I'm thinking of picking up a beltfed as my second MG.  I've had an FN FNC with a sear for about 6 years or so as my first MG, and since then have been considering getting a beltfed MG.  I had never really considered a 1919 heavily, but went to a an MG shoot this past weekend and saw a few being shot and it really piqued my interest in them.

For the longest time I had lusted over an M60 or other more modern belt fed, but realistically that is out of my budget range.  I had seriously been considering picking up a Frankford Arsenal M16 lower and an Ares Fight Lite upper, and then sort of lost interest.  I wish I had picked one up a few years ago when I was seriously considering it, as M16 lowers have gone up pretty substantially since then.  I think one of the reasons I never really pulled the trigger was that I wanted a legitimate belt fed machinegun, and I felt like the Shrike is more of a belt fed assault rifle, not a true belt fed MG.

I know the obvious answer is sell the FNC, buy an M16 lower and a Ares upper, and save up a little more and buy a 1919.  I really don't want to sell the FNC. I like oddball 5.56 rifles and if sold the FNC I'd want to have a semi one in my collection, and they have gotten hard to find and are expensive.

Does anyone have any thoughts on the Shrike/Fight Lite versus the 1919.  I know they are really completely different animals.  I feel like the 1919 is more of a bona fide medium machine gun, vs the Shrike being more of a range toy.  I know ammo 7.62 is about twice the cost of 5.56, but I don't think that will be much of a factor for me as I don't plan on shooting whichever I get a ton.   It looks like the 1919s can be had for around the $21-23K, whereas M16 lowers are going for the high $20s-30s depending and around $6K for the upper, so the 1919 is a good bit cheaper investment.  

1919 does weight a few pounds.  While not too unwieldly, you would be more likely to take the M16/Shrike to the range more often.

It is also likely that after the novelty of the Shrike wears off, you throw a standard upper on the M16 lower and shoot it even more.

So. . . get both.

Cost of ammo would make me buy the Ares and don’t sell the FNC ever.

With the 1919 you have multiple choices of calibers to shoot.

30.06
7.62 NATO
7.62x54r
7.62x39
8mm

Find an am 180 or razorback 22 lr upper.
M16 is never a bad choice.

The 1919 doesn’t appreciate the way the M16 does. If you’ve always wanted an M16, I say buy that now. Skip the Shrike and put the money toward a 1919 in the future.

I have all of the beltfeds you mentioned, a 1919A4, a Shrike with an M16, an M60 as well as a HK21E/23E, MM21EK/23K, and an FM9.  I also have the FNC as well.

If forced to pick between the 1919 and Shrike+M16 I would keep the Shrike+M16.

Sure the 1919 is more of a "real" machinegun but that also comes with a cost.  The gun is big and heavy, generally requires a tripod and T&E, in standard form shoots a round (30.06 or 308) that is twice as expensive as 5.56.   In my experience this all translates into the 1919 getting shot less frequently as it a lot more of a commitment to take somewhere and shoot vs. the Shrike.

The M16 (outside of the Shrike) is one of the top three most versatile machineguns you can own.  So when you don't want a 5.56 beltfed it can be a standard M16, a short barrel M4,  a 22lr machinegun, a 9mm submachinegun, a 9mm beltfed, a AM180 drum machinegun, etc.   In contrast a 1919 is always going to be a 1919.

Where the 1919 shines for me is when you are taking it to a big machinegun shoot and you want a big heavy workhorse to fire thousands of rounds every day with minimal fuss.  In that situation the trouble to haul a 30lbs machinegun in a 20lbs pelican, plus 30lbs worth of  tripod and support gear/parts, plus 50+lbs worth of ammo etc. makes it worth it for an all day event to ultimately take a 150+lbs of stuff to the range for one gun.    I virtually never take my 1919 out for a quick afternoon trip to the range and I even have mine set up in 7.62x39 so I can shoot cheaper ammo all day at roughly half the cost of 30.06 or 308.

The Shrike is much more dynamic shooting as it not fixed on a tripod and is pretty much to me like a belt-fed M4.  It fits in a standard soft rifle case, doesn't need a tripod, T&E, weights less than 10lbs, etc.  However, a Shrike isn't going to last as long from a round count perspective as I don't see a Shrike upper receiver going 100K+ rounds like a 1919A4 is able to do.  Shrike parts are also a lot more expensive than 1919 parts/barrels so if this is going to be a high volume shooter than maybe the 1919 makes more sense from a lifespan and spare parts/barrel perspective.

The Shrike and even more so the M16 lower is just so much more practical shooter than the 1919 in most situations.  I personally also prefer shoulder fired or bipod guns vs. sitting behind fixed guns mounted on a tripod.   However again that is just personal preference.

Ultimately for you its going to probably come down to your use case and preference.

If you are more into big all day or all weekend shoots, the 1919 is probably a better option, especially when paired with a x39 kit to make it more on par with the Shrike from an ammo cost perspective.  If you are more of a quick afternoon range trip person the 1919 probably isn't the best choice and is going to quickly wear on you dragging it and all its associated equipment to the range for a couple hour session.

Hope this helps.

My personal 1919 at last springs Big Sandy shoot.

Since you mentioned 1919, how about a MG08?
Cheaper than a 1919, and you know it will outlast you.  If you're setting up a tripod, you're setting up a tripod.

That video looks familiar :)
As mentioned, I think the Shrike is just a range toy...but isn't almost everything in this MG forum?

I personally like shoulder fired MG's and don't want to deal with dragging a tripod around.

Most Shrikes / MCR's run around 1000 RPM which is way to fast but they can be tuned.

In my video below, I have mine running under 600RPM.


I really like to tinker and the M16 is the ultimate when it comes to tinkering.

Missed my chance at a minty M60 at 45K a few years ago.
Doh !
I too would like a belt fed but the Fightlite upper just makes so much sense. I have two registered lowers so can keep one with the beltfed and swap out the other.
My fave round for the M16 is the Russian 5.45 because it is (was) so cheap.
It would be nice if Fightlite would make a 5.45 or a 7.62x39 upper. Cant be that hard.
By far the cheapest and almost most fun upper is a dedicated .22 with the 50 round drum.
M16s are FINALLY starting to be appreciated as far as $$$$

Thanks for all the replies and great insight.  Lots of good things to think about.  I'm still torn as to which way to go, but I have a little time to think about it as I'm waiting on a few checks to come in businesswise that will be funding this purchase.

We have 4 or 5 1919's - one of them has a REALLY short barrel that makes it fun to shoot at night, otherwise the longer barrel guns aren't all that fun to shoot.

I would pick a hand held over a belt fed on a tripod for the shooting experience.

We do have a sling mounted 1919 that is fun, but we don't generally rent it out

M16s are at the top of the heap for a reason. Although it sounds like you are wedded to your FNC, I’d suggest selling it (especially because you let go of your spare) to fund an M16 before prices climb higher and then save for the 1919.

booger - i bet that would be quite the flame thrower

We have an SG 43 in 54r that runs well, but I like the 1919 better

Mike just finished up a couple mg42's and a Breda i need to shoot yet

Came to post about the little known .22 kit for the 1919.  It's always a crowd pleaser and turns heads when I pull out the 30lb GPMG, tripod, etc, and then run 22lr bulk pack through it all day.  

The 1919 is a true crew served weapon.  As others have said before, it's 30lbs, plus bipod (the izzy a6 kit is an easy fix for this but weighs more, also the true a6 actually weighs a little more than the a4) / tripod, T&E, I'd recommend one of the aftermarket mounts that holds ammo cans to catch brass and links (or belts), etc.  All this isn't really conducive to just taking it to the range on a whim.

My fightlight runs beautifully.  Exceeded my expectations.

If you pick up a M16 I bet you will find your self shooting that FNC a lot less. You really like it but that’s because it’s your only MG. I think an M16 can really cover all your needs in one package. I have yet to pick up a MCR upper for it but will one of these days.

I have a ARES Shrike and my dad has a 1919. We hardly ever shoot the 1919, but it looks cool. The Shrike is just way more practical. Ammo is cheaper and a lot easier to load the belts. The gun is way lighter and easier to take to the range. Not to mention if you have a M16 lower then you get full-auto fun!! Like a belt-fed should be

Years ago, I was asking myself this exact question. I ended up with a M16 RR and a XMG from BRP (mg34 upper that fits an AR15/M16 lower)

then the ATF fucked me with a letter saying I couldn't do that anymore.

FATF!

My vote is for keeping the FNC and taking out a second mortgage for the M16 and Shrike.....All that versatility in the M16 is worth the extra cost.

Did OP end up making a decision yet?

Looks like Hernando MG shoot.

My vote is 1919 all day long. There’s tons of accessories to collect, spare parts are available and it’s a true historical war-winning crew served belt fed machine gun. My dad has a Ramo 1919 and shooting it just never gets old. Paying for ammo does but that’s another story.

The M-16 is a great choice too and yes, you will take it to the range more often. I just like being able to sit behind a tripod mounted belt fed and put rounds down range exactly where I want them. So cool.

Both are appreciating quickly these days and yes, the M-16 will continue appreciating more rapidly than a 1919. Really, it comes to personal preference.

Dbl tap

I kind of want a Vickers gun, but 303 might be a bit of a pain going forward

Video: (next time need a bucket and some weight on the front to hold it down, but worked just fine)
https://youtube.com/shorts/wCTakHUIlOI?feature=share