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MG42/53 compatibility


Dehavilland
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New to the forum and new owner of a MG53. It has not arrived yet, but I expect the buttstock to be pretty beat up. Is a replacement Bakelite MG42/MG3 buttstock compatible with a MG53? Or would the internals have to changed out as well? Is a top cover from a MG3 with all internals compatible with a MG53? Or if the internals are not compatible, would the top cover internals from a MG53 fit into a MG3 top cover? Sorry for all the new questions, but this was the only forum I could find to post to.

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RTG has the parts you need. WW2 MG42 buffer threads differ from M53 threads and the buttstock internals are different so the stocks are not perfectly interchangeable although they can be forced-on.

 

The RTG Bakelite buttstock fits WW2 German buffer threads but not well on Yugo M53 threads.

There is some incompatibility among MG42, MG1, MG3 and M53 models. If your M53 is in original 8mm Mauser calibre, changing to .308 requires replacing barrel, feed cover, buffer, recoil booster among other parts. RTG and BRP Parts can sort out what you need.

 

...Phil

 

 

https://www.robertrtg.com/store/pc/MG42-MG3-M53-c17.htm?pageStyle=h&ProdSort=3&page=5&idCategory=17&viewAll=yes

Edited by anjong-ni
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Between the MG42 and Yugo 53 all parts are interchangeable including the complete M53 stock/ buffer assembly if it is used a a unit.

Unfortunately, the M53 stocks are generally quite ugly so using the post-war bakelite MG1/3 or Mg74 stocks with matching buffer will work fine.

The only other part that will not fit between all models of MG42 variations is the MG3 family barrel recuperator housing which is about 1 1/4" longer than the WWII parts and will not fit MG42 or M53 receivers. It is designed to fit receivers of MG3 and variants, early post-war Rheinmetal MG42s, MG42/59, MG1 variants, etc. There are a lot of these longer recuperators available in the US from import of MG3 parts and they are not useable except for internal parts.

FWIW

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