Reloading for the semi-auto MG-34...

[Sgt Striker]

With the idea of saving some money, does anyone see any problems trying cast bullets in these semi-auto MG-34's? There is no gas port to "plug", but I've never seen this action in motion, so is there a chance the cast bullet could get mangled before it's in the chamber??

Yes, I know I could as this in the reloading area, but most of those fellows are hunters, not millitary buffs....

 

[44Bore]

Many years ago there was an article in one of the shooting magazines about using cast bullets in full autos--with reasonably good success. As I recall there were a few issues with regards to foulding of gas ports and the need for regular cleaning. I cannot recall if there were used in an MG 34 or 42 though.

As long as the bullet weight was in the right range and you could get the velocity up to where it would cycle the action it would likely work.

I will see if I can still locate the article.
44Bore

 

[Lee Enfield]

With the idea of saving some money, does anyone see any problems trying cast bullets in these semi-auto MG-34's? There is no gas port to "plug", but I've never seen this action in motion, so is there a chance the cast bullet could get mangled before it's in the chamber??

Yes, I know I could as this in the reloading area, but most of those fellows are hunters, not millitary buffs....

Try gas checked bullets first & try to keep them @2200.

I don't think that your going to know how possible it is until you actually try it. Most guys who experimented would have been shooting full autos, and your TNN "MG34" is a similar, but different beast.

 

[Claven2]

I would refrain from it, myself. The MG34 and MG42 have no gas port, they are recoil operated. The problem with using cast loads has nothing to do with fouling.

The problem is that their design relies on a pointed metal jacket resisting deformation while it is jammed into the breech by a big heavy oscillating bolt, often off-centered due to the inertia of the ejector pin.

I suspect that the lead cast bullets would either deform or result in excessive lead shavings that on an MG34 may foul the breech block rollers.

If you do reload for an MG34, use small-based dies.