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M2 Machine Gun
Model: M2 Browning heavy machine gunThe M2 is one of the longest-lived machine gun designs in the world. It was first designed during World War I as an anti-tank weapon, but after the war ended it was retooled as a heavy machine gun for both infantry support and vehicle mountings. It is essentially a scaled-up Browning M1919 chambered for the .50 BMG (Browning Machine Gun) round, a massive upscaled .30-06 round designed for the M2.
The M2, also known by the nicknames Ma Deuce or fifty-cal, is powerful enough to not only easily kill armored soldiers, but also disable light vehicles and low-flying aircraft or chew through light fortifications.
There are a few variants of the air-cooled machine gun. The M2HB has a thicker barrel to prevent overheating. A lightweight version weighs only 60 pounds (27 kg), while the M2-E50 includes a quick-change barrel, rail accessory mount, manual safety, and improved flash hider. However, the E50 is currently only a conversion kit for existing weapons with the assumption that future M2s will be built to E50 standards. This gun has also been referred to as the M2E2 or M2A1. The M2 has even been converted into a sniper rifle.
Where to find:
The M2 is the primary heavy machine gun of all NATO countries and has seen extensive use outside of NATO as well. It is extremely difficult to get a hold of as a civilian, and is not legal to own in all states. Even so, the gun is very expensive. Fortunately, a large number of US military vehicles use the M2 and it is often deployed as an infantry support weapon.
Complexity:
The M2 will take quite a bit of brains to load and fire. It's very heavy, requiring some type of mount (typically a tripod) for usage. The loading is rather long except with highly-trained operators and easy to mess up, and the barrel also requires changing during extended fire due to overheating.
Size and weight:
Weight 38 kg (83.78 lbs) Barrel length 1143 mm (45 in.) Overall length 1650 mm (65 in.)
Action:
Fully automatic, short recoil-operated
Caliber(s):
.50 BMG (12.7x99mm NATO)
Magazine:
Belt-fed (M2 or M9 disintegrating links)
Trigger:
Single action. New models have triggers in the hand grips while older models have spade grips and "butterfly" triggers pressed down
with the thumbs.Controls:
Except for the M2-E50, the standard machine gun includes no safety, though USMC armorers have been fielded a sliding safety for installation on their guns and a number of soldiers wedge an empty casing under the butterfly triggers to prevent them from being pressed. The feed tray cover is on top of the receiver and must be lifted for loading. The charging handle and bolt latch release are on the right side of the receiver.
Loading: How to load the firearm and make ready to fire.
Condition One, or "Locked and Cocked." Chamber loaded, magazine full, hammer cocked and safety applied.
1) Point the gun in a safe direction. Critical step in case the gun accidentally discharges.
2) Press the lever on the right side of the feed tray cover to release it and lift the cover up.
3) Feed the ammo belt with the double-loop side first past the feeder pawls. If the belt does not slip out, it's properly locked. Look on top of the belt links to ensure that the M2 or M9 marking is face-up.
4) Close the feed tray cover.
5) Place your hand on the charging handle, palm up. Pull the charging handle all the way back. Slowly let the bolt slide forward without letting go. (If the bolt-latch release is up, slide the handle forward then release the latch.)
6) Grab the charging handle, again with your palm up. Pull back and release the handle. When the bolt slides forward the weapon is loaded.
7) Place an empty shell casing under the trigger to prevent it from being pressed.
Condition Two. Chamber loaded, magazine full, hammer down, safety off.
This cannot be done with this weapon, as it does not have an external hammer.
Condition Three. Chamber empty, magazine full, hammer down, safety off.
1) Point the gun in a safe direction. Critical step in case the gun accidentally discharges.
2) Press the lever on the right side of the feed tray cover to release it and lift the cover up.
3) Feed the ammo belt with the double-loop side first past the feeder pawls. If the belt does not slip out, it's properly locked. Look on top of the belt links to ensure that the M2 or M9 marking is face-up.
4) Close the feed tray cover.
5) Place your hand on the charging handle, palm up. Pull the charging handle all the way back. Slowly let the bolt slide forward without letting go. (If the bolt-latch release is up, slide the handle forward then release the latch.)
Unloading:
1) Point the gun in a safe direction. Critical step in case the gun accidentally discharges.
2) Open the feed tray cover and remove the ammo belt.
3) Close the feed tray cover.
4) Pull the charging handle back to let the live round in the chamber drop free to the ground.
Field Stripping:
1) The latch and latch lock are located at the bottom of the
backplate.
2) Using a punch, release the recoil spring-rod assembly.
3) Push bolt to rear and remove bolt stud (if equipped with retracting slide) or bolt handle.
4) Use a punch to depress the lockframe pin.
5) Push the whole barrel assembly out the rear of the receiver.
6) Remove the lockframe from the barrel extension.
7) Remove the barrel by lifting the retaining spring and unscrewing it.
Design Quirks:
The gun has a bolt-latch release that affects whether the gun is fully automatic. If the bolt-latch release is up, the weapon fires in single-shot and the release must be pressed after each shot to reload the gun.
John_234 |
Latest page update: made by John_234
, Oct 15 2011, 11:47 PM EDT
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