Mounting a Machine Gun

[Robb235]

Gentlemen.

While the responses have been entertaining, let's steer the subject towards a machine gun rig that is feasible with minimal effort, skill, and funding, as this is a goal of mine.

I'm just waiting for the post from you that says...

"So the FBI and ATF raided my house today..."

 

[War Sprout]

I'm just waiting for the post from you that says...

"So the FBI and ATF raided my house today..."

Law abiding citizens owning firearms has never been illegal. ATF just makes the cooler ones harder to get.

 

[War Sprout]

do you have a post 86 weapon? or do you have a 07/02 or a form4? or a are you a FFL dealer? can you legally own a class II weapon?

if the answer to any of those questions is now or idk, then you are wasting your time and everyone elses time with this thread... oh and even if you do have the certs to own or possess one(which i highly doubt because you are posing this question) it is highly illegal to mount said operable weapon to a vehicle. im not even sure how you would go about registering said vehicle or getting authorization for such a vehicle.

Should I change the title to "semi-automatic belt fed"? Would that clear things up for you? Does it really matter? This thread was created for me to kick some ideas around for how I'm going to fab a mount for a machine gun. It's just that. A mount. If anyone is wasting people's time on this thread, it's you. Unless you have an idea or concept to add that hasn't already been mentioned, chill out.

Now where were we?
opcorn:

 

[jeff88]

I'm wondering what your storage plans are. Obviously, you can't drive down the road with a gun sticking out all the time. Are you going to have a trap door that opens and a motorized platform that raises and lowers with the push of a button? Are you going to have some form of detaching mechanism, so when you aren't using it, you just de-mount it, close up the top and go?

Do you have a factory sunroof?

I would imagine you would need some form of a roof rack, except without the cross members so you have room for a gun and a person. Maybe you can use the rack for mounting and storage purposes?

How are you going to stand? Are you planning on taking the rear seats out or just folding them down and putting some sort of standing platform over the top?

(I hope this gets you going in the right direction.)

 

[the great him]

Unless you have an idea or concept to add that hasn't already been mentioned, chill out.

opcorn:

maybe you should take some of your own advice, i wasnt attacking you... i was simply asking a question... again i ask how do you plan on making this legal? -you can not mount a working firearm to a vehicle -even on private property... and semiauto belt-fed weapons are crazy expensive and not the easiest to use... are you prior military, do you have any first hand experiance with belt-fed weapon systems?

i ask because as someone who has lugged around both mounted and dismounted weapon system in an infantry platoon(everything from a 249 up to a M2) i would not care for one thats not full auto... and sense im not a 07-02 FFL and i dont have $20k laying around i dont see the need for a FA BF -even if i did, i could put that money other places...
yeah they are cool but if you have used them they soon loose their appeal... the maintenance that goes with them, lugging it around ect just not worth it imo. if i were to own one id want either a 240L or an M2(its what i used over seas and it is the end all say all in a fire fight, that i can assure you of -well maybe that and the MK19) but once its up there its staying up there, there is no packing that thing around, so that eliminated that for our trucks, that and the fact that it would rip our trucks apart in no time if ever fired. so that leaves us with the 240. now even with the 240L and im not sure they make that in a semi-auto version they are still heavy and awkward, cumbersome ect. id rather have a tax stamp and a full auto M4 for the same price you would pay for a semi-auto belt fed 240/249.

so yeah you could say i dont think you have thought this through other than just for the "cool" factor, but thats a lot of money to be "cool", and yet not even able to use it, were as i would be just as "cool" with a full auto or burst M4 and be able to use it. but again its just my thoughts and im only trying to make sure you know what your thinking about getting into.

 

[NoHair]

 

[War Sprout]

I'm wondering what your storage plans are. Obviously, you can't drive down the road with a gun sticking out all the time. Are you going to have a trap door that opens and a motorized platform that raises and lowers with the push of a button? Are you going to have some form of detaching mechanism, so when you aren't using it, you just de-mount it, close up the top and go?

Do you have a factory sunroof?

I would imagine you would need some form of a roof rack, except without the cross members so you have room for a gun and a person. Maybe you can use the rack for mounting and storage purposes?

How are you going to stand? Are you planning on taking the rear seats out or just folding them down and putting some sort of standing platform over the top?

(I hope this gets you going in the right direction.)

I do have a factory sunroof, but standing in the seat to shoot it like NoHair does in his picture is too unstable for me. I tried it and didn't like it. I also don't plan to drive on public roads with it mounted, so it'd have to be removable.

So here's what I'm thinking. I cut ~3' diameter hole above the cargo area, and somehow seal it to act as a lid. When not in use, it would look like a normal 4runner. I could use a 1st gen roll bar as the base for the mount, and fab up a removable arm to attach to the gun. It would swivel, but be limited to firing in the 12 o'clock direction. Thoughts?

maybe you should take some of your own advice, i wasnt attacking you... i was simply asking a question... again i ask how do you plan on making this legal? -you can not mount a working firearm to a vehicle -even on private property... and semiauto belt-fed weapons are crazy expensive and not the easiest to use... are you prior military, do you have any first hand experiance with belt-fed weapon systems?

My apologies. The questions you asked in the attitude you asked them sounded exactly like an attack. Your questions are legitimate, no doubt, and there will be many things to consider for this project. With the practicality of mounting a weapon in a 4runner aside, maybe you could help me decide on a weapon to mount since you seem to have the experience. It would have to be single shot, as that saves me paperwork, money and a long waiting time. As far as the legality of this, I'd like to ask NoHair how he accomplished his rig while still staying within the law.

As far as weapon choice goes, I'm thinking something like this:

Single shot M240
(a little on the expensive side)

Or this:

Single Shot Browning 1919

That price is more do-able. Thoughts?

ETA: OOW Link

 

[NoHair]

So I will first say I am not going to get into an Internet argument with keyboard commandos/legal experts that don't know shit except what they read elsewhere on the Internet - most likely an Airsoft forum in CA.
FOR WHAT I DO WITH MINE, IT IS LEGAL IN MY STATE. YES I LOOKED INTO IT BEFORE I STARTED BUILDING THE MOUNT, I suggest you do the same.

So in 1999 I purchased an HK transferable auto sear - aka a Machinegun - I paid $3,600 then. Ones that recently sold went for $25,000, then the HK21 - a semi-auto beltfed with out sear in it - is worth about $10,000. Gun problem solved.
The mount I built can be removed from the roof rack mounted pintle in 1 minute.
Do I drive around the city with it mounted, NO. I'm sure I could argue that blah blah blah, but my time is more valuable than wasting it arguing with someone about something common sense answers.
I have a buddy that mounted a ring mount into a suburban and sealed it while he drives like you mentioned. Look at RTG parts as they get ring mounts in at times.
Good luck with whatever you do.
Check your local laws before doing any work!!!

 

[the great him]

well again for the first one a 240(and thats gonna be the lighter of the two you suggested you could have a full auto M4 with a tax stamp and it would be much more versatile -you could even make a bipod attachment similar to that of a pintle mount so you could mount it up there. -with an auto/burst M4, its the lower that is registered, so you could have different uppers, you could have one upper for dismounted use ie hand held at the range ect, and then a longer heavier upper for mounted almost like a snipers rifle -they also make M4s in 308, the civilian term is AR10 -military term is M110 but it is still only semiauto, not sure if they make a full auto or burst M110/AR10. i think your 1919 looks similar to a M2(.50 cal) but again my concern is its bulk and ease of use, as well as availability of parts -and the same goes for the 240, but those should be easier to find. i have never used a 1919 or worked with one, so i can not comment on their reliability and service ability, but i know they are old school and relics, not really in use anymore except by collectors ect. but having been a heavy weapons team leader as well as been 240 gunner i know the 240 pretty well -i know it hates blanks, and will require modifications for the feed tray if you want to use blanks(dont tell the army). and learning how to clean one, well lets just say that in all my years in the military i have yet to find one 240 that has been cleaned properly and all that i have recleaned and or used had some serious corrosion issues going on. great weapon and i love it, but its bulky/heavy hard to shoot from the shoulder, but it can be done -i have done so but its not gonna be near as accurate. and again personally a semi auto version is only gonna look cool... and thats a lot of money to just look cool