Chris,
As you said, the rounds ( cartridge + shell ) are in clips of four, each round locked by a spring-loaded hook at the base. The hook's other end is a button protruding from the front face of the clip. As the autoloader pulls the rounds down towards the feed rolls, the clip travels in a groove down the autoloader's curved rear guide. This groove becomes progressively narrower at the front, forcing the buttons inward and releasing the hooks' grip on the cartridge. Thus the rounds are one by one freed from the clip, which then falls at the feet of the loader through an aperture at the side of the autoloader. Two grooves and apertures are provided, one on each side, so that the clip could be loaded facing any side you like. Some British Army guns had the right aperture sealed off, but the reason for this eludes me.
Hope this answers your question,
Regards, Godwin
__________________
George Cross Island
|