The Ultimate 6.5 Grendel

[stanc]

Now there's a candidate for a belt-fed Grendel, without having to fork over the big bucks for a machine gun. Anybody game?

http://www.dsarms.com/Semi-Auto-762-X-39-RPD-Rifle--RPDCARBINE/productinfo/RPDCARBINE/

[z06man]

Makes me think of a Mini-14.

[LRRPF52]

Makes me think of a Mini-14.

Try RPD

[z06man]

It is an RPD.

[warped]

Except for the chore of doing some changes on the drum of course, it is not as easy as you would think.

I can cobble one together but the real PIA is redesigning the drum.

That is a project I need to get back to.

[stanc]

So shitcan the drum. Gee, that problem was easy to solve.

Or maybe you were thinking of an RPK drum magazine?

[gophernuts]

I wonder if a non-evaportating belt from a Gorgunov would work?? Just shit can the drum altogether and make it belt fed.

[stanc]

The RPD is belt-fed. The drum holds 100 rounds of belted ammo.

Everybody calls it a drum, but it's not actually a drum magazine. It's a container to avoid having a loose belt flopping around, or wrapped around the body, Rambo style. The modern equivalent is the 100-rd "nut sack" used with the M249 SAW. Here's a SAW cloth bag adapted to an RPD.

[gophernuts]

Well played sir. But still the question stands. Would a 7.62x39mm belt fit 6.5 Grendel cases?

[warped]

So shitcan the drum. Gee, that problem was easy to solve.

Or maybe you were thinking of an RPK drum magazine?

Actually both Stan, yeah you can use a bag on an RPD, but that was not the exercise.

I have used both weapons.

I have lots of projects and not all that much time...

[warped]

No a 7.62x39 will fit just that, we could modify the belt but by that time you might as well start from scratch and make a proper belt

[stanc]

Well played sir. But still the question stands. Would a 7.62x39mm belt fit 6.5 Grendel cases?

I think it should, although it's possible that the different case taper might make for too tight of a fit at the front of the links. However, Cris Murray has converted an MG42 to use RPD belts with his 7x46 UIAC, and that cartridge has case taper similar to that of 6.5 Grendel.

[warped]

I am surprised it worked, it may have taken some work to get the cases to loosen up the belt so they were reliable.