1919 semi built vs full auto

[Peter Laidler]

Re the driving springs. We were taught to remove it and replace it safely and were also shown the demo of how it would drive itself into a piece of plywood. We were also taught - and had it drilled into us - to NEVER, ever, not ever leave the driving spring in the breech block. As soon as the breech block was taken out of the gun and before it was put down anywhere, the driving spring was always released and laid out alongside. So said, but inside the tank turrets, it was a simple matter for you or the crew to kick the breech block and allow the dr spring and rod to leap free. Not sure about that but safe working practice and all that.......

Just amazing guns. I have seen them in our old Centurions virtually running all day, hosing down massed figure 11 targets supposed to represent advancing Chinese Infantry

[tiriaq]

Actually I have a chance to buy a kit that contains a semi auto only right receiver, that was registered with the CFC as non restricted, previous to the deletion of the long gun registry. So Im trying to get all the info i can. All the parts are .308 I believe.

Apart from the RHSP, are any of the other parts altered for semi auto?
You will need a semi auto trigger assembly, altered lockframe, barrel extension and bolt. The machining isn't necessarily complicated, but the parts are heat treated.

[fjruple]

We had a couple of Canadian 7.62mm versions of the good old M1919 and to be really honest, they just didn't have the whooooomph to function reliably as machine guns. I stopped down the .718" (?) muzzle aperture in reducing stages to try to get it to act as a more efficient recoil booster but it didn't really make much difference. It was a case of diminishing returns in effect.

I did speak to a couple of the Enfield design team who did our .300" rear sear L3 guns and they said that the original intention was to convert ours to 7.62mm at the same time but couldn't quite get to grips with it. So left them at .300" where they worked best.

Hi Peter--

Do you recall if the Browning you had were the C1 version or the later C5A1 version of the Browning?

--fjruple

[Peter Laidler]

I don't know what the differences are between the C1 and the C5. Explain to me and I'll identify what ours were. We had a couple but I think that they fired from the closed breech unlike our M1919/ later L3 versions that fired from an open breech

[Claven2]

The Canadian-legal ones that were sold were all standard TNW guns, so if you go to 1919A4.com you can likely find detailed pics of how to build a TNW clone in the USA. It will be the same thing in Canada.

[browningautorifle]

Here the bolt, lock frame assembly, barrel extension, trigger, sear, etc, have to be modified or replaced.

Yes, but that's the US. Our regs are completely different.

As soon as the breech block was taken out of the gun and before it was put down anywhere, the driving spring was always released

We did too, except for just basic strip and assy for a stoppage for instance...extractor change.

The difference between the C1, which was basicly a .30 cal except for the major parts change, and the C5, which had been completely internally changed by 8 major mods and 40 minor mods...so it was explained to me. Visually, you can't tell.

[alpaca andy]

Thanks all, great info. So it is a proper right side receiver, with the island. I'm told all the internal parts are also machined for it, and everything is for .308 Until I have it all in my lil hands, I wont ask any more questions, but im sure i will have some once all the parts are here.

Andy