MP40 info wanted
 

Early next year we are planning to leave the "peoples republic of kalifornia" and move back to what is left of America, in this move will come an MP40 subgun for Daddy.......is there an MP40 owner/shooter out there I can quiz about shooting/owning, just the in's and out's...thanks

Since I own a couple class lll guns there are several traps to look out for. Never own a class lll weapon without paperwork that tracks it back to a civilian owner who had it papered prior to May 1986. Check the state you plan on living in to acceptiablity of this type of weapon. Because of the high rate of fire ricochets are common so many ranges don't accept automatic fire. I had one that I owned up to 1/2 mile from this particular machinegun range. These weapons are expensive and once you pay the owner, they keep the weapon. You do the paperwork pay the tax send it in and wait 9 months for approval. Only after the approval comes back to the seller then you will recieve it from the owner.

I can't comment on the legality, but I have shot an MP40. Two things stick out in my memory...

- There is a perceptible time lag between squeezing the trigger and the bolt/firing pin striking the cartridge. It's open bolt, and a fairly long travel...let me measure it...I get 3 5/8" travel [first shot]...I don't have anything to measure the time to ignition but it is a perceptible fraction of a second...maybe 1/4 sec, maybe 1/8...Whatever, it is disconcerting if you're used to firing a closed bolt SMG [M16]... :rolleyes:

- The bolt is pretty heavy...When it starts moving forward, everything else moves back...First hits were rare...

And it's heavy...Especially fully loaded...My book says 10.4 pounds...(It also says an M1A1 Thompson is 10.75 pounds)...

That's about all I recall, these many years later... :p

I have shot most small arms of WW1-2 and quite a few subguns including the MP18 and even the Borchardt.
The MP 40 is a hands down favorite of mine. Extremely, surprisingly accurate, spits out a hail of accurate 9mm fire at 200 yards. Dependable as all get out. I have never had one jam. Yeah it's a little heavy loaded up but you can handle it, taking it out of the trunk to the firing line. It is a tad expensive to shoot cause you won't want to quit! Talk about a head turner..anyone who sees you with it will say..I have only seen one in the movies and NEVER dreamed I would have the chance to shoot one!
They field strip easy as a Luger. Barrel can change out in a few minutes. Parts are readily available. It all boils down to money..A very expensive toy to buy and feed. If your a gun guy..it's worth every cent.

I think Jerrys last words said it all " it's (the MP40) is worth every cent of it", so you can/do change out barrels with some ease it sounds like......my one burning question is ammo, I've put aside about 6k's rounds of Winchester and Remington ammo, but how about cheper ammo ? like Sellers&bellot or Aquela? Mexian made stuff, and once I get time, reloading something cheap and reliable.....thanks for all the help...

Usually open bolt sub-guns are not too particular about what they eat, ONCE you establish their parameters as far as bullet weight, velocity and bullet design. But they don't care much how much their food costs.
dju

Like all the old open bolt guns, they are inherently dangerous to handle.

The safety consists of a little notch for the charging handle, plus a little catch of equal value.

Staying on a range should present no problems with this, but handling in other environments requires caution.

Snagging the handle or dropping the piece can cause a discharge.

I actually had a MP 40 for a while in VN. Whole companies of CIDG were issued them at one time or another.

I know of two deaths from dropping blowback SMGs, a M1 Thompson and a Swedish K.

Both incidents involving highly experienced senior NCOs.

I have read of German incidents as well.

Firing pins and extractors can be issues with these pieces also.

Ejectors also. Mike reminded me that mine had a broken ejector - just an upside-down "J" shaped piece of metal that sticks up in the back of the ejection port, pinned to the magazine well & receiver. I made a new one out of drill rod. Milled, heated, and bent. File to fit. :thumbup:

Movies always show the magazine inserted and the bolt forward. This is the dangerous scenario. The firing pin is held in the bolt by recoil spring pressure and the mag will feed from a dropped gun as easily as from an intentional fire. Bang! :eek:

I have owned an MP40 for over 10 years. I have disassembled it all the way to pins, springs, etc.

What are your specific questions?

Ammo- It will eat anything with good magazines and a nicely polished feed ramp.

As far as the purchase: it is not unreasonable to ask for everything but the gun's receiver upon initial payment. The former owner then ships you the receiver once the paperwork clears.

ammo was of main concern but you answered it alanint, thanks

Try to source firing pins, extractor and to a lesser degree an ejector for the gun. Better yet, find an FBP Portuguese SMG bolt group as a drop-in, (I purchased and entire parts kit years ago for $60. Once people realized that many of the parts are interchangeable with the MP40, prices went up). Here is a current offering, which is still a good price, considering what original spare parts are going for:
http://www.ima-usa.com/fbp-9mm-parts...ttachment.html

Norwegian post-war magazines are cheaper than the originals, although hard to find these days. Expect to pay $100+ for original MP40 magazines.

As to accuracy, I can hit clay pigeons placed on the berm 100 yards away 8 out of ten shots, using single shot through trigger control. 30 out of 30 bowling pins is no effort at 75 yards.

Good luck with the most fun and historically significant open bolt SMG out there!

Sub guns are not for everyone, but to those of us that do like them, they are a hoot to shoot and own. I started purchasing them back in the mid 1970s, and still have a few.....no MP40s though. I am a handloader and if you will just load RN bullets to factory specs, then you should have no problems. If you purchase your reloading components in bulk, I can load 9mm for approx. $5.00-6.00/box of 50. That is using FMJ or Plated bullets.....cast bullets are cheaper. If you cast your own, then cheaper yet. My guns are not particular about the ammo if I use RN bullets.

If this is something that you truly want, then "bite the bullet" and go for it. These weapons do NOT go down in price/value.

Amen!
I paid $1,200 for mine. There is NOTHING out there for under Ten Grand anymore.