identify the links

A missing link between the Stoner 63 and M27 link and the M13 link is in the photo. This link is for the 6mm SAW and this cartridge is headstamped F A 73 on a steel lacquered case. The link is a intermediate size being larger than the Stoner link and smaller than the M13 link. There were a number of these developments as a larger than 5.56mm cartridge was thought to be more useful in a belt fed weapon and the 6mm was tested. Later it
was felt that a third caliber was not in the best interest !Attachment 54148

Now we can see the stoner link is just a tad different.

Cinder's Quiz :

photo 1) 20mm links ? and M2 50 cal BMG links photo 2) Swiss charger for 7,5x55mm rifles & early 303 Enfield charger 3) appears at first as a MG42 belt but is more modern ?

1) Correct 20mm marked H 1 Y - 50 cal correct 2)Correct K-31 and early 303 filled with '22 Mk VII rounds 3) Correct - markings on the MG-42 starter tab is 1 41 W aA B 43 anyone got a clue to the others under the starter tab!

I know what they come from come on you'se guys join the fray.... HHHmmm clue they come from the sky!!!!! :rolleyes:

So no one tried to guess them so I won, :dancingbanana: the very top single round O/tip is a 30/06 all others are Mk VII 303 the 30/06 rounds do not fit the links these are not often seen at least down this way disint links for possibly the Browning wing guns for the 303's in either the Spit, Hurri or Beaufighter or whatever else they fitted the Browning MG to.

Interesting as the link has no insert to hold the rear lip of the round like most links.
They must have had a few stoppages with the rounds laid in and held by gravity alone without the rear lip, especially as most of those aircraft could expect 1-2 G

The Browning M1919 machinegun link (M1 link) was not designed for a push-through link such as the MG42 or M13 link. In the model 1919 series, the cartridge is pulled out to the back by the extractor towards the bolt then forward into the barrel. Original belts being fabric (which I always thought were smoother while firing) and the M1 link.

Interesting is that the US Navy did convert some Model 1919 BMG's to 7,62 NATO for use on gunboats during the Viet Nam war in 1967. There was a grooved bushing inserted into the chamber of the 30-06 barrel for the 7,62mm cartridge, which required much modification to the mechanism and the cartridges in M13 links had to be loaded upside down. Cartridges were
pulled out to the back and down towards the bolt like the 30-06. There was also a six inch hider attached to the muzzle. This weapon was called the Mark 21 Mod 0

Our 1919A4s were called the C1, C4, C5 machineguns and they used a pattern of the current US link. They still extracted from the feed way instead of pushing the cartridge forward like the M60 and MG3 and others of today. It was un-necessary to turn the links up side down...we used a new barrel and many parts in the feed were completely changed. Sadly, the mod was only marginally successful. With the procurement of the MAG in '85 or so, we gladly retired these.

As for the links used in the Inglis guns in cal .303, the suffered remarkably few stoppages with that tiny circular link as suggested by Gil Boyd. They were designed specifically for the gun and cartridge and they came from a proven type as used in both the .50 and .30 cal guns. Can't imagine why you'd think they'd be unreliable Gil... A gun that's going to be buried in the wing of an aircraft and fire at about 900 RPM has to be reliable. Also I've personally hand fired one and it ran perfectly. My head space was off and I suffered one separated casing which was cleared easily... Once you examine them mechanically, you can see what a piece of engineering artwork they are.

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Originally Posted by CINDERS

So no one tried to guess them so I won, :dancingbanana: the very top single round O/tip is a 30/06 all others are Mk VII 303 the 30/06 rounds do not fit the links these are not often seen at least down this way disint links for possibly the Browning wing guns for the 303's in either the Spit, Hurri or Beaufighter or whatever else they fitted the Browning MG to.

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They don't look like the links for the Browning .303, they look like they are for something else, Izzy 7.62? The .303 links have the neck piece flowing in an 'S' shape but the main body piece folding back on it's self. The links in your photo shows both the body and neck pieces folding back on themselves.

.303" Browning link

Attachment 54246

Jim,
Would be great to see it in action as it does seem to defy logic, a kind of engineering magic inside the framework of the aircraft. Watched a tethered fighter aircraft once held down by its tail firing non stop into a butt as a kid on a WW2 propaganda fil, which I'll try and dig out, and marveled at the rate of fire, and I do agree about the canvas belts RCS smooth as silk.;)