M2 50 Caliber Machine Gun

M2 50 Caliber Machine Gun

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Machine Guns and Machine Gunnery

M2 50 Caliber Machine Gun

Characteristics:

The M2 50 Caliber Machine gun is a Heavy Machine Gun that is Belt fed, recoil-operated, air-cooled, crew-served, capable of single shot or automatic fire and operates on the short recoil principle

Ranges:

    • Max Range: 7400 yds or 6767m
    • Max effective (area): 2000 yds or 1829m
    • Max effective (point): 1500m
    • Grazing: 700m
    • Tracer: 900m

Rates of Fire:

  • Sustained: 40 rds or less a min, 6 - 9 rd burst, 10 - 15s pause, barrel change at the end of day
  • Rapid: 40 rds or more in a min, 6 - 9 rd burst, 5 - 10s pause, barrel change every 60 minutes
  • Cyclic: 450 rds - 600 rds in a min, continuous burst

Condition Codes:

  • Condition 4: Bolt forward, no rds in feedway, no rd in chamber, cover closed, wpn on Safe and Single 
  • Condition 3: Bolt forward, rds in feedway, 1st rd held by belt holding paw, no rd in chamber, cover closed, wpn on Safe and Single
  • Condition 2: Bolt forward, rds in feedway, 1st rd against cartridge stop grasped by extractor, no rd in chamber, cover closed, wpn on Safe and Single. 
  • ANNOUNCE “HALF LOAD!”  
  • Condition 1: Bolt forward, rds in feedway, rd in chamber, cover closed, wpn on Safe and Single
  • ANNOUNCE “FULL LOAD!”

 

Immediate Action:

  • Sound off “Misfire” (x3)
  • Wait 5 seconds for a hang fire
  • Pull Retracting Slide Handle to rear, observe for feeding and ejecting
  • If you have feeding and ejecting, continue on with mission
  • If you DO NOT or 2nd consecutive misfire, go into PAD’s
  • PADs:
  1. Place weapon on Safe
  2. Assume live round in Chamber
  3. Determine whether the barrel is hot or cold.

 

  • Hot Barrel:
    • More than 150rds within 2 minutes
    • Long continuous bursts
    • 15mins since last deemed a hot barrel
    • Vehicle Commander or Team Leader deems it hot
  • If hot, wait 15mins for barrel to cool down
  • Once cold, unload and clear weapon, go into CCLI
    • Clean
    • Care
    • Lubricate 
    • Inspect

Major Components: 

(U.S. Department of the Army. (2017). Heavy Machine Gun M2 Series: TC 3-22.50)

Significance:

The M2 is renowned for its durability, reliability, and firepower. Its capability to deliver sustained fire, coupled with its ability to penetrate armored targets and provide long-range support, makes it a critical asset in various combat scenarios, including infantry operations, vehicle-mounted applications, and air and naval operations.

***Disclaimer: This is not advice or an instructional. We do not represent the DOD.***

***Purely for Educational Purposes only.***

You can purchase the full publication for Machine Guns and Machine Gunnery using our Amazon-affiliated link below

Machine Guns and Machine Gunnery

For Basic Machine Gun Gunnery. Click the Link Below

 Basic Machine Gun Gunnery

 

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