The belts for the M53 Yugo and the MG42 are the same. These belts will also fit the MG34. Of course I'm talking about 8mm (7.92x57) belts. They were manufactured in several different countries with the most common being the German WWII belts. The German WWII came in two different but interchangeable styles: 1) the early non-ribbed style and 2) the (not surprising!!!) late ribbed so called "low friction" style. There were several different variations of the ribbed style. Makes for interesting collecting. The early ones were date stamped as were some of the late style ones. All German WWII ones were waffenampt marked. I suggets getting Folke Myrvang's book on the MG34 and MG42, Universal German Machine Guns. He devotes a whole section to just belts.
I've got a few Yugo belts and they are functionally interchangeable but may be marked and manufactured a little different.
On all belts, the individual links are held together by a wire coil, probably of stainless material.
ALL of the 8mm belts (German and Yugo) will load properly in a Gurtfuller 34"coffee grinder" loader . This is the type that SARCO is selling and although they may be selling postwar Yugo mfg item it is identical except for markings.
There are also 7.62 NATO belts (DM-1) belts but those are a different matter. Robertrtg in Arizona and others are selling those belts. They are somewhat different but look very similar. They are made for the slightly fatter 7.62 casing.
OREO
