Sport Systeme Dittrich Mkb-42(H)

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Posting this out of curiosity.

I've seen the Sport Systeme Dittrich Mkb-42(H) listed at Marstar.
Every once and a while I check it out. It has historical cool factor to it, even as a reproduction. Not cheap!

Anyone here own one? Care to give a short review?
 
Owned One, worked on some.

Looks: 5 Stars
Function: 2 Stars

Problems:
Repro Mags - can cause feed problems - solution = original magazine $180+
Ammo - They just don't make flak ammo anymore so hand loading a good round or even PPU ammo does not match original specs. Result = short stroking/rapid fire and very dirty looks at the range or failure to eject. Original ammo is generally expensive and hard to come by and the firing pins are slightly shorter and the recoil spring is not the best - so sometimes poor function/feeding/ejection.
Parts - not case hardened properly = excessive and expedient wear of parts = substitute with original MP44 parts = many compatible = expensive.

I still have one and I will not sell it as it fills a hole in the collection - but I don't fire mine anymore. If you want to fire one - be prepared for a 1-2k problem solving project.

My two cents...
 
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Was wondering what would stand in the way of properly hardening the parts.... should solve the issue, especially if there is info on original specs.
 
The fact that these repro's, based off original specs are of crap quality compared to wartime expedient underground factories with 40s technology speaks volumes about what I think is an embarassment to any modern company trying to make a quick buck.

I mean is it hard with modern processes to make even comparable quality to some frau working with a hacksaw and wrench in a bombed out factory during the 40's?

I bet half the labour back then was forced slave labour too, and even then quality was probably still better.
 
All of SSD had different problems - great looking projects but nightmares to shoot - except for the BD38 (MP38) - mine worked flawlessly until the RCMP took it away.

The BD42 (FG42 I) - ejector wears within 20 rounds - not hardened properly - within 100 rounds the ejector is non-functional.

BD44 (MP44) - same as the BD42H - I spoke to a guy at the show that spent 2k getting his working, I have one and don't shoot it for reasons stated above and a buddy spent about $500 and countless man hours getting his working.

So if you have money to burn - burn it!!! I did…you only live once.
 
I guess I'm the lucky one. I have a BD44, and it actually works fantastic. Only issue I've had is reloading for it and finding a suitable load to replicate the military specs. Shot over 1,000 rounds through it so far, plus another 800 or so of blanks when reenacting, without major issue. Repro mags even feed properly!

That being said, a friend who also has one has had a lot of issues with the trigger group, though it appears that he's managed to resolve that, at a fair cost in parts, ammo, and man hours.
 
I think the Mkb-42H is more troublesome than the BD 44 since it fires from an open bolt,at least that is what I have been reading.
I have a BD 44 and it sure was not trouble free,the trigger group was not assembled correctly,I had to do some work on the bolt latch and disconnector,it had feeding and
extracting problems,but after replacing the magazines with original WWII ones and replacing the extractor,spring and pin with an original one it functions pretty reliably.

I reload--23 gr of 4198 with a 125 gr bullet (very hard to get nowadays) or shoot PRVI which is a little less hot than the east german stuff but still functions OK.

So,all in all a nice gun if you like tinkering !!
 
I know a guy on the forum that rebuilt his BD44 - he may share some pics and did share them on the old G43 Forum.

SSD is now back in business for the 3rd time under a different name - but same product. There was a local gun store/dealer that tried to become the new Canadian distributors - but sadly the new version of the company signed with a US business and gave them a North American contract - so all non-grey business needs to go through them and they are not that motivated to deal with Canada - so the tragedy continues....
 
It would be nice if these rifles were chambered in a more common caliber.
These rifles definitely look the part. I'd love to own one but it sounds like these are a PITA to keep running and feed.

Personally I think it's one of the best looking rifles ever made, in the "assault" rifle category. Chamber it in .223 or 7.62x39 improve the reliability and parts, this rifle would be a must have.

Fingers crossed for the .22 version.
 
bnzmauser said:
I know a guy on the forum that rebuilt his BD44 - he may share some pics and did share them on the old G43 Forum.

SSD is now back in business for the 3rd time under a different name - but same product. There was a local gun store/dealer that tried to become the new Canadian distributors - but sadly the new version of the company signed with a US business and gave them a North American contract - so all non-grey business needs to go through them and they are not that motivated to deal with Canada - so the tragedy continues....
Click to expand...

I'm guessing the US company isn't that interested either. Plus we'd have to pay for them to act as middle men which would drive our prices wayyyyyyyyy up. Any idea who the new company or US distributors are?

Also, while I'm dreaming, we really need to start emailing SMG guns en mass to get them to apply for an export permit. Speaking with them in the past they explained that they didn't think the Canadian market was worth the hassle to access, but he also said they would consider it if they had signs that people were interested.
http://smgguns.com/?page_id=99

4307 said:
It would be nice if these rifles were chambered in a more common caliber.
These rifles definitely look the part. I'd love to own one but it sounds like these are a PITA to keep running and feed.

Personally I think it's one of the best looking rifles ever made, in the "assault" rifle category. Chamber it in .223 or 7.62x39 improve the reliability and parts, this rifle would be a must have.

Fingers crossed for the .22 version.
Click to expand...

It's been discussed a lot, but their primary goal is historical accuracy, so that would derail their entire purpose in making them. Plus they're darn expensive as it is - the 223 and 7.62x39 are both way too long to work in them so they'd need to overhaul the entire design to get them to work, which is a lot more expensive than it would seem. If you reload, 7.92x33 is pretty straight forward. Biggest issue there is hornady cutting their production of the 124 gr projectiles :/
 
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There is a company in the US that makes a semi-FG42 II in 8mm and 308 (for economy shooting) - there guns are highly reliable. Presently they will not even look at exporting (hassle and they have a waiting list in the US due to demand - so why bother). If someone had enough money it may be interesting if someone paid the fees and did the paper work for the US producer and import these to Canada - they should be FRT compliant for non-restricted - but price is the biggest barrier. The rifle costs about 6k US with todays exchange rate and work for the importer realistically it will be a 7-8K rifle. So how many will you sell? 20, 30, less or more????

An excellent example is the 1918 BAR in semi-auto - which is legal in Canada - it falls into a similar price range and shoots readily available 30-06 ammo. Still - maybe 20 tops in the country due to price!!!

Not a good business idea - if a guy was keen to do all the work to make enough money to pay off his own rifle - okay - but other than that you would be wasting time.
 
I hear ya. It's great we have an FRT for these rifles, but price and ammo availability lock the majority of us out of ownership. Sad really.

I know the FG42 you speak of. I think SMG Guns make them in limited batches. I visit that site from time to time. Its a form of self torture.
 
SMG guns sells semi auto Bren guns for 3k too. They don't need an export permit, you just have to pay the $250 for one of the import services we have here.
 
sledge said:
SMG guns sells semi auto Bren guns for 3k too. They don't need an export permit, you just have to pay the $250 for one of the import services we have here.
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They re-weld original cut-up receivers, which would make them a converted auto up here. As such, import and ownership is impossible.

If they were to make up brand new semi auto receivers, and they were to show up on the Cdn market, I wouldn't hesitate at double that price to own a shoot-able piece of commonwealth history.
 
stencollector said:
They re-weld original cut-up receivers, which would make them a converted auto up here. As such, import and ownership is impossible.

If they were to make up brand new semi auto receivers, and they were to show up on the Cdn market, I wouldn't hesitate at double that price to own a shoot-able piece of commonwealth history.
Click to expand...

I agree I would be in line for one as well if we could have them.
 
I'll take them... I wish!

FGOthers010.jpg
 
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