Is there a good belt fed 5.56 rifle available for civilian purchase?

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Is there a good belt fed 5.56 rifle available for civilian purchase?

Posted: 9/8/2010 6:10:26 PM EDT

I'd love to have something like a 249 in semi-auto only. Is there such an animal? If not, is there another option in 5.56? I've found a some in .308 and .30-06 but they are too expensive to feed in a belt fed package.

Posted: 9/8/2010 6:15:44 PM EDT

[#1]

MGW makes a M249 clone. Takes an HK trigger pack, they run $15,600. I've never shot one.

Shrike beltfed upper for the AR. Works well. Runs around $7-$9k for the upper.

MM23E-pretty much as close to a real HK23E as you can get. This one is neat because you can get a conversion kit from Mike to make it into a .308 later on if you want, and you can use an HK trigger pack or sear to make it a full auto later on if you want. You can do that with the Shrike if you buy a DIAS or RR. No full auto on the MGW.

I know of another M249 semi clone, but I'm not sure who made them, or what they ran. I've seen them come up for sale before.

Posted: 9/9/2010 11:20:39 AM EDT

[#2]

There's another new M16/AR15 belt fed that is a clone of the Ceiner conversions.. Requires moding the upper and lower.

Posted: 9/9/2010 11:25:02 AM EDT

[#3]

If you're worried about ammo cost than belt fed is not for you.

Posted: 9/9/2010 12:09:07 PM EDT

[#4]

http://machinegunarmory.com/mk46saw.html

http://store.desertord.com/index.php?product=SASAWM249C

Neither are cheap.

Posted: 9/9/2010 12:50:50 PM EDT

[#5]

not in 223 but i REALLLY like my semi rdp.

and they are MUCH cheaper

Posted: 9/9/2010 2:12:08 PM EDT

[#6]

Why not a semi 1919 or mg42? They arent THAT expensive. I have a 1919 myself, converted it to 54R and its great

Posted: 9/9/2010 3:35:22 PM EDT

[#7]

Quoted:
There's another new M16/AR15 belt fed that is a clone of the Ceiner conversions.. Requires moding the upper and lower.

Yeah, I forgot about them. It'll remain to be seen how they turn out. Supposedly they are joining here, so we might hear about them some more.

Posted: 9/9/2010 4:05:00 PM EDT

[#8]

Quoted:
Why not a semi 1919 or mg42? They arent THAT expensive. I have a 1919 myself, converted it to 54R and its great

i have a 1919 as well and while it's darn close to sex, it's really a crew served gun to get to the range. heavy as hell itself and then toss in the tripod and ammo it's gets to be a lot of gear.

as much as i love it the rpd really is more portable and as much fun.

there are several beltfed semi's out there for under 2k if your not dead set on a .223/.308 and can live with a combloc style build.

Posted: 9/9/2010 5:14:34 PM EDT

[#9]

can you IM me about who sales the rdp?

I know wiselite makes them.. seen an old gunbroker one for 3,000.

Any new ones hitting the stores yet?

Posted: 9/9/2010 7:55:42 PM EDT

[#10]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Why not a semi 1919 or mg42? They arent THAT expensive. I have a 1919 myself, converted it to 54R and its great

i have a 1919 as well and while it's darn close to sex, it's really a crew served gun to get to the range. heavy as hell itself and then toss in the tripod and ammo it's gets to be a lot of gear.

as much as i love it the rpd really is more portable and as much fun.

there are several beltfed semi's out there for under 2k if your not dead set on a .223/.308 and can live with a combloc style build.

True, but he did ask for a 5.56........

Posted: 9/9/2010 7:56:25 PM EDT

[#11]

Quoted:
can you IM me about who sales the rdp?

I know wiselite makes them.. seen an old gunbroker one for 3,000.

Any new ones hitting the stores yet?

I know vector made a couple, and malpar arms. I think mal par is done with them though. I don't know if they plan on making any more. Or was mal par the PKM?

Posted: 9/9/2010 8:36:02 PM EDT

[#12]

Quoted:

Quoted:
can you IM me about who sales the rdp?

I know wiselite makes them.. seen an old gunbroker one for 3,000.

Any new ones hitting the stores yet?

I know vector made a couple, and malpar arms. I think mal par is done with them though. I don't know if they plan on making any more. Or was mal par the PKM?

You are thinking of Mar Col Mar, and that was the PKM.

Vector made them, Wiselite made them, Project Guns makes them, and rumor has it DS Arms may be making them soon.

Posted: 9/10/2010 3:16:15 AM EDT

[#13]

What's your budget? $8.5k will net you a shrike upper.

Posted: 9/10/2010 3:41:41 AM EDT

[#14]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Why not a semi 1919 or mg42? They arent THAT expensive. I have a 1919 myself, converted it to 54R and its great

i have a 1919 as well and while it's darn close to sex, it's really a crew served gun to get to the range. heavy as hell itself and then toss in the tripod and ammo it's gets to be a lot of gear.

as much as i love it the rpd really is more portable and as much fun.

there are several beltfed semi's out there for under 2k if your not dead set on a .223/.308 and can live with a combloc style build.

True, but he did ask for a 5.56........

actually from his post i gathered that was only due to ammo costs. 762x39 ain't that expensive

Posted: 9/10/2010 6:33:59 AM EDT

[#15]

Quoted:
What's your budget? $8.5k will net you a shrike upper.

I don't have a specific budget in mind as I'm relatively unfamiliar with the weapons themselves and didn't know what was normal. I do know that if I had $15000 to spend I would get an M16, not a belt fed semi-auto so anything that expensive is out.

How reliable is the Shrike? Who sells them? I've only read a couple things about it and it has been a while.

Posted: 9/10/2010 6:37:07 AM EDT

[#16]

Quoted:

Quoted:
What's your budget? $8.5k will net you a shrike upper.

I don't have a specific budget in mind as I'm relatively unfamiliar with the weapons themselves and didn't know what was normal. I do know that if I had $15000 to spend I would get an M16, not a belt fed semi-auto so anything that expensive is out.

How reliable is the Shrike? Who sells them? I've only read a couple things about it and it has been a while.

You'll have to check around Sturm and Subguns. I haven't had any personal exxpirience with them. From what I gather they're pretty reliable, but you can't find them without some work.

Ares Defense now has a forum in the industry section if you think of going that way.

Posted: 9/10/2010 6:38:48 AM EDT

[#17]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Why not a semi 1919 or mg42? They arent THAT expensive. I have a 1919 myself, converted it to 54R and its great

i have a 1919 as well and while it's darn close to sex, it's really a crew served gun to get to the range. heavy as hell itself and then toss in the tripod and ammo it's gets to be a lot of gear.

as much as i love it the rpd really is more portable and as much fun.

there are several beltfed semi's out there for under 2k if your not dead set on a .223/.308 and can live with a combloc style build.

True, but he did ask for a 5.56........

actually from his post i gathered that was only due to ammo costs. 762x39 ain't that expensive

You are correct, a 7.62x39 belt fed would fit my needs. Basically I want something that shoots the cheap bulk ammo that I keep several thousand rounds in stock for anyway. For .308 I handload mostly for precision shooting so I wouldn't burn that up in a belt fed but I keep alot of 5.56x45 and 7.62x39 mil surplus around so either would do.

Posted: 9/10/2010 7:05:42 AM EDT

[#18]

How about a semi-PKM? Isn't 7.62x54R cheap?

Posted: 9/10/2010 7:32:09 AM EDT

[#19]

I always figured Beta mags were equal to 100-round belts

Posted: 9/10/2010 8:16:00 AM EDT

[#20]

Quoted:

Quoted:
What's your budget? $8.5k will net you a shrike upper.

I don't have a specific budget in mind as I'm relatively unfamiliar with the weapons themselves and didn't know what was normal. I do know that if I had $15000 to spend I would get an M16, not a belt fed semi-auto so anything that expensive is out.

How reliable is the Shrike? Who sells them? I've only read a couple things about it and it has been a while.

The shrike is cool. I've had two now. They are need to be broken in, but once you do that, I've yet to have any issues. The quick change barrel is nice if you do alot of shooting. Plus it can go on any AR, and if you ever did step up to the M16, it would work just fine. Links are cheap, belt boxes are easy to find.

Posted: 9/10/2010 9:49:26 AM EDT

[#21]

Quoted:
How about a semi-PKM? Isn't 7.62x54R cheap?

7.62x54R is cheap but I don't have anything else that shoots it so I don't keep tons of it around like I do with 5.56 a nd 7.62x39. I won't rule it out entirely, but I would prefer one of the other two calibers.

Posted: 9/10/2010 10:14:37 AM EDT

[#22]

This is from the front page of DSArms website, so I think it is a done deal now;

We'll see. MSRP 2100.00

Doc

Posted: 9/10/2010 11:29:06 AM EDT

[#23]

Quoted:
This is from the front page of DSArms website, so I think it is a done deal now;

http://www.dsarms.com/images/RPD-HP.gif

We'll see. MSRP 2100.00

Doc

I would love an RPD, but I wish there was something I could make it go full auto with. Some sort of trigger pack, sear, something. Beltfed semi is like getting to take the prom queen home with you, but she passes out before anything can happen.

Posted: 9/10/2010 11:44:35 AM EDT

[#24]

I think 5.56mm is about the only caliber that you can't get an inexpensive belt fed in right now.

If you want 7.62x39, 7.62x51, 8mm, or 7.62x54r, you are good to go, but 5.56 is gonna be tough.

Posted: 9/10/2010 11:51:26 AM EDT

[#25]

Quoted:

Quoted:
This is from the front page of DSArms website, so I think it is a done deal now;

http://www.dsarms.com/images/RPD-HP.gif

We'll see. MSRP 2100.00

Doc

I would love an RPD, but I wish there was something I could make it go full auto with. Some sort of trigger pack, sear, something. Beltfed semi is like getting to take the prom queen home with you, but she passes out before anything can happen.

youd be surprised

Posted: 9/10/2010 2:49:48 PM EDT

[#26]

Quoted:

Quoted:
This is from the front page of DSArms website, so I think it is a done deal now;

http://www.dsarms.com/images/RPD-HP.gif

We'll see. MSRP 2100.00

Doc

I would love an RPD, but I wish there was something I could make it go full auto with. Some sort of trigger pack, sear, something. Beltfed semi is like getting to take the prom queen home with you, but she passes out before anything can happen.

youd be surprised

At what? How much fun a beltfed can be in semi? Or the prom queen is after passing out?

Posted: 9/10/2010 5:05:12 PM EDT

[#27]

I want a hk23 in 545x39

18 dollar belts, mmmm me likey.

My 21 is awesome and the quick change barrel is one of the best designs IMO. a SBR quick change F/A cheap beltfed that would be the tits

Posted: 9/10/2010 5:19:27 PM EDT

[#28]

Quoted:
I want a hk23 in 545x39

18 dollar belts, mmmm me likey.

My 21 is awesome and the quick change barrel is one of the best designs IMO. a SBR quick change F/A cheap beltfed that would be the tits

Don't even tempt me. I'd be all over that.

Posted: 9/10/2010 5:30:15 PM EDT

[#29]

Quoted:

Quoted:
This is from the front page of DSArms website, so I think it is a done deal now;

http://www.dsarms.com/images/RPD-HP.gif

We'll see. MSRP 2100.00

Doc

I would love an RPD, but I wish there was something I could make it go full auto with. Some sort of trigger pack, sear, something. Beltfed semi is like getting to take the prom queen home with you, but she passes out before anything can happen.

youd be surprised

At what? How much fun a beltfed can be in semi? Or the prom queen is after passing out?

ever shot one?

Posted: 9/11/2010 5:55:45 AM EDT

[#30]

I'd love a beltfed semi, not having to reload that RPD until 100 rounds or more have been expended.

Posted: 9/11/2010 6:32:13 AM EDT

[#31]

What does the RPD weigh?

Posted: 9/11/2010 6:57:04 AM EDT

[#32]

Quoted:

Quoted:
This is from the front page of DSArms website, so I think it is a done deal now;

http://www.dsarms.com/images/RPD-HP.gif

We'll see. MSRP 2100.00

Doc

I would love an RPD, but I wish there was something I could make it go full auto with. Some sort of trigger pack, sear, something. Beltfed semi is like getting to take the prom queen home with you, but she passes out before anything can happen.

youd be surprised

At what? How much fun a beltfed can be in semi? Or the prom queen is after passing out?

ever shot one?

The only semi belt fed I've shot was a 1919. Maybe it was because I was just sitting behind the gun on a tripod, but it got pretty old very quickly. I could see how the RPD could be more fun, I wouldn't mind running some of the local shoot courses with a beltfed like that. But I still think the fun switch would make it better.

Posted: 9/11/2010 7:54:46 PM EDT

[#33]

How about the http://www.lakesideguns.com/ 22LR belt fed upper?

Posted: 9/12/2010 6:04:07 AM EDT

[#34]

Quoted:

Quoted:
This is from the front page of DSArms website, so I think it is a done deal now;

http://www.dsarms.com/images/RPD-HP.gif

We'll see. MSRP 2100.00

Doc

I would love an RPD, but I wish there was something I could make it go full auto with. Some sort of trigger pack, sear, something. Beltfed semi is like getting to take the prom queen home with you, but she passes out before anything can happen.

youd be surprised

At what? How much fun a beltfed can be in semi? Or the prom queen is after passing out?

ever shot one?

The only semi belt fed I've shot was a 1919. Maybe it was because I was just sitting behind the gun on a tripod, but it got pretty old very quickly. I could see how the RPD could be more fun, I wouldn't mind running some of the local shoot courses with a beltfed like that. But I still think the fun switch would make it better.

i have shot a course with it and it was awesome. the 1919 can get a bit boring depending on what your doing. locked down pulling the trigger ...meh
freewheeling on the tripod engaging multiple targets and various ranges as fast as you can pull the trigger = WOOD!

the rpd unloaded is around 19lbs IIRC

Posted: 9/12/2010 9:00:29 AM EDT

[#35]

Quoted:

Quoted:

Why not a semi 1919 or mg42? They arent THAT expensive. I have a 1919 myself, converted it to 54R and its great

i have a 1919 as well and while it's darn close to sex, it's really a crew served gun to get to the range. heavy as hell itself and then toss in the tripod and ammo it's gets to be a lot of gear.

as much as i love it the rpd really is more portable and as much fun.

there are several beltfed semi's out there for under 2k if your not dead set on a .223/.308 and can live with a combloc style build.

This is why i have it on a bipod with a shoulder stock instead of a tripod :) I cant fit it all into a hardcase, pull it right out and shoot it

Posted: 9/12/2010 2:29:31 PM EDT

[#36]

I like my Drum better, and its a helleva easier to load

FREE

Quoted:

I'd love a beltfed semi, not having to reload that RPD until 100 rounds or more have been expended.

Posted: 9/12/2010 8:21:08 PM EDT

[#37]

Quoted:

Quoted:
This is from the front page of DSArms website, so I think it is a done deal now;

http://www.dsarms.com/images/RPD-HP.gif

We'll see. MSRP 2100.00

Doc

I would love an RPD, but I wish there was something I could make it go full auto with. Some sort of trigger pack, sear, something. Beltfed semi is like getting to take the prom queen home with you, but she passes out before anything can happen.

youd be surprised

At what? How much fun a beltfed can be in semi? Or the prom queen is after passing out?

ever shot one?

The only semi belt fed I've shot was a 1919. Maybe it was because I was just sitting behind the gun on a tripod, but it got pretty old very quickly. I could see how the RPD could be more fun, I wouldn't mind running some of the local shoot courses with a beltfed like that. But I still think the fun switch would make it better.

i have shot a course with it and it was awesome. the 1919 can get a bit boring depending on what your doing. locked down pulling the trigger ...meh
freewheeling on the tripod engaging multiple targets and various ranges as fast as you can pull the trigger = WOOD!

the rpd unloaded is around 19lbs IIRC

Yeah, I see what you are saying. I saw one at the fun show today. It was pretty cool to play with. I didn't come home with it, I know, I fail.

I'd likely chalk it up to sitting behind a tripod going pow pow pow. Wooo. That was not really all that fun. I could see being able to run around with it being more enjoyable.

Posted: 9/13/2010 7:50:35 AM EDT

[#38]

love my razorback. belt-fed for a super cheap initial buy in and you cant get cheaper for ammo either!

http://www.lakesideguns.com/

Posted: 9/13/2010 9:22:09 AM EDT

[#39]

1919's aren't very mobile, so it is hard to appreciate them as a semi beltfed. I have a semi PKM, yeah it is 'only' semi, but I don't have $90,000 fora full auto, so for 5% of the price I can run and gun and have 80% of the fun.

Posted: 9/13/2010 10:58:51 PM EDT

[#40]

what about getting a PKM? ammo would be cheap

Posted: 9/14/2010 6:21:47 AM EDT

[#41]

Quoted:
what about getting a PKM? ammo would be cheap

The PKM would be a contender but I think the RPD would fit my needs better. I wouldn't have to purchase different ammo for it as I have alot of 7.62x39 guns anyway. Also a large box of ammo would be lighter with the RPD.

From what I've read about all the guns posted the Shrike would probably be my first choice but I don't know if I'll have the $8000-$9000 for the upper any time soon. I could swing a couple thousand for the RPD much easier but I lke that I could use the shrike on an M16 lower for a true full auto.

Thanks for all the info guys.

ETA: Is it difficult to change barrels on the RPD or PKM?

Posted: 9/14/2010 7:53:26 AM EDT

[#42]

Quoted:
love my razorback. belt-fed for a super cheap initial buy in and you cant get cheaper for ammo either!

http://www.lakesideguns.com/

WOW that’s a lot cheaper than other Belt Fed 22 uppers were a couple years ago!

Posted: 9/14/2010 10:35:57 AM EDT

[#43]

you don't change bbls on the rpd. thats one of the drawbacks.

Posted: 9/14/2010 11:40:51 AM EDT

[#44]

Quoted:

Quoted:
love my razorback. belt-fed for a super cheap initial buy in and you cant get cheaper for ammo either!

http://www.lakesideguns.com/

WOW that’s a lot cheaper than other Belt Fed 22 uppers were a couple years ago!

That's why he changed a bunch of things on it. It doesn't have the quick change barrel, doesn't have a couple of the other options, so is cheaper to make.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Is there a good belt fed 5.56 rifle available for civilian purchase?

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