A machine gun (e.g., a minigun) has a delinker including cylindrical or round pushrods inserted in complementary slots in a carrier. The generally cylindrical pushrod and corresponding slots in the carrier require less machining steps than prior rectangular, T shaped or H shaped pushrods and complementary carrier slots making them faster and less expensive to produce and replace. The cylindrical pushrods apply force evenly to heads of ammunition cartridges received in the delinker as they push rounds forward within the delinker such that the rounds are not forced outward from a longitudinal axis of the delinker by the pushrod as the pushrod. A front face of the pushrod has a recess corresponding to a primer of the ammunition cartridge pushed forward by the pushrod within the delinker such that the pushrods do not contact the primer of the ammunition cartridge.

A machine gun (e.g., a minigun) has a delinker including cylindrical or round pushrods inserted in complementary slots in a carrier. The generally cylindrical pushrod and corresponding slots in the carrier require less machining steps than prior rectangular, T shaped or H shaped pushrods and complementary carrier slots making them faster and less expensive to produce and replace. The cylindrical pushrods apply force evenly to heads of ammunition cartridges received in the delinker as they push rounds forward within the delinker such that the rounds are not forced outward from a longitudinal axis of the delinker by the pushrod as the pushrod. A front face of the pushrod has a recess corresponding to a primer of the ammunition cartridge pushed forward by the pushrod within the delinker such that the pushrods do not contact the primer of the ammunition cartridge.

A machine gun (e.g., a minigun) is provided with a delinker including a loaded round indicator. The loaded round indictor is configured to rest flush with an outer surface of a rear door of the delinker when the rear door is closed and an ammunition cartridge is not fully loaded into the delinker. The loaded round indictor is further configured to extend outwardly from the outer surface of the rear door when the rear door is closed and an ammunition cartridge is fully loaded into the delinker.

A machine gun (e.g., a minigun) is provided with a delinker including a loaded round indicator. The loaded round indictor is configured to rest flush with an outer surface of a rear door of the delinker when the rear door is closed and an ammunition cartridge is not fully loaded into the delinker. The loaded round indictor is further configured to extend outwardly from the outer surface of the rear door when the rear door is closed and an ammunition cartridge is fully loaded into the delinker.

A machine gun (e.g., a minigun) has a delinker including cylindrical or round pushrods inserted in complementary slots in a carrier. The generally cylindrical pushrod and corresponding slots in the carrier require less machining steps than prior rectangular, T shaped or H shaped pushrods and complementary carrier slots making them faster and less expensive to produce and replace. The cylindrical pushrods apply force evenly to heads of ammunition cartridges received in the delinker as they push rounds forward within the delinker such that the rounds are not forced outward from a longitudinal axis of the delinker by the pushrod as the pushrod. A front face of the pushrod has a recess corresponding to a primer of the ammunition cartridge pushed forward by the pushrod within the delinker such that the pushrods do not contact the primer of the ammunition cartridge.

A machine gun (e.g., a minigun) has a delinker including cylindrical or round pushrods inserted in complementary slots in a carrier. The generally cylindrical pushrod and corresponding slots in the carrier require less machining steps than prior rectangular, T shaped or H shaped pushrods and complementary carrier slots making them faster and less expensive to produce and replace. The cylindrical pushrods apply force evenly to heads of ammunition cartridges received in the delinker as they push rounds forward within the delinker such that the rounds are not forced outward from a longitudinal axis of the delinker by the pushrod as the pushrod. A front face of the pushrod has a recess corresponding to a primer of the ammunition cartridge pushed forward by the pushrod within the delinker such that the pushrods do not contact the primer of the ammunition cartridge.

A machine gun (e.g., a minigun) is provided with a modular delinker. The front of the delinker (i.e., nose) can be removed from the main body of the delinker without tools. The paddle wheel in the main body includes a front paddle wheel and a rear paddle wheel. The front paddle wheel is removable from the main body with the nose, and the rear paddle wheel remains within the main body on a driven shaft of the delinker when the nose is removed from the main body. Thus, some components of the delinker are accessible and serviceable without tools, and the nose and front paddle wheel may be swapped out without tools out to alter a compatible ammunition cartridge type of the delinker. A jam can be cleared and damaged front and/or rear paddle wheels can be replaced in the field to return a gun to service.

A machine gun (e.g., a minigun) is provided with a modular delinker. The front of the delinker (i.e., nose) can be removed from the main body of the delinker without tools. The paddle wheel in the main body includes a front paddle wheel and a rear paddle wheel. The front paddle wheel is removable from the main body with the nose, and the rear paddle wheel remains within the main body on a driven shaft of the delinker when the nose is removed from the main body. Thus, some components of the delinker are accessible and serviceable without tools, and the nose and front paddle wheel may be swapped out without tools out to alter a compatible ammunition cartridge type of the delinker. A jam can be cleared and damaged front and/or rear paddle wheels can be replaced in the field to return a gun to service.

A belt feed mechanism for a firearm can be oriented with a feed side (or ejection side) of the mechanism on either the left or right side of the firearm when mounted to the firearm. The belt feed mechanism is configured to slide out to the feed side of the mechanism for loading and push back in toward the ejection side of the mechanism to feed ammunition from a disintegrating ammunition belt into the firearm. The belt feed mechanism includes a male ammunition box dovetail extending downward from a cradle of the mechanism configured to insert into a female recess in an ammunition box to hang the ammunition box from the belt feed mechanism.

A belt feed mechanism for a firearm can be oriented with a feed side (or ejection side) of the mechanism on either the left or right side of the firearm when mounted to the firearm. The belt feed mechanism is configured to slide out to the feed side of the mechanism for loading and push back in toward the ejection side of the mechanism to feed ammunition from a disintegrating ammunition belt into the firearm. The belt feed mechanism includes a male ammunition box dovetail extending downward from a cradle of the mechanism configured to insert into a female recess in an ammunition box to hang the ammunition box from the belt feed mechanism.