Newly aquired MGC MP40 & K98

Subject: recently purchased MGC68 mp40 and K98 Wed Mar 17, 2010 9:17 pm

Hi.
I've been really fortunate to buy in their boxes the above and wanted to find out more re both. I dont know enough abough part names to confirm what period the mp40 is...there is no "japan" or made in Japan on trigger guard.
Also. it came with original caps nad ive load these and fired them but simply a dull phut and not much else...they definately do not have enough power to blow back and recycle next round. maybe weapon needs a good clean and new caps tried. they most definately do not sound anything like the ones displayed onthe mgc site for the marushin model. I was thinking of getting one of these as well to compare....are there any advantages over the mgc68 at all?
secondly......my rounds look slightly differnt tothe ones on this site...the front third unscrews rather than the back 1/3rd. anyone any ideas.
i've got a million and one question re how to get the best from this gun but dont know who best to go to for advice.

fianlly, i'm after a mp44 .....any ideas where to try? i cant quite manage the £895 mgc are asking
andy

Subject: Re: Newly aquired MGC MP40 & K98 Fri Apr 02, 2010 2:32 pm

Joka69 wrote:: Hi.
I've been really fortunate to buy in their boxes the above and wanted to find out more re both. I dont know enough abough part names to confirm what period the mp40 is...there is no "japan" or made in Japan on trigger guard.
Also. it came with original caps nad ive load these and fired them but simply a dull phut and not much else...they definately do not have enough power to blow back and recycle next round. maybe weapon needs a good clean and new caps tried. they most definately do not sound anything like the ones displayed onthe mgc site for the marushin model. I was thinking of getting one of these as well to compare....are there any advantages over the mgc68 at all?
secondly......my rounds look slightly differnt tothe ones on this site...the front third unscrews rather than the back 1/3rd. anyone any ideas.
i've got a million and one question re how to get the best from this gun but dont know who best to go to for advice.

fianlly, i'm after a mp44 .....any ideas where to try? i cant quite manage the £895 mgc are asking
andy

Hello Joka

Welcome to the forum, please accept my apologies for my late rely.

Sounds like you have been fortunate, an MGC MP40 and a K98 modelgun BOTH in their boxes, a serious collector's dream.

Which manufacturer made the K98 Is it a cap firer or does it cycle dummy rounds

Back to your MGC MP40... these particular models haven't been made since the late 1970's thanks in part to Japanese legislation banning the use of steel in replica gun manufacturing.
MGC models have steel receivers, magazine well, folding stock, steel recoil tubes and other smaller items.
The Bolt, Barrel and Frame are cast in Zinc Alloy. The only plastic parts are the pistol and foregrips, just like the real version.
Although Marushin and other Japanese makers made Zinc Alloy versions of the '40 these are no longer produced and no-one else made a steel modelgun.

Marushin continued to make MP40 models in ABS plastics with some metal parts. These have been available in kit form for some time.
Marushin currently sell the abs kits and also a factory assembled version made from zinc and Heavy Weight ABS

The ABS Marushin MP40 is a superb model, when set up and maintained well, it fires consistently and reliably. The only criticism anyone could make might be that it does feel a bit plasticky, it fires at a faster rate than a real one, but that's about it in my opinion.
Many a reenactor I've met carries an abs MP40 for display and I've never heard anyone point at them saying their gun's plastic
The Heavy Weight ABS model uses a plastic impregnated with metallic particles which makes it slightly heaver, not quite as shiny looking, but unfortunately, rather brittle. If you read various articles here on the forum you'll often see reference to HWABS models breaking after prolonged firing or in some instances by dropping them.

The MGC MP40 on the other hand has the distinct advantage of being mostly metal. Steel receivers give it the look, feel and weight of a real one.
Rate of fire is slower than Marushin's much more like a real one.
Reenactors often have them professionally converted to fire Blank ammunition. Please note the conversion is an extensive one. Much reinforcement is needed, as well as steel bolts and barrels have to be made. Barrels are plugged (for UK use) and subject to legislation and
specfic standards. Don't be tempted to fire a blank round in your unconverted model, it'll likely blow up in your face.

Use the correct modelgun cartridges however, and they can be superb. Photos of the cartridges you have would be very useful please. We could then see which type you have and confirm if they are the right ones.
The MGC factory sold these in two guises. Cap Firing and Display only. The display models were heavily modified so as not to allow any form of firing.
The Cap Firers first used an Open Cartridge looking just like a spent real shell, loaded with paper caps.
I have to be honest and say that I don't know if MGC themselves ever sold this model using the later more efficient c.p. type cartridge but a popular conversion is to change the detonator pin and use MGC P220 c.p. cartridges.
This is the first reason I asked for photos of your cartridges. If you've got the wrong mix of cartridge / pin / cap then all you probably will get is a weak "phut".

Assuming you've got matching everything however, if the model is clean, set up correctly and the cartridges loaded properly, your MP40 should fire like a dream.

There is a wealth of material within the forum's pages about cartridge cleaning, loading, gun set ups but if you need to know anything at all, please ask, we'll all chip in to help you get the most out of your modelgun.

[b]You mention that some cartridges unscrew 1/3 of the way up on some, and 1/3 down on others. I think you're probably looking at MGC and Marushin cartridges which differ in design.
Your photos will tell.

MP44 if you're after a top quality Shoei replica, expect to pay that sort of money. They are not cheap by any stretch of the imagination. Fabulous models though but expensive.
Cap firing, Dummy round MP44 modelguns are around, there are GBB Airsoft versions to be had at about the same price range, or the cheapest option would be a Chinese made Electric Airsoft replica. They're much cheaper,look reasonably good actually but it depends on what you're after.

And we haven't even started on your K98 yet

Till later

_________________
Cerwyn

Hobby collector of Replica model guns and Militaria.
also member of Living History Reenactment Groups.

Subject: Re: Newly aquired MGC MP40 & K98 Fri Apr 02, 2010 5:36 pm

Don't forget the pictures!!!

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