Rheinmetall MG42/59: The Slow-Fire Commercial MG42

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After World War Two, when West Germany was allowed to reconstitute its army and join NATO, it needed small arms. The new Bundeswehr chose the MG42 as it’s standard GPMG, and the Rheinmetall firm undertook the project of recreating the technical data package to build them. The work was completed in 1958, and the company began making new MG42s in 7.62 NATO for the commercial export market as well as for the Bundeswehr (which designated the gun the MG1). Rheinmetall made a number of iterative improvements to the design, including nearly doubling the bolt weight (from 550g/1.2lb to 950g/2.1lb) for their MG42/59 model to bring the rate of fire down to a reasonable 700-900 rpm. The bolt (and its associated heavy buffer) was not adopted by the Bundeswehr, but was bought by one other clients.
The MG42/59 also includes many of the other upgrades that would be implemented on the final MG3 version adopted by the military. These include:
- Top cover hinge that holds the cover in a raised position
- Feed tray to mount modern belt boxes and prevent belts from falling out when opened
- Integrated AA rear sight
- New muzzle booster design
This particular one is a beautiful example made in 1964 and brought to the US early enough to be a registered, transferrable, C&R piece.
Contact:
Forgotten Weapons
6281 N. Oracle 36270
Tucson, AZ 85740

[@Arbiter099]

"A lot of the guys knew how to use it… there was institutional knowledge" these Argentinian consultants are so nice to come over and help us out.

[@Exodon2020]

Mark Felton did two great videos about former Wehrmacht officers in both German Cold War armies. Let's just say they surely didn't need Adolf fucking Eichmann to come over from Argentina to help them with this gun...

[@bondrewdthelordofdawn3744]

Don't forget the Spanish

[@Boredoutofmywits]

Argentine? They were so many Wafen-SS veterans in the French Foreign Legion in the 50s and 60s (Often in senior NCO roles) that the Legion marched through the fields of Argelia singing Nazi marching songs in German...

[@GeoStreber]

The 59 stands for the only 59% of the original's BRRRRRT-ness.

[@tattoos9246]

Which makes it a better weapon

[@asundev3326]

@@tattoos9246 less scary

[@holdensnyder637]

Petition to change rounds per minutes to Brrrrrt-ness levels.

[@andrewdenzov3303]

And Ian should consider to review GAU8 avenger BTW. I would love to see it!

[@Onc3Holy]

Sad BRRT noises......

[@lairdcummings9092]

Lots of complications involved in reverse engineering, much harder than it seems on the surface. Stacking tolerances alone can screw things up.

[@headshot6959]

100%. And tolerances multiply with each moving part leading to a gun that either won't cycle or feed properly.

[@Aoskar95]

Not to mention you need to decide what surfaces and features to measure from and god help you if you're wrong

[@jaxraxx3509]

Are you talking about +/- dimensional tolerances part manufacturing?

[@afre3398]

Germany had probably people that have produced the gun. So those people would have been of great help in getting the new production up and running. Perhaps also some bits and pieces of the tooling. But anyway not an easy task

[@xxxggthyf]

Indeed. The "Well this measurement was obviously supposed to be 18mm (or whatever) is the easy bit. It's the "plus or minus what and does it matter?" bit that's the clever bit. My late father trained as a toolmaker and ended his career dealing mostly with production tolerance issues in a semi-managerial post. He got paid more than his boss's boss purely because he had a feel for how a cheaper and irrelevant extra 0.01mm of tolerance here could save an expensive and critical 0.001mm tolerance there. Part science and part art-form. I remember him once pulling his hair out because some pre-production shake-down run with a somewhat slapdash attitude to tolerance produced products that either rattled and worked perfectly or didn't rattle but self-destructed in very short order. Rattling was not considered an acceptable property and it took them months to get rid of it and still have something that worked for more than a few hours. And if you are saying 'poor design' then he would agree with you. But that was a matter above his pay grade.

[@happylittlewarlus]

This brought to mind that in the last month, Rheinmetalls stock went from about €100 to over €200.

[@happylittlewarlus]

@@MrSlugny Not necessarily anyone. People just want to buy weapon stocks in times of war. Me included.

[@Matt-xc6sp]

@@MrSlugny The German government on behalf of Ukraine. They just doubled down on military aid.

[@JeffBilkins]

@@MrSlugny new? there is a war on in Europe and everybody needs stuff Rheinmetall sells.

[@RustyShackleford-me7vb]

@@0neDoomedSpaceMarine Italy sent MG 42/59s to Ukraine

[@luisnunes3863]

Gotta replace all the reserve gear dumped on the cannon fodder, pardon me, the ukranian army...

[@MythicMagus]

That thing is going to sell real well at auction. I can't imagine the chance to own an mg42 comes up very much. Much less a rare model that's less ammo hungry.

[@marvindebot3264]

And in such outstanding condition. I shudder to think what it will fetch, stg44 money I suspect..

[@robert8984]

@@marvindebot3264 More. Morphy estimates this MG42 at $100k - four to five times the price of a "generic" stg44. With two motivated bidders we could see FG-42 money for that thing.

[@cammobunker]

Currently at $40K. Estimated to clear between $50-100K. I'd bet around $60K If it had a bipod and whatnot it'd go for more.

[@kupokinzyt]

This will most likely be bought by a connoisseur to be used as a prop or in movies, or a historical museum. I doubt someone who wants to shoot this in their backyard or hang it on a wall would pay anywhere the price.

[@MrKronikDeception]

If I win the powerball, I'll post a video with my new MG42/56...

[@vncube1]

"Here's the MG42 with its rate of fire reduced" Prove it 🧐

[@aaronorr5586]

Whoever commissioned Morphy's to sell it would likely not want to add too much to the total rounds fired simply to keep the value of the MG as high as possible. But we can always dream!

[@_ArsNova]

MG 42 is undoubtedly one of the most successful universal MG designs ever. However after having shot both it and the 34, I believe 900 RPM is really the best balance between ammo consumption and RoF. When you're shooting at 1000+ RPM, unless your gun is in a tripod, the whole world sort of just becomes a blur and it's not the easiest to aim lol.

[@Tony-om5kr]

Years ago I had the opportunity to fire a privately owned M60E3; even at ~600 rpm the sights still became a blur. Short bursts and/or tracers will help with aiming.

[@bosknight7837]

@@Tony-om5kr bursts of about 5 rounds is how I was trained to use this (well,MG74 actually,but same thing)

[@fatarsemonkey]

Shot bursts mate, it's not a fire hose.

[@patchesix5848]

You dont need to see the target in order to destroy it, as long as they are chewed to pieces along with the roof, the walls, and the hills everyone else will get the message.

[@Elkadetodd]

If I have to hump the ammo, I'll stick to the 550rpm of the M60. (I guess the new 240LWS might be an option, but I've never handled one) If I'm vehicle-mounted, I'll take the full 1500rpm of a fast-tuned MG3. 900rpm isn't good for either.

[@SafetyProMalta]

"Commercial MG42"....I wish. 🤣

[@lucacolombo7603]

I had one of these when I was in the Italian Army. Up and down the Alps with this bulky, wonderful piece of iron. We used to call it Maria Grazia. So many memories

[@macstone9719]

I was a MG42 specialist in the German Bundeswehr in the eighties. Isn't it the greatest MG ever? Headshots over 450m. Thats accurate. The weight was bad, yes.

[@fritzkuhne2055]

love the alps! what does Maria Grazia mean, is it some italian wordplay or just a female name?

[@scipio10000]

@@fritzkuhne2055 Mary Grace, after MG 😉

[@badcallsign4204]

I couldn’t say that about our M-60 up and down small hills. We didn’t give it a beautiful name, we called it something else.

[@lucacolombo7603]

@@macstone9719 it was simply marvellous. We also had a "portable" tripod for fixed positions. It must have weighed 30 kg or more alone, but when everything was rigged up you couldn't miss anything closer than 1000m even if you tried.

[@afre3398]

I think in the MG3 they drilled slightly larger holes in the booster to reduce the rate of fire somewhat. I was an army MG3 operator. And I never saw the heavy bolt in any gun. From what I remember the rate of fire was taught to be in the 900 to 1100 rounds pr minute (ish)

[@Ruhrpottpatriot]

The MG3 got a heavier bolt, albeit only slightly to reduce the rate of fire from 1500 rounds /minute to 1200 rounds a minute.

[@jumperharz6270]

@@Ruhrpottpatriot Verschlussgewicht MG3 und MG42 ist nahezu identisch, die 7,62x51mm schiebt halt weniger an, als 7,92x57mm. Das Verschlussgewicht ist also nur im Verhältnis zur Patrone schwerer, nicht absolut, daher die Senkung der Kadenz auf ~1200

[@Markusbloodpet]

@@jumperharz6270 Also ist der Begriff der NATO-Bremse gar nicht korrekt?! Mein Leben ist eine Lüge!

[@Ruhrpottpatriot]

@@jumperharz6270 Ich hab die TDv gerade nicht zur Hand, aber ich meine der Unterschied sind ~100g. Was dann (richtigerweise) in Verbindung mit der geringeren Pulvermenge dann die Verringerung ergibt.

[@MitchHirami]

Why was the rate reduced in the first place, i heared something about war laws?

[@thorodinson5034]

When you don't fall in love immediatly with this gun at first sight, then at least after shooting it the first time. Then again when you carry it and its ammo you start to hate it. Becomes a kind of love-hate-relationship. Improves a lot after mounting it on the Lafette (enhanced tripod) mount or on a vehicle mount. I always volunteered to carry it on patrols, excercises and whenever I was able to get my filthy hands on it.

[@Acecool]

The MG3 is a lot of fun.. You so much as look at the trigger and 3 rounds go down range - doesn't matter how quickly you tap it or how stable your stance is. I was actually the most accurate out of my barracks with it - super tight groupings. But the thing weighed like 11KG unloaded.

[@herosstratos]

Night shoot from Feldlafette ...

[@genghiskhan6809]

Still lighter than an FN MAG/M240.

[@andersjjensen]

I'm pissed that the Danish army went with the M60E6 to replace the ageing fleet of MG3s we had. Sure, the foot guys don't like to carry the ammo, but 90% of our MG3s were vehicle roof mounts... and those things lay down an impressive amount of arguments for the enemy to decide to keep their heads down. Waaay down.

[@TheOriginalFaxon]

Yea there's a reason why the PKM is still so popular around the world, and the US army has an RFP out for ages now for anyone who can figure out how to make it feed rimless ammunition without affecting the reliability at all or increasing the weight.

[@badcallsign4204]

I love the permanent fold-down anti-aircraft sight. It seems to me like a simple, but clever modification and it makes a lot of sense. It’s a cool design with that cover.

[@kirksealls1912]

I wonder if the intent of those sights was for helicopters? By the ‘50s, and certainly by 1964, the idea of attempting to hit any modern military plane (i.e. jet) with a GPMG would have been an exercise in futility, surely?

[@robertzehl8081]

@@kirksealls1912 at the time the aa-use of this thing was kind of possible with the old planes with lower speed. The different sections in the sight are for different angles and speed as i remember from drill. Supposingly there's drill material online available for explanation on how to use the sights. In my army time aa-drill was said like "Es wird auf nichts geschossen, was mehr als einen Propeller hat." so kind of useles for aa use in the nower days.

[@mariushorn8730]

@@robertzehl8081 Heard from a Luftwaffe Soldier where they still use the Fla-Dreibein (AA Mount) from time to time that it is basically to distract the enemy from the "real" AA fire nowadays. Though it has been some years when I asked, so I don't know if it is still true...

[@lucacolombo7603]

@@robertzehl8081 an old Italian Army field manual shows AA fire with the MG42/59 resting on the ammo bearer's shoulders. It's kind of awkward to explain, but both the gunner and the ammo bearer were supposed to be standing and the ammo b. was to hold the bipod with his hands, supporting the MG's weight with his back and shoulders. Really odd and presumably ineffective

[@DarkestVampire92]

Ironically this style of AA is kind of coming back into vogue with the widespread use of recon drones that are too slow for AA systems. So your only real chance is expending a MANPAD missile or shooting at it a lot, for which this would be pretty useful i imagine.

[@constantinvaldor1498]

This man has the coolest job in the world!

[@arielgarcia5065]

No surprise he's friend of Varusteleka's guys. Both have the best job in the world

[@PhilipFear]

Ian is Forgotten Weapons, it's his channel and business and you can tell from his content... It's not just a job.... It's an adventure❗❗

[@Briggattonii]

MG-42 at home:

[@jumperharz6270]

I was like: Man there is no visible difference to a german service MG3 until you pulled that chunky bolt assembly out. It looks comically like a brick if you are used to seing the 'normal' MG3 bolt

[@prdubi]

My uncle got some of the heavy bolt kits from beretta for sale in the states. There were several instances where people didn't want to get the buffer assembly. We kept warning the gentlemen that they need both together. Needless, to say, it did damage his rare MG42 when he used it and I think he sent it out for repair. From what I understood, it stretched the receiver in the back of the gun and I honestly don't even know HOW they managed to repair that kind of receiver damage. Henceforth, you do NEED the buffer with that HD bolt. They work together, not seperately.

[@riccardo.pratesi]

Nice video as always! I used a similar version produced under license by Beretta during my period of military stop, in 1982/83 if I remember correctly it had a cadence of 800 strokes per minute against the 1220 of the original version, there are some parts built different from those that I see in the video but it is basically similar, it was a great team weapon, you had to keep your head down even in the exercises, because it was very scary. I remember that tracers in the evening were a sight that you could rarely see with other weapons.

[@IlMangustaKMRUTEAM]

900 mi pare, non 800.

[@choochoo9436]

The Beretta made copy had a completely different booster assembly as well as the other mods listed in this video.

[@Martinlegend]

5:35 this feeding mechanism was more for the M13 Belts which doesnt feed thru the gun to be hooked up agains the lower feed tray like the mg 42 had the feed tray got this too (its the little latch on the other side to hook the empty belt link in when using regular belts)

[@85Pando]

Having had an extensive relationship with some MG3s, it is strange to see one that seems so little used... Most of the finish still seems to be on there...

[@herman7661]

The Italians produced the MG42/59 under licence for their own use, and they used the heavy bolt with decreased rate of fire version.

[@neutronalchemist3241]

The Beretta manufactured ones are recognisable by the "old style" muzzle booster (inverted cone on cylinder, not inverted cone on dome). Now that both Italy (mg42/59) and Germany (MG3) are equipping the Ukrainians, it's a way to discern the origin of the MGs you see in action.

[@someduckwithanultimax6549]

They also exported them to the Austrians, who developed it into the MG 74 at Steyr.

[@100radsbar]

I remember lugging on of those around when I was in the army. We did loose the butt-stock sometimes, and the spring at night. Due to the age, and wear on the spring that is in the button to be able to turn the butt-stock you could bump it on your kit, or on something else and the butt-stock would get "unlocked" and when humping it through rough terrain/forest it could turn and fall of helped by spring pressure. if you didn't notice it in the dark you were just carrying some junk metal around. A fixed pin like the G3 would have been better.

[@Hawk1966]

Oh, do I hope Ian takes this to the range tomorrow. This thing is mint!

[@bad74maverick1]

I always wanted an MG42. I was given two parts kits I'm now building and it's been a blast of an experience doing them. Gives you a real sense of the engineering that went into them!

[@book5ter]

I hope the owner allowed you to shoot this on the range Ian. I'd love to know how an MG42 behaves at a lower rate of fire.

[@fixinggood4595]

look up a video of the MG74, its basically the same gun and its used by the Bundesheer.

[@book5ter]

@@fixinggood4595 I know that the austrians use these, and i have seen videos of them. But they don't really give an impression of how it feels to shoot the gun. Unlike Ian when he's on the range.

[@fixinggood4595]

@@book5ter true, i haven't been able to shoot it either, but i did get to shoot the STG77, its a really nice gun.

[@book5ter]

@@fixinggood4595 STG77 was the Steyr AUG wasn't it? nice piece

[@kantenklaus9753]

it's like alcohol-free beer.

[@jimjonjimjonjon]

5:15 is called "Lamellenbremsen" here in germany and is one of my favorite words i learned back then :D translated to disc brake.

[@GianmarioScotti]

It would be neat if Ian could play a bit at the range with this slowed-down MG-42 😏

[@comiketiger]

Fascinating story Ian, once again! You just " hit it out of the park" once again. You are a treasure! Thank you and God bless.

[@trashpanda314]

Weapons like this are why Germany is synonymous with engineering.

[@dennisyoung4631]

Looks like they wanted it to work *really* good….

[@Glurgi]

... and no sense of humor ;)

[@tomjackson4374]

I have a friend who does body work and Germany isn't synonymous with engineering, they are synonymous with over engineering. Like fenders are fastened with screws and glue making working on them a nightmare.

[@Glurgi]

@@tomjackson4374 To properly over engineer a fender fastening, you will have to dove-tail it into place. Glue?! PAH! Must be a new car, the _old_ germans knew how to properly over engineer things! ;)

[@johanakermyr1437]

@@Glurgi??😆

[@oliverschurr46]

German former conscript in the late 80-ies here. I've shot and carried the MG3 around. What a heavy beast. Regarding the cadence: There is a metal bolt with a spring wrapped around in the center of the bolt carrier. This was called the cadence brake, to slow down the rate of fire. Our instructor seargent instilled in us to never forget this caden brake during reassembly of the bolt. Unless the weapon will disntegrated itslef due to cadence.

[@adlertolentino8256]

At the first part you think this is just an ordinary MG3 but it is an other designation of MG42. These guns are sometimes confusing to know their names. But yeah really cool MGs

[@senseo2848]

The only difference is the reduced rate of fire, in the German Army we have MG42 receivers X-ed out and re-stamped as MG 3 up till today

[@silentdude56k]

@@senseo2848 If it ain't broke...

[@senseo2848]

@@silentdude56k absolutely

[@scipio10000]

Ahh... the MG42/59. Managed to squeeze 50 rounds off it 30 years ago in the national service.

[@donnerschwein]

Must have been the most exciting blink of an eye in your life

[@scipio10000]

@@donnerschwein It was kind of a blur, I must admit.

[@donnerschwein]

@@scipio10000 did you have Germans supervisors standing beside you, counting and keeping protocol of each bullet shot?

[@scipio10000]

@@donnerschwein Nope, further south dear boy.

[@donnerschwein]

@@scipio10000 Bavarians? 😂

[@natopeacekeeper97]

I fired the 7.62mm version of the MG-42 when I was in NATO stationed in Germany. Very quick barrel change compared to many existing machine guns. The tripod has shoulder straps and pads for easier carrying. Uses the same or similar periscope which enables the gunners to be in a fighting position and be protected from incoming fire. You aren't going to carry it around like the M-249 SAW, but I think it's a fantastic machine gun. Even at 900 rounds a minute I'd hate being infantry trying to advance again one or more of them covering the ground. It uses non-disintegrating metal belts for training but I was told they have combat loads of disintegrating links. Very, very fast to load the 50 round belt. The German Army should have kept the MG-42 instead of going to just 5.56mm H&Ks. I still see them on tanks and howitzers. the only downside is the fired (hot) cases eject out of the bottom and if you aren't careful when firing it on its bipod you can burn your fingers when you rest the pistol grip on the ground. 100 are going to be sent to the Ukrainian armed forces. I'd carry one anytime.

[@nikolajc7617]

The one´s we had in Danish army when i served in 97 had a rate of fire 1200-1300.

[@mortjoer]

Same in 93, god damn that thing would go. It was out of my weight class and when we had the full auto training it actually made me float slowly backward on the gravel :D

[@nikolajc7617]

@@mortjoer I love that MG with high rate of fire.

[@mortjoer]

@@nikolajc7617 yeah 600-900 rpm I think would be disappointing :)

[@mattijensen8047]

I served in the Danish army 80 to 86 . They where MG62 so close to this gun . A great macinegun , if someting jamed during firing , you could chance the bolt , with the spare bolt , under 30 seconds and continue the firing . There was a rumor , that the Germans had the blueprint or had a working example for a MG 45 , but all where destroyed before the end of ww2 .

[@andersjjensen]

Those were MG3's in Bundeswehr configuration.

[@michaelathens953]

I never knew that a commercial version of the mg42 was produced but it makes sense. Very cool Ian!

[@scottwatrous]

Damn that gun is crispy. Never seen an MG42 so clean.

[@schlawa]

When you see an MG-3 the first time as a simple Panzergrenadier during your basic training, you think: Wow shit I have to carry this bulky thing miles and miles over the training grounds ... serious ?! On the table there next to Ian it looks ok but these things are massive in real life. You cant barely lift it up and shoot from the hips or something, you need to be Hulk-Hogan in his best Days to do that ... It also looks just ancient from another time next to other weapons we had back then like the G-36 or Sniper-rifles ... But when you set it up, fire it, feel and see its power you still get a little smile even after almost 20 years :) I last shot the MG3 in 2004 when I was stationed in Augustdorf.

[@michaelhorning6014]

I fired an MG3 when my Reserve unit trained with German reservists. I was used to the slow firing M60 and the 5.56mm SAW. I found the MG3's rate of fire hard to control. More familiarity would help.

[@christophkluxen5559]

On one side of the barrel extension there is a point as mark. The opposite side to the cyq mark. The side with the point should be upwards, as it was calibrated this way. It shoots with both sides up, but for long range fire the side with the point "up" gives better results.

[@McBrahman]

Ahhhh Experte ;) Anschussmarke?

[@christophkluxen5559]

@@McBrahman Yes, this is the right designation - "zeroing for long ranges mark" 🙂

[@Vlka_Fenryka]

Nice historical review, now sir off to the range for a mag' dump if you would be so kind.

[@tarjei99]

The Norwegian army use these with two bolts. The standard and a light one for "anti aircraft" use. The barrels needs to be cured by firing at 1200 RPM. After around 10 000 rounds the gas port is widened by drilling. One thing to remember is to check the source of the "too many RPM" idea. It may originate from the Allies simply not resupplying small arms ammunition during battles. The British units lived in constant fear of running out of ammunition. Which they actually did at least once during the Korean war. As far as the Allies were concerned, ANY belt fed machine gun would consume too much ammunition.

[@SpencerAK74M]

What gas port do you refer to?

[@thebakedbrotato1337]

This was my favorite video yet

[@ErikOosterwal]

Is it just a coincidence that this rifle is featured on May the Fourth (be with you?)

[@groundedgaming]

Well, any video could be on the 4/5

[@85Pando]

The Base for the DLT-19 was the MG34, not the MG42...

[@RCZM64]

In the Spanish Army, back in the 90's, we still had quite a few marked as MG42/58 (not 59) on the top cover, and feed tray didn't have the attachment for the belt box, using older style "drums". Probably just an Spanish marking after 7'62NATO conversion, since newer ones are marked as MG1A1. Some tripods still had the range data tables in german. The auxiliary (leather) box came with the anti-air sigth, cleaning supplies and the second bolt. Every gun had a "light" and "heavy" bolt.

[@JGCR59]

Interestingly the BGS Border Guard force still refered to their MGs as MG42. But they were basically equipped like the Wehrmacht (except using FALs) until the end of the cold war. Though I have no idea if the BGS MG42s were originals, MG3s or those in the vid

[@tavish4699]

the bgs first years were litterary just wehrmacht equipment including old uniforms with certaint markings having been removed. i have pictures of them carrying kar98s baretta machine pistols p38´s / p1 pistols and obviously the mg42 they also had a very interesting vehicle stock they used mostly american vehicles like the greyhound and other tracked vehicles but ocassionally the kübelwagen could still be seen. It was a ragtag police force that had some serious firepower

[@BadgerMcblasty]

God I love the MG42. So cool.

[@wolfmann2023]

Great video Ian 👍 May the 4th be with you!

[@jordoo1978]

Info requested - mg42 =1500-1550 rpm ( 25/26 rnds a sec) , mg3 = 1200 rpm ( 20 rnds a sec ). mg3 is a slowed down for nato standards version of the 42 in 762.nato. m53 = 960 rpm ( 16-18 rnds a sec ) produced by Yugoslavia after the war using german tooling left behind . besides the heavier bolt introduced for the mg1 later mg3 the rpm is regulated by the the exit hole in the muzzle cone booster ,the smaller the exit the higher rpm. A m53 which is highly passed and mistaken for a 42 can have its rpm raised to war time rpm with a smaller exit hole ,a 42 blank firing cone can be drilled out to the appropriate size of 10.5 or 11 mm.

[@klauslutz2753]

As far as I know the rate of fire of the Bundeswehr MG 3 was reduced by a stronger recoil spring and an other kind of buffer with a spiral cut in the pin.

[@DeadBaron]

So even though it was developed for 7.62 NATO, could it handle the slightly higher pressure of .308? Transferrable MG42 in an American caliber, god I wish I could afford it.

[@odinx1856]

Although not identical, the .308 Winchester and military 7.62×51mm NATO cartridges are similar enough that they can be loaded into rifles chambered for the other round, but the .308 Winchester cartridges are typically loaded to higher pressures than 7.62×51mm NATO service cartridges.

[@Peter-ox7wh]

@@odinx1856 Be careful in roller delayed blowback a bigger pressure could be dangerous, I've seen some G3/CETME blown apart for that...

[@gohunt001-5]

@@Peter-ox7wh if i remember correctly, the MG42 and i believe this gun, uses a short recoil, roller _locked_ system rather than a roller dleayed mechanism like the MP5. Slightly higeher pressure ammo in theory _should_ be fine, but i'm not too sure

[@geodkyt]

@@Peter-ox7wh This, unlike the CETME (and it's HK clones), isn't roller *delayed* - it is a true roller *locked* gun. I still don't know if it can take a steady diet of commercial US .308 Winchester ammo loaded to max SAAMI specs, however... but I don't really see much point in running hunting ammo through a GPMG when milspec 7.62x51mm is readily available and cheaper.

[@ramcharger9449]

If its chambered for 308 yes, if its chambered for 7.62 then i wouldnt load 308 into it, the 308 winchester is a hotter load than the 7.62

[@spiderjerusalem1019]

I´m surprised this gun refuses to die even with all the replacements it had like the HK21, MG4, MG5/HK121... I recently saw the most recent version of the MG3, the MG3KWS with a FDE finish and a Steiner 1-5x24 scope.

[@BRBMrSoul]

I guess. Why reinvent wheel when already had what is more than good enough today, 50 odd years ago. Blows my mind too tho, had no clue still going till read your comment lol

[@special_kitty7195]

This was Awesome. Still the best content on KZbin.

[@jakeratliff8587]

I know it probably wont happen but can we get the old intro back it was really good

[@WildDiceOne]

I still remember full of love how firing a MG3 was. I still remember full of hate how carrying a MG3 was.

[@matthewrikihana6818]

perhaps the bipod was removed for the mounting trials and couldn't be located in time for the sale to the civilian.

[@Soldado94aliasUnit594]

It's still being a MG42.

[@454FatJack]

Maybe Infantry bipod was newer needed in gun mount experiment?

[@mahatmagandhiful]

3:50 - What I heard: "This reduces [the rate of fire] to seventy-nine hundred rounds per minute, which is a lot more sustainable."

[@alifr4088]

70900 rpm lmao

[@blackroberts6290]

@@alifr4088 i think it would be 7900

[@alifr4088]

@@blackroberts6290 seventy-nine hundred rpm = 70 and 900 =70900 lmao

[@wilemelliott]

I so wish I could afford something like that...both as a historical piece and to add to my collection.

[@mainiac4pats]

Legendary video, not sure 🤔, but I can’t think of gun that left more of an impression on firearms. And, as always Ian, you have left an indelible impression on us. Thank you 🙏

[@capnstewy55]

I like how this video is half stuff that was bad with the mg42 that they fixed.

[@loupiscanis9449]

Thank you , Ian . 🐺

[@nealgold8442]

Great video and content

[@alancranford3398]

The original MG-34/42 belts didn't drop loose links in the receiver because the belt wasn't disintegrating links--the belt stayed together. M13 links can get stuck and one of the M60 procedures was to check and clear stray links in the receiver--one source of stoppages. I kept a set of needle nose pliers on hand (later a Leatherman or Victorinox multi-tool) to rip M13 links that got jammed in my M60.

[@jedslather]

Still used by some armies today, this MG is just badass!!

[@Easy-Eight]

The US military gave our soldiers & marines the M60 "pig", a less than perfect machine-gun. The US Army could have had the T-48 FAL and the MG42/59. What could have been.

[@jacobharasimiuk3999]

One of those times that a title confuses you and have to look and see

[@willynthepoorboys2]

Thanks for the video.

[@TheLoxxxton]

Hope we get to see one at the range

[@antagonist99]

I was really hoping you'd disassemble the bolt. Being familiar with the MG3, I would've really liked to see what, if any, differences the internal components have.

[@alexriley55]

Would love to own this beauty

[@georgeferguson7114]

Always wondered why the US could make such a cluster of their attempts to produce an MG42 for the US Army. It's a tad difficult when you have no blueprints and are reverse engineering metric to US.

[@geodkyt]

The real issue is when they tried to literally rechamber a captured German MG42 to .30-06, and forgot to account for the 6mm difference in cartridge length. That meant the test guns were buggy as Hell, as one would expect. By the time thebUS got serious about developing a GPMG, the Springfield Armory was fascinated by the White patent gas system (which even during WWII, Ordnance Corps officers pointed out that, muchblike the Blish Lock of the Thompson, didn't actually work as envisioned- rather than being a "self regulating gas system" it is merely a nonadjustable long stroke gas piston with more complicated machining), as well as trying to incorporate as much of the FG42's good points into the new gun (which actually was a smart idea), and designing the gun towards lightness (again a good idea, as long as you're willing to accept the reduced service life that goes along with that - problem is the acquisitions folks never did understand that the gun wasn't *intended* to be as durable as a Browning MG and they needed to budget and plan for ongoing inventory churn). In the end, the M60 was adopted for two basic reasons: 1. Congress pretty much demanded "US products" wherever thise offerings were "adequate" to meet the requirements (even if foreign submissions were superior), to maintain US arms design capability. 2. A major goal of the M60 development was to be as light and handy as then-current manufacturing made feasible and practical (of course they missed the boat on that when they left the bipod and gas system as part of the barrel...likewise the friggin' carrying handle belongs on the *barrel* so you have something to hold on to while changing the barrel without requiring an oven mitt or spare t-shirt... grrr...). And the M60 was pretty light (providing you don't compare the guns when combined with the same number of spare barrels) and handy compared to it's Western contemporaries - it's about a kilogram (a little over 2 pounds) lighter than the MG42/MG3, almost 1.5kg (call it three pounds) lighter than the FN MAG or MG42/59, and about 8 inches (20cm) shorter than any of them.

[@Axemantitan]

@@Manco65 The newest version, adopted by the Danish Army, is supposed to have all its flaws fixed. Larry Vickers has a video on it.

[@NX6.2]

There's nothing difficult about converting 25mm to 1".

[@lurch6404]

@@NX6.2 25mm = .98425". How do I convert that to 1"?

[@theaerotrooper]

@@lurch6404 machinist here, inch is defined as 25.4mm exactly. Not 25mm.

[@raytheron]

What a stunning MG!

[@choochoo9436]

The early MG2's and MG1's used the same flash hider as the MG42 but used a reduced booster cone for .308 (2 piece). The Yugo M53 copy used the same flash hider and booster cones where the smae as the MG42 as they still used 8mm. The MG3 used a one piece flash hider with a reduced opening that vented out the front where the older MG42 flash hider vented out the sides to reduce the shooter's muzzle flash. The Italian made Beretta copy used a very unique booster assembly than either types. Most of the MG1's were upgraded by the German to MG3's.

[@jimmieburleigh9549]

Hope this has a range day shoot soon.

[@That70sGuitarist]

Thanks for another great, informative video, Ian. I have known for many years that the infamous "Hitler's zipper" was still around in various incarnations, but this was my first really close-up look at one. (The only MG I've ever been closer to was the old FN "Gimpy," which is an ugly looking beast that still works quite well.) Many of my father's friends and workplace acquaintances were British and Canadian WWII veterans. They didn't usually talk much about their experiences, and I knew better than to press, but once in a while they'd indulge my curiosity about certain weapons. One thing they all agreed on was the almost ludicrous difference in cyclic rates between Allied MG's and German ones. They said you could always tell the difference, even from a considerable distance; Allied MG's went "dud-dud-dud-dud-dud," and the German ones just went "riiiiiiip!" On average, the MG 42 ran at a ridiculous cyclic rate of around 1,200, or 20 rounds per second. I'm not surprised that the manufacturer tried to reduce that rate for commercial sales; having humped more than a few boxes and belts of ammo during exercises, I can only imagine how tiring carrying all the extra ammo for an MG 42 must have been. After all, the German model in WWII had pretty much the entire company lugging extra belts to support the MG's! Still, it must have been a great design from the start to still be in service over 80 years after its original introduction.

[@Goatboysminion]

I do hope we'll see that at the Range.

[@enderlain]

Take a drink every time Ian says "MG".

[@daveh777]

That AA sight is awesome!!

[@hitman1267]

Beautiful weapon

[@Dbusdriver71]

The only complaint I have left is the way the sling is positioned on this weapon. You still can't carry it at a Port Arms position; the front adaptor and must have a permanent set of Bi-Pods. This IS the SUPERIOR 30 cal Machine Gun and that the US Army didn't purchase these weapons is a testament to their Arrogance and Stupidity. As some one who carried an M-60 for a long time, I much would have preferred this weapon. I didn't know it was a heavier bolt that would slow it down to under 1000 rounds per minute. I thought it would take a major redesign for this. This is IT.

[@jimmcfee3488]

How appropriate, Starwars heavy trooper variants use part of these as props and today is May 4th (May the 4th be with you).

[@davidbenner2289]

Every home should have one for target practice, hunting and home defense.

[@mickleblade]

And hopefully there's a 2nd video tomorrow, but at the range

[@tavish4699]

choosing the mg42 was such a clear choice it compares to having your best mate be your best man on your wedding day

[@1972malberto]

Beautiful gun love it.

[@e.m.451]

In 2009 as a recruit we were allowed to shoot 5 rounds per person with it. Was propably one of the best seconds we can experience. :D

[@sierraecho884]

Uff. Wir durften noch was mehr schießen xD

[@e.m.451]

@@sierraecho884 Ich beneide euch wirklich :D Aber was solls, besser als in der Stellung zu liegen und "Peng" zu rufen, weil's keine Platzpatronen mehr für das letzte Quartal mit 600 Rekruten gab ... *Hust ... Trotzdem war's schön ;D

[@robgoodsight6216]

😂

[@kalm1531]

Well done.

[@flavio_spqr]

The Portuguese Army acquired quite a few MG42/59's during the war in Africa (61-74), and later on MG3's (can't comment on the exact dates). They're still around. Also, the marines (Fuzileiros), still carry the MG3 as their primary LMG.

[@shawnr771]

Nice piece of history.

[@philipsturtivant9385]

So - for clarity and disambiguation - this model never saw service with Darth Vader's stormtroopers, or with Space Marines dealing with Aliens. I look forward to those variations when they appear on the collector's market and in a later video.

[@giucas100cassabellis2]

This gun was also created in Italy by Beretta, making the same model !!

[@gustavmeyrink_2.0]

MG42/59 is what the MG1A3 is called when used by the Italian armed forces. Early ones used by the German Bundswehr were marked MG42 with 42 crossed out followed by a 3 before transitioning fully to the MG3 markings which are MG42/58 (MG1A2) light bolt versions. In Austria the MG1A3 or MG42/59 is called MG74 and comes from either licenced Austrian (by Steyr Mannlicher) or Italian (by Beretta) production. Not sure if we should call all of them MG42 or MG3 but they are all essentially the same except for the chambering and differences in bolt weight.

[@aalhard]

Oh I hope tomorrow is @the range!!!

[@user-nw8rg8th7o]

Lord, few things make a morning better than the sunrise, gun jesus, and fine german engineering.

[@TheJimbodean67]

What I am curious to know is who and where would you buy an mg 42 in the mid 60’s. I doubt they were advertised in the sears catalog lol.

[@panzerkampfwagenviiimaus9571]

Me: "Mom, can we have a MG42?" Mom: "no, we already have a MG42 at home." MG42 at home:

[@geodkyt]

A case where Mom's home cooking is better.

[@KitKat41622]

This... It's gorgeous.

[@scratchy996]

I see what you did there, it's May the 4th and you brought out a Star Wars gun.

[@sierraecho884]

I loved and hated our MG3. Soooo heavy but also pretty good. Rate of fire with the MG3 is about 1200. Also the change happened not only because the bolt was made heavier but also because the catrige changed. It used to be a bigger cartrige.