Ag42b Ljungman Semi-Auto 6.5x55

Shayd15

Shayd15

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Just wanted to put this here, don't see a lot of guys talking about these. I got a couple of them myself they are great guns, developed during WW2 in sweden, not used in conflict and they were modified to the B variant to address some operational/maintenance issues.

These rifles seemed to be first gas impingement system that would lead to the same system improved for the AR-15. These rifles would end up being licensed to the Egyptians and spawn to other variants in other calibres.

Here is some good history on them - http://www.gotavapen.se/gota/artiklar/ag42/ag42eng.htm

I just created this incase anyone has one, has questions, and or likes them and wants some feedback before they buy their own. I got three!
 
There is quite a difference between the direct gas impingement system of the AG42B, along with the French 44, 49 and 49/56 and that used in the AR types.
In the former, the gas blows back the bolt carrier.
In the latter, the gas is ducted into a gas cylinder within the bolt carrier, where the pressure forces the carrier and bolt apart. The bolt is equipped with gas rings - piston rings - to seal this chamber until the carrier has moved far enough to transfer sufficient energy to cycle the action and the gas is allowed to escape.
I believe the ducted gas system with the gas acting directly upon the bolt mechanism goes back to the early 1900s.
 
Thanks for getting this post started. I have one that I have not shot yet. I do not reload unfortunately and wonder what commercial ammo can be used safely, without risking damage to the rifle? Unlike the Hakim, the Ag42b does not have a gas valve and surplus ammo is of course nowhere to be found...
 
Even surplus Swedish ammunition is not a sure thing in the AG.
The high quality "Pryksytte" (sp?) ammunition packed in brown 20 round boxes tended to result in failures with the extractor ripping through the rim. High gas port pressure resulted in the bolt opening when residual pressure was still too high. A fix was to lubricate the cartridges.
With ammunition with an approriate pressure balance, the rifles are smooth shooting and accurate. I never had problems with handloads. A hint that bolt velocity was too high was rim deformation caused by the extractor and a substantial dent from the fixed ejector.
AGs came with a little accessories kit, which included a spare extractor. There was a good reason for this, extraction being an inherent problem.
When the Swedes decided to sell off their surplus rifles, the cavalry carbines went first, the AGs next, then the 38 and 96 Mausers.
 
A lot more than that. Like all surplus rifles, the prices have climbed.
Try buying a magazine for one.
 
cam1936 said:
I bought one for $225 with bayonet in 2010. What are they going for now?
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Try $40 with a spare magazine, in excellent condition in the mid seventies.

I've seen them converted to 7.62x51 Nato and they actually worked better than in their original cartridge. Same goes for the Hakim and Rashid.

I purchased a crate of them, when they first came out, with all accessories and matching numbers. $225. 8 rifles per crate and a cardboard box full of spare magazines.

I should have picked up a dozen boxes of the spare magazines. Ten to a box.
 
The action is copied from a mouse trap, don't get your fingers there.
Also, it mangles all your nice brass, nothing for reloaders.

I had a few of them, as well as a hakim in pristine condition, got rid of them for the mentioned flaws.

In all hoesty, the SKS is a much better design.
 
I have one in my collection. I find that the one I have is a great shooter and very reliable. Once you learn the gun, just like the Garand, there is no issues with the operation. It all comes down to you operating it properly. In all the years I have have owned it and the Garand my hands have never been injured because I pay attention to the design. In value, it has jumped up big time, as I have seen several listed and sold in the $900 to 1000 range. Imho
 
It is a very early semi-auto design which feels like a very early semi-auto design. I had one do a out of battery detonation in my face so that was nice. The lesson was don’t use federal ammo or primers in those rifles.

The rifle was never fully developed, designed to use two different pressure cartridges with a non-adjustable gas system creates plenty of problems which would plague the system through its service life. The Swedish would do things like oil cartridges just to get the guns running sometimes.

That being said they are pretty accurate guns. Might get one again some day just to have a example of the design, but like most early designs they don’t hold up well in comparison to later ones (the only real exemptions being the M1 Garand and the SKS).
 
This has been a very enlightening and interesting post as I was at the range with a friend just the other day and he brought one along to try out. He was wondering if anyone can tell him what the symbols/numbers on the disk mean.

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Also, yes, the extractor really rips the cases badly making reloading questionable but from what people have said on here, reloading seems to help with that. Would anyone care to share their loads that are easy on the cartridge?
 
Rugerman said:
This has been a very enlightening and interesting post as I was at the range with a friend just the other day and he brought one along to try out. He was wondering if anyone can tell him what the symbols/numbers on the disk mean.




Also, yes, the extractor really rips the cases badly making reloading questionable but from what people have said on here, reloading seems to help with that. Would anyone care to share their loads that are easy on the cartridge?
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Every AG I have seen has three holes drilled and tapped on the left side of the receiver, below the stock line. Was there ever a scope mount?
 
HIGHRPM said:
I have one in my collection. I find that the one I have is a great shooter and very reliable. Once you learn the gun, just like the Garand, there is no issues with the operation. It all comes down to you operating it properly. In all the years I have have owned it and the Garand my hands have 1 never been injured because I pay attention to the design. In value, 2 it has jumped up big time, as I have seen several listed and sold in the $900 to 1000 range. Imho
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1. I am impressed, good for you
2. Everything went up in value, try to buy an Enfield nowadays
 
I used to have one of these
Don’t get your fingers caught in them they make garand thumb look like a mosquito bite!
Darn things are a guillotine
 
I have never got my thumb caught in a M-1 or in an AG. I did have a mishap with a K-43 once. That was a learning experience.

These rifles are beautifully made of the finest material. Excellent barrels, accurate shooters. But the basic design had warts.

As I mentioned above, I never had problems with shooting handloads. I don't recall my loads, but I know they were moderate ones, no more than half way between recommended minimum and maximum. At that level, the rifles were accurate, reliable and brass did not get spoiled. When I got my first one, the only factory ammunition that could be had was Norma and CIL Dominion. Didn't find any Norma. The Dominion was 160gr round nose. It worked just fine.
 
tiriaq said:
I have never got my thumb caught in a M-1 or in an AG. I did have a mishap with a K-43 once. That was a learning experience.

These rifles are beautifully made of the finest material. Excellent barrels, accurate shooters. But the basic design had warts.

As I mentioned above, I never had problems with shooting handloads. I don't recall my loads, but I know they were moderate ones, no more than half way between recommended minimum and maximum. At that level, the rifles were accurate, reliable and brass did not get spoiled. When I got my first one, the only factory ammunition that could be had was Norma and CIL Dominion. Didn't find any Norma. The Dominion was 160gr round nose. It worked just fine.
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Pretty much what he said.

They are pleasant guns to shoot, not much worse then a 22 actually.

They do tend to rip up the spent shells and throw them into the next time zone though.
 
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