Post By Mark
Hi glenn,
The conversion depends on whether you have the right bolt and chamber. If you have the "cut" bolt with the cartridge face machined away (this is common for MGC MP40's in the U.S.) and the demilled /blocked chamber.
The Japanese non-export MGC MP40's have the proper parts for the paper caps/PFC cartridges and they have the better receiver but, these are rare in Japan and the rest of the world for that matter..
The earlier "export" MGC MP40's (1970's?) had the good parts uncut bolts,chambers but, no detonators for firing them as these where imported as collectors only not as firing toys. These earlier examples where like the Japanese market MGC "68" MP40's with the good parts except the detonators.
The later "export" MGC MP40's (1980's) had the cut bolts,blocked chambers with holes/slots cut into them and blocked/totally solid barrels and no provisions for detonators. Plus these later "export" MP40's had a large recoil spring and two piece magazine housings.
If all of the good parts are intact, then all that you need is the detonator for the either the Marushin MP40 cartridges (recomended) or the MGC (hard to find and expensive) SIG 220 "CP" cartridges..
These detonators will have to be made as the only source that i know is in Japan at the moment and i was forced to make a copy of the one that i bought for my MP40 so i could have one for my Sterling (Marushin MP40 cartridge