Grendel LMG

[RangerRick]

This is the connector link between the two 50 round belts. There is a lead belt (on the right in the picture) and a tail belt. The lead belt has the loading tab and ends with part of a disintegrating link.

It looks to me like you could make a whole belt out of these disintegrating links. It wouldn't be as flexible as the wired together links, though.

The tail belt begins with the second part of the disintegrating link, and ends with a small metal tube link. That helps you wind up the belt so it fits in the drum. It probably also dampens whiplash of the last round and locks the bolt open.

I was a little surprised that you couldn't make an infinite belt like with the NATO disintegrating link, but without a quick change barrel, I guess it forces you to let the barrel cool a little while loading a new belt.

Since the RPD is a squad machine gun, it was not meant for sustained auto fire like the bigger guns.







more of this in part 5