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My MG08 paperwork just clear and I should have by weeks end. The gun did not come with any belts and I have not been able to find any MG08 8mm belts. I would like to know what other if any will work in the MG08. I was thinging about the MG34, Vickers, Russian Maxim and Browning belts. Has anyone tried any of these or might you know where I could obtain some MG08 8mm belts?


David

David,

MG08 belts are $300 or more. Pretty much a collectable at this point. I don't think anyone shoots with them.

From what I hear, Vickers WWII belts are the way to go. Not the cheap ones but the ones with brass tabs.

Some people seem to have luck with IMAs AL ones and some people do not...

Good luck!

azdskin wrote:My MG08 paperwork just clear and I should have by weeks end. The gun did not come with any belts and I have not been able to find any MG08 8mm belts. I would like to know what other if any will work in the MG08. I was thinging about the MG34, Vickers, Russian Maxim and Browning belts. Has anyone tried any of these or might you know where I could obtain some MG08 8mm belts?

David

The aluminum belts from IMI function fine, but wont stay held by the pawls in my feed block so they need a person keeping tension on the belt. Also, expect several warn/busted links in those belts.

I've had good results with the Vickers belts, but its a BITCH getting the 8mm cartridges fully seated in the .303 belts. If you dont get them fully pushed through, the belt will bind in the feed block because of the rolled edge.

The best belt I have is one Stemple sewed up that his Brother gave me at a recent MG shoot. Its just a plain, thick white cotton belt, no brass tabs, but works great. When I get around to it, I want to find a place that will replicate it.

Save up some $ and get a 54r conversion for the 08, comprised of 1910 Russian Maxim feedblock, modified, barrel and recoil plates, with adjustable headspace. Cheaper ammo, belts, loaders and spares readily available and will be for quite a while to come. 1910 parts are appreciating in value so the sooner the better for a purchase of the needed parts.

Bob Naess

bmg17a1 wrote:Save up some $ and get a 54r conversion for the 08, comprised of 1910 Russian Maxim feedblock, modified, barrel and recoil plates, with adjustable headspace. Cheaper ammo, belts, loaders and spares readily available and will be for quite a while to come. 1910 parts are appreciating in value so the sooner the better for a purchase of the needed parts.

Bob Naess

Who is selling these conversions?

I make the conversions using owner supplied parts. One caveat; some 08s have a smaller ID at the mouth of the fired case ejection tube, and osme don't. If the mouth of the tube is the smaller ID, the rim of the 54r will not pass through it. Very slight enlargement of the mouth of the tube rectifies this and does not interferre with firing other calibers.

Bob Naess

bmg17a1 wrote:I make the conversions using owner supplied parts. One caveat; some 08s have a smaller ID at the mouth of the fired case ejection tube, and osme don't. If the mouth of the tube is the smaller ID, the rim of the 54r will not pass through it. Very slight enlargement of the mouth of the tube rectifies this and does not interferre with firing other calibers.

Bob Naess

Do you have a list of parts the user needs to supply?

As recommended by Dolf Goldsmith, I've tried and had some success using the cloth Browning MG belts. The belts need to be stretched for the larger 8mm cases. I load the belts and let them sit until the next time I go the range.

Bill

Parts needed for a 54R conversion for an MG08 or any Maxim for that matter, are:

From a 1910 Russian Maxim:
Recoil plate/crank assembly complete
Feedblock
Barrel
Lock

Bob Naess

I would like to say that the conversion Bob does is great. I have fired thousands of rounds through my 08 and 08/15 conversion. For the use of 8mm in the maxims you can use PKM belts. You have to open up the front loop on the belt to get the neck of the 8mm round in. These do work great however.

Richard