Belt-fed ammunition?

[Heldrak]

Pardon my shocking ignorance, but what does the belt in a piece of modern belt-fed weaponry consist of? I'm planning on tackling the Pulp City Guerilla figure in the near future and he's armed with some kind of gatling cannon that includes a belt-feed from the backpack on his back (see photo):



I've bought some spent shells from Secret Weapon to help decorate the base, but I'm at something of a loss on what color to paint the ammo belt. I've seen a lot of examples of the belt painted in a metallic color, but I assume that this is impractical. Wouldn't the belt consist of some kind of disposable paper packaging that shreds away as the shells feed through the magazine? Would there realistically be a strip of empty belt spooling down from the other side of the gun?

Let me hear from some of you modern weaponry experts about how this actually might work in the real world.

[Glaiber]

I think the shell is held in place by two peices of metal(the belt) and the shell consequently holds the belt together, so when the bullet is shot the belt falls apart and the metal fragments left are ejected with the empty shell, just a guess from what ive seen of them in pictures though

[Hauptgefreiter]

have a look -here-
and -here-

The "belt" device shown on the mini is for transporting the cartridges from the ammo hopper to the gun and not disintegrating, see pic:

[Heldrak]

Thanks, that's helpful. So the "belt" in this instance is some kind of canvas or rubberized sleeve?

[moif]

Usually a belt to a minigun is protected by a flexible metal sleeve. I believe thats what your figure has. The bullets move inside the sleeve, and are held together by clips which are ejected along with the spent cartridges.

http://www.guncopter.com/images/gallery/uh-1n-minigun.jpg

http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/encyclopediaimages/h/hh/hh-3-minigun-vietnam-19681710.gif

http://attach.high-g.net/attachments/blonde_with_minigun_142.jpg

[Heldrak]

I see what you're saying: The "belt" in this instance doesn't actually feed through the gun itself, it's just a tube linked to the ammo supply and only the ammo itself moves through the gun.

[moif]

Yes, though the bullets are also linked together inside the 'feed tube' and the hopper. Once you press the trigger, they all rattle smoothly along inside it. 

[Grimmnar]

Should be the ammo is linked together through metal links. Each belt is like 100rounds or so, though you can link them to be longer where/when needed. These linked ammo belts are then fed through these ammo belts. it makes it all smooth operation cutting back on jams, kinks and what not that would keep you from spraying lead death to your enemies.  :-)

Grimm

[Heldrak]

...and the spent shell casings and links are spat out of an ejection port on the opposite side of the gun?

[Grimmnar]

...and the spent shell casings and links are spat out of an ejection port on the opposite side of the gun?

Yeppers. Just do some Google searching for belt fed MG action. Sure you will find all ya need. :-)

Grimm

Here is a great example. Over the top view for you. Shows the spent ammo and links coming out.

[moif]

...and the spent shell casings and links are spat out of an ejection port on the opposite side of the gun?

Yes, or from the belly of the weapon. Sometimes the links seperate as in the video above, or sometimes they stay in a chain, that sort of depends on the weapon.


With a Gatling gun, or other heavy machine gun, the links usually seperate in order to fall away from the weapon. With a light machine, like the Mg42 in this video, the chain stays intact for easier reloading in the field.

[YPU]

If you want to get real creative, some of the newer GW orks include a "chain" of shell casings that can be glued to the port to show the empty shells flying out. You could hunt down the bit online or make your own, It gives a real sense of action.