Getting my SOT this year. Figure I’d grab a belt fed but I want something I don’t have to cut up or sell when I relinquish the SOT down the road. Yes I know about pre-May dealer samples. I’m specifically looking sir something in can return to semi auto. I’m excluding the Ares/Fightlight upper as I’ve not heard of a single person who has got one to run well out of the box without dicking with links of having a voodoo witch doctor sprinkle the ashes of a mummy onto it.

That said…I’m primarily looking at the FN M249S and the MM21/23E. HDD makes/made a carrier and grip/trigger assembly that converts a 249S to an open bolt without modifications to the receiver. And obviously a postie HK trigger pack is easy enough. Am I missing any other options?

Bren
Rpd
Uzi
Prolly a few others can have registered bolts

You already named the first belt-fed options that came to mind.  The MM (Michael's Machines) belt feds have run great for me (with sear).  Any options to convert a semi-auto 1919?

1919
M2HB
240
249
21e/23e
UKM/uk59
PKM
RPD


All of the above in semi can be converted to FA using a conversion device, with the rifle remaining a semiauto host.

I know you mentioned post May but Why not get a pre May?

This just wasn't our experience.  Yes, it did take a little bit of buffer experimentation (solved on first range trip), but after that it ran well.  Did not stretch or lube the links.

+1.  I have a Gen 1 Shrike.  I don't stretch or lube links.  Mine has run great.

Just ran a friend’s Ares MCR on a transferable Colt lower. It ran new linked m193 without a hiccup. He’s been very pleased. It’s an example of one, by no means a statistically significant sample.

I wouldn’t hesitate to own one to use on a post sample lower.

As mentioned, 1919, M2 and RPD are east to create conversion devices for.

RPD is harder these days due to a lack of bolt carriers and FCG sections.

Of course it is your choice, but I need to ask, you are aware that if you are giving up your SOT, you can sell your Post Samples without a demo letter from the buyer right? It seems to me that the no love letter required Post Samples seem to be selling for decent money. There are those SOTs that are dealers because they don't want to deal with manufacturing requirements that seem to be willing to pay good money for such guns. That just seems like a win/win for both the buyer and the seller. I mean no offense, just asking.

Scott

He can "get both" since he can sell the registered post sample MG conversion devices on GunBroker when he's not renewing the SOT and keep the guns (as semi-autos) by reinstalling their original semi parts.

Probably because pre-may beltfeds are extremely expensive, when you can find them.
As an example, the last pre-may M249 I saw, the seller was asking $60k, if I remember right.
And you can get a semi 249 for $10k.
I have never seen a pre-sample M60, but I wouldn't expect one (if one did pop up) to be less than $30k. I figure a 07 could build a postie for $10k.

With the cost of transferables being what they are right now, a large number of people who want the fun stuff without the deep pockets to afford it are just getting a SOT  license for the sole purpose of acquiring "keepers". These same individuals, if they go the 07 route, are using the loophole ability to sell posties without a LE letter as a way to fund the pre-samples by making and then selling off all of their posties when they decide to drop their license.

I have a strong feeling that will soon come to an end. The AFT isn't dumb. They can see what people are doing and will probably end the "no letter" exemption soon. Then a lot of guys are going to loose a lot of $$ on large stockpiles of posties that they will, at best, have to cut up and sell for parts.