Convertible, belt/clip-fed automatic gun with positive shell casing

Abstract

An automatic gun comprises a barrel, a receiver connected to the barrel and a bolt and bolt carrier mounted in the receiver for recoil and counterrecoil movement between the barrel breech and a recoil position rearwardly of a shell pick up position and a casing ejection port. The bolt carrier has a cam track formed along it and the bolt has a pivotally mounted casing extractor and an ejection recess in an opposite region. The forward end of a cam follower is pivotally mounted to the receiver forwardly of the pick up position. The follower has a pair of belt feeding pawls mounted centrally, an inwardly-directed ejection tip at the rearward end and a cam track follower in engagement with the bolt carrier cam track. A belt feeding adaptor is detachably connected to the receiver above the cam follower for receiving an ammunition belt. In response to forward bolt carrier movement, the cam follower is pivoted outwardly, moving the feed pawls into engagement with a belted shell outboard of the pick up position. Corresponding forward bolt movement strips a shell from the pick up position and loads it into the breech. When the bolt carrier recoils after firing, the cam follower pivots inwardly and the feed pawls advance the belt one shell position. As the cam follower pivots inwardly, its ejection tip moves into the ejection recess in the bolt and causes ejection of a shell casing held to the bolt face by the extractor. An ammunition clip adapator is interchageable with the belt feeding adapter.