Israeli M1919 Brownings and the US Semiauto Market

In the world of converted semiautomatic “machine guns,” the Browning 1919 is a happy example of one of the most iconic and historically important US machine guns and also one of the cheapest semiautomatic belt fed guns available. This stems from two factors, primarily. One is that the Browning 1919, being developed from the water-cooled M1917 Browning, is a closed bolt system. Open bolt semiautomatic designs are not allowed by ATF, and so most semiauto machine gun conversions require substantial alteration to convert from open bolt to closed bolt – which the M1919 does not need. Second, the IDF used the Browning M1919 for many years and in large numbers, and surplussed many of them in the late 1990s. These guns came into the United States as parts kits in large numbers. This meant a glut of cheap guns, easily built as semi autos, and in an easily shootable caliber – 7.62mm NATO (as converted by Israel from their original .30-06 chambering).

Today, we are looking at an example of a semiautomatic converted M1919, and specifically at the various changes made by Israel to both improve the design and convert it successfully to the NATO cartridge.

37 Comments

  1. Oh good, no need to worry about politics. I wonder if barrel headspace is still a pain on this gun (and if shot timing isn’t applicable anymore).

  2. Canada also converted Browning Model 1919 MGs to fire 7.62 X 51mm NATO ammo …… circa 1960 when we adopted the FN rifle in the same calibre.
    Internally, Canadaian barrels still have the shallow, rounded grooves to adjust headspace.
    Externally, Canadian conversions are easily identified by the huge, oval (race track) cocking handles. Those cocking handles are big enough for Arctic mittens!
    I doubt if any Canadian conversions were surplused to civilians.

    • With Long branch armory closing in mid 70s and Diemaco’s capacity to make new barrels (with brand new Austrian made hammer-forge)in early 80s there was nobody who would perform this conversion.

    • Also in 1960s they were heavily involved with production of C1 and C2 rifles. So there was no free capacity for another barrel making.

  3. It’s a shame this gun does not have the bolt hold open arm. I assume this could be used as a safety. Apart from that, does the M1919 have a safety? The trigger always seems rather exposed to me, I wonder if it caused any problems?

    • “bolt hold open arm”
      There exist page collecting knowledge about M1919, it has even article about that part, which is called bolt latch:
      http://www.m1919tech.com/23018.html

      “shame this gun does not have”
      Honestly, I think in this case it is unnecessary, I doubt in possibility of firing enough number of cartridges in small enough time to cause cook-off (firing of cartridge without user will).

      • Daewo:

        I was not thinking of the risk of a cook-off, more that, as far as I know, the M1919 has no other form of safety. Given that the trigger does not even have a guard, I wonder if this caused problems in service?

          • Daweo:

            That’s an interesting article.

            I wonder if the addition of a safety to the M37 was as an improvement to the M1919. I can’t help thinking that the lack of a safety and a trigger guard on that weapon must have led to accidental discharges.

          • “must have led to accidental discharges.”
            Maybe, however if it was not introduced, despite introducing new marks… wait, no marks but As, then it apparently was not considered great issue.
            I think, it is worth to examine Swedish license-production in that regard, I don’t know if it has safety or not.

  4. Ian’s talent for explaining things in entertaining way shows – and he never repeats himself 🙂

    Among others, Canada received Br.1919A4s which they rebuilt to suite C21 (Cdn version of M80) in mid 80s. I do not recall all the details but not all changes shown on this gun were implemented as some others were. The method of head space adjustment was kept as original, among other things.

    Every time I look at this gun it strikes me how ‘voluminous’ the receiver is (due to trigger frame). Compare German MG34 and MG42 – huge progress in just 2 decades; yet all are recoil operated.

    • “how ‘voluminous’ the receiver is”
      Apparently despite this, 1930s U.S. tank designer were very enthusiastic about arming AFV with a lot of machine guns. Notice space inside 1930s AFV was generally were limited*, but nonetheless following vehicles (it is not complete list) were armed with Browning .30″ machine guns:
      M2A4 Light Tank was armed with 5 (five) machine guns – 1 in left sponson, 1 in right sponson, 1 in glacis, 1 co-ax with main gun, 1 AA – for comparison Panzerkampfwagen II Ausf. D has only 1 MG 34
      M2 Medium Tank was armed with 9 (nine) machine guns – 1 in left forward sponson, 1 in left backward sponson, 1 in right backward sponson, 1 in right forward sponson, 2 in glacis, 1 co-ax with main gun, 2 AA – for comparison early Panzerkampfwagen III have 3 MG 34

      * – generally less space to close with armour will mean lighter mass for fixed thickness or bigger thickness for fixed mass of it.

      • Next, U.S. developed tank machine gun, namely GUN, MACHINE, CAL .30, M37:
        http://browningmgs.com/M37.htm
        also has receiver of rather big dimensions, however unlike M1919 it can be configured either to feed belt from left or right side.
        M37 was produced in 1950s, it was used as armament of 90mm Gun Tank M48 and 105mm Gun Tank M60

        • M73 on the other hand, was specially designed to take very little space:
          https://modernfirearms.net/en/machineguns/u-s-a-machineguns/m73-m219-eng/
          although development of what will become M37 and M73 started in similar time, second proved be much more troublesome both in development, M37 designation was assigned in 1959, apparently changes due development were so big that it justified new designation – namely M219 (1972), which despite long development do not worked reliably.

        • That is (are) informative page(s) and I appreciate, yet again your research work!

          I can tell you something which will be an eye-opener of kind. I had talk (something like 20 years ago) with a man who was in past working in Rock Island arsenal. He told me about “panic” which gripped U.S. tank command about lack of suitable tank co-axial machinegun in 1979s – right in middle of 1.st Cold war.

          They just could not use .30cal Browning for various reasons, one of which was inability to ABC seal-off internal tank compartment. Then Mag58 was suddenly found as a life-wheel and quickly adopted. Subsequently, the FNMI in S.Carolina plant was set up to license produce it along with other variants. Rest of story is well known. It was a coup for FN – big time.

          • Got carried away with brakes….it is meant A(nuclear) B(biological) and C(chemical) type of warfare. No one with brain between their ears wants to come even close to it (late Novichok affair is apparently an aberration).

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