Machine Gun Ammo.

wallace20

I recently found some machine gun ammo in metal links at a gunshop near me,that I was thinking about buying.Wondering how hard it would be to take out of the links,and how to go about doing this.Thanks.

nmyers

It depends on what KIND of ammo it is, & what CALIBER.

But, most MG links can be removed easily with a light hammer & a screwdriver.

And, a lot of USGI MG ammo has tracers every 5th round. If it has this, then you either throw away the tracers or break them down & keep only the brass.

Neal

Tailgunner1954

I've disassembled a couple of belts simply by pushing the bullet nose into a piece of wood (hold onto the nest few rounds). Never tried using a hammer and a pry bar (there are people that pay for just the links)

Laredo Lefty

I have delinked MG ammo using the push against wood method. It works great and you can control the amount of pressure being exerted.

If the ammo has tracers mixed in, it can be sold here on GB. There are folks who will buy it for collecting or shooting.

iwannausername

There is a hand cranked machine that you can buy that will delink a specific kind of ammo (same machine, diff. versions for different stuff)

Also, ammo meant for MGs may (or may not... semi urban legend) have harder primers than "normal" milsurp which are typically harder than commercial ammo.

tsavo303

WTH are you taliking about "light hammer" that is the worst advice you could give. most likely 1919 or m-60 links, should be able to delink by hand or glove, maybe pull on round with pliers if really stuck, but NOT necessary

nmyers

I guess I wasn't clear enough. I meant that tools could be used on the LINKS, not the rounds.

Neal

wallace20

Thanks again everyone.Going to go get it now.

givette

30-06? back the ammo out of the links. (Browning .30, etc)
.223/7.62 NATO? Push rounds forward out of the links. (SAW/M60)
Eastern Bloc/WWII German? Back them out of the links.

Fabric belt (unlikely) Back them out of the belt.

Rgds, Joe

Iconoclast

quote:Originally posted by iwannausername
Also, ammo meant for MGs may (or may not... semi urban legend) have harder primers than "normal" milsurp which are typically harder than commercial ammo.


This is not true of American rifle caliber loadings nor those of most nations where the ammunition was used for both shoulder arms and MG applications. There are some late war German 7.92x57 restricted to MG use for this reason (steel primer cups, IIRC) and it could very well be true of some proportion of post-war Soviet / Warsaw Pact 7.62x54R which was almost exclusively produced for MG use. This latter is purely supposition on my part.

iwannausername

Iconoclast - hence my "urban legend" reference....