Back when the M42B rifles were cheap and only the as new ones were considered collectors items, I cut one down. First, shortened the bbl close to the gas port, big mistake, had to shorten and reposition the gas tube and drill a new port, as well as open up the port cover to slide it back on the barrel. Nasty job to take on. The M42B has a muzzle brake for a very good reason. Then the front site had to be repositioned as well as the wood cut back and a pistol grip added. Then (there were lots available at Lever Arms cheap) cut the lips off a magazine and brazed it to the original mag to give 20+ rounds capacity and use a Bren Gun mag spring to provide horsepower to lift the bullets. It worked OK, but it wasn't the FNC1 that I was really trying to emulate. Not only that but the only ammo available in quantity at the time was a bunch of Swede stuff that was loaded with wooden bullets, that had to be pulled and the powder dumped and reloaded with 160 gr round nose fmj stuff. All together a huge effort in frustration. I was young in those days and blessed with a foolish curiosity and enthusiasm. Come to think of it, not much has really changed. If your M42B is a beater, go for it, have fun, not all milsurps are collectors items, some of them are meant to shoot and above all have fun with. Besides the more that get bubbaed, the more valuable the rest become. bearhunter
