In that case I happily sit corrected!
I really like the Germans approach to firearms.
MP43, StG44, BD44 users!?
- Thread starter NavyCuda
- Start date
In that case I happily sit corrected!
I really like the Germans approach to firearms.
only because you were the only one who did reply at that particular time, thats it. Now I see everyone saying it's not hard to disassemble ( I assume we are talking about the Marstar version). I will tell the concerned person at the range about my lil chat...
( I assume we are talking about the Marstar version). I will tell the concerned person at the range about my lil chat...
The 'street legal' version strips-shoots-works identical to the real thing
for the load question:
20 to 23 gr of IMR 4198 under a 125gr Hornady bullet
Try to get hard primers....these things 'might' slam fire upon chambering the first round
yeah I have that problem from time to time!
Nope...I believe CCI primers are considered harder than average and are very common
Ar180shooter
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Ottawa, ON
So by accident i sumbled upon a complete set of blue prints for the Stg44... so I'm drawing it out in Cad software... but I havn't been able to figure out from the drawing what the rate of twist for the rifling is. I know it's 4 grooves, 8.209mm OD and 7.89(5? hard to read) ID... but perhaps i don't recognize the ROT in a metric drawing...
Years ago when brass was not available, I used to form the cases from .308, works great
You must get a die and inside neck reamer (set) from RCBS otherwise the neck will be too thick....
It seems ironic that you can't bring an original to the range but you can bring one of the new SA units we sell. Either way, fun guns
John
You must get a die and inside neck reamer (set) from RCBS otherwise the neck will be too thick....
It seems ironic that you can't bring an original to the range but you can bring one of the new SA units we sell. Either way, fun guns
John
Zefarms in Montreal presently sell Czech surplus 8mm kurz ammo. Got three box on order. At their price (35$/15), I am unlikely to wear out the barrel on my brand new BD-44 bought at Marstar in May.
Marstar also sold me a Lee set of dies for 8mm kurz and 300 new brass with boxer primer pocket. I don't recommend reloading the original steel spent cases (I'm a P. Eng in metallurgy): the " duclility" just isn't there. It will very likely tear. But I haven't tried it. I expect to get at least 8 to 10 reloading cycles on the brass cases (that over 2000 rds!), a good number to get acquainted with my precious.
The problem is the bullets: Hornady # 3230 (.323/125gr/SP) is not made anymore. Wrote an e-mail to Hornady USA about 2 weeks ago and proposed to buy 5000 or even 10000 bullets if necessary so they would consider a special order: there not interested. I've been postponing writing to Norma in Europe. Will see what they say.
I dare not put a .323 150gr in the loads. I have no references. (As an eng., I don't like working with no reference data on something potentially dangerous.) I do not want to scrap this precious. I have a long reloading experience, still the bullet is heavier, how much do I back off on the powder charge? If the bullet doesn't make it out the barrel, it will be a disaster.
Sport System Dittrich is a big disappointment. Made in Germany I thought, modern drop forging and metal sampling technology, wunderbar! Not at all: The stock is fitted with a metal "Bodenstück" (bottom piece) which is very badly fit (stock to bottom piece). To clean , inspect, or just SHOW ! the internals one needs to separate the stock and its bottom piece away from the receiver (a part made by metal stamping). The fit between the bottom piece and the receiver is much too tight: you need two persons (one pulling very hard in each opposite direction) to separate the pieces, or a mallet... I actually damaged mine in doing so. This kind of force wobbles the two parts and will very spell the end of the stock very soon (the bottom piece will likely tear away from the stock, i.e the 2 wood screws will eventually strip).
All this assuming you're passed the step of removing the pin that locks Bodenstück to receiver. I had to use a punch to liberate mine. A Dremmel job (by me) brought things back to normal for the pin.
The same dealer who sells the surplus 8mm kurz ammo in Montreal had one on display, a MKb-42(h) actually. Same situation: never could remove the pin, let alone open the receiver to take out the bolt and carrier.
Additionally my stock had a rusty but plate and an impeding multiple cracking situation because of the way the wood was cut.
Not a happy buyer! But you got to give it to Frank at Marstar: he backs what he sells. He replaced my stock + Bodenstück all together. Fit on the replacement one was just as bad.
Decision : to return for refund of fix myself? I WANT TO OWN AND SHOOT A STURMGEWEHR! So I opted for second option. Careful shaping of inside surfaces mating to Bodenstück with hammer + the Dremmel again. Things are almost good now. I need to get Mechanic's Blue to finalize fitting. Not a single apparent mark on the outside finish so far. Touch wood.
I was in Munich on vacation a few weeks ago. I felt like going to insult the manufacturer. But my dear Bernd, I don't speak German well enough to convey accurately all my frustration. In any case, I would have asked him for an German version on the instructions and proposed to do the translation my self (his English is barely readable).
Beauty full women are hard to get and I have not said "quits" on this baby. I wouldn't be complaining if I had paid 1000$. But at 2700$, it's a sick joke. I get mocked at the shooting club.
If I had to start over, I would instead spend this kind of money money on a authentic G/K43 (in 7,92x57). Recently got a CZ-858 from Wolverine, which has all it takes to cure my longing for a Sturmgewehr type firearm.
Will keep you posted on results when I get the surplus ammo and if I ever get my hands on .323/125gr/SP bullets. Any one care to join on a larger request to Hornady or Norma?
PS I threw in my grain of salt in another thread on hand cutting or drilling of bullets: not an option for me unless I get access to a lathe. Lead in back would be exposed: don't like the smell...
Marstar also sold me a Lee set of dies for 8mm kurz and 300 new brass with boxer primer pocket. I don't recommend reloading the original steel spent cases (I'm a P. Eng in metallurgy): the " duclility" just isn't there. It will very likely tear. But I haven't tried it. I expect to get at least 8 to 10 reloading cycles on the brass cases (that over 2000 rds!), a good number to get acquainted with my precious.
The problem is the bullets: Hornady # 3230 (.323/125gr/SP) is not made anymore. Wrote an e-mail to Hornady USA about 2 weeks ago and proposed to buy 5000 or even 10000 bullets if necessary so they would consider a special order: there not interested. I've been postponing writing to Norma in Europe. Will see what they say.
I dare not put a .323 150gr in the loads. I have no references. (As an eng., I don't like working with no reference data on something potentially dangerous.) I do not want to scrap this precious. I have a long reloading experience, still the bullet is heavier, how much do I back off on the powder charge? If the bullet doesn't make it out the barrel, it will be a disaster.
Sport System Dittrich is a big disappointment. Made in Germany I thought, modern drop forging and metal sampling technology, wunderbar! Not at all: The stock is fitted with a metal "Bodenstück" (bottom piece) which is very badly fit (stock to bottom piece). To clean , inspect, or just SHOW ! the internals one needs to separate the stock and its bottom piece away from the receiver (a part made by metal stamping). The fit between the bottom piece and the receiver is much too tight: you need two persons (one pulling very hard in each opposite direction) to separate the pieces, or a mallet... I actually damaged mine in doing so. This kind of force wobbles the two parts and will very spell the end of the stock very soon (the bottom piece will likely tear away from the stock, i.e the 2 wood screws will eventually strip).
All this assuming you're passed the step of removing the pin that locks Bodenstück to receiver. I had to use a punch to liberate mine. A Dremmel job (by me) brought things back to normal for the pin.
The same dealer who sells the surplus 8mm kurz ammo in Montreal had one on display, a MKb-42(h) actually. Same situation: never could remove the pin, let alone open the receiver to take out the bolt and carrier.
Additionally my stock had a rusty but plate and an impeding multiple cracking situation because of the way the wood was cut.
Not a happy buyer! But you got to give it to Frank at Marstar: he backs what he sells. He replaced my stock + Bodenstück all together. Fit on the replacement one was just as bad.
Decision : to return for refund of fix myself? I WANT TO OWN AND SHOOT A STURMGEWEHR! So I opted for second option. Careful shaping of inside surfaces mating to Bodenstück with hammer + the Dremmel again. Things are almost good now. I need to get Mechanic's Blue to finalize fitting. Not a single apparent mark on the outside finish so far. Touch wood.
I was in Munich on vacation a few weeks ago. I felt like going to insult the manufacturer. But my dear Bernd, I don't speak German well enough to convey accurately all my frustration. In any case, I would have asked him for an German version on the instructions and proposed to do the translation my self (his English is barely readable).
Beauty full women are hard to get and I have not said "quits" on this baby. I wouldn't be complaining if I had paid 1000$. But at 2700$, it's a sick joke. I get mocked at the shooting club.
If I had to start over, I would instead spend this kind of money money on a authentic G/K43 (in 7,92x57). Recently got a CZ-858 from Wolverine, which has all it takes to cure my longing for a Sturmgewehr type firearm.
Will keep you posted on results when I get the surplus ammo and if I ever get my hands on .323/125gr/SP bullets. Any one care to join on a larger request to Hornady or Norma?
PS I threw in my grain of salt in another thread on hand cutting or drilling of bullets: not an option for me unless I get access to a lathe. Lead in back would be exposed: don't like the smell...
QuickLoad - http://www.neconos.com/details3.htm - do the measurements on a fired case (case volume, mostly) and you'll get reasonably close answers.
More info on BD-44 stock issue
I was taking to a Sport System Dittrich distributor yesterday. Seems SSD if facing legal suit on stock issue. Tolerance is inadequate and on the too tight side for receiver to bottom piece fit. SSD's explanation is stock will swell under humid (marshy Eastern front conditions). When that happens, the stock will also expand the bottom piece, which will THEN slide more freely away from the receiver. Such was reality in WWII and so SSD is only reproducing the original cure, a very tight dry fit.
I'm not sure I will buy this explanation. In any case, who sleeps with his BD-44 in the marshes today? Isn't it basic to be able to EASILY take down one's firearm, after a shooting session, to clean it and lubricate it? The dimensional base line for the fit should have been room temperature, 50% humidity.
Another fix is to amply oil the stock when it's dry (I use pure Linseed Oil for all my military stocks, save synthetics). This way it doesn't swell as much or as fast. Adapting to humidity condition then becomes only a matter of how frequently the oil treatment is to be repeted.
I was taking to a Sport System Dittrich distributor yesterday. Seems SSD if facing legal suit on stock issue. Tolerance is inadequate and on the too tight side for receiver to bottom piece fit. SSD's explanation is stock will swell under humid (marshy Eastern front conditions). When that happens, the stock will also expand the bottom piece, which will THEN slide more freely away from the receiver. Such was reality in WWII and so SSD is only reproducing the original cure, a very tight dry fit.
I'm not sure I will buy this explanation. In any case, who sleeps with his BD-44 in the marshes today? Isn't it basic to be able to EASILY take down one's firearm, after a shooting session, to clean it and lubricate it? The dimensional base line for the fit should have been room temperature, 50% humidity.
Another fix is to amply oil the stock when it's dry (I use pure Linseed Oil for all my military stocks, save synthetics). This way it doesn't swell as much or as fast. Adapting to humidity condition then becomes only a matter of how frequently the oil treatment is to be repeted.
