Looking for an animation or video of a belt fed action

[aarondhgraham]

An undergrad wo I work with asked me how the action on a cloth-belt fed machine gun works.

I had to tell him I have no idea.

Does anyone know of a video or animation that would show how they work.

I did try and search for one,,,
But my Google-Fu is not strong today.

Aarond

.

 

[Brian Pfleuger]

Don't know if this is correct or detailed enough but:

http://science.howstuffworks.com/machine-gun9.htm

 

[2damnold4this]

I'm no expert but it's my understanding that on machine guns like the MG42, the bolt pushes the cartridge out of the belt and into the chamber. The action of the bolt assembly moving back and forth advances the belt. To get an MG42 ready to fire, you pull the bolt back to lock it, open the top cover and lay the belt in. Here is a video of the M60 which uses a close copy of the MG42's feeding system.

On older machine guns like the Maxim, I think the cartridge is pulled out of the back of the belt, dropped down and then pushed into the chamber. You have an extra action to get that style of MG ready to go but it's been a long time since I shot either style.

edit to add: About nine and one half minutes into the video they have a big clear plastic model they use to show how the m60 works.

 

[SDC]

Here's a very good one of the Browning M2 (which works the same whether you use cloth belts or disintegrating links), but this process can change slightly depending on which specific model is being discussed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70U3LFPM1Tk