Browning MG question

DARTH 44 · November 2, 2002, 04:45 PM

I was wondering what is the procedure of barrel change for
Browning M1919A4 and M1919A6.
Can anyone tell me about it,step-by-step?

Thanks

dustindu4 · November 5, 2002, 06:39 AM

easy

1) take barrel off

2) put new barrel on

DARTH 44 · November 7, 2002, 02:55 PM

He he quite funny....

I asked this question because the M1919 (judging by its looks)
is not ''Quick Change Barrel" weapon like most of modern
MGs are.
Barrel removal apparently requires fieldstripping the Browning,
and I`m curious how complicated such operation would be.
This question came out during one of "gun talks",when I told
my buddy that it would be interesting to rebarrel the M1919A4
to 338-06 or .35 Whelen.
Now,it would be easier for Charles Bronson to waste all those
punks in Death Wish III,before he switched to his .475 Wildey.

Sleuth · November 7, 2002, 03:27 PM

One of the problems with the 1919 is the barrel change. Here goes from memory (I don't have the gun in front of me).
1. Unload & clear the gun; pull back on the bolt and, with it fully retracted, turn the slotted rod on the back plate 90 degrees to lock the recoil spring in the bolt; push the bolt forward (the slotted rod should disappear into the gun); push forward on the top cover latch and lift up on the pistol grip & remove; slide action out of the gun (I recall at one point there is a pin that must be pushed in through the hole on the right sideplate); unscrew barrel; screw in new barrel; set headspace; assemble in reverse order.
My 1919A4 is in 308 or 30-06 or 8mm, by changing the barrel & useing the correct booster and feedway stops. Larger calibers would require opening up the T slot in the bolt face, new recoil springs, etc. I would not bother. You enjoy yourself.

DARTH 44 · November 8, 2002, 06:29 PM

Thanks for the info Sleuth.
Btw,the 8mm caliber you mention is 8x57 or 8mm-06?
If 8x57,does it feed reliably from the 30-06 designed belt?

Sleuth · November 13, 2002, 02:14 PM

It is 8X57. My gun has a checkered past. It was made in the U.S. for WWII in 30-06. From it's markings it went to Israel, which at one time had standardized on 8mm for small arms, due to the masses of guns recieved in '49 - '50 that were ex-Nazi guns. They later changed to 7.62 NATO when they adopted the FN FAL. My 06 and 7.62 barrels are US, the 8mm barrel is Israeli marked.
And yes, 8mm feeds well from the cloth belts, I have not tried it in links (06 and 7.62 links are different).
When I was in Israel in 1971, (Teaching for the Gov.), we got to an outpost in the Golan Heights. They had small arms in 30-06, 7.62 NATO, 5.56, 7.62X39, 7.62X54R, 9mm, and a Russian Made 1/2 track. Supply must have been one heck of a problem.

DARTH 44 · November 24, 2002, 09:57 AM

Thanks.
If my memory serves me well,the Israeli still use the M1919A4s
rebarreled to .308,under M4A3 designation.
The guns are usually mounted on the turrets of their older tanks.

That speaks good about the design

Sleuth · November 25, 2002, 12:11 PM

The advantages of the 1919A4 in tanks is since it strips to the rear, you can change the barrel without exiting the tank, and being recoil operated, less fumes enter the turret. The big disadvantages are the slow, complicated barrel change and the left hand feed. The M37 version would feed from either side.

Do we have any trackheads (Tankers) reading this who would care to comment?

November 2, 2002, 04:45 PM	#1
DARTH 44 Senior Member Join Date: July 25, 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 138	Browning MG question I was wondering what is the procedure of barrel change for Browning M1919A4 and M1919A6. Can anyone tell me about it,step-by-step? Thanks __________________ "Americans have the right and advantages of being armed,unlike the citizens of the countries whose governments are afraid to trust the people with arms" JAMES MADISON - The Federalist Papers

November 7, 2002, 02:55 PM	#3
DARTH 44 Senior Member Join Date: July 25, 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 138	He he quite funny.... I asked this question because the M1919 (judging by its looks) is not ''Quick Change Barrel" weapon like most of modern MGs are. Barrel removal apparently requires fieldstripping the Browning, and I`m curious how complicated such operation would be. This question came out during one of "gun talks",when I told my buddy that it would be interesting to rebarrel the M1919A4 to 338-06 or .35 Whelen. Now,it would be easier for Charles Bronson to waste all those punks in Death Wish III,before he switched to his .475 Wildey. __________________ "Americans have the right and advantages of being armed,unlike the citizens of the countries whose governments are afraid to trust the people with arms" JAMES MADISON - The Federalist Papers

November 7, 2002, 03:27 PM	#4
Sleuth Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2002 Location: Arizona Posts: 445	One of the problems with the 1919 is the barrel change. Here goes from memory (I don't have the gun in front of me). 1. Unload & clear the gun; pull back on the bolt and, with it fully retracted, turn the slotted rod on the back plate 90 degrees to lock the recoil spring in the bolt; push the bolt forward (the slotted rod should disappear into the gun); push forward on the top cover latch and lift up on the pistol grip & remove; slide action out of the gun (I recall at one point there is a pin that must be pushed in through the hole on the right sideplate); unscrew barrel; screw in new barrel; set headspace; assemble in reverse order. My 1919A4 is in 308 or 30-06 or 8mm, by changing the barrel & useing the correct booster and feedway stops. Larger calibers would require opening up the T slot in the bolt face, new recoil springs, etc. I would not bother. You enjoy yourself. __________________ Sleuth

November 8, 2002, 06:29 PM	#5
DARTH 44 Senior Member Join Date: July 25, 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 138	Thanks for the info Sleuth. Btw,the 8mm caliber you mention is 8x57 or 8mm-06? If 8x57,does it feed reliably from the 30-06 designed belt? __________________ "Americans have the right and advantages of being armed,unlike the citizens of the countries whose governments are afraid to trust the people with arms" JAMES MADISON - The Federalist Papers

November 13, 2002, 02:14 PM	#6
Sleuth Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2002 Location: Arizona Posts: 445	It is 8X57. My gun has a checkered past. It was made in the U.S. for WWII in 30-06. From it's markings it went to Israel, which at one time had standardized on 8mm for small arms, due to the masses of guns recieved in '49 - '50 that were ex-Nazi guns. They later changed to 7.62 NATO when they adopted the FN FAL. My 06 and 7.62 barrels are US, the 8mm barrel is Israeli marked. And yes, 8mm feeds well from the cloth belts, I have not tried it in links (06 and 7.62 links are different). When I was in Israel in 1971, (Teaching for the Gov.), we got to an outpost in the Golan Heights. They had small arms in 30-06, 7.62 NATO, 5.56, 7.62X39, 7.62X54R, 9mm, and a Russian Made 1/2 track. Supply must have been one heck of a problem. __________________ Sleuth

November 5, 2002, 06:39 AM	#2
dustindu4 Member Join Date: April 20, 2002 Location: NH Posts: 44	easy 1) take barrel off 2) put new barrel on

November 24, 2002, 09:57 AM	#7
DARTH 44 Senior Member Join Date: July 25, 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 138	Thanks. If my memory serves me well,the Israeli still use the M1919A4s rebarreled to .308,under M4A3 designation. The guns are usually mounted on the turrets of their older tanks. That speaks good about the design __________________ "Americans have the right and advantages of being armed,unlike the citizens of the countries whose governments are afraid to trust the people with arms" JAMES MADISON - The Federalist Papers

November 25, 2002, 12:11 PM	#8
Sleuth Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2002 Location: Arizona Posts: 445	The advantages of the 1919A4 in tanks is since it strips to the rear, you can change the barrel without exiting the tank, and being recoil operated, less fumes enter the turret. The big disadvantages are the slow, complicated barrel change and the left hand feed. The M37 version would feed from either side. Do we have any trackheads (Tankers) reading this who would care to comment? __________________ Sleuth