www.MG42.us

Reichpapers, you have my congratulations on correctly identifying your equipment with the proper names. The Laufbehalter is not the same as the Laufschützer. A big "attaboy" for you. For those who don't want to go back to re-read everything: Lauf = barrel behalter = holder (carries 2 barrels) schü...

According to the manual PDv 918, which has all the parts shown and labeled: spring loaded cartridge depressor = pressure plate long bolt driven camming arm = feed lever feed pawl assembly = feed pawl assembly cam between long arm and feed pawl assembly = connecting lever Belt Feed Cam 7.62mm MG42 = ...

The gap between my barrel door and the cam piece is about 25/1000 of an inch. Mine is original WW2 production, not something cut and rewelded. I'd say cut it apart and fix it before you go any further. If it's wrong enough to notice, it's wrong enough to fix it. If the cam piecse isn't square with t...

Manual PDV 918 is recommended for exploded views of the parts of the MG.

check http://www.GermanManuals.com

John

I would think that a worn firing pin holder wouldn't push the rollers out far enough. However, a worn holder is certainly a serious problem... it can quickly destroy a set of rollers. The angle of the front of the holder is a very precise and specific angle, intended to give the proper resistance to...

With a perfect bolt and barrel extension, the cartridge can't fire unless there's a complete lockup as KMFDM explains correctly in his post. That said, the world isn't perfect, rollers aren't perfect, firing pin holders aren't, and neither are barrel extensions or bolts. Get a couple parts at the ex...

I think I'd take my tightest barrel to an MG store (like Knob Creek), and keep trying bolts till I found one that fit properly, or just buy another bolt head and mill a few thousandths off it. It's a lot less trouble than unscrewing the barrel extensions and restaking several barrels. An alternative...

MGs in Switzerland are no problem at all. You have to have a paper signed, but it's easy to get and new manufacture is OK. I don't know details about the remaining countries.

So, what you're saying is that the locking rollers on some of your bolt/barrel combinations would not go completely out, but would be wedged partway out, making them difficult to get them to go back in so that you could retract the bolt? The correct determination of headspace is a little more compli...

In the original manuals it suggest dipping the belts in melted paraffin.... It doesn't take much to lube them, but if the belts are really tight, I'd suggest trying different belts. The 8mm cartridge fits a little looser than the .308. Pic the loosest belt you have and see if it helps, then you'll k...

Send your BMP files to me, and I'll email them back as JPG files

Early ones were blued, later ones were phosphated (like parkerizing), and some of the very late war MGs didn't even have a finish... plain steel.

Harry is correct. A "tobacco can" cleaning kit for the rifle is what was usd for the MGs. Watch ebay or go to a gunshow. THe proper method of cleaning is in the Cleaning Kit manual I translated... hahahahaha I couldn't help myself.

I've been a busy boy... all four chunks of Volume 1 are online now.

Thanks, Abwehr - it's nice to be appreciated.

John

The first chunk of volume one is on my website on the LINKS page. I'll get more on as I get time in the next few days.

I should be able to handle this one.... Give me a few days and I'll post them on my website on the LINKS page.

The German manuals have opening the top cover to lay in a belt as one of the normal functions. WIth no starter tab, the first three links are left empty. The only thing to watch is that the feed lever is pushed the right way to have the bolt feed stud go into the slot (with the bolt forward), unless...

Not trying to piss anybody's money away, but another recuperator isn't that expensive.... you could always resell it. For the cost of a couple bucks, you'd have your answer.

Sounds like the recuperator is binding once in a while.... I'd squirt a bunch of oil in it and see if it helps. Don't use WD40. If you've never seen that stuff when it's dry, it's like old paint. It gets real gummy and impossible to get out without scraping. Using it for a quick lube and wipe off is...

With 8mm belts, .308 is a tighter fit. It's the insides of the links that are supposed to be lubed, not the whole belt. Check your recoil spring for proper length, or try another one. A weak recoil spring may not have enough ass to strip the cartridge from the belt. Lubricate the rails. A little lit...