New to Forum...Hungry for Info

[paintmanmatt]

Hello, I'm new to the mg42 Forum. I've been around a few other forums, notably 1919a4.com and I recognize a few names from there that frequent here. I have a decent gun collection & am really into the historical side of it. I am a Mauser Nut, and have built my first Browning 1919 this past year, so naturally, it's time to start thinking about an mg42/m53. I enjoyed my last build so much, I was thinking about acquiring an m53 kit and build it as a "long term" project. As I research and start collecting parts (if I decide to go that rout) I'm going to have plenty of questions. In return, I plan on returning the favor with whatever I have to offer. I cherish the fellowship of others with the same interests and have met a few builders through my 1919 project, something I look forward to with my next.

For the first question.......Has anyone have a take on the m53 kits from Centerfire? They're $299 (if still available). I've heard they are "short cut", don't really fully understand the repercussions of that on final cost and work. Was thinking about ordering one just to get the ball rolling, then slowly continue research and parts gathering. I plan on making this a long term project as it's a bit more complicated and expensive compared to the Browning. Sarco also has kits for $395 right now, but don't know if there's any difference in the kits & don't know enough about them to ask the right questions. Also I've seen kits pop up from private sellers. This option will allow you to see the actual kit you're going to receive, but usually for more $$. With these guns, would that be a major advantage to be cost effective?
I also have a feeling that building one could cost more than finding one ready to go, especially since I don't have most of the equipment or knowlekge to do everything myself, but I'm looking at it as my hobby, and want to build one. I have a million other questions, but will search threads and read as much as time allows, not to beat the same old questions to death with you guys.

I'm looking forward to chatting with some of you guys and getting one more belt-fed in the case!

Thanks, Matt

[42rocker]

Welcome Matt

Still need to get together for a park party... If you still need to that is. I still need to park my 1919 and and and...LOL...

Look long and hard and get a plan before you buy a kit.. This site has lots of great info...

pm or email or lets get together sometime and talk. I'm talking about going to the Dade City gun range this weekend with another member. Not sure if 1919, mg42 etc are welcome, I'm planning on test firing a few rifles, going for that range for the first time.

Also on building a mg42/m52 knowing how to weld is the main thing on these weapons. Or so I think... Both 1919 and these require knowing what you are doing also....

Later 42rocker

[paintmanmatt]

Thanks for the welcome, I still need to park my 1919 - not in a major hurry - not that bad looking & I keep adding and doing stuff to it........added crank-fire, working on link chute, etc. With it not parked, I don't have to be so worried about scratching it up. lol
Yeah,I decided I needed to get on here and learn more about the mg42/m53 before buying anything. Glad I resisted my nature of just buying something, then figuring it out.
Dade City's not that far from me....maybe 40 minutes. I'm working Saturday's for awhile, let me know how the range goes. Is it a private club? Maybe we could meet up there some time.....I have a new to me vz 24 & SKS I need to sight in.
You'll be hearing from me in the near future.....now that Christmas, etc are over with.

Matt

[paintmanmatt]

Oh yeah, i forgot to mention, I'm not a welder & have never welded before. I plan on taking advantage of my job and take a welding course (free of course) and maybe even do some of the welding in class w/an instructor present. I'm also considering getting a pps 43 or kp44 kit, just for the welding experience before tackling the m53..........I tell you, the excuses I come up with for buying more guns................

In case of emergency, my buddie's brother is a welder, this thing may cost lots of beer.

Matt

[scoutfal]

Hey guys,

Been to the Dade City Range before, it's a good range, but not as many lanes as Hernando. I liked it, but since it's 1/2 dozen/6 of another, I go to Hernando. Same lanes for pistol and rifle, so once you stake out a lane, stay there. I think some people got anxious, as I was there over 3 hours, but hey, I paid my day's fee. Get there early.

I always liked Tenoroc out in Lakeland too, used to go there with a friend that lived out that way.

I haven't been to Dade CIty or Tenoroc in 5+ years. So things may have changed.

42rocker-good to see you around, this is scoutfal from the 1919 board. I'm just starting to get into the MG42/M53 (and an RPD too).

paintmanmatt-these guys here seem to know the MG42. I've done little more than buy parts and accessories. I did pick up a parts kit (SARCO has them too) to have for some spares, even if I never build it. I may just get a Wiselite. My welding talent isn't that great.

JW

[paintmanmatt]

Good to see you here scoutfal. Tenoroc is still pretty much the same. I live about 15 minutes from there. When I shoot my rifles/pistols, I go to Saddle Creek Park, right down the road from Tenoroc. It's a county park & only $5 to shoot. They have a part time schedule - Wed, Fri, & Sat. They really get a kick out of me wheeling in my Browning. lol
I've just started the quest for the mg42/m53, & have nothing but questions. If there are a few of us in Central Florida that just may be building our own kits.......maybe we should consider some group build/help days. At least for the tricky parts. Just a thought, & I know I have a long way to get to that point, but may be something to think about.

Another question for the experienced......what should I look for in a kit?

Thanks, Matt

[blackreichswehr]

paintmanmatt, you unlock this door with the key of imagination, beyond it is another dimension-- the mg42 Zone. i've not bought any kits for a year, just hear say, the good kits are gone or close to it-- you can blame this site for the 42/53 craze. if your just building one , i would pay a bit more for a bit better parts kit. parts are a plus to have around but, buying a part here and there until you get all the parts to put one together will eat your wallet. buzz around the site as you have, the best info in the world is on this site, don't feel any question you have is dumb, this place is the origin of past dummies-- now PHD's --your next, you've just crossed over into the MG42 Zone. WELCOME

[Bil]

Yes,welcome to the site! For a first time build,I would not recomend the 3-400 $ yugo kits-there is a lot more to buy and more work to do,unless you have all the right skills.Personally,I would try to get one of the German 3 or 4 cut lits with the intact front bearing bushing.That alone recoups a lot of the cost.Right now in the for sale section there is a real nice 4 cut receiver.Combined with a yugo kit,you would have a nice build.You could always swap it German parts later for looks,if it mattered to you. Whichever way you go,you have come to the right place.Start by readingv as much of the older stuff as possible.And get some of John Baums manuals on this gun.You will need them sooner or later,so better to start out right.
---bil

[paintmanmatt]

Thanks for the input Bil, I will search for the John Baums manual. Man.....I've got lots of reading to do. There's a local C&R show this weekend. Hopefully there will be an mg42/53 for me to inspect close up.

Matt

[42rocker]

Matt
John does not talk about his site that much....LOL.... But he is to mg42 like Charlie is to 1919's.... BUTTTT I think that John has more books than Charlie does... Here is his site..

http://www.germanmanuals.com/manuals.html

In a pm you asked about my site, still working on it and I'm sure it will never be done, but it's a slow work..

42rocker.com

Funny we have talked about build party's in this area (New Port Richey, Hudson, Fla) but have not done one yet....
I'm still finishing my house (another work still finishing) but could have a couple of folks over some weekend if a couple of you would like to get together. Avman and I got together and worked on a few things last weekend. Matt, you and Scoutfal would be welcome.... Just small work area... Scoutfal, hope the little one is doing well. Might be big by now...LOL.. My daughter turns 28 tomorrow, taking her and her boyfriend to the range on Saturday to do some shooting....

Enjoy Life......

Later 42rocker

[jcmg42]

My take is that unless someone is whorehousing a bunch of kits, the price and lack of needed parts is only going to increase. Searching forums for the last several weeks shows many posts from 2006-2008/9 and not much after. Even prices in shotgun news and at the recent shows is up over the last year. That sarco kit was $298 right after my kit arrived (I see it's gone back up). Isn't it funny how they keep finding a few more in the warehouse?

The centerfire systems kit showed up far too quickly before Christmas (faster than some earlier placed orders for Christmas presents) and I was about to order the BRP receiver parts when I noticed the shroud pieces disappeared from their website. That caused a bit of a panic, but I'm happy to say, it now looks like I don't need shroud parts as this one is dimilled cut further back. I'll have to take out and replace the front bushing. I haven't been through all the parts, and they are quite covered in gue, but pleased so far.

Now if you want WWII stamps, there are kits under mg42 parts on the BRP site. Prices vary greatly depending on the part mixture.

[paintmanmatt]

Well, there is much to read & learn. I missed a nice receiver/shroud deal the other day. I've decided to slow down, learn as much as possible, keep a stern eye out for kits/parts, & build a pps-43 for practice. All while I nurture and grow my "gun fund".

Matt