Belt-fed: Difference between revisions

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imported>Howard C. Berkowitz
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In the context of [[machine gun]]s, a means of supplying a continuous stream of ammunition, linked together in a flexible belt.  "Belt" usually implies that there will be some manual handling of the ammunition; [[magazine (firearms)|magazine-fed]] machine guns may internally have a structure similar to a belt, but the magazines are changed as a unit without manipulating the belt.
In the context of [[machine gun]]s, a means of supplying a continuous stream of ammunition, linked together in a flexible belt.  "Belt" usually implies that there will be some manual handling of the ammunition; [[magazine (firearms)|magazine-fed]] machine guns may internally have a structure similar to a belt, but the magazines are changed as a unit without manipulating the belt.


The belt may be constructed with disintegrating links, which fall off as the cartriges enter the gun, or the gun's mechanism may extract bullets from a reusable belt, the reusable belt coiling underneath the gun.
The belt may be constructed with disintegrating links, which fall off as the cartriges enter the gun, or the gun's mechanism may extract bullets from a reusable belt, the reusable belt coiling underneath the gun.  Some belt systems allow an assistant to link a new belt to the unused end of the belt actively being used by the gun, providing a continuous flow.


Examples of belt-fed machine guns include the [[M240 (machine gun)|M240]], [[M249 (machine gun)|M249]], [[M60 (machine gun|M60]] and [[M2 (machine gun)|M2]]. They contrast with magazine-fed units such as the [[M149 (machine gun)|M149]].
Examples of belt-fed machine guns include the [[M240 (machine gun)|M240]], [[M249 (machine gun)|M249]], [[M60 (machine gun|M60]] and [[M2 (machine gun)|M2]]. They contrast with magazine-fed units such as the [[M149 (machine gun)|M149]].

Revision as of 13:43, 17 February 2009

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In the context of machine guns, a means of supplying a continuous stream of ammunition, linked together in a flexible belt. "Belt" usually implies that there will be some manual handling of the ammunition; magazine-fed machine guns may internally have a structure similar to a belt, but the magazines are changed as a unit without manipulating the belt.

The belt may be constructed with disintegrating links, which fall off as the cartriges enter the gun, or the gun's mechanism may extract bullets from a reusable belt, the reusable belt coiling underneath the gun. Some belt systems allow an assistant to link a new belt to the unused end of the belt actively being used by the gun, providing a continuous flow.

Examples of belt-fed machine guns include the M240, M249, M60 and M2. They contrast with magazine-fed units such as the M149.