MG3 Machine gun

[ZeroSuitSamo]

So, I absolutely love the MG42, even though I've played with it for all of about 1.5 minutes. But already I can tell the 50 round capacity is going to be a problem for it when used in a practical manner (T&H). I spent a couple days trying to think of ways you could use a larger ammo can without attaching it, and I couldn't come up with anything I think could actually be implemented.

But then it hit me: the MG3 is just a modernized MG42 chambered in 7.62x51. I imagine and visual differences are very minor, so I'm hoping it would be something Anton could easily do on his own (I could be way off base, but I really hope not). From the research I've done, it has a 50 round "drum" just like the MG42, but also had a 250 round box and a 100 round box. I'm pretty sure the 250 round box is just for vehicle/emplacement use, but I believe the 100 round box can be mounted to the gun. The wikipedia page isn't clear, but that is how the gun was set up in Battlefield Bad Company 2.

Now that I think about it though, even without the larger capacity I'd love to see the MG3 just for the attachments and ammo types it could use.

[ZeroSuitSamo]

A guy from my discord sent me this, which is a 120 round box that looks like it can be attached to the gun.

https://www.robertrtg.com/store/pc/catalog/mgg-1705d_1201_detail.jpg

I also found this site that has a couple pics of the gun with boxes attached, so it looks like it's not just the 50 round drum that gets used

https://aminoapps.com/c/military-amino/amp/item/mg3/qkeY_vpwu3I5QNBbzXXWgdWEMMQ3oWNwoa4?source=images

[Tuna]

The mg42 could also be belt fed

[ZeroSuitSamo]

The MG42 is belt fed. IRL the drum just holds a rolled up belt of 50 rounds.

The issue is, it is impossible to just have a freely hanging belt of ammo in the game. It is way to taxing on the system. It the reason why it has taken so long for belt fed guns to be added to the game. Anton got around this by limiting the belt to just a few rounds, and only when you are loading the gun. Because of this, we are limited to belt boxes that attach to the gun. If you wanted a free hanging belt, I imagine it would have to be completely without physics, and I dont think anyone wants that.

Since the MG42 never had an attachable belt box larger than 50 rounds, that is probably all we will ever have. But the MG3 has larger attachable boxes, and a similar rate of fire. Even if it's shooting a slightly less powerful bullet, I'm not going to complain.

[jester]

the MG42 never had real belt BOXES during WW2,but it did fire 50 to 250 round standalone belts when being used in the heavy support role,still supporting 50-75 round assault drums for the light support role
I'd support the addition of standalone belts,even if they have to lose all physics.It's simply the price to pay to add much,MUCH larger capacities to the belt feds we have gotten and will be getting