Grendel LMG

[stanc]

I agree that a single universal load is very desirable.

The main advantage I see is for simplicity in manufacturing.

Having said that - how often, in the real world of military operations, do you get sections breaking up MG belts to feed rifles, or hastily belting MG ammo from rifle mags?

I'd think that it happens very seldom. IIRC, my best friend told me there was one time in Vietnam when he de-linked M60 rounds to feed his XM21 sniper rifle.

Does it really matter if the belted ammo is different from the rifle ammo?

IMO, there's no technical reason to rule out using different weight ball rounds (or for that matter, even having different calibers) for rifle and LMG. After all, rifle ammo comes pre-packed in stripper clips, and LMG ammo in links. But, good luck convincing military leadership to abandon the SOP of having a single load.