Any MG34 shooters/ owners in the valley?

[Azarmory]

Gotta mg34 that is real temperamental thinking it might be the recoil spring? Any info or suggestions greatly appreciated.

[Tim McBride]

What's it doing?

[Azarmory]

Been awhile since posting in azshooting having a bit of memory lapse. Anyway the MG34 seems like it’s real picky on ammo, mostly not firing chambered rounds,

[Tim McBride]

Does the ammo fire if its refed/put in another gun?
Because if it's not the ammo my guess would be booster cone or recoil spring. Sounds like you are on the right track.

[Azarmory]

I was told by another MG34 shooter is if you remove the booster and stand the gun on its muzzle the recoil spring should support the weight of the gun, every hear of such a thing? Mine does not support the weight

[Tim McBride]

Not something I've heard, but if nothing is dragging, the recoil spring or the booster are the most likely candidates in my opinion.

If you are at the "just try s***" stage I'd go with a new recoil spring, they are like $20 bucks

[cjr]

What ammo are you using? If you are using Yugo or old military ammo that have hard primers could be a part of the problem. If you can use that ammo good in another gun, I would suggest a new firing pin spring.

[Azarmory]

Not something I've heard, but if nothing is dragging, the recoil spring or the booster are the most likely candidates in my opinion.

If you are at the "just try s***" stage I'd go with a new recoil spring, they are like $20 bucks

Know of anyone local that may a recoil spring?

[Tim McBride]

Not something I've heard, but if nothing is dragging, the recoil spring or the booster are the most likely candidates in my opinion.

If you are at the "just try s***" stage I'd go with a new recoil spring, they are like $20 bucks

Know of anyone local that may a recoil spring?

No. I'd just order from Allegheny Arsenal, https://mg34.com/

[Mr_Maim]

I was told by another MG34 shooter is if you remove the booster and stand the gun on its muzzle the recoil spring should support the weight of the gun, every hear of such a thing? Mine does not support the weight

@Azarmory This is true (recoil spring should support the weight of the gun) if the gun comes to rest out of battery when standing on its barrel, the recoil spring should be replaced immediately.

1) Are you seeing primer strikes on the unfired rounds once you manually eject them? If not, firing pin or firing pin spring may be damaged.

2) Is the issue happening on the first round or a subsequent round? Or is it random? First round would lean towards a hard part damage/wear (firing pin, rollers, cams, etc.). Subsequent stoppages would indicate springs, either firing pin or recoil.

3) Clean the locking lug area and cams. Use automotive brake parts cleaner. Check the rollers on the bolt to make sure they turn freely.

4) Disassemble, clean, reassemble the bolt. Do a partial disassembly first (head, firing pin, firing pin retainer). Clean, oil, reassemble.

5) Does the ammo work on a different gun? Assuming you're shooting 8mm and you've not re-chambered to 308, what 8mm are you using? Romanian? Ethiopian? Greek? Turkish? Romanian is of course top of the food chain with several decades of Turk being the worst.

6) Looks like you've got plenty of belts so I'll rule out a bad belt.

I don't own one yet, it is the next MG on my list. I've been reading EVERYTHING about them for 1.5 years so while I don't have "ownership experience" I have shot quite a few and worked on quite a few.

[Mr_Maim]

ETA: Nice Bakelite stock!

[Azarmory]

ETA: Nice Bakelite stock!

Thank you for the input, I have a new spring in route and will check out all of the following you mentioned. Thanks again, Jeff

[Mr_Maim]

Cool, let us know could ya?

[ale4me]

There is another member on this board, well the old one at least, that has one. I know, because I have shot it. Quite the beast. Your great guy for keeping it alive and well.

[1bardan+]

If you ever get to Kingman, contact Jim at Northern Arizona Munitions. He has had a 34 for over 30 years that functions flawlessly.