Randy Murray is a great guy and does a great job. He will talk your ear off on the phone if you get him going. I am going to have him do a couple of more stocks for me. The laminate wood that he used to get that was darker in color doesn't offer blanks anymore so he had to switch to the whiter...
Dont get too excited about stored weapons. The Russians were melting a lot of them down since they cant be sold here. https://www.guns.com/news/2019/01/29/russians-to-pave-military-church-with-captured-german-wwii-era-guns-video?fbclid=IwAR3ggSYs3Ek8pjSKLbniMPUUGPaji2h7zDtUVfOQlawriSoix4Sgef9Pe2Y
All of my usual places are sold out too. The after market ones needed to be fitted slightly too. They dont answer emails ofter but maybe Frontline Militaria can produce some new ones if asked.
Checking headspace and the locking mechanism is easy on these. I have built many of these with mismatched parts and new parts. All of them have proper headspacing and the locking lugs work flawlessly.
It can be bent back into place BUT it has to be done by someone who is knowledgeable in heat treating metal since you are going to need to maintain the proper hardening or you will have a fail point. With how most "gunsmiths" are mostly parts assemblers now. good luck finding someone that can...
I have had a few builds with this issue on the gas block and front sight. You have to find a slightly bigger pin and possibly slightly open the hole bigger on the block or front sight depending on the size of pin that you get. It MUST be tight and not move at all!!
You will have to do A LOT of work to get the repros to feed right. The lips on the top are shaped different, you will have fit each one slightly to get them to even be able to clip in and the springs are too weak. I have a few of them but would rather spend the money on a real one even if beat...