info needed on 08-15

[tecktwo]

Looking to buy a 08-15. Need to know what type belts, ammo, loading tools, spare parts ect. I know very little about belt fed mg. Have always shot subguns. Would it be worth buying as far as shooting every week? Durabilty? any thoughts pro con need general info. Thanks Jack In Nv

[dwmmg08]

Looking to buy a 08-15. Need to know what type belts, ammo, loading tools, spare parts ect. I know very little about belt fed mg. Have always shot subguns. Would it be worth buying as far as shooting every week? Durabilty? any thoughts pro con need general info. Thanks Jack In Nv

They're good guns, once you get them running! I've shot and worked on them for years, and they are hand fitted antiques from another time, not modern guns, but once you've got them running, they do quite well.

What you'll want:

The Devils Paintbrush. You need to get this first, and read it. All of it. You'll need and want the knowledge.

Belts: The best are the brass tabbed Vickers belts, bar none. You'll need a loader, the German 1916 pattern one is out there, but a guy on the 1919 board is making a good new loader; you may want to try his. You can also currently get alum. belts from IMA: those are good belts, and you can load those by hand if you have to, but they may not work as well with your gun; they're really designed for the 08, you'll see what I'm talking about in the Devil's Paintbrush. The feed pawl on the feedblock is optimized for speedy removal of the cloth belts in combat, but doesn't work as well with the later metal belts.

A steam hose: get the one from IMA. No contest.

Water can: IMA has a repro.

Parts: tough to find at best, if you find them, drop everything and evaluate if you really need them, Immediately, as it may be a while before you see any more! IMBLIZVT on here has a large listing he maintains of spare parts and pieces, you should contact him and get on his mailing list!

They're solid guns, and you'll love shooting it! It's just critical to have parts that all really go together. The locks and headspacing is the hardest part; you must find a set that really works together.

For regular shooting, you should really get a conversion to 7.62 x 54R, from Bob Naess, at Black River Militaria, that will fix all your problems, and make the gun a lot more fun for casual shooting, and you can use cheap russian maxim belts and loaders to boot!!! Bob is knowledgeable and a real gentleman, as well as a regular dealer and an artist on repairing these old guns. You should contact him about the conversion kit, and see if he has one, or if you can get one. The kits work really well!

Good Luck! They're fun guns to shoot and can go all day if you want!!! Please post what maker and year your gun is, there's a bunch of us collectors here on the boards who would love to hear all about it! Pictures are also always good!

[IMBLITZVT]

Parts: tough to find at best, if you find them, drop everything and evaluate if you really need them, Immediately, as it may be a while before you see any more! IMBLIZVT on here has a large listing he maintains of spare parts and pieces, you should contact him and get on his mailing list!

Thanks! I guess I do have one of the larger supply of spare parts you can find out there. I am always looking! If you want to be on, email me at phiteshe@vt.edu

Glen hits all the major points and hits them well. The Devils Paintbrush is the MUST! Just trust us and order a copy today. Read it all! Bob Naess is great. He does great work. There is the 7.62 conversion and the 8mm Adjustable lock out there that can help. Both are not real cheap but nothing is these days.

As far as an every week shooter, remember most of these guns are 1918 guns and are coming up on a 100 years old! Would you drive a 100 year old car every week? Maybe not? Well you will probably have some of the same issues with any gun that old! Parts are rare and not cheap. Lots of moving parts and they do break and have been pretty much out of production since 1918.

If you want a belt fed as an every week shooter, I would say hands down, get a 1919a4!!! They are not that much more and prices are very good on them at this time. You can get a whole parts kit for under $500. A parts kit on a MG08/15 would run like $3K-$4K right now. Plus the 1919a4 can be converted to 308, 8mm and I think they have a 7.62x54r and a 7.62x39 conversion. Oh and 22LR I think. This design has a lot less to break and is a more advanced design. If you want a water cooled, then the 1917a1 would be the way to go. For more info check out Goldsmiths books on the Brownings and go to 1919a4.com Well that my 2 cents.

Good luck!

[oprod]

ya i will weigh in here, The guns are built very well and should run for you with no problems as you become maximized! I dont see a problem with you shooting it on a weekly basis. the parts that do wear out are replaceable and not all that hard to find. the mg08/15 has always been the entry level belt fed weapon that gets you hooked and then you end up getting a second belt fed..... that is where i started, shot one here at my local range and after a few years thought id just have to try it out myself. you can easily shoot these off the bipods or mount one to a finish tripod. I dunno about going to the 7.63x54r bit, ive contemplated it but, havent made the 800 dollar leap. suppose though if you were shooting it every week it would make goos since. bob naess does these conversions and "barrel exchange" might as well. will send you PM

[tecktwo]

Well I did it, just paid for a mg 08-15, 1917 vintage. ordered the paint brush and started the long paper work trail. Plus side is that it went through lone mountain armory here in Henderson, Nv. and was test fired. It will probley be 6 months before I receive mg. But it is only about 8 block from where I live so I can stop by anytime. Will need belt as it did not have one. Was told worn browning belts would work? Jack

[IMBLITZVT]

Thats awesome, please post pictures!

Most people seem to use vickers belts...

[amafrank]

Well I did it, just paid for a mg 08-15, 1917 vintage. ordered the paint brush and started the long paper work trail. Plus side is that it went through lone mountain armory here in Henderson, Nv. and was test fired. It will probley be 6 months before I receive mg. But it is only about 8 block from where I live so I can stop by anytime. Will need belt as it did not have one.Was told worn browning belts would work?
Jack

I hear that browning belts work all the time but mostly from guys who've never fired a maxim. I do have a couple friends that have run browning belts but in my experience they don't work very well. The spacing is too close on the brownings and they tend to double feed frequently which locks the gun up. You have to release the feedpawls to get the gun running when that happens. If the feed arm on the feedblock has been broken(a common demil) and rewelded the browning belts may work ok. Frequently the repairs on the broken feed arm are improperly done in a way that makes the regular belts not work right. In that case the browning belts may work better......

Much of this will make more sense after you read Dolfs book and get some hands on experience with the guns. I just picked up a DWM made belt loader for the Maxim and it works ok but it requires much care and fiddling to get belts loaded with no damage or empty pockets. I think my homemade pusher type plate loader works better and faster. It takes less hands too.


Good luck with your new acquisition and post some pics when it gets transferred.


Frank

[tecktwo]

Will russian maxim belts work in the mg 08-15 maxim? Thanks Jack

[MarkFinneran]

Jack welcome. If I were you i would not bother accumulating anything MG08 and MG08/15 - all rather difficult!!!

(chaps - do you think I have convinced Jack not to start collecting??? !!!!)

Seriously though I like most on the forum also seek bits and pieces so if you have a 'wish' list feel free to share it as most of the forum contributors have some spares. I must also add that the forum contributors on this site are all decent gentlemen - I know this sounds corny - but compared to some other web sites these people are very genuine so a great place to start, especially with the level of expertise here.

Everyone here is so good they could even all be English!

Best regards,
Mark

[dwmmg08]

Will russian maxim belts work in the mg 08-15 maxim? Thanks Jack

They seem like they should, but I haven't done much with them because the rivet holes are too small to run through either loader I have. The vickers brass tab belts are far better, if you can get them, they work extremely well!

(They're "Fuzzy" or easier for the belt shuttle to grab too!- That makes them work even better! )

Glen

[jbaum]

And of course, operator, parts, and stoppage manuals are available in English.

Sorry, couldn't help myself.

[tecktwo]

Well it only took local chief of police nine and one half weeks to sign off my form. Now off to the feds, maybe by Nov with any luck. One can only wait. And no I did not want to go the trust route, however next time? Jack in Henderson Nv.

[Dan@AngolaArmory]

At least you got the CLEO to sign. Here in KY (Allen or Barren Co.), if you make an appointment, its signed while you wait. I had to wait one day once, the chief took a day off. Smiles from all the staff too, like "welcome to the club".
JMHO,
Dan

[Hoffmann]

Will russian maxim belts work in the mg 08-15 maxim? Thanks Jack

I am a little late in responding to this, but I tried using the Russian cloth belts, and for me, the 8mm rounds were not held firmly, and some of the rounds started backing out, causing jambs and other problems. I was told to soak the cloth belts and they would shrink a little and solve the problem, but that didn't work.

Randall

[oprod]

buy .303 brass tabbed( meaning in between the rounds, not the ends of the belts) belts they work well in my gun. the trick is load the belt to the correct length, soak the belt and let it dry again, reforming the material. prior to loading your belt spray a light amount of oil on the rounds(dont use penetrating oil due to primers) reload the belt just prior to shooting. works flawlessly. Some belts you find will hold and release the rounds just fine withour all the shannannigans. You can buy belt reloading tool made from a 50 linker from guitte manufacturing. these are made to index the tabs on the vickers belt.

[DARIVS ARCHITECTVS]

AWESOME advice for the from all our forum members

DRINKS ALL AROUND!

[dwmmg08]

Thank you Darius!!!!! Wow, does that mean you're buying?


These are some great guns, you'll love it! The Russian cloth belts are available, but can lose rounds and are "Slicker" than the .303 type: The .303 brass tab belts are solidly the best belts to get if you can find them. I've never needed to soak them at all, they are quite stiff at first, but if you'll load them and keep using them, get a lot better. Just use common sense, be gentle at first (you'll tear a few spots regardless) and you'll do fine.

You'll love these guns! Send pics when you get it in!

[DARIVS ARCHITECTVS]

Thank you Darius!!!!! Wow, does that mean you're buying?

Show up at next year's Redwing Machinegun Shoot and buy you all a drink. (Even TC)

[dwmmg08]

If we do, will we be allowed to shoot? Or just drink?

[tomcatshaas]

you mean I don't have to pay for my beer anymore