[Chainmail]

Headspace and timing (and lubrication) for the .50 caliber M2 are critical yet you'd be amazed how few people seemed aware of the need.

In 1978 I had to investigate an accident that occurred aboard a minesweeper in the mid-Atlantic. A Gunner's Mate had set up a .50 on a pedestal mount for some gunnery practice but he was in no way trained to do so. The first time he tried to chamber a round. it failed to fire. He tried again and the round fired about 1 inch out of battery. The brass fragments from the cartridge case riddled his groin and upper legs and he was bleeding out from dozens of wounds.

A Soviet AGI intelligence (spy) ship was in the vicinity and heard the emergency call and transferred the wounded Gunner's Mate to their hospital spaces and saved his life.

One of those few good moments in the Cold War.

[Squantos]

MaDuce headspace..... when in doubt all the way in and two and a half out. Guess I was lucky in my career as I only saw a headspace gauge at the range.