My buddy and I finally got our semi MG42's working they way they should. The one at the top is my buddy's and the bottom one is mine. Both were 4 cuts with the rough welding done by Pete Stout.
The process has been very rewarding not that it's over. I wanted to wrap that piece of crap around a tree several times, but we kept going and it paid off. I will try to take some better pictures next week of the gun. I also got to put 600 rounds through a C&R MG42 the same day. Put the 250 that I put through me semi and my shoulder was really feeling the recoil by the end of the day.
We also shot with Sherman and his Maxim and Vickers were works of art.
They work at Last
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mp40gunner
They work at Last
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- MG42 semis.jpg (51.89 KiB) Viewed 1652 times
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- vickers semi.jpg (81.81 KiB) Viewed 1652 times
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- 1910 Maxim.jpg (103.1 KiB) Viewed 1652 times
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a-kmanator
It is good to see someone actually getting one of these running.So it can really be done-it gives hope to some of us that start to wonder.Very nice job,thanks for the pictures. ---bil-
mp40gunner
For me, it was a long job. First the welds, had to be dressed. Then the rails had to be installed. Then the receiver had to be spread. Then the rails had to be filed in some locations. Then the bolt had to be modified to fit. Then the cocking slot had to be dress, filed, polished, etc. Then the top cover needed some adjustment. There was a period when any adjustment seemed to change something else in the gun for no known reason. And of course, what ever we did to one gun to make it better didn't seem to have the same effect on the other gun.
Finally, it fired, but wouldn't fire all the time. Now came time to adjust springs on the firing pin, the length of the pin, a burr here and there, etc.
Now it fires fine, but won't eject. OK, now I trimnmed the spring a quarter coil at a time.
Finally, I get 5 belts through it with only 2-3 failures of the belt to advance. Racked the bolt and she was right back at it. The point of aim wasn't bad either. Mine will pound steel at 125 yards all day if the front sight is diealed up to 400 yards. Tim's was dead on out of the box. It was pretty dirty by this point from all the above messing around so I was estatic that it ran so well.
This project was sure not an AK build or a 1919, but it was worth it. It looks good and runs good.
There were also many many times when I doubted the thing would ever run, but patience and determination won out in the end.
They sure are an unique breed to get running.
Finally, it fired, but wouldn't fire all the time. Now came time to adjust springs on the firing pin, the length of the pin, a burr here and there, etc.
Now it fires fine, but won't eject. OK, now I trimnmed the spring a quarter coil at a time.
Finally, I get 5 belts through it with only 2-3 failures of the belt to advance. Racked the bolt and she was right back at it. The point of aim wasn't bad either. Mine will pound steel at 125 yards all day if the front sight is diealed up to 400 yards. Tim's was dead on out of the box. It was pretty dirty by this point from all the above messing around so I was estatic that it ran so well.
This project was sure not an AK build or a 1919, but it was worth it. It looks good and runs good.
There were also many many times when I doubted the thing would ever run, but patience and determination won out in the end.
They sure are an unique breed to get running.
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artech
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propos
As I keep saying. Anyone who thinks this is as simple as an AK is going to get a surprise. I'm glad that you stuck with it and didn't quit. Making one of these is not for the impatient. The "I gotta have it right now" guys.
There were times when I too thought about chucking the whole project. But perserverance paid off.
You have joined the small group of guys who have a working SA42. Pat yourself on the back and give yourself an "atta boy" for a job well done.
There were times when I too thought about chucking the whole project. But perserverance paid off.
You have joined the small group of guys who have a working SA42. Pat yourself on the back and give yourself an "atta boy" for a job well done.
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slowfinger