40mm airsoft belt fed (now magazine fed) grenade launcher.

[warhead052]

I was requested to build a 40mm belt fed launcher, but I have no idea how to do it. Any suggestions? The team want's it to use the shells you can buy online, but I don't know how to do that.

I thought of a blow forward breech type of thing, and it has another smaller blow forward pin in side that act's as the firing pin, but that seems too complex, so I need some more ideas. I also discussed something along the lines of a Bofors 40mm with the captain, and he liked that idea as well. So that's up in the air right now... Any help would be gladly accepted, but this may be one of those idea's that won't be finished for a few years...


Edit, added a firing pin picture.

[evanmcorleytv]

Not possible.. There is no recoil to cycle the bolt.. BUT you can give them something, make a revolver that uses these shells, make it hold.. 10 maybe? And the only way I can think of that you can do this is if you go through heavy machining, and spend a TON of money, but I do have an idea, if you're willing to go that far..

[sharpshooter11000]

You could use something similar to a hand crank gatling gun, but use a motor to crank instead. Also, have you considered the cost of the shells? Unless you buy ACM ones (which aren't very good) it's going to cost a lot.
Evanmcorleytv, ICS already make an MGL a bit like that but it only holds 6 shells.

[warhead052]

Yeah, they don't mind the cost of the shells, they already have like 20 of them... I have been thinking about something along the lines of a nerf vulcan, but a bit bigger. And then have a blow forward bolt as the firing pin. And remember, these things don't require 8 different barrels per shell, only 1 big barrel, so it makes it that much easier.

[evanmcorleytv]

You could use something similar to a hand crank gatling gun, but use a motor to crank instead. Also, have you considered the cost of the shells? Unless you buy ACM ones (which aren't very good) it's going to cost a lot.
Evanmcorleytv, ICS already make an MGL a bit like that but it only holds 6 shells.

I know they made one, that's why I suggested it, because it's already been done.

Also, he is VERY correct, each shell costs 50 dollars, you would be better off making them a few inline vortex guns, clouds, or strafers, because the deliver a LOT of BB's down range, they go WAY farther, and hurt WAY more, they are even more effective than a 3000 dollar Gatling gun, and each should only cost about 100-150 dollars.

[evanmcorleytv]

Yeah, they don't mind the cost of the shells, they already have like 20 of them... I have been thinking about something along the lines of a nerf vulcan, but a bit bigger. And then have a blow forward bolt as the firing pin. And remember, these things don't require 8 different barrels per shell, only 1 big barrel, so it makes it that much easier.

The Vulcan was what I was going to suggest.. lol

[sharpshooter11000]

I was thinking 1 barrel gatling, or is there such thing? For belt feeding ideas here's something that might help.

[warhead052]

Hows that? Black is air input/guide, red is the pin, grey is the return spring and casing.

[sharpshooter11000]

The firing pin would need to push with quite a lot of force because once 40mm shells are charged the firing buttons on the back are quite stiff.

[warhead052]

Well, I think 250 psi should trigger it.

[sharpshooter11000]

Have you decided how to move the belt yet?

[warhead052]

Ever seen the internals of a nerf vulcan? I was thinking about how they drag their belt in, but on a bigger version.

[sharpshooter11000]

No and I can't find anything on google Is it a bit like this?

[warhead052]

No, its more like a revolver.

[sharpshooter11000]

Aah so like a revolving drum with shell troughs (if you know what I mean) to pull the belt along?