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*Mongo's Machine Gun Pages*		Stoner 63A Feeding Devices
*Mongo's Machine Gun Pages*
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		Due to the numerous configurations of the Stoner 63A, there are a variety of feeding devices, depending on the configuration. The Stoner weapon system used a magazine specifically designed for it. The magazine will not work with any other weapons nor will the Stoner weapon system accept magazine from other guns. The magazines are continuously curved unlike the M16 magazine. Magazine capacity is 30 rounnds though 20 rnd and 5 rnd magazine were made. The belt fed guns were usually fed from plastic ammo boxes that were specifically made for the Stoner. The first boxes made held 150 rounds. Since the boxes were hung from the feed tray, they tended to make the gun unbalanced so a new ammunition box was designed that held only 100 rnds. Six of these preloaded plastic ammunition boxes would come in a metal ammunition can that looked like the standard 50 cal one but was slightly larger. As you can see in the picture of the feed tray, there is a notch where a tab on the plastic box attached. When the feed cover was down, the box was secure and the ammo covered.

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		Other experiments were tried with various success. The first drum made to feed linked ammo held 100 rounds. This was superseded by the 150 round drum. There is no internal in the drum, the ammunition was placed into the drum in an orderly fashion. The advantage to the drums was the location of the weight directly beneath the centerline of the gun. They balanced well and keep the ammo free of debris. Unfortunately they were not quick to reload and if they ran dry in a fire fight, a loose belt was used until the drum could be reloaded. Drums were made in left and right side feed configurations as well as a few 250 round drums. The SEALs also would take RPD drums that were captured and cobble together mounts in the field to use them on the Stoner.
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©2008 Mongomation
©2008 Mongomation


	A box hanger was soon developed to move the 100 round plastic ammunition boxes from the feed tray to below the gun onto the centerline. These were faster to reload than the drums. When the right hand belt feed mechanism was developed, the bottom slung box hanger was most prevalent with the configuration. Links used in the Stoner weapon system are not exactly like the common M27 link used today by the M249. The link is stamped S63 and has a slightly different pitch than the M27 link. Some guns will feed M27 links without a problem but Reed Knight manufactured some feed paw arms for the belt mechanisms that were specifically designed for the M27 link. These arms are stamped M27 on the bottom to distinguish them from the unmarked Stoner link feed paw arms.