Correction
Oh!!! Sorry... I corrected it... Thanks! Never type when you are tired. LOL
Oh!!! Sorry... I corrected it... Thanks! Never type when you are tired. LOL
PTR44 Semi-Auto MP44
- Thread starter mrfarb
- Start date
A tale of three bolts....
Dietrich sent me an original op rod and two original bolts to fit to the PTR44 he is buying from me, making for all kinds of interesting info.
First, pics of the bolts. Top is (unfired by me) PTR bolt, second is complete original bolt and bottom is an apparently an semifinished stripped bolt forging.
Note different ear configuration and lack of diagonal notch in middle bolt.
Note the thick, unfinished bottom rib on the bottom bolt body. Edit: This is evidently a Recon Ord. newly made bolt. Can't imagine why the thick lower rib has not be shaved down.
Some dimensions
Diameter/ bottom rib ear width/ bottom of rib ear to side rail
PTR bolt .975" .543" .500"
Orig bolt .9825" .585" .528"
semi finished bolt .985" .533" .530
So on to fitting the original parts to the PTR...
The op rod has a wide web in the ears, so only the complete original bolt will fit to it. The semifinished bolt body will fit the PTR44 op rod.
Attempt to install the orig op rod an bolt is a no go because of excessive width of the bottom rib ear of the bolt. Pic shows interference only on the right side (of the pic). Will need to do some measuring to see why it only fouls on one side....
Pics of potential issues with the PTR bolt and op rod that has only been fired by Recon Ord.
Pin is not flush with rail. Some wear noted on rail side of pin.
Abnormal wear on the op rod web
Abnormal wear on the bolt ears. Shows wear on both sides of the top of the notch and one side of the bottom of the notch. Will need to do some grinding and polishing to relieve potential stress cracks
Dietrich sent me an original op rod and two original bolts to fit to the PTR44 he is buying from me, making for all kinds of interesting info.
First, pics of the bolts. Top is (unfired by me) PTR bolt, second is complete original bolt and bottom is an apparently an semifinished stripped bolt forging.
Note different ear configuration and lack of diagonal notch in middle bolt.
Note the thick, unfinished bottom rib on the bottom bolt body. Edit: This is evidently a Recon Ord. newly made bolt. Can't imagine why the thick lower rib has not be shaved down.
Some dimensions
Diameter/ bottom rib ear width/ bottom of rib ear to side rail
PTR bolt .975" .543" .500"
Orig bolt .9825" .585" .528"
semi finished bolt .985" .533" .530
So on to fitting the original parts to the PTR...
The op rod has a wide web in the ears, so only the complete original bolt will fit to it. The semifinished bolt body will fit the PTR44 op rod.
Attempt to install the orig op rod an bolt is a no go because of excessive width of the bottom rib ear of the bolt. Pic shows interference only on the right side (of the pic). Will need to do some measuring to see why it only fouls on one side....
Pics of potential issues with the PTR bolt and op rod that has only been fired by Recon Ord.
Pin is not flush with rail. Some wear noted on rail side of pin.
Abnormal wear on the op rod web
Abnormal wear on the bolt ears. Shows wear on both sides of the top of the notch and one side of the bottom of the notch. Will need to do some grinding and polishing to relieve potential stress cracks
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Model
Senior Member
Model
Senior Member
I also wanted a reliable Firearm and Iv'e done everything possible to make it so. Yeah it's been a real PITA to make it right but I won't be selling my PTR44 anytime soon.
If someone offered me 10K for my PTR44 I would say no, to this very day it's still my favorite rifle.
HDH.
Pre-order price was $4200- $4300. Retail price was $5000.
GunKraut
Senior Member
This pretty much makes ordering an FG42 from SMG a no-brainer, doesn't it? And you don't even have to fiddle around with it to make it run correctly.
Like HDH I still love my PTR44 but the FG42 is light years ahead. Just imagine allied soldiers as they first encountered the early model FG42, it must have looked like a Star Wars death ray device to them. Look at this guy, he was so puzzled, he had a hard time keeping his helmet straight.
The problem with early FG's was that they would unexpectedly fling their worn cocking handles in the midst of combat and that seems to be the reason why the G.I. was able to get his hands on the rifle.
d dAY dOG
Well-known member
WILHELM !!! What up brother ?
Look ... I wouldn't/couldn't sell my PTR44 anytime soon and here are the reasons why:
1. There are no comparative replacements to buy, i.e. no "brand new semi auto MP44/STG44 rifles" available for sale in the USA short of GSG's .22 cal. version, which I already own.
2. I cannot afford an original MP44/STG44 and I'm not interested in owning NFA weapons.
3. The "neutered" semi auto original MP44/STG44 rifles people do build out there are cool, but there are alot of re-welded POS out there that have "other" problems - and they still cost the same price (if not more) than a PTR44.
4. My PTR44 does't run perfect to my satisfaction and I'm not comfortable selling a weapon that doesn't run as flawlessly as possible.
5. I have too much $$$ into it. $7500+ so far and that sum does NOT include 1500 rounds of PPU ammo, reloading equip. and supplies, shipping of everything to Alaska, gunsmithing costs for the Op rod section received from dingo (thanks, dingo!), or the remaining original internals I need/want to buy and MORE gunsmithing and MORE shipping to make the rifle right. Instead of the BD "44", they should've called the rifle the BD "MORE & MORE". As such, I will likely never get all the $$$ back I've spent on mine unless I sit on it for 15-20+ years AND NO MORE ("more" again...) ever come into the country from GER or are tooled up for sale in the USA - as is now being contemplated (posted earlier by dingo on this thread).
6. I like, er... love ... welll... kinda, but ... Geeeez !!! Arrrrrgh - It's just too pretty to sell !!!
Had I known of the issues people were going to have with these weapons, I wouldn't have purchased one. So I guess I'm kind of both "stuck with the rifle" and "totally lovin' it". Still, it should be: Load mag. - pull trigger 30xs - repeat, repeat, repeat... over and over again ... YAY, WO-WHOOOOO !!! Not - My precious...
DOG
Look ... I wouldn't/couldn't sell my PTR44 anytime soon and here are the reasons why:
1. There are no comparative replacements to buy, i.e. no "brand new semi auto MP44/STG44 rifles" available for sale in the USA short of GSG's .22 cal. version, which I already own.
2. I cannot afford an original MP44/STG44 and I'm not interested in owning NFA weapons.
3. The "neutered" semi auto original MP44/STG44 rifles people do build out there are cool, but there are alot of re-welded POS out there that have "other" problems - and they still cost the same price (if not more) than a PTR44.
4. My PTR44 does't run perfect to my satisfaction and I'm not comfortable selling a weapon that doesn't run as flawlessly as possible.
5. I have too much $$$ into it. $7500+ so far and that sum does NOT include 1500 rounds of PPU ammo, reloading equip. and supplies, shipping of everything to Alaska, gunsmithing costs for the Op rod section received from dingo (thanks, dingo!), or the remaining original internals I need/want to buy and MORE gunsmithing and MORE shipping to make the rifle right. Instead of the BD "44", they should've called the rifle the BD "MORE & MORE". As such, I will likely never get all the $$$ back I've spent on mine unless I sit on it for 15-20+ years AND NO MORE ("more" again...) ever come into the country from GER or are tooled up for sale in the USA - as is now being contemplated (posted earlier by dingo on this thread).
6. I like, er... love ... welll... kinda, but ... Geeeez !!! Arrrrrgh - It's just too pretty to sell !!!
Had I known of the issues people were going to have with these weapons, I wouldn't have purchased one. So I guess I'm kind of both "stuck with the rifle" and "totally lovin' it". Still, it should be: Load mag. - pull trigger 30xs - repeat, repeat, repeat... over and over again ... YAY, WO-WHOOOOO !!! Not - My precious...
DOG
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PTR44 versus a MP44
Guys have various reasons for avoiding NFA weapons and I more or less understand the money thing and not wanting to deal with the NFA branch. Having an original MP44 though is a joy. It'll likely always be worth at least what I paid for it and I've never had any issues with the feds. I just wish I could learn more about how the Sgt. that brought it back actually got it. He had passed some years before I got the rifle. The family story goes that he took it from a German soldier he killed. Maybe, maybe not, but it shows use, it's not pristine like a new PTR. could easy be a battlefield pickup. Being able to actually own and shoot such a piece of history makes the thought of the money tied up in it kind of just go away. Plus the thing runs so close to 100% I don't remember the last time it malfed.
Pete
Guys have various reasons for avoiding NFA weapons and I more or less understand the money thing and not wanting to deal with the NFA branch. Having an original MP44 though is a joy. It'll likely always be worth at least what I paid for it and I've never had any issues with the feds. I just wish I could learn more about how the Sgt. that brought it back actually got it. He had passed some years before I got the rifle. The family story goes that he took it from a German soldier he killed. Maybe, maybe not, but it shows use, it's not pristine like a new PTR. could easy be a battlefield pickup. Being able to actually own and shoot such a piece of history makes the thought of the money tied up in it kind of just go away. Plus the thing runs so close to 100% I don't remember the last time it malfed.
Pete
Waffentag
Senior Member
Ptr
I am keeping mine! It took a couple of years, but mine runs flawlessly. Owning one of only two hundred of any rifle is kind of cool. Owning one of the few that functions is priceless. I am just waiting on the Form 4 to come back on an original MP44. Still, I would not sell my PTR 44. It is great shooting it with that ZF4 scope.
Also, I bet there is nothing on PTR44 that Pete cannot fix!
Pat
I am keeping mine! It took a couple of years, but mine runs flawlessly. Owning one of only two hundred of any rifle is kind of cool. Owning one of the few that functions is priceless. I am just waiting on the Form 4 to come back on an original MP44. Still, I would not sell my PTR 44. It is great shooting it with that ZF4 scope.
Also, I bet there is nothing on PTR44 that Pete cannot fix!
Pat
d dAY dOG
Well-known member
I actually got a response email from Prvi Partisan several years back who told me there would need to be a large committment needed. The Prvi stuff is starting to dry up I've noticed.