[waffendude]

hello

i've searched the threads(most come up empty)and i could not find any info on this

I thinking of converting a 1919 to have a 16 inch barrel -what will it take


1. barrel
2. short shrould
3.different booster ? ?

anything else ?

any info would be greatly appricated
waffen

 

[glockhead]

only the first two. i used the same booster. i cut the barell, crowned it on the lathe, removed a section of the shroud, sleeved and welded, cleaned it up and refinished it. ir was pretty easy

oh i used 16 1/4" just to give myself some wiggle room on the legalities

 

[Roc Rat]

I did the same as far as the bbl,, cut and crowned. I cut the jacket at the trunion end,, I had my nephew TIG weld it back together so you cant even see the weld. I measured the overall lenght from the tip of the booster to the bolt face,, 16.5".

 

[brassmagnet]

I would consider opening up the booster anyhow. You don't need all that excessive blowback pressure with the short barrel - they almost cycle themselves at 16" long. JMHO

 

[Roc Rat]

I agree,, I had my shorty on for awhile, when I switched back to a full size bbl and jacket it was so much easier on the gun. The shorty set up is cool, but mean to the gun.

 

[Lucky#13]

What caliber are you using? If 308, it will probably function fine with the .718 booster opening from the 30-06. If shooting 30-06, you might want to go a bit larger. With 8mm, I would try the .718 and, if it functions but seems to be cycling fast and pounding the gun more than you like, open the booster up.

I have run mine only in 308 so far, and it seems fine with the 30-06 booster. Brassmagnet, you had yours in 8mm? What size orifice did you use? That's the next caliber I am going to try.

Another thing to consider. If you just cut the barrel down and do not make up for the front bearing surface being now a lot smaller than the bearing/booster's I.D., you may run the risk of the extra play adding wear to the trunnion bearing area. I recommend that the front bearing of the original muzzle end be reamed and pressed onto the new muzzle. This is how John McGuire does them, and it preserves the proper bearing support at both ends. He also pins the assembly on for good measure.

 

[brassmagnet]

If it is still in .308 I would try the '06 booster size and see how it goes. Anything larger I would go more of an opening. My [16" barreled 8MM] boosters are opened up to .745" to .750" and function very nicely.

Lucky#13 is correct about the barrel surface area in the booster. I have run both kinds [chopped barrels and John M's barrels] with the larger booster holes, and they worked fine, but with the smaller holes the booster openings DID take a slight glancing blow now and then on one side or another using the chopped barrels. That could have also been caused by very worn barrel rifling, but nonetheless, I went to larger holes anyhow, since everything functioned fine with them.

 

[TiredIron]

I'll be trying an "7-8in length" with 8MM barrel soon....ought to be interesting.
I might have to install the booster backwards to get enough relief.
Tirediron

 

[waffendude]

thanks guys

that was fast----yes it's in 308---sooo i'll try my std bearing out and if cycles fast and beats up the gun i'll open it up


thanks again
waffen

 

[FTB1-SS]

I opened my booster up to .75" for .308. 16.5" barrel.

 

[Chad G]

does shortening a 1919 barrel require an F1 and $200? its not a rifle and it aint no pistol?

 

[Lucky#13]

Chad, there is an existing letter from ATF stating that a 1919 with a barrel less than 16 inches is not classified as an SBR, nor is it in any way regulated beyond normal, TITLE I rules. The overall length must remain at 26" or more, however. The letter was obtained by panaceabeachbum.

 

[Hawk]

Heres how I did it.

http://www.angelfire.com/mi2/fpp/shorty.htm

 

[panaceabeachbum]

Here is a link to mine and a copy of the letter, you can click on the pic to see it full size


http://www.thompsonmachine.net/1919.htm

 

[FTB1-SS]

More info on shorty's, this is how I did mine
http://browningmgs.com/SB1919/TG.htm