M60, M13 Link Question

Jack_Bauer24 · August 6, 2012, 04:09 PM

Which of these types of M13 links are the US Military currently using the ones with or without the hole in it?

M13 Link With Hole

M13 Link Without Hole

**44 AMP** · August 6, 2012, 11:42 PM

links with holes were the standard when I was in, back in the 70s. Can't tell you what the official standard is today, or even if there is one. But I can tell you that its highly likely whichever one is in inventory is the one that will be used.

And by that I mean that as long as the ammo is considered servicable, it will be issued for use, holes or no holes. We were fed the "last" of the Korean war era C rations in the mid 1970s. They were still "servicable" (officially) and were issued, and ...eaten. In fact, most of us actually preferred them to the new "Vietnam" era C-rats...the older ones had smokes in them!

cannonfire · August 7, 2012, 10:23 PM

6 years in the marines and I've only ever saw the ones without holes.

Edit: that was with the m240. Never saw an m60.

medalguy · August 8, 2012, 06:53 PM

Shot a lot of M60 but never seen links without the holes. Are they US or foreign?

**James K** · August 8, 2012, 08:59 PM

AFAIK, the holes are for weight reduction and have no functional purpose.

Jim

insomni · August 10, 2012, 08:24 PM

current US 7.62 belts have no hole.
but some of the other nato ammo does. (British I THINK?)
5.56mm link DOES have a hole,

plouffedaddy · August 11, 2012, 03:20 PM

Quote:

current US 7.62 belts have no hole.
but some of the other nato ammo does. (British I THINK?)
5.56mm link DOES have a hole,

This has been my experience as well. I just was at a M240 qual range about 2 weeks ago so the info's pretty current.

August 6, 2012, 04:09 PM	#1
Jack_Bauer24 Senior Member Join Date: August 16, 2007 Posts: 126	M60, M13 Link Question Which of these types of M13 links are the US Military currently using the ones with or without the hole in it? M13 Link With Hole M13 Link Without Hole __________________ "When the people fear the govt there is tyranny, when the govt fears the people there is liberty." Thomas Jefferson

August 6, 2012, 11:42 PM	#2
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 9,041	links with holes were the standard when I was in, back in the 70s. Can't tell you what the official standard is today, or even if there is one. But I can tell you that its highly likely whichever one is in inventory is the one that will be used. And by that I mean that as long as the ammo is considered servicable, it will be issued for use, holes or no holes. We were fed the "last" of the Korean war era C rations in the mid 1970s. They were still "servicable" (officially) and were issued, and ...eaten. In fact, most of us actually preferred them to the new "Vietnam" era C-rats...the older ones had smokes in them! __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

August 7, 2012, 10:23 PM	#3
cannonfire Senior Member Join Date: February 12, 2010 Location: Georgia Posts: 474	6 years in the marines and I've only ever saw the ones without holes. Edit: that was with the m240. Never saw an m60. __________________ Segui il tuo corso e lascia dir le genti - Dante Blaming guns for crime is like blaming the planes for 9/11

August 8, 2012, 08:59 PM	#5
James K Staff Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 16,611	AFAIK, the holes are for weight reduction and have no functional purpose. Jim __________________ Jim K

August 10, 2012, 08:24 PM	#6
insomni Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2011 Posts: 335	current US 7.62 belts have no hole. but some of the other nato ammo does. (British I THINK?) 5.56mm link DOES have a hole, Last edited by insomni; August 10, 2012 at 08:30 PM.

August 8, 2012, 06:53 PM	#4
medalguy Senior Member Join Date: August 31, 2009 Location: New Mexico Posts: 961	Shot a lot of M60 but never seen links without the holes. Are they US or foreign?