FINALLY got a 1919a4!!! Finally ran a belt, video in post 101...

Jay

Jay

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Hey Guys;

So I FINALLY have a semi auto Browning 1919a4 in 7.62 Nato. I've been to the range just once, and it ran flawlessly with a mix of Portugese Nato and Turkish Nato ammo, 120 rounds fired in total. BUT, it would not fire the Chinese 7.62x51 Ball ammo I have. One of the guys at the range said it was the headspace, which I have set at ZERO plus 1 click. I was hesitant to simply keep increasing headspace one click at a time until it fired the Chinese Ball ammo... I certainly didn't want to get the Chinese running by increasing headspace & then make the 'mistake' of running Nato ammo, without re-headspacing the gun back to ZERO plus 1 click... Excessive headspace is VERY bad! So, I just continued firing the Nato ammo, which worked fine! Keep in mind that I fully intend to take a deer with this firearm, and if I have to, I'll pull the bullet from 7.62 Nato ammo & put a soft point bullet (same weight) in it's place... But I would rather set the gun up for the ammo I will be shooting... So I need this headspace thing clarified...

Now, I have seen a video on youtube where the guy headspaces with an inert cartridge... Could I remove the firing pin from the bolt & headspace with a Chinese cartridge and then safely run the Chinese Ball ammo or 308 soft point? Here is that video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4kQNTcos9A

[youtube]v4kQNTcos9A[/youtube]

And, here is how I headspaced the gun before heading to the range for the first time, again ZERO plus 1 click & it ran no problem on Nato ammo...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNZQpX43_OE&feature=related

[youtube]CNZQpX43_OE[/youtube]

Here is a short clip of me shooting it, and yes, the grin tells ya just how fun it was!

[youtube]OVZV3q2xClE[/youtube]

Another question. BELTS!!! When it comes to belts & feeding this puppy, I have some Israeli metal links & have been running 5 rounds at a time. It wasn't a big deal as I was checking for function the first time out & letting some folks at the range try it. BUT, I want to eventually OPEN HER UP & LET THE LEAD FLY!!! So, do I need PRE-1945 cloth belts? Some folks have told me conflicting info on this issue... What say you fine folks? Where might I find some belts that would allow me to legally open 'er up???

Cheers & Thanks in Advance
Jay
 
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AFAIK, you don't need to worry about cloth belts or 5 round linked belts since it is indeed pre 45. I don't know though, if that is different since it's not 30.06.
 
I believe, and please do not qoute me, that the belt either cloth or linked has to predate 1945. I "think" there was a metal linked belt for the 1919 pre 1945 (and there is someone selling old links on Ebay right now, date unknown). Which makes me wonder if someone had a handfull of pre45 links and spaced them amoung post45 links could you build up a full "legal" and within the law belt. Now how someone would prove that one link was pre45 and another post45 is beyond me unless a date is stamped on the thing. When I last bought a case lot of 7.62 it came linked but the vender had broken the belts down to five. My experiances with the M1919A4 are limited to the reworked CF C5A1 using the M13 link, while a pig of a gun it was a blast tinkering with it to make it run soundly. Someday I just may make the investment in getting a semi version as they are a cool old gun with bags of history. And if your in the collect scene there are a million things to buy accessories wise for it like canvas, mitts, spare parts roll, spare parts, WWII willys jeep, etc...
 
" is of the “belt” type consisting of a fabric or metal belt, is not a reproduction and was originally designed or manufactured for the purpose of feeding cartridges into a automatic firearm of a type that was in existence before 1945."

were disintegrating links designed to work with 1919s? seems as long as you dont make a reproduction, your fine for over 5 rounds, it also seems to allow the manufacture of a newly designed belt that is not a reproduction
 
Has anyone ever asked why we had to do head space and timing with gauges? If you bought a semi 1919 I do not think the "timing" gauge is all that important but the headspace certainly is I have seen dimes and nickels used as gauges but a proper gauge is a must have and as Gaff points out fairly common. I would also pick up manuals on the old girl which are still fairly common and even reprod. Way back in the day, long before CNC machines could crank out a zillion identical parts and "machinists" turned parts one at a time tolerances where fairly loose, to make sure the bullet went in the hole and fired safely the headspace gauge would be used to set the headspace for individual barrels. Todays MG barrels are built with greater accuracy and far tighter tolerance wise and the need for a gunner to run out a set of gauges and a screwdriver are long gone. As I said before the 1919/C5 was a good old gun and I enjoyed the hands on aspect of it, certainly not the greatest MG but still lots of history.
 
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XRCD011 said:
This looks like a cool thing to have http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3htG_a2bYI8&feature=related
Click to expand...

One dealer was planning on bringing them in but I believe the order stalled due to lack of interest. The end cost was going to be >$4k. For that the Razorback is a better answer. Same top end, but mounts to an AR lower. Downside is it is restricted, upside is it is far cheaper. Has frequent feed problems until you get it set up just right though... still have problems with my Razorback, and have not had enough time to sort them out.

I'm personally saving to do an M2 up.
 
Headspace wise, I run mine zero plus three, and it eats whatever I put through it.

If you have any problems let us know.

By the way, stock up on 308... you are going to be shooting a lot of it once you get proper belts. (Plan to invest on either a linker or belt loader depending on your choice of belt, saves hours and fingers)

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Sweet mother of god thats a beautifull sight. I read a while back that there is a kit made in the USA that allows a 1919 to shoot 7.62x39 but the maker does not sell outside the US. Big time shame as cases of el cheepo 7.62x39 and a 1919 set up to fire same is a great combo. Maybe even better then a .22 1919 plinker (way over priced I think). Does anyone sell just a semi side plate that you folks would be aware of ??
 
I also added a homemade optics mount to my 1919. (No modifications whatsoever to the gun, the tapped holes are part of the design.)


The combo of the eotech and the spade grips lets me rip off ammo accurately and fast. Everybody that has a semi 1919 should have these lol.

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