www.MG42.us

I'm just curious what the official ammo can capacity is. I keep seeing sources say 250, but I can't help but notice mine will fit 300, nice and tight, no rattling.

Also, was there any specific technique for loading ammo cans? As I'm sure many of you have noticed, the rounds don't stack flat.

I noticed that the Czech Solution to this for their ZB 37 ammo cans (in 8x57 JS) was to weld an angled piece of sheet metal onto the bottom.

According to official German manuals... two 50-round belts linked together at the bottom and four 50-round belts linked together at the top.
I enclose a picture that apears in the H.Dv.130/2a Ausbildungsvorschrift für die Infanterie of 16.3.1941. Note the fire direction (Shußrichtung).

7,92lover

Brilliant! Thanks

joe6167 wrote: ↑Fri Sep 24, 2021 7:46 pm Also, was there any specific technique for loading ammo cans? As I'm sure many of you have noticed, the rounds don't stack flat.

I noticed that the Czech Solution to this for their ZB 37 ammo cans (in 8x57 JS) was to weld an angled piece of sheet metal onto the bottom.

To simulate this slop in the ammo cans there was a piece of wire designed for the MG3 cans you could place in the bottom also.

Very interesting, I did not know about the existence of this piece. I understand then that the can capacity is reduced to 250 rounds.

7,92lover

And just think 250 or 300 rounds per can.... Quick how many cans do you need to shoot a MG42 Full Auto for just 30 seconds????

At fire rate of 1500 rounds per minute.
30 seconds needs ---- 3 full 250 round cans or 2.5 full 300 round cans.

Of course that's linked facing the same way ammo belts. WOW. 1 gunner and 12 ammo carriers to support the need....
I have several of those wire bases and will have to look at my ZB 37 cans for that welded bottom piece sometime.

Stay Safe Everyone.

Later 42rocker

.......Just to clarify what has been said above.......The conversation blended war-time and post-war ammo cans!
The war-time ammo cans were without any metal bent rod guide in the bottom....
The post war west German/308 ammo cans have the rod guide in the bottom.....It seems no one above, seperated the two...

There were MG3's and .308 cans during World War 2?

joe6167 wrote: ↑Thu Aug 04, 2022 5:16 pm There were MG3's and .308 cans during World War 2?

Nobody said that. They're just talking about variations.

JBaum wrote: ↑Thu Aug 04, 2022 6:23 pm

joe6167 wrote: ↑Thu Aug 04, 2022 5:16 pm There were MG3's and .308 cans during World War 2?

Nobody said that. They're just talking about variations.

Exactly. So what's the confusion that requires such "clarification"?

The confusion seems to be yours when you asked if there were MG3's and .308 cans during World War 2. I think you're clear about that now.