Sten Kits?

[PanzerAce]

I have a line on a Sten Mk3 parts kit, but I was wondering how difficult these are to build. Does anybody here have one who could let me know? THanks.

[leelaw]

Wouldn't you need to convert it to operate as a closed bolt gun? Or maybe I'm confusing the grease gun..

[JHC]

I was talking to a guy at the last Reno gun show that had a semi-sten and it seemed like more trouble than it was worth but it can be done if you can weld and have decent mechanical skills. If you have your own mill you can modify the bolt yourself, otherwise you will need to get one made. The Sten's barrel is too short as well so you will need to address that. Here's a place that sells a kit for a semi conversion http://www.semiautosten.com/kits/kits.html Just be carefull about having a receiver tube and a parts kit laying around because this is the type of gun that a Calgunner ran into trouble with a while back when the guy bought a so-called 80% receiver online. This is the one Bill points out now and then

[Spiggy]

easy to get, rough to work with... also they tend to have sharp pointy bits so careful when you handle them :P. I got one with a nasty rusted chopped reciever we lovingly named "The Tetanus Tube"

there's information here

http://www.prexis.com/sten/

also there was a forum dedicated to smithing guns...

http://www.weaponeer.net/

[PanzerAce]

so....sounds like it might be more trouble than it is worth...

[M. Sage]

Wouldn't you need to convert it to operate as a closed bolt gun? Or maybe I'm confusing the grease gun..

IIRC, it's all open-bolts, cause it's too easy to convert an open-bolt semi-auto to full auto.

Easy FA was why so many old MGs and SMGs were open-bolt.

[Sampachi]

Shotgun News just had a big article on building one. They sell a CD with all the notes, photos and plans for $9.95. I'll post the address if you are interested.

[xenophobe]

Whoah boy.... tread carefully if you're going to try to build a semi-auto sten.

Many of the parts included with the "kit" will be FA. Having a blank receiver tube in conjunction with those parts constitutes constructive possession of a machine gun.

There is one Calgun member going through this right now.

Be careful... be very, very careful. I'm sure Bill will chime in with more info when he's able.

[VeryCoolCat]

I remember this old post about a member who built a sten then finally took it to the range. it went FA at the range

[Tweak338]

I too remember that post.
IIRC he put it down range and everyone opened up on it.

[50BMGBOB]

Whoah boy.... tread carefully if you're going to try to build a semi-auto sten.

Many of the parts included with the "kit" will be FA. Having a blank receiver tube in conjunction with those parts constitutes constructive possession of a machine gun.

There is one Calgun member going through this right now.

Be careful... be very, very careful. I'm sure Bill will chime in with more info when he's able.

Most semi conversions use a thicker walled tube so that the bolt has to be turned down on a lathe after it is converted to semi so to avoid that problem. Kind of like the thicker side plate on a semi 1919.

[saki302]

The FA bolt will not work with the semi tube. And to top it off, it's nearly impossible to lathe-turn down a FA bolt to fit a semi tube- some folks have tried converting FA bolts into closed bolt semi systems, and found it easier to just machine a new bolt- the old one will not lathe down properly.

The SAS conversion kit is only vaguely a sten in appearance- the method of operation so completely different.
I built one up a few years ago using the closed bolt SAS kit, and IMO, it is a POS.
Of the 3 or 4 I have seen in person, mine works the best- which is to say, it can fire maybe 150 shots before something bad happens. As fouling accumulates, the rifle can fire out of battery which is not fun. No major harm was done, except I got two brass cuts on my left hand.

The nature of the design allows OOB firing. It also took LOTS of re-engineering to get my kit to run correctly. The last hurdle is the ejector, which I beleive is pushing down on the cartridge due to a defectively deep cut in the bolt, causign extra drag as it chambers, and stopping it from chambering fully when dirty.

Do yourself a favor- go buy a Ruger PC9 if you want a 9mm carbine. Even if I fix the last feed problem with my SAS, I will probably never have full faith in it just knowing it can and will fire out of battery.

I have heard the quality of the SAS kit has improved since the company was bought out by another owner, but still- same basic design flaw.

-Dave

[superhondaz50]

Semi stens are easy to build. Just order one of the semi auto sten kits, as posted earlier, get a nice dremel with cut off wheels, a drill and bits, and a good file. You will also needs to break out the welder, (or your freinds) to attach the magwell, and the tube to the lower. Have fun!

[-hanko]

IIRC, it's all open-bolts, cause it's too easy to convert an open-bolt semi-auto to full auto.

Easy FA was why so many old MGs and SMGs were open-bolt.

Open bolt design for an fa gun is mainly because it prevents 'cook-offs' from a hot barrel.

-hanko

[xenophobe]

Most semi conversions use a thicker walled tube so that the bolt has to be turned down on a lathe after it is converted to semi so to avoid that problem. Kind of like the thicker side plate on a semi 1919.

That doesn't negate the fact that one member is facing felony possession of a machine gun.