Hk121

[stanc]

The integral shell deflector on the ammo box is interesting.

Perhaps done to save the fabric of the nut sack from being quickly abraded by the ejected cases?

Chambering in 6.5x47 Lapua is a non-starter due to barrel life on a belt-fed, and only suitable for a dedicated sniper system.

Well, I mentioned 6.5 Creedmoor as a way of introducing the thread, but some of the guys on Tony's forum would like to get an HK121 converted to this caliber as a surrogate cartridge for testing and demonstrating their GPC concept. The 6.5x47 Lapua case is likely too short for compatibility with M13 links.

Shouldn't barrel life with 6.5 Creedmoor be okay? After all, the Swedes used the MAG58 in 6.5x55 for a number of years.

Since there is 11 years of 7.62 NATO currently stocked at present consumption levels, it is highly unlikely that we will see a viable logistical replacement for 7.62 NATO among the entrenched NATO countries...

I agree, although Tony and his crew believe there's a chance of replacing 7.62 NATO with a 6.5 (or 6.86) GPC.

Do you know what type of operating system and locking mechanism they're using?

It appears to have a gas piston. Probably a rotating bolt, as with the 5.56mm MG4, but I don't know for certain.

Notice they made it back-compatible with the MG3 tripod, flex mount, and firing mechanism.

Yes. A good move, if it's to replace the MG3.