Personally, I was always dissapointed.

Too much time with selective fire stuff I guess.

I've owned a Springfield Armory SAR-48 Israeli HB FAL and an Arsenal Inc. RPK, and I got rid of them because they lacked the "full boggie" switch.

My trigger finger just couldn't keep up with my desire.


Still way cool rifles though and if you're into ComBloc stuff it's the only way you're going to get a RPD.

Hell, I still think about getting a semi auto BREN 'cause that's the only way I'd be able to have a BREN.

I love my FA stuff (I love my freinds more since they have more than I) but the SA belt feds simply kick ass.  Why?

Theyre CHEAP compared to the FA guns.  I have 2 SA 1919's.  I just built another after selling one to a friend.  I originally bought one because I thought it looked cool and the price was right - I had also reached the SHTF prep point that even I couldnt justify to myself how 8 AR's, AK's, etc. was reality I only have 2 hands!  I just wanted a different gun and something 'fun'.

Everyone that shoots my SA 1919 (s) either goes on to buy one or covets mine.  This includes SA only guys and FA guys.  I have a crank on one of mine - and yes it actually works and no its not some huge funky looking thing either - most folks dont even know its there.  With the crank I get FA rpm and on the 1919 I sold we had tuned the gun to the point it cranks ammo out a 650rpm which is 100rpm faster than the 'real' deal.

Im building a SA mg-42 and have a SA mg-34 that should be here in a week.  If I added up the cost of all my SA belt feds and included a vector RPD I would still have less $ tied up than on FA 1919.  I get to tinker, shoot and generally play with a collection of guns that I could never afford to have in FA - at least not all of them.  IF my MG-42 blows up shooting surplus 8mm or 308 Im out a lot less than if it was a transferable 42 at 40K+.

I now get to play with tripods, belt loaders, drums, belts and all kinds of surplus MG stuff that otherwise It never have delved into.

If you look around my gun room you'll always find at least one belt fed set up on a tripod - very cool look.  In fact I have a couple of maxim kits and a vickers kit and a mg-15 kit all waiting on the impending SA ATF design approvals - all of which are just months away (actually ther is a SA vickers design out ther but it sucks so Im waiting on a better version).

In short there is just something extra cool about a belt fed weapon.  And yes, a vector rpd is on my 'to buy' list.

If you ever make it to SE OK youre welcome to shoot any of my belt feds - just be prepared to link or load you own belts and have face pain from the ear to ear grin.....