M96 top feed, Stoner 63 belt feed, combine the two?

Armedsask

Armedsask

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Alright, so I've fallen back in love with the Rodarm M96. Eugene Stoner is a genius and the Stoner 63 is amazing.

Anyway, the reason I fell in love with the M96 again is that I have my buddy's rifle right now. We've been wanting to do the top feed system ever since he bought the rifle over 3 years ago. We even set it up in top feed configuration once to try it out. We knew it was an easy project, we just didn't have the tools to do it. Now that I have capacity, we're making a top feed conversion. So far I see no reason we can't re-use all factory iron sights. The only parts I'll have to make are a top cover that holes the factory rear irons offset, and an adapter up front that moves the factory front irons offset and in the right orientation.

Any way, we got talking and thought if we are making the top feed, why not a belt feed? Has anyone here handled or has any knowledge of the Stoner 63 belt fed version? Could a belt feed system be made to work with the M96? I did some internet searching and when the M96 is in top feed mode, it ejects to the left. I can't see that working with the Stoner 63 belt mode of left feeding.

As a note to those who think I am a Robarm hater, I never said that. I dislike the XCR but I love the M96. They never should have dropped it. Hell, an updated Stoner 63/M96 design would have been a better contender for the SCAR trial than the XCR, in my opinion.
 
A couple of things, the M96 sure needed some revisions to get it to work. That said I always wanted one to. Whats the fascination with a belt feed? Wouldnt you still be limited to 5 rounds? As I thought any belts had to be WW2 vintage or earlier, with nothing that small in calibre back then?
 
Apparently I'm retarded and the Stoner 63 is right feed.
USP said:
Whats the fascination with a belt feed? Wouldnt you still be limited to 5 rounds? As I thought any belts had to be WW2 vintage or earlier, with nothing that small in calibre back then?
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It's not so much a question of "is this useful" as a question of "can this be done". I've done a lot of pointless things just for the sake of doing them. The fact that I'm in a country where gun laws are a suggestion is a minor factor.


I hadn't handled an M96 in a number of years and just playing with this one tonight has reminded me why I always liked them. It's a great design. It's hoped Robarm solved all the problems with them and now they have a solid rifle. The only problem now is to get the stupid f**kers to make them again!
 
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If you make a belt/box feeder it would be epic. Even more so if its unrestricted and you take it out in the woods and massacre rodents with it....be sure and strap a camera on your head so we can see to.
 
USP said:
If you make a belt/box feeder it would be epic. Even more so if its unrestricted and you take it out in the woods and massacre rodents with it....be sure and strap a camera on your head so we can see to.
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It will be epic - designing a belt fed system is no easy task. If it is so easy, they would have done it already!
 
The belt fed stonner 63 is a rare bird. I think there are only about 200 that made it out to civi street. The U.S. government has destroyed about 2,700 of them during the past few years. You probably have already read this, but just incase.

http://ww w.allbusiness.com/public-administration/national-security-international/4096497-1.html

An interesting read.
 
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Since the Stoner is close bolt, how does it activate the feed pawls, when it is in the open bolt configuration since the bolt doesn't have any rollers?
 
greentips said:
Since the Stoner is close bolt, how does it activate the feed pawls, when it is in the open bolt configuration since the bolt doesn't have any rollers?
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The end of the bolt carrier has a part with the belt feed roller that flips over 180 degrees and locks the firing pin forward for open bolt operation. The bolt carrier is also notched to engage the sear and the same trigger group works for either open or closed bolt modes. The hammer is actually attached to the magazine well.

The patent drawings here show how the Stoner switches between rifle and MG modes by flipping the receiver over and attaching the appropriate parts.

http://world.guns.ru/assault/as76-e.htm

http://world.guns.ru/machine/mg41-e.htm
 
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