Posted on 11/11/2016 6:49:52 AM PST by w1n1
In this video an FN M-249 machine gun is being fired on fully automatic non-stop and its amazing to watch. However, for those that have served in the military and have been taught to employ one in training. The weapon is used in providing cover or suppressive fire in short burst, not on full automatic.
On the other hand yes, it does look very cool to see the red-cherry hot glow on the barrel. Or you might be the other person that is an M249 lover, and may see this as weapon abuse. You just don't abuse the weapon that may save your life. In any case, we're sure you have probably never witnessed a belt-fed machine gun shot this long. The FN M249 machine gun sure can shoot. See the M249 in action here.
Wonder how much a new barrel costs?
My dad used to tell me they had to whiz on their Browning machine gun barrels to keep it from melting—because the Chi-Coms, in Korea, just kept running down the hills (mostly unarmed—until the guy with the rifle dropped. Then it was the job of the unarmed guy to pick it up and keep running at you).
Wow, I bet he shot about a thousand dollars worth of ammo in a little less than a minute.
With the M16A2, you had a three-round burst. However, I preferred to keep it single-shot because I could actually get more rounds out that way.
Short, controlled bursts.
But that’s nowhere near as fun as this looked.
Darwin missed an opportunity. Given the pressure involved, heating a barrel until it enters a plastic state is not a very smart thing to do.
The 249 has a quick change barrel.
for a reason
The Browning M2 has a quick change barrel (and asbestos mittens)...for good reason. They do heat up quick.
Expensive fun given the cost of ammo.
When Browning’s first machine gun was tested, the Navy had stated they wanted a machine gun capable of sweeping the decks of enemy ships for five minutes.
Browning prepared the gun himself. Enough linked ammo was ready for a five minute test. It was conducted in the Colt factory’s basement.
After five minutes of continuous firing, everyone was in shock. The noise was so intense that people thought it might have awakened the ghost of Samuel Colt.
This was before 1900.
Looks like he was shooting at an indoor gun range. So, hey! It’s a rental!
My brother-in-law saw the same thing in Korea. He said the first Chinese wave had rifles, the second wave had spears, knives, sticks, clubs.
The third wave had nothing but rocks and were expected to pick up dropped rifles.
China had so many excess men that they thought nothing of turning loose a mass in an attack on the UN troops. Just more men they did not need to feed if killed. Besides there seemed to be an unlimited supply of them.
My dad said when they started that bugle blowing, the horde was on it’s way. He said their strategy was hoping we couldn’t kill them fast enough. He also the Chinese would dope up their soldiers so much (to have the courage to run into fire) that many up them fell and rolled down the hills and could barely run being so doped up.
My dad tells my little brother more than he did me. I’m the oldest (and closest to that time, I guess. Thus he didn’t want to talk about it). But for decades I grew up thinking he was a preacher’s helper and cook’s helper—because that’s what I was told when I would bring up, “Daddy, what did you do in the war” questions.
Found out from uncles and some stories from my brother—he was in the thick of it. Including hand to hand in fox holes.
Many years ago I read the autobiography of Mao’s personal doctor. An American, of course.
He said that Mao sent the Red Army veterans of the revolution to Korea to get them killed, so he wouldn’t have to worry about them.
Ma Duces were glowing also during the Korean War at Inchon.
Yea, but ya gotta be able to get hold of the damned thing first ;-)
That’s the assistant gunner’s problem.
LOL !
I hope that started as a shot-out barrel, because it sure ended as one.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.