22 conversion 1919

[Plastikosmd]

1919 browning built by John Mcguire
22 conversion, 1.5 yrs in making by belt-fed-plus aka Thomas Heim
Bolt conversion to semi auto again by Mcguire


4hrs of fun today learning my way around this thing. Still a bit to do. It needs the power of minimags to run via recoil. I had a few blown case heads. I need to lighten the firing pin spring as it is piercing the cases at times. You can see this in the comparison shot. It really dents the heck out of the rim.






http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j5/plastikosmd/1919/0230AD2A-372A-4D06-BE4E-82F4D5812F94_zpsioximunb.jpg
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j5/plastikosmd/1919/D88FB2B7-1E61-4044-A2BD-C864E8786603_zpsmzcok8tg.jpg
How the belt feed works. There are adapters, clips at end of each pair of adapters, dummy cases that then fit into spring adapters in belt
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j5/plastikosmd/1919/0EC90D10-3AA9-4ED8-9FF2-3EE67B360ED0_zpsdrtkhy9h.jpg
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j5/plastikosmd/1919/E28FB43E-87AB-4F52-8B97-02A17D7103E1_zpstziiyshh.jpg
A blown one


http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j5/plastikosmd/1919/4164771E-459A-419D-9A51-F72E45C81C8E_zpsbopquezw.jpg
Blown vs not, heavy impact though
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j5/plastikosmd/1919/28CC5B72-3269-4685-A26D-7DE0035B1E83_zpsldli9tch.jpg

[fjruple]

I also several of these .22LR conversion kits. I have M3 kit for my semi-auto M1917A1 and the M4 for my semi-auto M1919A4. I also had the problem of ruptured cases from the firing pin strike. It would appear the .22LR ammo from when the .22LR conversion kits were designed the .22lr ammo of that vintage had a harder brass. I also had to reduce the firing pin spring tension to keep from having ruptured cartridges. I also use high-velocity ammunition as well. CCI Mini-Mags work rather well but are hard to get in my area. I have settle on using Federal High Velocity Game-shock ammunition. I have also discovered that the bolt for the .22LR should be bare metal to cut down on the resistance of the parkerizing finish of the casing group. The cartridge holders also free of dirt and or corrosion. The .22LR rounds when placed into the cartridge holders have to place flush with the rear of the cartridge holder or you can get an out of battery detonation. When you get these .22lr conversion kit running right they are lots of fun with the minimum of costs. Unfortunately in the past several years everyone that has a semi-auto M1919A4 wants one to save in the costs of ammo. I have prices for the cartridge holders, adapters and clips go out of sight. These are really fun. I have also developed prototype semi-auto .22LR conversion kits for semi-auto versions of the C5A1 and M37.

Cheers

--fjruple

[NoZombies]

I suggest that you try Remington Golden bullet ammo. I know that it's dirty, but my experience has been that it's initial recoil impulse is stronger than most other .22 ammo, and it has run all of my .22 machine-guns and .22 machine-gun conversions better than anything else that's reasonably available, including mini-mags.

[Plastikosmd]

thank you guys, a learning process for sure. I will strip the bolt rails as you firuple. I tried the Remington goldens (I had a ton)
0 ruptures with the golden Remingtons but the bolt would hang, it either wouldn't fully blow back or wouldn't hit the recoil spring hard enough to slam it forward into battery.

headspace was a headache. I got pretty good at headspacing for the 308. At least in my mind it made a lot more sense. Here the fit between the little barrel extension that screws into the true extension that you headspace along with screwing in the barrel to adjust the chamber is confusing to me. For headspace, I just used a gauge in the end. For the 308 it was easier just to tighten barrel against the moving breach block/stop, then back it off until it is free. 22, no such luck with that. So, just used the gauge.

Also I am not sure what I am adjusting in regards to the chamber when screwing in the barrel. I just went all the way in until bolt wouldn't close then backed it off a 1/2 turn until it did close.

loading those adapters into the belt, huge pain. glad that only has to be done once

[NoZombies]

Interesting. What's the weight of the bolt on this assembly? You said that the bolt was converted to semi? What was the difference functionally between the semi-bolt and the original?

[Plastikosmd]

Semi sear, a bit of milling

the bolt is significantly lighter. A ton of machining. From what I was told, the bolts were pulled off the normal line and machined by a single person then marked as mine is.

I will get pics and weight for u

[fjruple]

Interesting. What's the weight of the bolt on this assembly? You said that the bolt was converted to semi? What was the difference functionally between the semi-bolt and the original?
Nozombies
I used the Remington Golden bullet, I had nothing but problems with them. They are not what they used to be.
The original bolts for the conversion were made from surplus M1918 Aircraft Machine gun bolt. The original M1918 bolts were M1917 bolts skeletonized to provide a higher rate of fire for the gun. The only modification to the M1918 bolt was the placement of a modified firing pin for 22LR. The bolts have a modified sear for semi-auto only. Other modifications are made to the guns to preclude the introduction of full auto parts.
Cheers
Fjruple

[Plastikosmd]

A look at the 22 converted /machined bolt(right) vs 7.62 (left.)A lot of metal missing
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j5/plastikosmd/1919/30B2A8AF-B35E-43D0-8774-33F704E62C1A_zpswjeqvvvc.jpg
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j5/plastikosmd/1919/AAD21806-49DA-415F-8D23-257070AD35A6_zpsx39qt9i1.jpg
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j5/plastikosmd/1919/19A257EE-C36F-42CB-BFE7-432A313CEF2F_zpsq8dnyigb.jpg
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j5/plastikosmd/1919/C0FE187C-3D1A-42F0-B7BD-7B9BA0D9ACFF_zpsozup1lxy.jpg
Also cleaned off the 250 adapters and sleeves
Now to start putting in belt. My poor fingers..
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j5/plastikosmd/1919/8969C8F2-5056-43AB-8E60-0E9D79E6B4DD_zpsu2poxsbj.jpg

[Chuckm]

Nice to see more of these up and running. I got mine running last month, but had to make certain I used copper plated/washed round to keep from having the "chamber cylinder" from leading up.

Once I got some plated round all was well. I also have had some of the cases blown from the firing pin strike, Fjruple, how many coils did you take off the firing pin spring?? I am going to get a couple at Phoneix and will use them on mine. It is intersting that TM 9-1205 shows the spring length the same for either .22 or .30 cal for the M3/M4 Trainer, 4 1/4 inch, but a shortened one, 3 7/16ths inch, for the M1 .22 cal M.G.

I have made up both a belt in an very tired cloth belt and one with Links. Putting the belt adapters in the cloth belt was a PAIN IN THE A##s but does work nicely. I have to run the linked one yet to see if there is any difference. One thing does show up.....when you put the Shell Holder into the adapter in the links it is a pain as the adapter does not expand as well as in the cloth belt setup.

Later,

Chuck

[Plastikosmd]

Great to hear.
i got 26 done, hands are a bit blistered. Glad I only have to do this once
26 down, 224 to go

Another thought, what about taking 1/32 off the pin itself...

[Chuckm]

Great to hear.
i got 26 done, hands are a bit blistered. Glad I only have to do this once
26 down, 224 to go

Another thought, what about taking 1/32 off the pin itself...

That is a thought, I may go with that if I can't find any springs. I did check the firing pin protrusion against my 7.62x51 bolt and the .22 is shorter!! I made certain that it was rounded off so as not to poke holes in the case !

May run out to the range tomorrow and give it a try again....................................

Chuckm