For now, this gun's name is "Operation: Petticoat".
Assembling an uber-short short ammo belt for Operation: Petticoat.
An 18gauge wire serves as the "spine", alternated back-and-forth between links. A small knot at each end holds it all together securely.
And then off to the sander with it to remove those production burrs.
Mounts for the center "axle":
Four very-simple 3.02" diameter discs, one 1" PVC butt-connector.
...huh-huh-huh, I said "butt connector"...
The black metal pipe shown is the outer barrel robbed from the M14 airsoft gun donor.
Connector is cut down to exactly 1.75" long, and bonded between the discs. I used a scrap chunk of 3" ABS pipe as a gluing fixture.
Next, I'll turn grooves into the aluminum M14 barrel, and then the butt-connector will be filled with bondo to lock it in place. It will be as solid as a rock when I'm done.
The M14 barrel, with 4.25" removed, and the end
just trimmed of paint.
The grooves were cut at semi-random intervals (1/4 lathe knob turn-"fuzzy math"!), and it's ready to be bondo'd into place.
Dang, I should have had the robot drill the fill and vent holes for the filling process.
And cordless drills seem to be getting scarce around here!
Those should do.
Wifey's Contribution.
Bondo is put into a baggie, kneaded for a few moments, and is ready.