MP40s on Gunstar

Hi everyone,
I am after a MGC MP40 and I have seen 2 on Gunstar and 1 on Milweb (with six mags). Those of you who know me already know that I am into re-enactment and , yes, I am a MVT card-holder (membership XXXXX-XX).
The 2 on Gunstar are model guns (the Marushin has a hole cut into the mag ?) and the one on Milweb is a converted MGC into a 9mm blanker. If I were to buy one of the model guns I might have it professionally converted later to a blanker , all depends on the gun ? Anyway, here are the links :
http://www.gunstar.co.uk/mgc-mp40-submachine-guns/Other-Military-Guns/779093
http://www.gunstar.co.uk/marushin-mp40-9-mm-starter-guns/Other-guns/778929
http://www.milweb.net/classifieds/large_image.php?ad=76009&cat=57
Please let me know if there are any potential problems or issues I should be looking out for if and when I do buy one of these ?
Some of you may remember I have a MGC MP40 already which I wanted to have Kickback converted to a blanker, sadly he never got back to me after moving house And to be fair, the receiver of that one probably cannot be restored as it has several holes milled out of it
Cheers,
Broomie

I removed your MVT membership number as it's best not to show it on an open Forum. You never know, a non-Forum reader could use your name and number as VCRA exemption. 
Cerwyn: Site Admin. 

The MGC on Gunstar looks a nice clean model and price is OK, they have gone for £400 up to £800 so £500 is not bad.
The marushin is a good price and looks to be fine, its all zinc and pretty heavy, heavier than an MGC. You cannot convert this to a blank firer it will explode into pieces, but as PFC model its good and can be tuned up to fire really nice.
The one on milwed, well i would not pay £1200 for a convertd MGC these days as you can get scratch built ones for around the same (maybe a little more) and they are a hell of a lot better than a converteed MGC. Good converted MGC's can be very good and last and fire well but for the cost a scratch bult is a much better purchase.
if the magazines are genuine MP40 then the cost is not so bad as MP40 mags now range from £70 (if you are really lucky) to over a £100 if you can find any, so taking that into consideration of the asking price its not bad.
I would want to know more about the conversion though, who did it, how was it done is the barel zinc or has it been changed to steel, where does it vent, front or top and what blanks does it take (red tip, winmag etc).

Hi Cerwyn,
Thanks again for your invaluable advice on the subject, you've helped me whittle my decision down to the MGC68 MP40 . I guess I need to ask the seller of the MGC68 MP40 on Gunstar if the receiver is steel before plunging headlong into buying something I will later regret
Failing that I will go back to Kickback and pester him again to see if he can build me a MP40 from scratch. I really prefer a MP40 to a MP38 if possible as it suits the purpose of my re-enactment.
Now I know why there are milled-out cuts in my MGC68 MP40 Seems kinda drastic since these are dummy guns in the first place
Cheers,
Broomie

Hi Cerwyn,
I did try to PM Kickback , as said, just before last Christmas to no avail - he was too busy with moving house, but I will give it another go I just hate being a pestering pain that's all.
No, I haven't seen your PFC MP38 Would love to see some pics of it
I have this milled-out MGC68 MP40 (which costs me 350 quid) and it's a pile of junk as far as I am concerned It squeaks & rattles more than my granpa's joints Maybe it's good for spares
I will email the seller of the MGC68 MP40 on Gunstar straight away. Cheers.
Broomie

Hi Cerwyn,
I can't open the link at all Wonder if it's my computer Very odd.
I tried to contact the seller of the MGC68 MP40 yesterday but no response so far
Broomie

Holy Mother of God Thank you for sharing
You have an arsenal there, Cerwyn, and a small fortune I am suitably impressed ... Having seen your MP38 made by Kickback I am again dithering
The seller of the MGC68 MP40 on Gunstar still has not got back to me despite me emailing him twice
It looks like I am pushed to buy the MGC68 on Milweb or go for a brand new MP38 craeted by Kickback.
Broomie
P.S. Very strange, I could open your link today without any hassles

Hi Broomie

 The '38 is tasty isn't it   Compared to my MGC68, as I described in the Review it's heavier, thicker steel, it doesn't wobble and squeak at all.
Essentially my '38 is a Blank Firer, but before final welding of chamber and barrel it's been built as a Cap-Firer.


If I remember right, the MGC68 Blank Firer with extra mags was £1200 wasn't it  Claymore suggested finding out how it's been converted, when and by whom   There are some great converted MGCs out there but there are some of very dubious quality (and safety) too. 


If it was my money, I'd go for a newly built MP38. You'll know exactly what you're getting then.


Those photos showed a very small corner of my gun cabinet. There's plenty more where they came from 

Yeah, I have been drooling over the pics of your MP38 It is very nice, built by Kickback but he is so busy at the moment so no chance of one in the immediate future
Don't let me know where you live or else I might just come round and bite your hands off when I see your full collection , grrrr
I will take your advice & Claymore's and ask the seller of the MGC68 on Milweb more about his MP40 as to its provenance. If I do decide to buy it I'll have to collect it in person - it's located in Birmingham - so I might get a chance to test-fire it first Hmmm .... it's the 11th hour and decision time
I will keep you updated on my quest for a 9mm blanker MP38/40.
I will be posting some more pics of Japanese model guns (if I remember how) my brother has taken for all to see next week
Broomie
P.S. I am thinking of importing this beauty from the US : http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=501029500

broomie wrote:

The seller of the MGC68 MP40 on Gunstar still has not got back to me despite me emailing him twice  

Why don't you give the chap a call - there is a phone number listed with the ad as well

Hi Muzzleflash,
Believe it or not I missed the phone number even though I did try to look for a contact number Had you not mentioned the phone number I would have missed it
Thanks for the heads-up , I will give him a call tomorrow (presumably it's 07515 721880) Cheers.
Broomie

broomie wrote:

Hi Muzzleflash,
Believe it or not I missed the phone number even though I did try to look for a contact number Had you not mentioned the phone number I would have missed it
Thanks for the heads-up , I will give him a call tomorrow (presumably it's 07515 721880)  Cheers.
Broomie

No problem - Gunstar can be a bit of a lottery really imo. I've sold stuff on there (mainly Air Rifles and Blank Firers ) and have put a phone number with the add, only to find the eventual buyer claims that there was no phone number included just an email.

On a different note - I must admit I am currently MP40'less, and am in the market for one too. As a GBB enthusiast, I have/am eagerly awaiting KWC's apparent upcoming offering - but I reckon this will be another 3 years or more down the line. That MGC on Milweb was initially up for £1500, until the price dropped to 1200. Still OTT imo - £900 tops for my money and even that's pushing it for me. There is a scratch built Thompson M1a1 9mm blank firer on there for £1650. Now that seems more of a good price imo.

But, MP40 wise I'm not sure which route I'm going to take yet. Gbb will take years, I don't like the ABS modelguns and though I have permissions to shoot on farmland that's fairly isolated,  I'm not sure the Farmer would be Ok with a 9mm blank firing 38 or 40. Fine with air rifles and shotguns of course,  but if I set a few empty cans up and shoot them with my GBB airsofts full auto he gets jittery. It's the full auto sound I guess...he hated me shooting my KWA MAC 11 at cans in the farmyard, until he fired it so who knows.

My brother in France is also a GBB enthusiast believe it or not But he only tests his guns out indoors as there is a lack of open spaces where he lives. Moreover he doesn't belong to any clubs or re-enactment groups.
If you wish I can ask him about a GBB MP40, he is really up on these things. In France, as far as I know, the law is less strict than the UK on importing GBB guns from abroad (i.e. no need for a MVT or any re-enactment documentation) Let me know if you after something from France so long as it's legal of course.
I am lucky as I have a huge garden so I can just go out in my back yard and let loose (as long as I inform my neighbours first) Looks like your farmer friend needs some more persuasion Have you heard something about bio-degradable BBs I was told by my brother some eco-friendly folks are really hot on this topic
Broomie

broomie wrote:

My brother in France is also a GBB enthusiast believe it or not But he only tests his guns out indoors  as there is a lack of open spaces where he lives. Moreover he doesn't belong to any clubs or re-enactment groups.
If you wish I can ask him about a GBB MP40, he is really up on these things. In France, as far as I know, the law is less strict than the UK on importing GBB guns from abroad (i.e. no need for a MVT or any re-enactment documentation) Let me know if you after something from France   so long as it's legal of course.
I am lucky as I have a huge garden so I can just go out in my back yard and let loose (as long as I inform my neighbours first)   Looks like your farmer friend needs some more persuasion    Have you heard something about bio-degradable BBs   I was told by my brother some eco-friendly folks are really hot on this topic
Broomie

Biodegradable BB,s are a bit of a double edged sword. Good for the environment, yet bad for your gun. Regarding a GBB mp40, there is only the ABS. Marushin 8mm version, which isn't much cop and rare to find. I don't like ABS guns and wouldn't buy one anyway. He'll, I may just push the boat out and get a Blank mp40.

Well, for now the only MGC68 MP40 blank firer is the one on Milweb. The Gunstar one is sold , apparently as soon as it appeared online
I didn't realise biodegradable BBs would ruin your gun Must be their shelf-life or something
Well, it looks like we are both in the market for the same thing , a blank-firing MP40 I will give you heads-up when I see one. Cheers.
Broomie

broomie wrote:

Well, for now the only MGC68 MP40 blank firer is the one on Milweb. The Gunstar one is sold , apparently as soon as it appeared online
I didn't realise biodegradable BBs would ruin your gun  Must be their shelf-life or something
Well, it looks like we are both in the market for the same thing , a blank-firing MP40 I will give you heads-up when I see one. Cheers.
Broomie

You go for it - no need for a heads up! Realistically, I'll more than likely give KWA another year or so to get their gbb version out. Meantime I'll probably put my Hudson Sten up for sale on here at a fairly bargain price (I broke the barrel and agriculturally repaired it) and look to buy one of Kickback's offerings. Good luck in your search for an mp40 anyway and if anything I'll give you the heads up if I should see one.

Well, there is one other way when it comes to a GBB MP40: an externally powered Escort.
Escort is the small japanese manufacturer who designed the internals of Shoei's GBB guns.
They also sell their own guns, mostly using existing bodies to put their internals inside, which are always powered by an external CO2 or HPA - tank (dunno if this is out of the question for you).

They use TOP or AGM MP40 bodies, which are full metal, and put their brass internals with a steel bolt inside.
Here's their WW2 SMG section.
While the external power source is seen as a drawback by many, it provides very consistent pressure and they achieve amazing recoil with their system. Check here for a pretty impressive video of their MP40

I have never dealt with them, so I can't say anything about reliability of their service or delivery time or even price range, but Tomio has only speaken highly of them.

Maybe this helps