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Posted: 2/12/2003 3:57:14 AM EDT
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what would the possibility of a .50 upper belt fed being made that could mount onto an AR lower? similar to the MG34 upper being produced now. |
Well I'm no engineer, just a radiation physicist, but I'll take a crack at your question. I believe the size of the mechanisms required for a belt fed .50BMG (feed tray, pawl, etc.) would be too bulky to easily fit onto/mate with a AR15 lower receiver. Not saying that it isn't feasible, but with all the .50s out there plus several .50BMG conversions (ie. Ferret50) for the AR15, the market is well saturated. There is even a semi-auto .50BMG belt-fed M2HB made by TNW if you really want to buy a belt-fed .50BMG. |
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Speculating....the upper might able to be constructed with sufficient material around the B/C and with a adequate buffer to handle the semi operation of the 50BMG. I would surmise that the normal deck height could not be kept to observe the huge port and aft feeding of the belt. Now with a researched and proven beefcake 50BMG upper you need to connect it to a two pin STD 5.56 AR lower for semi auto operation. To me, that part is even more questionable. That is just the strength requirements…as the noble Roentgen stated, the feeding mechanism is even a bigger challenge given a wider upper receiver. Rifle technology has been relatively stagnant. Given the addition of hydraulic buffers and stronger receiver alloys you still have to deal with an internal mechanical system to feed the belted rounds reliably. Given the platform, I think this would be difficult. |
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