Metal MG42 fabrication

Why not try up-feeding hop-up, like I did? I used a P90-hop-up onthis version, now it has an aluminium self-designed and milled hop-up unit, still up-feeding model

A side feed hop isn't that hard to make Oddball, after all, I managed it! Easier to get hold of AK hop units and as an added bonus, no hassles with getting the right nozzle length if you use an AK gearbox as well. Excuse the photo, it was taken before I tidied everything up at final assembly/quality control on my '42.-- attachment is not available --

A side feed hop isn't that hard to make Oddball, after all, I managed it! Easier to get hold of AK hop units and as an added bonus, no hassles with getting the right nozzle length if you use an AK gearbox as well. Excuse the photo, it was taken before I tidied everything up at final assembly/quality control on my '42.

Yes I don't think it will be so hard to make one.
That looks like a metal hop you have there am I right so did you cut one and rotate the feed and alloy solder/weld it back or is it just a grey plastic hop?

I was thinking of making a hop unit out of brass as I have a lathe etc. Also it would be easy to just solder a side feed pipe to it in brass.

EDIT yes now I look again you have used a standard plastic AK unit so I presume you cut it and rotated then bonded it back.

It's a plastic hop. Dead easy to cut off the feed tube, blank off the hole, then drill a new hole in the right place and refit the feed tube with a bit of reshaping to get the contour right. I used a jet melt glue gun to fix it in place and then just used milliput to fix any air leaks I discovered (I found that even a tiny leak meant a serious loss of velocity).

Thanks I may try and make one this weekend I hope.

Sorry to go slightly off topic, but Odball, do you think the uni strut idea could be used to fabricate a reasonably similar PPSH-41 project? I was just looking at pics of them and thought I recognise those holes!
Bearing in mind the Trapper ones are £700 ish last time I looked, I thought there might be a look alike possibility?

A Ppsh-40 would be a reasonable idea too as you could use an MP5 and the mags would be right and everything

spiers, your'e talking about the Ppsh 43. that was the weapon with the mp5 looks.

I was yes! my bad! but looking at it now, it's look better as an enlongated MP40 modded to take MP5 mags and with some kind of unistrut barrel on the end.

What is that the bipod off?

A Ppsh-40 would be a reasonable idea too as you could use an MP5 and the mags would be right and everything

a mp5 gearbox would not fit in the profole of a ppsh a m14 would though, plus you want drum mags not mp5 mags,

Steve.D

A Ppsh-40 would be a reasonable idea too as you could use an MP5 and the mags would be right and everything

a mp5 gearbox would not fit in the profole of a ppsh a m14 would though, plus you want drum mags not mp5 mags,

Steve.D

I wasn't talking about that one, it's the PPSH-43, which is more like a machine pistol, like I said modded MP40 with an MP5 mag and a unistrut barrel jacket. Google it for pictures...

ppsh-40 got me confused, PPS-43 yes, PPSH no,

Steve.D

Easiest option would be to get Oddball to built it,

Steve.D

lol you'd have to try and get hold of an MP40 first. They're quite hard to get hold of ain't they...not that I particularly want one. Why would I want a Russian gun. I'm just happy that he made me the lid for my 30.Cal. It's looking good!

The Ppsh 43 has to be one of the ugliest guns ever made! It's too long to use either an MP5 or an MP40, the magwell is to narrow to use an AK and, did I mention, it's butt ugly?

Fabricating a Ppsh41 out of steel is a nightmare. Even my old man (an engineer for over 45 years) said it was a pig and that was with a set of plans and a de-ac to work from! It's not square but it's not round either. The only gearbox you can use for decent fps is an M14 one as well. I love mine but it won't see a lot of use with the lack of eastern front games.

Of course, I'm a bit picky with custom guns and using plastic would be a whole lot easier but, just not right for me. I like the fact that my MG42 weighs in at 25lb when loaded as it makes me think and play like a support gunner, not just a bloke with a bigger magazine capacity as I have deliberately built it to be heavy and a bit cumbersome. If loads of people start making ultra lightweight machineguns, the inherent disadvantages of using one are gone (ie, carrying it and deploying it) and we're just left with loads of people with a 3000 round ammo limit and electric boxmags. My two pence worth on the subject, for what it's worth.

I always liked them actually I have the Chinese type 55 version old spec deac that is the same.
In terms of design they are great, simple to open and clean just push one button and the whole top opens.
Also nice stock idea like the PM40 but over the top, it also has that metal loop at the front which is an early attempt to reduce muzzle climb.
The mag is also curved due to the 7.62mm ammo.

In terms of the PPSH and unistrut the answer is no not worth the effort I also have a PPSH deac and the holes are quite large compared to the ammount of metal left behind.

Video update.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoKGU9aWE_A

Looks very good oddball,might even try blueing my .30cal even might build a mg42 looking at yours,is there anywhere for measurements i can use from. cheers.