Source - MG3 Bolt Head

[wehring]

Anyone care to let go of an MG3 bolt head?

Justin Wehring
979 997 3112

[Blanksguy]

RTG Parts should have these....or be getting them in soon.

Regards, RichardS in MI.
Blanksguy2001@chartermi.net

[wehring]

Thanks. Spoke with them and no luck. Thanks.

Justin Wehring
979 997 3112

[JBaum]

www.mg34.com might still have some MG3 bolts.... they had a lot at Knob Creek. I doubt they'll sell the heads separately, but at least they should have the whole thing.

[wehring]

Just called. They are for MG42.

Justin Wehring
979 997 3112

[JBaum]

You realize that there isn't any difference between MG42 bolts and MG3 bolts except the shape of the extractor, and that they're fully interchangeable, right?

And last I saw, he only had a few MG42 bolts, but a lot of MG3 bolts......? I use both style bolts in my MG42. No difference whatsoever, except the slight change of the extractor.

[wehring]

Sorry, I am TRULY ignorant to these systems. I have been a MG dealer since 97 and these two MG42/59 guns and single MG3 are the first MG series I have owned.

The MG3 is mostly complete except for the buttstock and bolt group. The MG42/59s are consecutive numbers and complete.

So the head of the MG42 cartridge and the 7.62x51 are the same? I "thought" they were dirrerent bolt heads.

Thanks for any help!

Justin Wehring
979 997 3112

[JBaum]

MG42 bolts and MG3 bolts work with either 8mm or .308. Same bolt, same bolt head. SAME, except for the extractor.

Not trying to sell you anything, but there are a few manuals for the MG42/MG3 that you really need to read to be able to safely operate and understand what you have.

I'd suggest HDv 241 as a minimum, and maybe the MG3 manual ZDv 3/14.

[amafrank]

I think what John is trying so hard not to tell you is that he is the guy for manuals. If you need something send him an email or IM. He translates the german manuals so that all of us flunky's can read them and does an outstanding job.

There is no functional difference between the bolts on the MG42, 42/59, MG1, MG3 and MG74. Any of them will fit any of the others and work fine. What we've been trying to tell you is that the only real differences are small things like the extractor which is different between early and late bolts. The postwar built MG42's used a lot of WWII parts and when they started building the guns from scratch they still used interchangeable parts for almost everything. The later guns....MG3 comes to mind, has a longer barrel recuperator but otherwise will use MG42 parts as replacements with no problems. I've swapped the topcover, feedtray, barrel, barrel bearing and booster from my MG42 to my MG74 so that I could fire 8mm in my 74. It worked great. I used the heavy bolt and buffer from my 74 in my 42 and it slowed down to about 850rpm in 8mm. The bolts with the spring loaded feed stud are nice but not required. You just need to do as John noted and make sure you have the stud and the rail lined up when you close things.
Get some manuals from John and a lot of things will be explained.
When you get ready to shoot the thing ask about the bolt catch and how its installed. Don't shoot the gun without it unless you want to have some repair work done on the barrel door and possibly the floor of the receiver where the extractor will put a big dent from the inside out.

Frank

[wehring]

Would love to toss some money your way for books. Call me this weekend.

Please explain more about this dent so I can inspect each of these guns for it. THANK YOU for the info. These guns are factory correct and I would HATE to hurt them through ignorance.

Justin Wehring
979 997 3112

[JBaum]

the "dent" (actually, it is a bulge) happens when you run the gun without the spring loaded bolt catch being inside the bolt, or when you have a problem and don't know enough about the gun to prevent it from firing out of battery. They will blow the barrel change flap open and bow it if you're lucky, and the gun will look like the picture below if you're not.

Details about the 3 styles of bolt catches are explained in the manual HDv 216/6. Nozzle sized are also covered in it.

[wehring]

Found the bolt! It is pretty rusty but it is the original MG3 bolt. Any opinions on a refurb? New small parts and clean the head & carrier?

Justin Wehring
979 997 3112