M13 link

As of 2017[update], it has been in use for over 60 years and is used on the Dillon M134D Minigun, M60 Machine Gun, FN MAG/M240, Mk 48, MG3, HK21, MG5, UKM-2000, K16, SS-77, and Negev NG-7, among others.The left side of a single link has a semi-circular loop which holds the main body of the cartridge case below the shoulder, and an extension on the right that forms two similar loops which were designed to fit in between the two right-side loops of the next link, and which have a small metal tab that extends down to the cartridge base and fit into the extraction groove of the case.The feeding pawl in the gun would pull the belt to the right as the gun was fired or cocked, sending the loose link out to the right side of the receiver, where the expended case was also ejected, normally separately from a different ejector port to the link.[3] The links often have an extra anti-corrosion surface treatment, generally (oil impregnated) black phosphate, and can be collected and reassembled by hand with fresh ammunition, but in practice this is not commonly done as it is labor-intensive, and the inexpensive links are considered disposable.Sometimes the ejected link pieces are collected to avoid littering the interior of aircraft and vehicles or reuse.
M13 links reassembled to previously fired 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge cases
M13 links connect up to 200 7.62×51mm NATO rounds contained in an M19A1 ammunition box used to feed a M240G machine gun
A Gunner from HMS Lancaster's ship's company takes part in a small arms firing at sea (SAFAS) using a pintle-mounted GPMG with a EOTech holographic weapon sight and an ejected M13 link pieces and cartridge cases collection bag
ammunition boxM240G machine gunU.S. militaryammunition belt-fedfirearms7.62×51mm NATOroundsMinigunM60 Machine GunFN MAGUKM-2000M1 links.30-06 SpringfieldM1917 Browning machine gunM1919 Browning machine gunVietnam War12.7×99mm NATO.50 BMGM2 machine gunStandardization AgreementHMS Lancaster'sEOTechholographic weapon sightblack phosphateM27 link5.56×45mm NATOFN MinimiCETME AmeliMini-SSM1 linkList of firearms