im not too familliar with how the mg 13 works...
BUT, has anybody tried to convert an mg 13 to .accept the more readily available .308 blanks?
...is it possible?...
Im working on getting a semi for reenacting, but im worried i may not be able to feed it
BTW if anybody can refer me to some diagrams on the MG13 system's operation, id appreciate it...
mg 13 in 308?
Re: mg 13 in 308?
Currently own a couple of NFA MG13s and have welded together several post-May samples.The barrels are very simple and could be copied quite easily from any sort of blank and chambered for .308. The barrels have a short threaded breech section that screws into the bolt carrier with a simple tab lock up. A blank barrel doesn't need rifling for blank use so you can use a bar of 4140 or whatever you choose and save the expense of a rifled blank.
Of course, a rifled .308 barrel would be great for shooting, too.
The guns are locked breech, recoil operated and fire from a closed bolt and the semis will use the same barrel as a full auto gun. Vintage blank adapters to replace the flash hider for the 7.92 guns can be found as some were imported years ago, but blank adapting should be quite straight forward. FWIW
Bob Naess
Black River Militaria CII
Of course, a rifled .308 barrel would be great for shooting, too.
The guns are locked breech, recoil operated and fire from a closed bolt and the semis will use the same barrel as a full auto gun. Vintage blank adapters to replace the flash hider for the 7.92 guns can be found as some were imported years ago, but blank adapting should be quite straight forward. FWIW
Bob Naess
Black River Militaria CII
Re: mg 13 in 308?
Bob,
when you say "recoil operated", does the entire barrel have to move like in the '42?
Im still a little confused about hat type of system locks the breech?
Thanks
John
when you say "recoil operated", does the entire barrel have to move like in the '42?
Im still a little confused about hat type of system locks the breech?
Thanks
John
Re: mg 13 in 308?
In the MG13 the whole barrel assembly moves backwards, cams a locking block downwards and releases the bolt from the barrel, or at least from the barrel extension. The accelerator you asked about speeds the bolt up to the rear in order to separate it from the barrel while allowing the barrel to return forward. In order to fire blanks you will need a booster or some other means of pushing the barrel assembly backwards to cycle the action. From all the destruction I've seen in blank guns .308 blanks will work just as well as 8mm for hammering the hell out of the gun. Since .308 has the same case head diameter as the 8mm it will fit the bolt face. I don't know if it will feed without any issues though...
As Bob noted the MG13 is a very good gun but the barrels are light, the gun is long and its just magazine fed so it wasn't a first choice as a universal machinegun. You might have a look at Daniel Musgraves book, "The German Machinegun" and maybe some of the other books describing the MG13. There is info out there you just have to look.
Frank
As Bob noted the MG13 is a very good gun but the barrels are light, the gun is long and its just magazine fed so it wasn't a first choice as a universal machinegun. You might have a look at Daniel Musgraves book, "The German Machinegun" and maybe some of the other books describing the MG13. There is info out there you just have to look.
Frank
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glassmountains
- Oberfeldwebel
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Re: mg 13 in 308?
You could have the barrel rechambered to 30.06 then install a .308 ordnance (adaptor) sleeve. I did this for a Jap Type 99 to shoot the 7.62 NATO blanks. Worked very well.
Re: mg 13 in 308?
Glassmluntains writes: You could have the barrel rechambered to 30.06 then install a .308 ordnance (adaptor) sleeve. I did this for a Jap Type 99 to shoot the 7.62 NATO blanks. Worked very well.
While this can work for .310-.312 bores, the MG13 is 7.92 and the larger bore ID would eliminate bullet seal, so it is too large to simply rechamber for .310 slug.
Using the .308 chamber adapters is a hit or miss low cost alternative for caliber change from .30-06 to .308. Eventually it tears out and won't anchor in my experience and I've had enough barrels sent to me done that way that needed full rechambering to advise against it. It does work for a while, though.
Like rechambering .303 barrels to 54R, eventually a shooter starts getting separated cases and then having to change out the barrel in a WC Vickers while shooting becomes a chore.......
FWIW
Bob Naess
While this can work for .310-.312 bores, the MG13 is 7.92 and the larger bore ID would eliminate bullet seal, so it is too large to simply rechamber for .310 slug.
Using the .308 chamber adapters is a hit or miss low cost alternative for caliber change from .30-06 to .308. Eventually it tears out and won't anchor in my experience and I've had enough barrels sent to me done that way that needed full rechambering to advise against it. It does work for a while, though.
Like rechambering .303 barrels to 54R, eventually a shooter starts getting separated cases and then having to change out the barrel in a WC Vickers while shooting becomes a chore.......
FWIW
Bob Naess