Question on the JGSDF .50 cal. Ammo box is hung on the left side. Spent shell chute is on the right.Below the barrel is what looks like a bag for spent shells, but it's location would not allow shells to get in it. What is it's function?

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From http://dev.imfdb.org/wiki/Browning_M2 :

"Videogames often make the mistake of showing the M2 ejecting spent casings out of the side it is not feeding from: in actuality the M2 only ejects belt links this way, with spent casings being ejected from a chute underneath the receiver."

I guess there may be a gutter-shaped chute (not visible in the picture above) going down to the front-mounted bag ?

You can see the ejected spent casing at 6:18 in the video below :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuZ5VrLQ1ek

EDIT : looks like there's a chute indeed (Type 90 tank):



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H.P.

The M2 ejects the spent cartridges downward while the links are ejected to the side. Same for the MK19 MOD III (minus the links part) and the M240.

Ah. That makes sense. Never seen anything set up that way on other M2s. I see the chute on the Type 90. In the kits it is solid , doesn't look like a chute. Thanks , guys.