MG-42
7.92x57 Mauser air-cooled, belt-fed, crew served...semi-auto rifle
This is a semi-auto version of the legendary WW2 German machine gun. "Hitler's Buzz Saw". It is chambered in the original 7.92mm x 57 (aka 8mm Mauser) cartridge, however, I do have the post-war 7.62x51 NATO conversion parts as well, which is good, because it is HUNGRY for ammo, even in semi-automatic form. This is another example of something I have to own in semi-auto because my "enlightened" state doesn't allow Full Auto. Which is OK here in this case as it didn't cost a TENTH of what the original full auto pieces are currently selling for, and with the current scarcity, and corresponding high prices of ammo during this damned pandemic, I could never afford to shoot the thing even if I could afford a transferable example.
On this trip, I swapped in the MG-3 feed tray, feed cover, and 7.62x51 NATO barrel. Then the darned weather went all Stalingrad on me. All the better.
I wasn't happy with the original "Late War" blotchy finish it came with (that you can see in the first picture at the top of the page), so I applied some Brownell's Aluma-hyde "Dark Parkerizing Grey" to the reciever. It may not be as historically accurate, but who cares...it's a bastardized mutt representation anyway, consisting of MG42 parts, Yugoslavian post-war M53 parts, and current production BRP Guns semi-auto parts. Purists need not complain, I know it has no pedigree, but that's OK. I like how it turned out.
Shooting .308 is a little cheaper, and a LOT easier to find than 7.92x57 (8mm Mauser) ammo these days.
This has been a really fun piece to add to the collection, as it's one of those "Accessorizing" toys you can get all sorts of different stuff for. That, and it has required just enough "tinkering" to satisfy the home gunsmith in me. It ran strong in 8mm since acquisition, but I had some interesting issues with .308. The great folks over at BRP Guns guided me through troubleshooting the issues even though I neither bought it from them, nor did they build it. Some of the parts came from their shop, but I think they'd have been happy to help me figure it out even if that weren't the case. Great guys. Send them some business.
It wasn't cheap, in fact, I think I've spent more on it than any other firearm I've ever had...and that was BEFORE all the "accessorizing" began.
Two bipods, the Yugo Lafette tripod, three extra barrels, all the MG-3 .308 bits, a slew of drums and belts, a linking machine, ammo, ammo, and more ammo...the list goes on.
It is probably the LEAST practical firearm I own, but I've never let that get in the way of fun. This gun is FUN.