Today, a comparison between a semiauto CETME-L rifle from MarColMar Firearms and one from HMG (albeit an example I built myself).
Commentary
The M1 Garand’s Mysterious 7th Round Stoppage
The M1 Garand ran great in testing, but as soon as Springfield began to crank out production-line guns a mysterious problem appeared. If the top round in the clip was on the right-hand side, the […]
Heavy MGs
Colt’s Model 1915 Vickers Gun in .30-06
After extended testing in 1913 and 1914, the US formally adopted the Vickers gun as the Model 1915. A contract was placed for licensed production of 125 guns by Colt, who had also taken contracts […]
Semiauto Rifles
Vintage Saturday: Prior Planning Prevents Piss-Poor Performance
Cuban exiles training in Florida for the Bay of Pigs invasion, with scoped M1941 Johnson rifles. (coming Monday, a video on the Johnson…)
Had heard that MalColMar had actually changed the angle of the magwell in later guns, tilting it just slightly off the vertical & thereby improving feeding over the original? Anyone have insight?
Yes, the original suffered from notable feeding issues and could not use proper NATO magazines, that’s why it uses its own. MalColMar fixed this and allows it to use NATO mags.
What parts did MCM actually use of the kits? They used a new barrel, new trigger group housing, new furniture, refinished everything, new springs, new magazine etc. What was left original besides the muzzle device?
Not at all “a protectionist thing” (law enacted to tilt a market in favor of domestic manufacturers), given that the US industries copying foreign “assault weapons” (and compliance parts) arose after / as a result of these laws. The domestic-design MSR sector (Colt, Springfield) was much smaller then, routinely condemned as “merchants of death” by the same people who promoted 922(r), and slammed shortly thereafter by a ban on their own comparable products.
I have one of the first 40 HMG production guns made, and as Ian stated they only produced 100 rifles. Mine has run 100% reliable with the original springs, but as a precaution I did install MCM’s new spring kit. My only issue, that I found was somewhat common, is that my rear sight is cranked almost fully to the right for it to be properly zeroed at 100yds. It’s a fun gun to shoot and surprisingly accurate. She runs steel case like a champ so at least she’s a cheap date.
Yes, the original suffered from notable feeding issues and could not use proper NATO magazines, that’s why it uses its own. MalColMar fixed this and allows it to use NATO mags.