing drawings on all these ideas and hope to begin building prototypes soon.

GeeDeeEmm

BELTLEAD · Post by **BELTLEAD** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 11:16 pm

You missed your calling as an Armorer.

Post by **gdmoore28** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 1:16 am

Maybe so -- especially if I only knew what the heck I'm doing

Thanks, Belt

GeeDeeEmm