MP5 to Stg44 conversion help.

[Dracul]

First off, I'm new here and looked around the site, have to say this is a pretty awesome forum. 

I'm looking at doing a body mod of a Mp5 to make it into the Stg44. Now, I know its not going to be exact and the magazines are smaller. I also know of the Stg 44 on the market, but I want to stick with an MP5 because the internals are so widely used and replaceable/fixable if something happens. I'm willing to sacrifice look for functionality (and plus, I was offered a MP5 for 70 bucks). 

The problem I really run into is the barrel. I was thinking it should be possible to just use an AK47 outer (and possibly inner) barrel complete with the front sight post, but I don't know if its actually compatible or what I would need to do to make it work.

Does anyone have any suggestions or any input that isn't just "Your idea is stupid" or "just use the Stg44 high caps"?

Thank you! 

[drunkalbertan]

I think for cost effectiveness it would be wiser to just purchase the STG44. It's all V2 parts which are basic M4 gearbox, motor, etc. you'll put more money into making an mp5 look like a 44 than just buying the 44. You'll also have people asking "WTF is that ?!?"

[brownien]

Agreed. It would be possible to do, but now that agm has. The stg44 redily available, it makes a lot more sense to just sell the mp5, and buy the stg. I built my own BAR, but that was before the echo1 and matrix versions came out, and that build took me a good 2 months of welding and shaping metal to look and work right. Functionality is the biggest issue with builds. Alignment is everything! One little thing being even a fraction of an inch off, or even a degree off from the proper angle, will cause the entire gun to stop functioning. Not fun, especially when you have so much time and effort into the build.

Bottom line, if you don't have any experience doing builds, don't take on something so difficult. You will most likely end up with a broken mp5 that is worth nothing, and a bunch of effort wasted. Do yourself a big favor and simply sell your mp5 and save up for a agm stg44.

[shiftysgarand]

Better yet, a K98.

[volkssturm]

I agree. It doesn't make sense putting too much time into building a poor replica of a gun that already exists in an affordable version.

[2nd Bat]

My advice would be the same as everyone elses so far. There is simply no way to make it right and the effort needed to get it, to "sort of, if you squint and wrap it in burlap...". Is going to be time consuming and frustrating. If you're going to be using something that is obviously wrong, just use the MP5. And wrap it in burlap. There was a time not too long ago when that was the only available approach at WW2 events since we simply didn't have viable and affordable choices when it came to weapons. Those days are increasingly gone as more and more quality, affordable offerings are out there. The STG 44 products are well done, functionally sound and pretty inexpensive. If you're going to attempt a tweak, make it into a fraken Gerat where as far as WW2 its a fantasy gun anyway. I bought a couple used STG 44s here on this site from members and they came with spare magazines, cool detailed aging and both look and work great. Price wise both were cheaper then what I could have gotten them new for and they came with extras. In my opinion that is your best approach. Custom altering an existing gun is a lot of work and rarely coes out as you would have hoped.

[Dracul]

I have to disagree on the cost thing. Not that you guys are necessarily wrong or any thing, I actually agree on most of what you guys said outside the costs. The MP5 I'm getting is 70 bucks, and making the woodstock is easy and cheap, and its possible I can do the barrel mod for cheap as well. I've done body mods in the past for prop work, so I just really need to do is if its possible to use an AK47 front end.

I understand your guys sentiments on the real steel accuracy, but most airsofters don't even know what the Stg 44 is. They look at it and think its an random AK. I know this isn't going to fool anyone here or anyone at a reenactment (or reenactment airsoft). If I did go to an era game, I'd use my US stuff or stick with a Mauser 98k.

I still wish to pursue this. If the AK47 front end is possible, then everything else should still work fine since I'm not messing with any of the other internals.

[bleepinfireman]

Now I would agree with the others on buying the StG 44, but if you really want to do a conversion, in my opinion, I would say to get a CA-33 or a Chinese copy of one, and convert that to an StG. But definitely not an Mp-5

[2nd Bat]

You are not going to get a lot of support from folks here for a conversion that is that likely to look so off as an MP5 to a STG 44. In your local non historical events it will be an interesting FRANKENGUN that will elicit comments and garner attention (some good and some bad).

A few years ago within this community the reception would have been probably different but now with authentic and affordable offering out there, the neccessity just isn't there and the audience is a lot more descriminating. It's your MP 5 and obviously your time and money. I have made my share of Frankenguns and enjoy the results they ingender and the creative process of coming up with them. Have fun.

[CharleyNovember]

For the love of Gawd why.....

[aj czarkowski]

Try to get a resin StG44 barrel from R Replicas or something... besides the magazine, it wouldn't look too far off. Definitely wouldn't go with an AK barrel though

[Dracul]

Czarkowski, thanks for the suggestion, I e-mailed R Replicas. Hopefully I can a reasonable deal if they guy can do it.

[drunkalbertan]

If it's going to be $70, then you're at $140. Thats the cost of a good used 44. Just sayin. If you're going to mod something and you have previous experience then why not pick something a little less available?

[2nd Bat]

The marriage between the r repliica and your MP5 ill not be an easy one. You'll have a lot of time, resources and energy put into an end result not as nice as what you could have had on the used market so unless you truly enjoy the chllenge and are deadset to take it on it REALLY DOESN'T Make sense.

[bleepinfireman]

My question I want to know is why do you want to make the StG in the first place?

[Dracul]

Well, for one, I'm still sticking with the fact that the MP5 has more support out there. I know there is a rise of WWII stuff in the market, which is good, but my gut feeling says stick with this.

On another note, I do actually enjoy the challenge of it. If the R Replica thing pulls through in my favor, then its going to force me to use my mind to come up with a suitable way to merge it to the MP5. And yet still have it to which I can dissemble in case something breaks.

Also, some of the design on the upper receiver of the MP5 is similar to that of the Stg 44. Even the standard fixed stock of the MP5 is shaped almost like the Stg 44. I personally feel the similarities are too well.

[LϟϟAH1944]

But why even bother? just buy a used AGM stg44. Honestly, your mp5 conversion wont look good...youd need to redo the complete receiver. Even if ya do, youll probably be makin it in resin. Just get an AGM, which will be cheap, easier, look better, feel better, etc.

[2nd Bat]

You have your heart set on it and there can be no better education than the enterprise itself. Boy are you in for an education. What appears easy in your mind will quickly prove otherwise. This does not mean the effort is entirely fruitless. There will be no happy end result and your money will be spent needlessly but the educational return will be priceless. When you get both the MP5 and the STG Replica and you lay them beside one another, what looked so similar will now look worlds apart. there will be several things that just don't line up. The motor angle, the feed alighnment for the magazine and gear box. The width of the STG vs the MP5. The mag release, the barrel alighnment. With each adaptation the mind will come up with compromises and tweaks. Each will result in more work then you planned on and compromises to the final guns fidelity and shape. As you cut into the resin STG you will discover that it is solid fiberglass resin in some places, hollow in others and steel rods in many others. The fiberglass dust is everywhere and you realize you have brutalized body parts everywhere and your workshop looks like a CSI episode. Room mates or family members are complaining about the smell and concerned about your health due to the dust. (They should be!). A year later the parts are still laying about and you are no closer to having the project done. Or you have slapped something together that is comically off and silly looking. Did I mention that functionally the MP5 internals are off as well? Sadly I have to admit this advice comes from my own past desires overruling my common sense. i am eternally optomistic and always rhink I can do more then I can. I squandered tons of money and hours upon hours of fruitless effort but I learned a ton and I applied what I learned to projects that did come out well. Skills I would not have leaned without lots of failures along the way.

I wish you well and simply would like you to be able to skirt some of the minefields. With all that said, do. Do something that will apply and utilize your desire to create.

[shiftysgarand]

Nov 20, 2013 1:20:39 GMT -5 Dracul said:

Well, for one, I'm still sticking with the fact that the MP5 has more support out there.

Uh, the MP44 uses a V2 gearbox, which has unlimited parts. You can even convert it to GBB (GHK GBB box), which I may try sometime.

[brownien]

Heck, even polar star makes a v2 electro pneumatic gearbox! If you really want to do a build of a German gun, grab a m14 and build a G43!

[2nd Bat]

He HAS an MP5 that he feels he got a great deal on and with that possession the desire to do something further with it. It's not a case of "WHAT SHOULD I GET" it's a question of "WHAT SHOULD I DO WITH IT". We are all advising LEAVE IT ALONE and get something else (Sound advice I might add!) But I don't think he sees that as a viable option. The reality is like the 12 year old kids who ask "Whut gun shud I get?" they are going to do what they are going to do inspite of all the input.

I think we have provided sound advice but it will be interesting to learn how it goes. I only wish his efforts had the potential to fill a vacant hole in the armory of weapons not yet filled.

[stuka]

I think we should let him do his own thing, i don't imagine that would hurt us much?Least it shouldn't

[drunkalbertan]

Post some pics of this endeavour if you would please.

[aj czarkowski]

This conversion isn't really that hard... besides the magazine, after he puts the StG44 barrel on it should certainly be recognized as an StG44. There are a lot of similarities between the MP5 and STG44, actually it's probably the most similar one you could use. I remember a few years ago (before the AGM came out) someone actually did build one of these from an MP5, and it came out quite nicely. Looking forward to pictures

Also Dracul, using an airsoft gun you built yourself is a lot more fun than using one you bought from the store

[shiftysgarand]

Aren't they different sizes? The MP44 is a fairly clunky weapon. Don't know about the MP5 though.

[LϟϟAH1944]

grip completely different. mags totally different. LR totally different. Honestly, not worth it when theres a AGM which ya can find for as low as $130

[shiftysgarand]

It's his money though, let him do what he likes. However, I would recommend a simple AGM MP44.

[2nd Bat]

Absolutely. He will only appreciate the wisdom of our input by endeavoring to take on this quest. Perhaps if he does so (which I doubt he will do). He could photograph and document the journey which might serve as an excellent warning to others with similar fantasyland imagenings. People typically chronical on this forum their successes and final outcomes and frequently discuss plans they INTEND to carry out but there have been far too few step by steps that fill in the roadblocks and deadends. Brownien has been quite forthcoming with his efforts and challenges but is a bad example of what I am talking about because he usually succeeds!

There is NO WAY Dracul is going to finalize a happy marriage between an R replica. STG 44 and an MP5. Not going to happen but would helpful for people to see virtually first hand why not.

[volkssturm]

Things don't always have to make sense to be worth doing. Whatever else he gets from it, he's going to get a lot of hands on experience with this project. Go for it.

[shiftysgarand]

I agree he'll get valuable experience but he's not going to get an MP44.