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Posted: 5/30/2024 7:58:23 AM EDT
[Last Edit: K2enemy][Edited]
I may be trading WAY up  for a 1919A4. So far, I know nothing about it other than what it is and it has a tripod and a T&E. Are there mfgs to avoid. things to look for? I'm waiting on pics and info at this time. I'm just a lowly FO and never had crew served weapons in a training environment but I have some good field experience with M2s. Are they internally similar/break down similarly? Do they have to be timed and head spaced?
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Originally Posted By K2enemy: I may be trading WAY up for a 1919A4. So far, I know nothing about it other than what it is and it has a tripod and a T&E. Are there mfgs to avoid. things to look for? I'm waiting on pics and info at this time. I'm just a lowly FO and never had crew served weapons in a training environment but I have some good field experience with M2s. Are they internally similar/break down similarly? Do they have to be timed and head spaced?Manufacturers to avoid. I'm going to say anything home built? I trust mine but not sure I would trust just anyones home build. Make sure the rivets are all tight. An older build will have some weld on the trunnion to the side plate. Newer builds it was not required. The trunnion is a spot that can wear thin from running links. The groove for the backplate can also get beat up on an improperly hardened receiver. IMHO a non Israeli kit is not worth a premium even though folks tend to charge one. You can get caliber conversion kits. 30.06, 8mm, 7.62x51, 7.62x54r, 7.62x39 just to name a few. A 7.62x51 bolt will work with 30.06. A 30.06 bolt will not work properly with 7.62x51. They are vaguely similar to the M2 internally but a touch simpler. They do require headspace and timing if it's a FA. If it's a semi it just requires head-spacing. If it's an Israeli barrel and barrel lock there is a simple mod you can do to make head-spacing much simpler so you only need two hands rather than three. Most importantly. Treat a removed bolt like a live firearm! The driving spring is very dangerous. Over on the M1919A4 boards a member was hospitalized from a driving spring accident. It went through his eye and was mere millimeters from penetrating into his brain cavity. Top covers are still cheap enough to have a spare or two for the rare OOB explosion. Belts are tougher to load but softer on your trunnion. They also make stainless steel trunnion protectors for running links. If you run links be aware there are 30.06 and 7.62 links. |
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Originally Posted By svt40: Manufacturers to avoid. I'm going to say anything home built? I trust mine but not sure I would trust just anyones home build. Make sure the rivets are all tight. An older build will have some weld on the trunnion to the side plate. Newer builds it was not required. The trunnion is a spot that can wear thin from running links. The groove for the backplate can also get beat up on an improperly hardened receiver. IMHO a non Israeli kit is not worth a premium even though folks tend to charge one. You can get caliber conversion kits. 30.06, 8mm, 7.62x51, 7.62x54r, 7.62x39 just to name a few. A 7.62x51 bolt will work with 30.06. A 30.06 bolt will not work properly with 7.62x51. They are vaguely similar to the M2 internally but a touch simpler. They do require headspace and timing if it's a FA. If it's a semi it just requires head-spacing. If it's an Israeli barrel and barrel lock there is a simple mod you can do to make head-spacing much simpler so you only need two hands rather than three. Most importantly. Treat a removed bolt like a live firearm! The driving spring is very dangerous. Over on the M1919A4 boards a member was hospitalized from a driving spring accident. It went through his eye and was mere millimeters from penetrating into his brain cavity. Top covers are still cheap enough to have a spare or two for the rare OOB explosion. Belts are tougher to load but softer on your trunnion. They also make stainless steel trunnion protectors for running links. If you run links be aware there are 30.06 and 7.62 links. Ok sweet, apparently it was built by KMP from an Israeli parts kit and it's a Saginaw Steering division gun. |
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Originally Posted By K2enemy: Ok sweet, apparently it was built by KMP from an Israeli parts kit and it's a Saginaw Steering division gun. KMP is the go to for 1919 stuff. I still have the pen I got when I bought their semi-auto setup for my build. Dang that was almost 20 years ago!! |
| Make sure it works with links, belts are not practical unless you have a belt loader. Some of the conversions are not worth the trouble. They are fine when there was cheap surplus but with most commie calibers at 60 cents or more a round they have less value. |
RIP Jeff Reed. Tennessee Squire, Ga. Carry member, NRA,Non-puking 72 ounce drinker 2 of 6 Norcal call sign, Forgotten.
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I'm also looking into getting one myself, I know nothing about them. I know I want one in 308 with a tripod. I see some for sale from ice house mfg, and jnc manufacturing. Not sure if those are good vendors to purchase a complete unit from. I also like the look of the spade grips. If I were to have one built I may ask if they'd be willing to install a spade grip as well. What's a good vendor to get these things from? |
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Avoid ice house. Ravenna Arsenal/Columbus Ordnance as well as Guns, Ammo, Silencers (GAS) LLC are two spectacular builders of 1919s. John Mcguire is also very well known and highly respected for his work. Someone was looking at buying an ice house 1919 and I told them to call Chris at Columbus Ordnance. He ended up saving thousands and getting a nicer gun. |
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Originally Posted By SGT-Fish: Avoid ice house. Ravenna Arsenal/Columbus Ordnance as well as Guns, Ammo, Silencers (GAS) LLC are two spectacular builders of 1919s. John Mcguire is also very well known and highly respected for his work. Someone was looking at buying an ice house 1919 and I told them to call Chris at Columbus Ordnance. He ended up saving thousands and getting a nicer gun. Looks like they are out of stock. May have to give them a call or find a parts kit for them to build. |
Well, I have no idea of what I actually brought home. Dude said it was a KMP, it doesn't say KMP anywhere on it and the engraving looks more like an Allied Armament right side plate  Live and learn I suppose. The gun had various stoppages at the range and wouldn't feed more than 2-3 rounds without a malfunction. I was using Wolf .308 in belts which were loaded by hand and thus unevenly inserted. The main issue seemed to be a failure to advance the belt, which upon inspection, the feed lever lobe was coming out of the track. The top cover had a bow to it also. I beat the cover flat with a dead blow (didn't take much) and took a washer off of the pivot bushing (it had 2) and it seems to track perfectly even with the weapon upside down. T track is clear and smooth, and I set the headspace. I also got some links to try out. The guy I got it from didn't know much about it other than it was allegedly built, "professionally", in the 1999-2000 date range but he's not sure who built it. https://imgur.com/n0dFdaX https://imgur.com/a/rD9vQlx |
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Originally Posted By JThompson: Had one from John Mcquire. Great but kept going through trigger kits. The damn ears kept breaking. Once the crank fires were banned, no need for the 1919 and sold it. FL banned? |
"I miss the days of being able to shoot all commies" G.B.
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