Viva Arms M1919 Browning

I purchased a used Viva Arms M1919A4 a few weeks ago and got it in and ready for a local Op this past weekend.
Here's my humble opinions of the gun and a few changes that I made that greatly improved it's performance:

First of, the electric box magazine that comes with the gun is in simple terms a piece of garbage and difficult to use when it's mounted on the side of the gun. The feed button is located between the box and the gun's receiver so anyone with hands larger than those of a small child will have a hard time reaching up to press the switch. The magazine is also very week and not consistent in feeding. To remedy this problem I took off the tray that holds on the box magazine. Instead of using the box mag that came with the gun I now use a real period .30cal ammo can with a Classic Army auto-feeding box mag that was originally made for use with the M249. A long section of 7mm diameter, flexible spring connects the CA mag to the guns top-feed hop-up. The CA box mag fits nicely inside the .30cal ammo box along with a large size battery and a 2000rd bottle of extra BBs.

Secondly, the upper part of the receiver will barely allow a stick or mini battery to fit. It's very cramped even with these small size batteries and the chances of pinching or crimping a wire with the top cover is very high. To remedy this I ran an extension wire from the guns plug to a large battery inside the box magazine. Both the BB feed spring and the wire are covered with black, plastic conduit to protect them, keep dirt out and allow a little concealment of them.

Third, When I first received the gun it was only shooting around 230fps with .20g BBs but it turned out that was because the hop-up bucking that Viva Arms uses is tissue paper thin. I replaced it with a JBU hard bucking and the velocity jumped back up to 340 - 350fps with .20g BBs. I shot .23g BBs in it at the event this weekend and it's performance was very impressive in range and accuracy.

Fourth, Viva didn't do a good job of getting the outer diameter of the front cap in mesh with the inner diameter of the outer barrel heat shield. The heat shield is held in place by one screw on the receiver end and by the end cap pressing against it. Since there was a gap between the end cap and the shield the shield wiggled and was off set when the screw was tightened. To fix this I wrapped some electrical tape around the end cap and pressed the heat shroud back on it. No more off set or wiggling problems.

I also added a real A4 hand grip and use a real M2 tripod since I had one that I purchased for another gun a year ago.

Here are a few pictures of my slightly modified and improved .30cal:

The blank ammo belt is just for show when the gun is not on the field. Unfortunately it pinches the BB feed spring too much for it to be used in a game.

Very nice. Would love to own one of them...very good insight in to a flawed gun. Glad you got it sorted!

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Very nice mate, i was looking at ways to improve my feeding of my 30 cal. I have done the same thing as you ,(using a tin and a M249 box) but where did you get the "7mm diameter, flexible spring"? as this would help me improve mine!! Without mashing up some more M249 boxes.

Very nice mate, i was looking at ways to improve my feeding of my 30 cal. I have done the same thing as you ,(using a tin and a M249 box) but where did you get the "7mm diameter, flexible spring"? as this would help me improve mine!! Without mashing up some more M249 boxes.

Think this is what you want. I think this was the tube I used in my PPSh drum mag conversions.

http://www.strutsdirect.co.uk/component ... 91d9112f17

Very nice mate, i was looking at ways to improve my feeding of my 30 cal. I have done the same thing as you ,(using a tin and a M249 box) but where did you get the "7mm diameter, flexible spring"? as this would help me improve mine!! Without mashing up some more M249 boxes.

Stu I have 10 meters of custom made spring for sale. Its been made for my 30 cal's. Get in touch if your in need of some.

Ash (Xsite marshal - so you know who I am)

Cool mate, pm inbound. Thankyou

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I ordered it from an industrial supply company here in the States. I'm sure it's the same thing that Ash is offering.
I recommend slightly stretching the end of the spring that goes into the gun so it holds in place better. Otherwise you'll have the tube vomiting BBs inside the top of the receiver.

Strange no one jumped your ass about not being specific that those were in fact dummy rounds not blanks you in percise twit!

I had a chance this week to incorporate the feed tube and battery wire with the ammo belt. The top two shells had to have holes put in them for the tube and wire. The tube and wire then runs behind the belt down to the ammo box.

Hand filing the holes into the brass was the most difficult part. I used magnets on the back and bottom of the top shell to hold it in place and more magnets in the cloth belt running inside the receiver. The magnets do a good job of holding the belt in place and make installing and removing the belt easy and quick.

Well done that man Hope to have my 30 pictures up soon!

Thank you, sir.

hey i LOVE the work on your M1919! im gonna buy one in a few months too. what parts would you say that need to be changed in the gearbox ect. ?

hey i LOVE the work on your M1919! im gonna buy one in a few months too. what parts would you say that need to be changed in the gearbox ect. ?

This has long stopped being produced, your only chance is to pick one up second hand.

Evike airsoft have them listed but are showing as out of stock? Does that mean that Viva have started making them again?

Probably just not removed them from the list when they sold out, like a lot of airsoft shops seem to do.

hey i LOVE the work on your M1919! im gonna buy one in a few months too. what parts would you say that need to be changed in the gearbox ect. ?

This has long stopped being produced, your only chance is to pick one up second hand.

i live in denmark and i see 2 danish websieds that have em in stock. so hopefully i have the money soon

but is there anyone who knows him?

if so please contact me on facebook - Mathias L. Jørgensen .

First the hop needs changing. It's awful. Have a look at the gears as well and it need to be re shimmed. The wiring is poor and very thin. The mag box is hit and miss so it may need work. Dog company has one and this was the work which needed to be done on it. It's not worth the money to be honest. And unless you really enjoy humping it around or like us stick it on a vehicle, it's a cumbersome weapon which limits your mobility.
Of course, if you really like it then theses are not going to be points which put you off buying one.
Good luck

thanks and i have in mind to use it in airsoft battles and in reenactment so if it wont work then ill just use it as prop

I think what Pat is saying is, the initial cost is not the only thing to consider, to make it a viable skirmishable airsoft gun you may have to put a bit more money in to it, otherwise you might as well buy a Thompson. If you just want a prop Deac 30.Cals are considerably less than the cost of a Viva 30.

the zombie thread..........IT LIVES!

I've a m1917a1 replica that I'm looking at converting to airsoft, what would be the best candidate for working parts etc? the 249 family?

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