Madsen LMG in .303

[AmEngRifles]

Any good links on the .303 version of the Madsen LMG? Did it have a proprietary magazine? Any internal parts (besides the barrel chamber) that we’re modified for the .303?

Information

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[42rocker]

Good questions. Hope that someone has info because I'm interested in this also. I know that the Madsen was offered in many different calibers.

Later 42rocker

[AmEngRifles]

For grins and giggles I put 6 rounds of .303 in a Madsen 8mm/30.06 mag. No problem. Plenty of length. Now, will the rims stay put with such looseness going on?

The nice part about the Madsen mag is how easy it is to unload! Just press the locking tab out of the way and all the rounds come shooting up and out! Genius.

Took a few pics, but not sure how to attach while writing on the smart phone?

[MGMike]

It's pretty obvious that the bolt face for .303 would be different, as well as the extractor. Possibly the feeding flute in left side of the bolt might also be a different shape to accommodate the wider rim and/or the pronounced taper of the .303 case. The cam-track plate attached to the right-hand side of the receiver might be all right if it's for an 8mm gun, but it might be problematic if it's for .30-06.

M

[Sunray]

May or may not have a proprietary mag, but it's have a different follower than a mag made for a rimless cartridge.
This help?
Madsen Light machine gun Forgotten Weapons
Another.
Madsen - Modern Firearms

[Warren]

Madsen was unique in that most of their mags were proprietary.
The magazine for the gun was dependent on the calibre. There are some exceptions to this but not many.
The position of a stud on the front of the magazine prevented them from being used in other calibres however the mags could be modified if need be.
The Madsen was made in .303 British for a test trial in England but was never adapted.
Somewhere I have the British manual on the Madsen made for the UK and most of the equipment for it was adapted for cavalry use.
The British made a direct copy of the Madsen in .303 called the REXER.
They are very far and few between.

[AmEngRifles]

Thanks Warren. This all started because in my search for either a 30.06 barrel, or even a 7.62x51, I ran across a nice looking Madsen set. The owner claims it is in .303!!??

It went for $1325.00. Fine if you are building the whole thing into a functioning semi auto ( or even a full auto). A little rich if only looking fo the barrel and breech block assembly. I am still curious about the seller’s claim it was in .303. It was never indicated in the auction. Hard to believe people would bid it up, not knowing what caliber?