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HK93 / MK93 to HK53- What exactly do I need?

12K views 23 replies 11 participants last post by  travelinscout  
#1 · (Edited)
Well, I am finally going to start an HK53 project;

It will be built using either an HK93 or the new MKE clone. Have not picked up a host gun yet.

I understand that basically I will need a new:

Barrel
Bolt carrier
cocking tube
Handguard.

Am I missing anything else?

Any hidden costs to using the MKE vs the HK other then US parts (some of which are 53 specific anyway)

Barrel will be US, can use 1 US part in a mag, US handguard, and 3 US trigger parts.

Thanks
 
#3 ·
There are a bunch of ways to build a 53, but what are you trying to accomplish? Do you plan to run FA? Do you want to build it as a pistol or do you plan to register it as an SBR? Do you want original German 53 parts or are you OK with modified 33 parts etc...

Hell go to atlantic and buy a vector V53 rifle, remove the barrel extension when your SBR is approved and be done with it.
http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/storeproduct527.aspx

My personal opinion and the way that I went was to buy a German HK53 demilled parts kit and have the parts rebuilt on a SW93 receiver as a pistol. Ghilli built mine and it came out great. I put my sear in it and add a stock and it runs flawlessly with whatever I feed it.
 
#5 ·
Building a real 53 on a German receiver is a great idea IMOP. It is just very expensive. I would recommend you contact Mike at TSC Machine. He can build you an HK53 that is indistinguishable from the real thing. You send him an HK 93 and an HK 53 Parts kit and you will get back the finest HK53 available.

Adam sells near new HK53 parts kit for $3300. You should be able to pick an HK93 for $2300 if you shop GB hard. TSC charges $1200 for the build. All in $6800.
 
#6 ·
I had planned on keeping as many of the parts from the HK93 as possibe, but just buying the 53 specific parts;

I have no need to extra stuff, and trying to sell the extra stuff is generally a loosing proposition.

The barrel would either be a RCM like Hkparts sells, or the original barrel cut down.
 
#7 ·
Stottman:
"I want to avoid cut down / reused / modified as much as possible."
Ok, I give up. A 53 can either be built "true" or it can be built from a bunch of cut up 33 and 93 parts. At first you didn't want cut up, reused or modified parts and now you want to cut the original barrel, reuse or modify existing 93 parts, and possible install a clone barrel.

"It will be a shooter/investment."
Unless you build a true 53 with all German parts, you will not have anything remotely resembling an investment.



Let's start over. What is your budget for this project? We've established that you can buy a Vector V53 for $1500 or you can build the ultimate HK53 for $6800. Everything in between is a compromise based upon money..........
 
#8 ·
What I want to avoid is buying a $3000 parts kit, when all the HK53 SPECIFIC parts are availible seperate;


They can be applied to an HK93. Reuse the trigger pack, stock, receiver parts that are already installed, etc.

VS.

Simply using the Hk93 for the receiver, and then having a bunch of stuff left over.
 
#9 ·
"What I want to avoid is buying a $3000 parts kit, when all the HK53 SPECIFIC parts are availible seperate;


They can be applied to an HK93. Reuse the trigger pack, stock, receiver parts that are already installed, etc.

VS.

Simply using the Hk93 for the receiver, and then having a bunch of stuff left over. "

There is a "catch 22" here. I have not seen a German factory 53 barrel for sale by itself in years. As posted above, unless the entire firearm has German parts, it won't really be an "investment" type of firearm. You can have some of the parts on the 93 modified, but unless you can do the modification work yourself, you'll spend what you'd spend on the 53 parts as you would to buy the HK parts individually.

If you start with the HK 93 then the receiver is "pre ban" and is not subject to 922(R). With the MKE you'll have to have US parts in it to be legal. So the MKE gun will be a mix of parts and just a "shooter". It is my understanding that since the short 8" barrel of the 53 is built by shortening the 93 1/12 twist barrel, that barrel can be problematic. With such a short barrel and the slow twist, bullet tumble could be a problem. I don't know what the MKE barrel's twist will be. If you use a US 53 barrel, the "investment" aspect will be severely limited. The only way that I know of to get a German 53 barrel with the right twist rate is from a 53 parts kit. Adam did have some used 53 A2 kits for $1,750 I think, a while ago. You might check the boards for a reasonable 53 parts kit. Good luck with your 53 build project.

Scott
 
#10 ·
The $3300 parts kit that Adam is selling is supposedly all new. You can buy a used all German 53 parts kit for $1600-$1700.

I suggest you call a couple of the well known smiths and discuss this project with them. If you are going to "modify" parts to create a 53, there are several different "designs" out there but each one can be a little different. For instance, RDTS makes a 53 from a 93 host without even cutting the carrier down....

I guess what I'm saying is that you can't just take a 93 and a few 53 specific parts like the carrier etc... and build a 53. Everything has to work together as a system. The 53 carrier was designed to run with the 53 recoil system and the 53 length cocking tube and tube support etc...

Do some searches on here as this topic has been covered extensively and talk to the smiths.

Good luck with you project.
 
#11 · (Edited)
If you start with the HK 93 then the receiver is "pre ban" and is not subject to 922(R). With the MKE you'll have to have US parts in it to be legal. So the MKE gun will be a mix of parts and just a "shooter".
Scott[/QUOTE]

I just wanted to ask a question on this. I thought according to the BATF reading, if a sporting rifle is converted to a assult style, 922r came into play. I never heard of it mattering weather it was pre ban or post ban. Is there such a thing? I just want to be sure here.
 
#12 ·
An original 93 would not qualify as a "sporting use" firearm. A 93 would be able to accept a high capacity ammunition feeding device, has a conspicuous pistol grip handle, and a muzzle device. That is why HK stopped importing these guns. But since an original HK 93 would have been imported before November 30, 1990, it is not subject to 922(R). Please go to http://www.922r.com/ at the bottom of the page (b) (3). It is my understanding that if a "non sporting use" rifle was imported before that date the rifle is not subject to 922(R). So a "pre ban" HK 93 would not have a parts count issue. Since the MKE would be imported (way) after this date, it would be subject to 922(R) and have a US parts count issue.

So a HK 93 receiver could have the entire HK 53 parts kit installed (as long as the trigger pack was converted for semi auto use). That is part of why you'd pay $2,300 on GB for a HK 93 verses $500-$1,200 for a US made or converted clone. That is a big part of the collectibility. A HK collector would want a 53 made with a HK 93 receiver can have all German parts.

Scott
 
#16 ·
From the ad:

http://i55.tinypic.com/2djapw6.jpg

"NEW/NIW German HK Factory HK53 Barrel, Still has wick in barrel, 178 & IH date code, $1,150.00 "

Could someone more knowledgeable please explain to me how the 53 barrel at the top of the photo could be a new barrel? I see what looks like a "notch" or half hole (I'm not really sure what to call the spot on the barrel from barrel pin installation) which which shows in the photo. Since each trunnion can be a little different, I thought the pin hole is not made at the factory, unless the barrel was actually installed. I have a new RCM barrel and the barrel pin notch is not on the barrel area where it would go into the trunnion.

I also thought that a new barrel would have an external finish. The finish is rubbed off on installation. The 53 barrel in the picture is shiny were it would be installed on a 53. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Scott
 
#18 ·
I dealt with that seller before. I bought a bunch of MP5 rear sights from him to switch out with the 33 sights that come with on the CA pistol caliber guns. The transaction went well. He mentioned he was going to be parting out a K PDW with the 3-lug barrel and wanted $650 for the front end including mag catch. I said if it was actually a 3-lug barrel, I'd take it.

A month later he sent me a picture of the demilled front end. Here is the picture he sent:

Image


It was a standard K without the 3-lug. I wrote him back that I didn't want the standard K for $650. He apologized and offered it to me for $350 plus $15 shipping. I also asked him if he looked at the picture he sent me? He claimed that an underling took the picture. I was disappointed that he couldn't have taken 30 seconds to look at the picture before it was sent.

I agreed to buy the K front end for $365 shipped and sent the funds. A week and a half later I get the K front end and there is a problem with how it was torched up.

Image


Image


I sent him the pictures as above. I asked if the damage to the inside of the cocking tube would make for a problem reusing the cocking tube for a K build. I doubt if he even bothered to look at my photos or read my email. He said that he had told me that the front end was not a 3-lug and that he had wasted too much time on the deal with me. I should send it back and he would give me my $350 back.

He didn't read my email or look at the pictures to find out what the problem was.

I had no idea whether the damage to the cocking tube was sever or cosmetic. I didn't want to get stuck with the front end if the cocking tube couldn't be reused. So I lost out on over $30 bucks in shipping the front end to me and back. Someone that is that busy doesn't need my business.

Scott
 
#19 ·
I'm seriously thinking of putting together a semi HK53 SBR with a factory parts kit and HK-93. I'll obviously have some parts left over from the HK-93 such as the barrel, bolt carrier, etc. Does anybody know exactly what parts will be left over, and what I might be able to sell them for? I'm trying to get an idea of the overall cost of the project. Thanks!
 
#21 ·
If you bought a complete 53 kit you would have quite a bit left over.

From the 93 you would have

barrel
carrier group
cocking tube
cocking handle support, cocking handle, etc

I'm not real sure what that stuff would go for if I had to guess around $300 to $400 for the barrel they are somewhat in demand right now, $250 to $350 for the carrier group, $75 for the cocking tube, and the cocking handle stuff would almost have to be given away.

You'd have a trunnion left over from the 53 parts. You might get $75 or so for that, they are usually stamped with 53

Then there are some duplicate parts such as mag catches and rear sights that would be worth something.

Most of the time guys have me convert a 93 sized rifle to 53 using all the original 93/33 parts, that way the only additional pieces they need are the locking piece and the 53 handguard. We can machine the 33 barrel, bolt carrier, cocking handle support, etc to the same specs as a 53.
 
#23 ·
You'll be able to see that the carrier has been modified. The carrier will have a weld near the front, where the factory piece would have been machined from one piece. The other parts come out looking more or less factory, I have to shorten and weld the cocking handle support, but you cant see the welds without removing the support from the firearm.

Sorry for the delay getting you a reply, I dont get a chance to make it to the forums that often. I can get you a quicker reply via email jayson@investmentgradefirearms.com