Is anyone shooting an MG08/15?

[Cassidy]

I just got my Form 4 approved for a 1917 Erfurt MG08/15.

It came with a drum and 250 round cloth belt. I do not have a loader, So I picked up some Turk aluminum belts from IMA. They can be loaded by hand and are supposed to work in the 08/15? I need to clean the belts a bit. A friend told me to spray down the links with silicon?

I have the book the Devils Paint Brush, and have been reading it.

Does anyone have any recommendations for ammo, belts, or pare parts.

Any tips on shooting it and keeping it running. are appreciated.

I also got the repro water/condensation can for range use. I will keep looking for a correct original for display. I may camo paint the repro, need to research the correct paint colors and scheme to use.

[Ben LeFever]

Good luck with your maxim. I have owned several and they are amazing historical contraptions! I had good luck with the Turkish aluminum belts. They are easy to load by hand and rounds go in the pockets to the right depth each time, something that is difficult with canvas belts. An issue with the Turkish belts is that they twist easily and can jam up if not fed straight into the feed block. The Turks were aware of this and developed a feed tray chute to keep the belt stabilized on the way in. The chute trays would clip onto a belt drum hanger. I had one with my 08/15 and it was great. My tray was 40s dated and IMA used to offer them.
Aside from that my 08/15 would eat the steel case Romanian 8mm like candy. Other surplus 8mm that I had good luck with was brass case Portuguese. Yugo 8mm was often an issue due to harder primers. The maxim locks have weaker firing pin springs than later designs.
Have fun with it. To get one chugging up to a full boil with steam puffing is really a great experience
Ben

[Cassidy]

Mgo8/15

Thanks for the advice, I have two Turkish belts cleaned and ready to go. Yesterday, I picked up a German 500 Round camouflaged can waffenamt marked made in 1938. It is in such nice condition, I will just keep that for display. I have a second drum on the way for range use that was repainted.

I did a search for that Turkish feed tray and had no luck. If I cut a Turkish aluminum belt down to 100 rounds would it feed Better out of the drum?