Building a ppsh41 from a kit

Welcome to the forum.

How are you going to have all matching numbers if you build it from a kit?

Aren't you missing something that should have a number that matches the parts?

Any home build is going to be a parts gun.

What is a 'johnny cash' rifle?


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One piece at a time, and it didn't cost me a dime.... Wouldn't that be nice? I also love the tokarev 7.62x25, but I haven't seen a ppsh complete kit in a long time. Every once in a while the sportsman's guide will come up with a few.

I want all matching numbers kit naturally , not any good in paying good money and ending up with a ," johnny cash " rifle . lol

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If you're not prepared to build it "one piece at a time" don't bother; just find a Wiselite build to pay through the nose for.

1) The gun was originally open bolt/slam fire operation. You will have to convert it to closed bolt striker or hammer fire (both are well documented) in such a way unmodified parts don't fit.
2) The gun was originally full automatic. You will need to devise a semi-auto-only system, and one that is not easily 'reactivated' (see bolt conversion)
3) The gun was originally short barrelled; you'll need a longer barrel & longer shroud (anteater), or file a Form 1 SBR
4) Gun is composed of import parts; you may need to replace some items to comply with 922r (not as big an issue for blowback guns since so many new parts are US made for the bolt/trigger conversion)
5) Original receiver was destroyed; you will have to fabricate a new one that won't accept original bolt or sear parts

Check out weaponsguild, weaponeer, gunco, and militaryfirearm .com's for many different build journals and great info. Start your own build thread if you're serious about going down this rabbit hole --it's really fun, but quite addicting.

adcoch1 said:

One piece at a time, and it didn't cost me a dime.... Wouldn't that be nice? I also love the tokarev 7.62x25, but I haven't seen a ppsh complete kit in a long time. Every once in a while the sportsman's guide will come up with a few.

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Yup, it'll cost more than a dime nowadays; the era of building cuz it is cheap is long passed. Now it's more to obtain rare or non-existent items (like the STGW57 I built), or simply for the love of a very gear-head type hobby.

I believe Military Gun Supply/MGS still has kits, but modern demill standards are particularly nasty for the poor Shpagin. Not content to destroy only the receiver, the ATF insists the barrel trunnion but nuked as well, and Bush II gave us the barrel ban that sees the next most valuable component destroyed. At least the Polish kits from MGS were in unissued condition, so the wood is quite nice for Soviet stuff.

Gunbroker, Sarco, Numrich, Centerfire Systems, Royal Tiger, Clearview Investments, Robert Bowman, and APEX are also likely to have kits at least occaisionally. Polish were among the last PPSH kits to be imported for now, and the Poles have no more kits to follow (but that's what the importers always say)

TCB

You missed the era of cheap Tokarev ammo. Just a few years ago, 7.62x25mm ammo could be had for a dime a shot. Those days are over, and if you can find it for $0.30 a shot you're doing really good. 9mm is half the price and every bit as effective with today's modern hollow point ammo. The Tokarev round pokes a hole, a deep hole, but won't create any more damage than a good 9mm hollow point.

Good luck feeding your gun. I don't see the draw to a semi-auto only PPSH-41, especially one with a silly long barrel, but if it floats your boat...

I've had a build languishing for several years now. Cold Steel makes/made the trunnion and %80 receiver at reasonable cost. Their early attempts were not so good but the later are GTG. You'll have to decide on hammer or striker fire, also 9mm conversion doesn't go real well to my understanding if you're considering that.
Weaponsguild has extensive info and illustrations on this build....This has me thinking about getting back on mine. Good luck because you're in for some detailed work to get it right.

I would suggest picking up an extra bolt for the learning curve.

I've had a build languishing for several years now. Cold Steel makes/made the trunnion and %80 receiver at reasonable cost. Their early attempts were not so good but the later are GTG.

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Hmmm, not what I hear; dimensionally wrong receiver of improper thickness, and a trunnion of the wrong diameter for repro or original barrels. They can be made to work, but with a lot of work.

I can vouch for the quality of KP Products stuff (beautiful barrels)
http://www.gunbroker.com/All/BI.aspx?IncludeSellers=1322374

barnbwt said:

If you're not prepared to build it "one piece at a time" don't bother; just find a Wiselite build to pay through the nose for.

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Thetokluver, I have one of the 2007 Wise Lite Arms PPSh41 Variants with a low round-count (hasn't been fired since 2007) just in case you're interested.

It is the_most_inaccurate firearm that I have every shot ... or heard of. Really, unbelievably inaccurate.

It does look cool ... but ... just like a semi version of other subguns like the UZI or Thompson, it is a poor solution for a semi-auto firearm. These things are heavy, which is a plus for auto fire, semi-auto not so much.

As I said early no good. Mine from three years ago is done very well on both trunnion and receiver. The barrel is original also.

Even a (crummy) Wiselite build is going to run well north of $1000, probably even above $1500 if the seller has a clue. Very uncommon item to see for sale, anywhere. Homebuild will likely cost less than half that (1/3 is generally the rule for builds) but your time invested will probably make it even more expensive in the end.

Still interested?