1918 Belt Loader Instructions

John Browning's machine guns, the M1917 and M1919, were the standard automatic fire weapons of the U.S. infantry during World War I and World War II. The bulky water-cooled Browning M1917 saw limited use due to the necessity to carry a water supply along with it. Developed in 1919, the lighter air-cooled Browning M1919 first saw sustained combat in World War II and is still in use today. The .30 caliber cartridges for both variants were fed into the firing mechanism on 250-round fabric belts. The heavy, woven cloth belts were dispensed from metal ammo boxes into the gun's receiver in a left to right direction. Throughout World War I and well into World War II, the fabric belts were loaded by troops in the field using the Browning 1918 belt loader.

Instructions

    • 1

      Secure the belt loader to a table or bench. Rotate the loading crank until it is in the straight down (6 o' clock) position.

    • 2

      Locate the spring tension hook on the lower right side of the loader and release it.

    • 3

      Lift up the upper feed wheel to the limit of its travel.

    • 4

      Moving the belt guide cover to the right to allow room to thread the belt.

    • 5

      Pivot the upper needle bar all the way up.

    • 6

      Slip two cartridges of .30 caliber ammunition into the first two loops on the belt. Observe the black thread running though the belt and insert the cartridges from that side of the belt only.

    • 7

      Thread the the belt into the loader until the first cartridge is positioned in the top groove of the lower feed wheel and the leading end of the belt passes through the belt guide and out the back of the machine.

    • 8

      Move the belt guide cover back to its original position covering the belt guide. Pivot the needle bar back down as far as it will go.

    • 9

      Lower the upper feed wheel down into contact with the belt. Engage the spring tension hook to secure the feed wheel.

    • 10

      Stack .30 caliber ammunition in the feed guide. Position an ammunition box within two feet of the output of the belt guide to accept the loaded belt.

    • 11

      Rotate the loading crank in a clockwise direction to load ammunition cartridges into the belt.