Today, a comparison between a semiauto CETME-L rifle from MarColMar Firearms and one from HMG (albeit an example I built myself).
Revolving Rifles
Chichester “Pocket Shotgun” Revolver
Lot 1059 in the September 2020 RIA Premier auction. The Chichester Rifle Company (actually of Jersey City, NJ) was one of many small firms that sold branded guns made by the Hopkins & Allen company. […]
Flintlock
Durs Egg Ferguson – A Trials Breechloader From 1776
This Ferguson rifle sold for $96,000. Captain Patrick Ferguson was a British officer who designed and patented a breechloading rifle in 1776, which would actually see service in the American Revolution at the Battle of […]
Revolving Rifles
Porter Turret Rifle (2nd Variation) – Unsafe in Any Direction
The Porter Turret Rifle was patented in 1851 by Perry W. Porter, and is a vertical turret design – meaning that it has a revolving cylinder in which the chambers are aligned pointing outward radially […]
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.