www.MG42.us

Greetings, first post here.

Can someone please tell me what the secret is to putting belts in ammo cans? I'm trying to put a 250 round belt into a .30 caliber ammo can and I try to layer it back and forth, but eventually the belt tips forward and slides down so the rounds are facing headstamp up. I suspect this is due to the bullets weighing down the front of the cartridge, and the belt itself providing an elevated fulcrum for which they can pivot on.

Is there a right way to do this? Do I need the MG34/42-specific cans or is my technique simply in need of improvement?

1sty Welcome to the site.


Info like that secret is guarded to just a small group of people. Ok, now your one of them. The German only put in a few belts then turned the direction of the can then added a few more belts. I believe that it was 2 belts of 50 turn 2 more belts of 50. Could be wrong, seems that I never have that much ammo around to do stuff like that. Fill belt use it. Fill belt use it. LOL

Enjoy

Later 42rocker

Have a look at the manual.....normally they show a couple belts loaded with the bullets pointing one way then a few more belts with the bullets pointing the other. That keeps it more even and keeps it from falling over. Some cans have a wedge in the bottom that makes this unnecessary.....ZB37 and isreali MG34 cans for instance.

Frank

Just merged the two threads and removed one of the doubled posts.

Later 42rocker

Excellent info, thanks fellas. I haven't got one of Jim Baum's fine manuals yet but it's on the list. I had always assumed the cans contained a continuous 250 rounds of linked ammunition. It hadn't occurred to me to separate them and turn them around. I have five belts of 1934-41 vintage German APT all linked together, sure looks good all stretched out!