MG3 bakelite stocks

[Der Alder]

Just a heads up for those who may be interested, I see RTG now has MG3 bakelite buttstocks listed for $99. http://www.robertrtg.com/mg3_buttstock.html I ordered one BTW.

I see he also has front and rear demilled MG3 sections listed as well.
http://www.robertrtg.com/mg3_front.html
http://www.robertrtg.com/mg3_rear.html

I'm in no way affiliated with RTG...just passing on what may be interesting here to some.

[roadrunner]

I just received the bakelite stock and it is in pristine condition. No chips or scratches even. And to think I almost paid 200.00 for one. Also got the rear mg3 receiver section for my next project. "Good Stuff" RR

[Der Alder]

Update...
I received the MG3 bakelite stock that I ordered from RTG. It's in VG condition, cleaned up better than I expected. The one I got is black which is what I wanted.

I mounted it on my M53. Being that there is a slight thread pitch difference between the MG3 and M53 buffers, I had to open up the threads inside the MG3 stock slightly. I used a dremel with a cut-off wheel to do this...only took a minute to do. This stock doesn't wobble like the old M53 stock either, fits nice and snug.

[www.Prussia.us]

Nice work, the MG3 has a better profile than many of the M53 buttstocks.

[42rocker]

Looks good.

Later 42rocker

[anjongni]

Very nice looking setup! Alder, that was always my question. Are these MG3 stocks that are becoming available designed to fit the MG42 or M53 buffers? As you know, the threads are different between the buffers, so buttstocks technically are not inter-changeable. I'd like to get a bakelite MG3 stock, and have both types of buffers. In your experience, which buffer goes with these plastic stocks?.....Phil

[JBaum]

The MG3 is a brother to the MG42. The MG3 stocks are made to fit the threads on the MG3 buffer, which is virtually the same as the MG42 buffer. It's the M53 that's the slight oddball.

So, the MG3 bakelite stock fits perfectly on the MG42, not so well on the M53.

[Der Alder]

Very nice looking setup! Alder, that was always my question. Are these MG3 stocks that are becoming available designed to fit the MG42 or M53 buffers? As you know, the threads are different between the buffers, so buttstocks technically are not inter-changeable. I'd like to get a bakelite MG3 stock, and have both types of buffers. In your experience, which buffer goes with these plastic stocks?.....Phil

The bakelite stocks mentioned are designed for the MG3/MG42, but can easily be adapted to the M53. As was mentioned the buffers are different between the two types. If you have a MG3 buffer you are good to go. But in my case I have a WLA M53 that of course has a modified M53 buffer. So for me to use a MG3 stock with it I had to modify the stock's buffer threads. It was really easy though. I just used a dremel with a fiber cut off wheel and ever so slightly cleaned out the MG3 stock's threads (the 4 raised thread areas), making them just a tad wider.

The only other issue using this MG3 with the M53 buffer is you will have a slight gap between the stock and buffer housing. Mine was barely noticeable, but I went ahead and fllled the gap by using a thin piece of gasket material (most anything thin enough will work). The new stock now fits better than the M53 stock with the only wobble now from the front of the buffer itself which I can live with. Here is a side pic:

My semi M53 is currently in "MG3 status", using an MG3 top cover, feedtray, booster, 7.62 barrel, DM-6 links and HK drum, ..this MG3 stock helps with the look a little.

[anjongni]

Thanks for the pics, Alder. And thanks to you, I had to order one from Robert today....you should demand commision! Looks really nice on your gun. Did the Germans actually utilise a bakelite stock for some MG42s during the war? If so, probably impossible to find one now...Phil

[cz2]

Hi Phil,
Yes, the Germans used bakelite stocks on MG42 production. I have a WaA proofed one in a parts box. Pretty rough shape but not for sale.
later czech.

[42rocker]

A couple of things. Yes the Germans did use the bakelite stocks during the war, I have one.
Another thing that you can do other than making a washer is to change out to a German buffer. Easy to do, just remember the main spring is compressed behind the buffer if you go to change out.
Personally I think that the bakelite stock looks great. I keep one on for display and if I'm going out shooting I sometimes change to a jugo buffer and yugo butt stock so I don't worry about any opp's that might happen.

Later 42rocker

[Der Alder]

As mentioned, using an MG3 buffer would be the way to go using this stock, but in my particular case with my gun being a semi-modified M53, WLA machined down my buffer (sort of stepped it down) on the bolt side for some reason. So I figured I'd stick with my existing M53 buffer as it runs really good, not wanting cause new problems. Might not matter swapping buffers in my case...don't know for sure though.

Another thing I considered at first was swapping the stock's internals, putting the M53's in the MG3 stock so that the threads (both M53) would be the same. When I refinished my wood M53 stock I took the metal internal parts including the thread part out so I figured this would be an easy option...no dice. After I got the bakelite stock I noticed it's metal internals look to be almost molded over by the bakelite resin where they meet on the end so I'm not sure you can take the metal threaded housing out to swap them without damaging the bakelite. These two issues are what led me to the route I took on modifying it. Course if you don't have a semi or one with a modified buffer then simply swapping to an MG3 buffer would be the way to go to use this stock.

[42rocker]

Question... I thought that the only thing that wiselite did to the buffer part was to remove the "end cap' and install their own, a longer one to make up for the longer receiver???

Later 42rocker

[Der Alder]

Question... I thought that the only thing that wiselite did to the buffer part was to remove the "end cap' and install their own, a longer one to make up for the longer receiver???

Later 42rocker

I wasn't aware of the reason WLA machined the end down. Maybe the mod does have something to do with their longer receiver....don't know for sure. Thing is, the modified WLA end cap looks to be about the same length as the original on the MG3 buffer, but turned down or "stepped". The way it's beveled at the step and on the end perhaps leads me to believe they were dealing with coil binding with this modification. Good question though...

Now that you mention it, it does appear you could swap the end caps between buffer types. The other thing is the buffer lugs may need to be ground and fitted some as well to the semi receiver, as the one I have appears to be.

Here's a pick of my WLA M53 buffer with the modified end for reference:

Compare the length of this one to that of the MG3 in this RTG ad (looks about the same length to me): http://www.robertrtg.com/mgbufferparts.html

[42rocker]

Ok, Thanks for the pic share. If you look at the rtg and a German one I "think" that they look the same in length. Now wiselite had a lot of the "endcaps" for sale at one time on their website and through apex. They were selling both the rounded end yugo's and the German "square" ended ones. The one that's in your pic I believe to be longer to pick up that 1/4inch in extra receiver length that you hear about.
To take that apart and change out the buffer is quite simple.
1st End with the screw treads, See the roll pin, drive it out.
2nd With screw driver un-screw the long screw inside of the buffer spring.
3rd Rest of the pieces are loose, take apart if you want.
4th At this time change the "endcap" and buffer.
5th Screw the long screw back in.
6th Drive the roller pin back in.
7th Go to range and have fun.

I'm not sure which would take more time my hunt and peck typing the above or taking apart and putting it back together.
German buffer cups are out there loose and as a complete buffer set up.

Also please check the end of those bakelite stocks as it was on this website the difference between a German WW2 and post war was mainly the size of the screw's cap.
Large carriage bolt size was German WW2
Small screw head (straight slot) is post war.

More info to be found.

Later 42rocker

[Der Alder]

^^^Good info...thanks 42rocker!

As for the WLA end cap length I'm sure it varied throughout the M53 semi-auto development/production run, especially as the parts kits they were using varied between Yugo and German along with development upgrades that were added over time. Mine is one of their earliest made BTW.