Belt feed m14 legality?

GYRO - I would suggest that you see if your library has a copy of "Small Arms of the World", or even better, Chinn's "The Machine Gun". You will be able to learn a lot about belt feed systems. I am not sure that you appreciate how much engineering goes into these.
 
Being a tool and die maker, and an avid fan of all things mechanical, I can tell you that it would be next to impossible to fabricate one on the cheap. I think the saying "Cheap, Fast, Good. Choose Two" applies. Mind you, I would love to see it and may take it in as a project. Push through links would be 10x easier to work with. Anyone want to send me a few? I have the M14 and ammo already :) Make sure they're pre -45
 
I have tried to think of pre-'45 push through links, that MIGHT work with .308, and cannot.
The most common pre-'45 push through systems are the German MG34/42 in 7.92x57(not links, but non-disintegrating belts), and the Soviet Goryunov in 7.62x54R.
 
tiriaq said:
GYRO - I would suggest that you see if your library has a copy of "Small Arms of the World", or even better, Chinn's "The Machine Gun". You will be able to learn a lot about belt feed systems. I am not sure that you appreciate how much engineering goes into these.
Click to expand...

I may look it up when i have time. I think i would be interested. After all i am in a course for aerospace engineering right now. ;)

Ghostsaww said:
Being a tool and die maker, and an avid fan of all things mechanical, I can tell you that it would be next to impossible to fabricate one on the cheap. I think the saying "Cheap, Fast, Good. Choose Two" applies. Mind you, I would love to see it and may take it in as a project. Push through links would be 10x easier to work with. Anyone want to send me a few? I have the M14 and ammo already :) Make sure they're pre -45
Click to expand...

So if you saying I did manage to get it to work eventually you would try to mass produce them, then split the profits? Sounds pretty darn good to me! :eek:

tiriaq said:
I have tried to think of pre-'45 push through links, that MIGHT work with .308, and cannot.
The most common pre-'45 push through systems are the German MG34/42 in 7.92x57(not links, but non-disintegrating belts), and the Soviet Goryunov in 7.62x54R.
Click to expand...

I just looked at the mg 34/42 belts and thought if those worked with .308 they would be the best bet to work. I looked up the case dimensions on wikipedia, and the important parts are pretty darn close.
I don't think that the slight difference would make much if any difference if .308 ammo was loaded up on a mg34/42 belt. Anyone have the ammo and the mentioned belt/links want to give it a try to see if it could work?
 
Also if a factory m14 magazine neutered and used as the main frame of the adapter, could that not somehow make it have a limit of 5 rounds or since it was butchered would it no longer be a magazine?

Gotta try to cover all the little slips in the laws that could be used against someone making this kind of thing. ;)
 
TIRIAQ;
You raise some interesting points
In the case of the 1919a4 the fabric belt works with the .30-06, 8mm Mauser and 7.62xnato, in both SA and FA versions.
But the same gun is very fussy when using links, it will only function coreectly when the proper links are used.

The Mg-34 and Mg42 in 7.62 nato work just fine with the original non-disintagrating belts, later conversions (H&K) require the use of M-60 type links....

"Soviet Goryunov in 7.62x54R." Is not a push through sysytem (rimmed case).

However it should be noted that according to the CFC a magazine is defined as a device that holds a cartridge, therefore how can we deem certain individual links as "prohibited" ?
Do they become prohibited when you assemble them ??
Regards John
 
GYRO 101;
I agree 100% with TIRIAQ, if you really have an interest in automatic weapons, by all means read the Chinn series of books, they are the "Bible" when it comes to this subject.

ALthough long ago out of print you should be able to locate a set for between $1 & $2,000.oo.... A signed set will brng a premium.

As for a "modified" mag I would suggest you approach this with great care, there are many gray areas in the regs and they will change shortly to include the mag housing....

Good luck with your project,
John
 
johnone said:
TIRIAQ;
You raise some interesting points
In the case of the 1919a4 the fabric belt works with the .30-06, 8mm Mauser and 7.62xnato, in both SA and FA versions.
But the same gun is very fussy when using links, it will only function coreectly when the proper links are used.

The Mg-34 and Mg42 in 7.62 nato work just fine with the original non-disintagrating belts, later conversions (H&K) require the use of M-60 type links....

"Soviet Goryunov in 7.62x54R." Is not a push through sysytem (rimmed case).

However it should be noted that according to the CFC a magazine is defined as a device that holds a cartridge, therefore how can we deem certain individual links as "prohibited" ?
Do they become prohibited when you assemble them ??
Regards John
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info.

I think links designed after 1945 become prohibited when they are assembled to hold more than five rounds.
it doesn't make much sense, but then again when have our firearms laws ever?
 
Gyro101,

I'd suggest buying yourself a belt-fed gun that's already operational and using that as a basis for your examinations.

Having a working one to compare against your ideas is a good idea, and will give you a better idea of the capabilities/limitations of your ideas.

Building a belt-fed is not for the faint of heart.

NS
 
NAVY SHOOTER;
I agree 10000000000%
Having designed several over the years it is only for people who have no other way to punish themselves and enjoy mental (sometime physical) pain....

Much easier to desigh a FA rather then a SA..

Check my latest toy coming soon.....

John
 
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How about taking a AR-10 and modifying it to be a belt fed. You can ruin a lower or 2 and not sweat ruining the whole gun like with a M14. Plus if you can track down the original AR-10's drawings it will tell you what you need to do.

Dimitri
 
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