7.92 X 33mm

[Matthew S.]

An original Stg44 is something that is on my future wish list and I was wondering how easy 7.92 X 33mm ammunition is to buy. I know the Stg series were the only weapons built to fire this caliber and it was discontinued after the war, but does anyone make these cartridges for collectors and shooters? This would mean the difference between buying an original weapon capable of fireing or a demilled display gun. Naturally, I would prefer the fireing-condition weapon simply because of historical significance but the idea of shelling out a fortune for a gun I wouldn't be able to fire anyway sours me.

[bodes]

An original Stg44 is something that is on my future wish list and I was wondering how easy 7.92 X 33mm ammunition is to buy. I know the Stg series were the only weapons built to fire this caliber and it was discontinued after the war, but does anyone make these cartridges for collectors and shooters? This would mean the difference between buying an original weapon capable of fireing or a demilled display gun. Naturally, I would prefer the fireing-condition weapon simply because of historical significance but the idea of shelling out a fortune for a gun I wouldn't be able to fire anyway sours me.

Matthew, I do NOT believe original "kurz" ammo is easy to find nor cheap for that matter....I've seen it sell from any where between $1 and $5 a round....I can't believe the shelf life is very good either, considering the casings are the lacquered steel variety....They tend to rust....If you want a shooter, you might be better off buying a "schmeisser" as 9mm is readily available....Bodes

[P08]

If you want to shoot with a STG44 you need to make your own cartridges and reload them. I've seen reports on how to do it. I think they downsize either 8x57 or 30.06 cartridges? Someone on this site must know more about this??

[ramon]

The two authorities I consult regularly are George Nonte and John Donnelly.


Nonte uses .30-06 cases. He full length sizes the case in a 8mm die, trims to 1.29" and reams the neck. He uses .318" bullets.

Donnelly uses .308 Winchester brass. Taper expand the neck to .330" Anneal. form in the form die and cut to length. Ream the neck and full length size.
Donnelly uses .320" bullets.

I know you can purchase the die set from RCBS.

Cheers,

Ramon

[Adrian Stevenson]

See this thread for Kurz reloading info:

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...6&page=3&pp=15

Cheers, Ade.

[MP44_tom]

I make the myself as well,


You need the form Die Set AND the Reload Die Set from RCBS, they are quite expensive...
You can either use .308, 30-06, 8x57 or even 6,5x55 (which has a slightly different, thicker end)

Here a picture I posted in another thread as well


If you have more questions about the process, don't hesitate to ask....

Tom
www.mp44.nl

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Tom, I just beat you to it and added the link


Cheers, Ade.

[Gary Cain]

Hey Guy's,
I have about 1000 rounds of original ammo that is available as well as about 400 rounds of Czeck. The original works fine! I had a cache of around 5k rounds and this is what is left aftewr selling off my MP 44(I bought as house with the money so I am OK with my loss.......sort of.....well OK I still miss it.....) any way let me know if you are interested. I want 1.50/ round but if someone wants it all I will do better.

Cheers
Gary

Matthew, I do NOT believe original "kurz" ammo is easy to find nor cheap for that matter....I've seen it sell from any where between $1 and $5 a round....I can't believe the shelf life is very good either, considering the casings are the lacquered steel variety....They tend to rust....If you want a shooter, you might be better off buying a "schmeisser" as 9mm is readily available....Bodes

[bodes]

Hey Guy's,
I have about 1000 rounds of original ammo that is available as well as about 400 rounds of Czeck. The original works fine! I had a cache of around 5k rounds and this is what is left aftewr selling off my MP 44(I bought as house with the money so I am OK with my loss.......sort of.....well OK I still miss it.....) any way let me know if you are interested. I want 1.50/ round but if someone wants it all I will do better.

Cheers
Gary

Gary, What about the corrosive elements related with using old WW2 ammo?...Is that at all an issue or just an ole' wives' tale?..... Bodes

BTW....Doesn't surprise me that some enterprising person has figured out a way to make reloads....Quite interesting...

[Johnnie]

Corrosive ammo using mecuric primers is only an issue if you hate thouroughly cleaning your guns. The salt residues from the primer compound sucks moisture right out of the air. In humid climates, I have seen barrels begin to rust in just a few hours. The BEST cleaning compound to use after firing corrosive ammo is good old soap and water, followed by a thourough drying and a light coat of oil. Re-oil for three days afterward, and you should be O.K.
Commercial cleaning solvents will work O.K. if you thouroughly clean for three days straight.
Hope this helps,
Johnnie

Gary, What about the corrosive elements related with using old WW2 ammo?...Is that at all an issue or just an ole' wives' tale?..... Bodes

BTW....Doesn't surprise me that some enterprising person has figured out a way to make reloads....Quite interesting...

[bodes]

Corrosive ammo using mecuric primers is only an issue if you hate thouroughly cleaning your guns. The salt residues from the primer compound sucks moisture right out of the air. In humid climates, I have seen barrels begin to rust in just a few hours. The BEST cleaning compound to use after firing corrosive ammo is good old soap and water, followed by a thourough drying and a light coat of oil. Re-oil for three days afterward, and you should be O.K.
Commercial cleaning solvents will work O.K. if you thouroughly clean for three days straight.
Hope this helps,
Johnnie

Johnnie, Thanks for explaining that....I've been a little hesitant about putting old 8mm through my G43 partly because of that reason....I don't mind cleaning it, but always concerned that maybe didn't clean it good enough....Bodes

BTW, Was watching a piece on the history channel....A guy was talking about putting rounds through an AK47.....He said he'd fire it, just put back in his locker at the range....Come back in a week or so, kick the bolt open and close and she'd fire again.....I suppose the reason was because the bolt would corrode shut.....

[Over_Heer]

ak 47

Most of the AK's were made with really sloppy tolerances, and they usually have a lot of places for dirt and grime to collect. As a result they tend to catch moisture and rust fairly quickly (lower grades of steel don't help either), but the nice thing is that the weapon was designed with that in mind. They were intended to be given to soldiers who were poorly trained and equipped, and made to function with almost no maintainence. You could leave one in a mud puddle for a week, clear the barrel, and it will fire. They will work as long as the main spring doesn't rust through and break.

[kiwicollector]

Johnnie, Thanks for explaining that....I've been a little hesitant about putting old 8mm through my G43 partly because of that reason....I don't mind cleaning it, but always concerned that maybe didn't clean it good enough....Bodes

Bodes, corrosive ammo isn't as bad as people make out to be, you just have to clean your rifle throughly afterwards. Also lots of people forget that all WWII military rifles have had plenty of rounds of corrosive ammo put through them already!

Go ahead and shoot that G-43 that's what it was designed for just give it a good clean afterwards (with water and soap or hot water).

On the topic, you can buy brass for the 7.92x33mm kurz round here:http://www.grafs.com/bulkByBagQty.cfm/startItem/1

[Johnnie]

I saw Ak-47's in Viet Nam that were literally pulled out of water they had been hidden in for some time, seriously rusted on the outside, the water cleared out of the barrel, a fresh mag put in, and they fired like a champ. One of the most important reliability features of the Ak's is often overlooked, and that is the extremely well designed magazine. Strong feeding lips, and robustly made. Chrome chambers and barrels help the reliability factor too. I am convinced that it is probably the most reliable personal weapon ever issued.
Johnnie

Most of the AK's were made with really sloppy tolerances, and they usually have a lot of places for dirt and grime to collect. As a result they tend to catch moisture and rust fairly quickly (lower grades of steel don't help either), but the nice thing is that the weapon was designed with that in mind. They were intended to be given to soldiers who were poorly trained and equipped, and made to function with almost no maintainence. You could leave one in a mud puddle for a week, clear the barrel, and it will fire. They will work as long as the main spring doesn't rust through and break.