I love the .50 cal. We had some ground-pounder fifties mounted on our helicopters in VN till they started shaking out our fillings and the A/C rivets. We soon traded with the Navy and got some specifically made for aircraft mounting. Nothing sounded better when on short final into a hot LZ than to hear those babies open up. Check out my home page where you're looking down the barrel of one.
How soon are the M-2 parts kits going to start turning up as surplus?
Semper Fi and wondering about a trip to Mexico
If I change the barrel and receiver I can probably fire my 30-06 ammo in my .22lr. The stock may have to be modified though.
If the Army needs somebody to take those dirty old machine guns off their hands, I'm available.....
As a special tool for some ops, OK, but otherwise, this project is more money thrown away.
I hope Uncle Sugar in all his infinite wisdom doesnt torch these old venerable war horses
Like he has those Thompsons, M-14s, etc etc....
Put them in cosmoline for long term storage...as well as spare parts...just in case these new fangled replacements dont measure up...and we at least have something of value that actually works and holds up....
imo
A 1 inch gun borders on being a cannon rather than a machine gun.
How about the CMP?
Semper Fi,
Gunnery ping.
Happiness is a belt-fed weapon. One of these days, I'll get around to assembling my 1919A4 kit.
Bang (and it's "Deuce", not "Duce")
bump ..... wonder how much this is : XM-25 ??
XM307 25mm Advanced Crew Served Machine Gun
Mission: Provide vehicle and weapon squads with decisive overmatch capability with high explosive air burst (HEAB) and armor-piercing (AP) ammunition.
Description: The XM307 25mm Advanced Crew Served Machine Gun will replace selected MK-19 grenade machine guns and M-2 heavy machine guns with the next-generation crew served weapon system that will dramatically increase lethality, range, and capability. The XM307 will combine the lethality of a 25mm air-bursting munition, a 25mm AP munition, and an integrated, full solution, Target Acquisition and Fire Control System to produce decisively violent and suppressive target effects and provide a leap ahead in crew served weapons performance.
The Target Acquisition/Fire Control System will incorporate a laser rangefinder, ballistic computer, direct view optics, video sight, electronic compass, thermal capability, and a motion tracker.
The XM307's HEAB munition will be capable of defeating not only exposed targets, but also those in defilade (targets that have taken cover behind structures, terrain features and/or vehicles). The XM307's AP munition will be capable of defeating lightly armored materiel targets.
The weapon's recoil mitigation system allows the gun and tripod to realize great weight savings. Because it is 100 lbs lighter than other crew served weapons, the XM307 (with ammunition) can be easily dismounted from a vehicle and carried into a ground operation by its two-man crew.
The XM312 Lightweight .50 Caliber Machine Gun is a variant of the XM307 that shares approximately 95 percent of the total number of parts. It will replace the heavy barrel M2 and will be approximately one-third the weight. It fires all standard .50 caliber ammunition to include the very effective M903 Saboted Light Armor Penetrator (SLAP) and the MK 211, high explosive (multi-purpose rounds).
XM312 Lightweight .50 Caliber Machine Gun
Mission: Provide vehicle and weapon squads with a very light weight .50 caliber weapon system that is easily dismounted from vehicles for ground mount applications.
Description: The XM312 is a light weight .50 caliber machine gun capable of firing all of the current .50 caliber ammunitions in the inventory. This includes, but not limited to, the standard M33 ball round, the M8 armor piercing incendiary (API), the M903 saboted light armor penetrator (SLAP) and the MK211 multipurposed round that penetrates, fragments, and starts fires.
The .50 caliber XM312 weapon is derived from the 25mm XM307 weapon Advanced Crew Served Weapon (formerly known as the Objective Crew Served Weapon (OCSW)). An XM312 weapon can be created by replacing only five parts in the XM307 weapon. The commonality of these two weapons greatly enhances supportability. First, training is simplified. Operator and maintenance training will both be reduced in scope since the principles of operation and the repair procedures will be very similar. Second, spare and repair parts will be significantly reduced in type, quantity on-hand, and also in manufacturing cost. Safety will be improved through the elimination of the requirement for the operator to adjust headspace and timing. Also, familiarity of one system rather than two separate systems further increases safety.
The XM312 weapon will primarily replace most of the currently fielded M2 .50 caliber machine guns. The XM312 will also be the foundation for the Future Combat System's Common Close Support Weapon system providing a low risk approach and easy growth potential to 25mm air bursting munitions. This spiral development approach provides tremendous flexibility for the Transformation campaign. The XM312 and/or the XM307 are currently planned for mounting on seven of the eight vehicles requiring close support offensive and defensive capabilities. By replacing the 75-year-old M2 machine gun the Army achieves significant reductions in weight and recoil force.
The XM312 weighs approximately one third the weight of the M2 and imparts only one quarter of the recoil. This lighter weight permits easy dismount and ground transportability when necessary and the reduced recoil will lead to greater lethality through increase first burst accuracy.
ping