Sterling L34A1 (Mk5)

[vegassmg]

As I was searching for some Vickers information I stumbled across this site. Very nice!

Here's a few photos of my L34A1. Living in America, we have a number of restrictions but most any "regular" person is allowed to own and use full auto weapons and sound suppressors.

There are very few if any original and unmolested Sterlings available for non-military or L. E. (Law Enforcement), types so we're pretty much limlted to building our Sterlings from imported parts kits by using a registered body. Any suppressor part is not allowed to be imported for civilian use but we can build our own or buy new one's produced in the States. Goofy laws that I don't expect anyone here to understand when I have a difficult time myself.

Anyway, here's my humble contribution.

[woodsy]

Very nice! It is quite different internally from the originals but looks very good from the outside. Have you had a chance to compare your suppressor against an original? I know that my original is very efficient and I would love the opportunity to compare it with a Sten Mk IIS or a Mk 6. I have been doing some recent testing of a new suppressor on an MP5 which shows promise, but have not yet done a side by side comparasion with the L34A1. More on this later perhaps.

[missingsomething]

Yes, Very Nice!!

Thanks for the pictures.... including the internals...

We have stupid laws in Canada as well regarding some firearms... Unfortunately silencers are Verboden.

Cheers,
Craig

[vegassmg]

The original spiral baffle stack of the L34A1 was cutting edge technology back in it's day. Romanticism aside, it's not all that great by today's suppression standards. Mark White of Sound Technology metered a factory L34A1 and the results were less than impressive when compared to today's standards.

This modern stack is nothing short of superb and the gun's external appearance is absolutely identical to a factory L34A1. I've shot it side by side against two factory H&K MP-5SDs and this gun is easily much quieter using standard velocity 124 grain ammo. I did shot it side by side against a famous suppressor manufacturer's MP-5 SD rebuild with his internals, and to the group of observers listening, they sounded identical. Hardly scientific but sometimes the meter doesn't tell the entire story. A suppressor's tone can change your perception of it's effectiveness.

Craig; I have some limited knowledge regarding Canadian firearms laws. Here in the states, a number of companies are manufacturing them for civilian and military use. Civilians can purchase or build their own suppressor ranging from .22 rimfire up to .50 caliber.

A one time two hundred dollar tax must be applied, paid for, and approved before you can make or take possession of your machine gun, silencer, short barrel rifle, short barrel shotgun, or destructive devise, (cannon, mortar, etc.). Typical wait times average three months, but can take over a year. That's our government in action, but at least we have the freedom to own these things.

I'll try to dig up a video of the gun in action but it's hard to tell just how quiet it is when firing.

Edited to add; Here's a video of Dolf Goldsmith shooting my L34A1 last year at one of our informal holiday events. Dolf is an incredible man who's forgotten more in the last fifteen minutes than I'll ever know if I live to be a hundred. It's a prielidge to have him here in Las Vegas.
www.vegasshooters.com/mike/labor/dolfl34a1.wmv

Additional photos and videos on our site.
www.vegasshooters.com/forum/showthread.php?518-Labor-Day-Shoot-Monday-September-6-2010/page4

[captain]

Hi,
Maybe a stupid question.
Is it safe to fire supersonic ammo's with a silencer?
Thanks,
Luc

[missingsomething]

Yep. you can fire supersonic ammo.... just makes the suppressor less effective...

[vegassmg]

Jun 4, 2011 16:09:20 GMT 1 captain said:

Hi,
Maybe a stupid question.
Is it safe to fire supersonic ammo's with a silencer?
Thanks,
Luc

That's not stupid at all. It's absolutely safe although you still have the ballistic crack. Most centerfire rifle users shoot standard velocity ammo through their suppressors. A subsonic 5.56 NATO round has only a slight weight advantage over the diminutive .22LR round so it doesn't make a lot of sense. That and subsonic 5.56 ammo will not reliably cycle a semi or full automatic firearm's action. The biggest reasons to use a centerfire rifle suppressor is decreased recoil, and the target being engaged can't easily detect where the shots are coming from, even with the ballistic crack. Most muzzle cans, (silencers), change the POI and a few combinations will actually tighten up the groups.

The L34A1 is like the MP-5SD in that they both feature ported barrels which bleed gas and reduce the bullet's velocity to subsonic levels. The beauty of this system is that the end user is able to make run use most any available ammo and it will remain subsonic. Here in the states, subsonic 9mm is more expensive than standard velocity 9mm so there's a cost advantage with an integral suppressor.

[captain]

Hi,

The MkV with a scope.
Luc



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