Facing the German MG-42 Machine Gun

his middle name must be "wimpy" because if you really shot an mg42 you wouldn't be able to change barrels without gloves!
 
Some years ago, I was at a shoot at Hipwell's, and a fellow had either an MG-34 or 42 (I forget now which). That was awesome. The owner could get very short bursts. It was a beautiful machine. My Mom's brother served overseas during WWII, and I remember him telling my Dad about facing MG-42's. He said the difference between that machine gun and the ones they were using was huge.
 
I talked to a vet in a restaurant years ago that told me they used MG42's they had captured .But they cut the spring to bring the rate of fire down as to about bren level as they were attracting too much friendly fire........Harold
 
Mg34's and 42's were the backbone of the Wehrmacht not mausers like the book title suggests. The German army had more mg's per company than any of the other nation involved in WW2 and their rate of fire was awesome. My uncle was overseas and he told me once that hardly no one was ever hit only once by the German mg's, usually 3,4 or 5 times.
 
Our military had the Mg's supporting the infantry. The germans had the infantry supporting the MG 34's and 42's. Different tactics.

Of course the answer to a 42 is either a rifle grenade or a mortar.
 
my father was telling me he had a friend back in B.C. in the 70's who had an MG 42 and enough link for a 50 rd. belt. He said it took a quick braaap or two to empty it! I couldnt imagine being on the recieving end of that.
 
I talked to an old Eastern Front veteran who was a squad NCO. He preferred the 'new' machine gun over the 'old' one. I took that to be the '42 vs the '34. When his machine gunner traversed with the trigger down, he'd hit every charging Russian instead of every second Russian.
 
Mike Webb said:
Mg34's and 42's were the backbone of the Wehrmacht not mausers like the book title suggests. The German army had more mg's per company than any of the other nation involved in WW2 and their rate of fire was awesome. My uncle was overseas and he told me once that hardly no one was ever hit only once by the German mg's, usually 3,4 or 5 times.
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John Sukey said:
Our military had the Mg's supporting the infantry. The germans had the infantry supporting the MG 34's and 42's. Different tactics.

Of course the answer to a 42 is either a rifle grenade or a mortar.
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IIRC :yingyang: , we sorta hashed this out over here in a previous thread?.....;)
 
mbogo3 said:
I talked to a vet in a restaurant years ago that told me they used MG42's they had captured .But they cut the spring to bring the rate of fire down as to about bren level as they were attracting too much friendly fire........Harold
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I wouldn't touch the spring on a 42, you'd put massive wear on the ejector/bolt. It ejects when it hits the buffer to the rear, or atleast thats how the "semi-auto" functions. By cutting the spring even slightly too short you transfer that energy usually absorbed by the spring to the force of impact onto the ejector thing on the back and the buffer. Pretty much an accident waiting to happen, i would think?
 
My uncle lost 3 fingers storming mg nest. He said his ppsz42 was like a swiss chees after being struck with short burst 20-30 rounds. Three fingers lost and chest wound. MG crew run out of ammo and got anti-tank heavy granate as a present , that what his friends told him.
It happened near Baltic City of Kolberg earl March 1945
 
i have a ca mg 42 which i used to shoot at winona range on the layfette tripod that later H+K style in the vidio is nice i had one of those as well lots of fun but alas no more another one which sits in the safe waiting for a day at the range that will never happen again....heavy sigh
 
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