M2 M2HB Browning 50 caliber Machine Gun

The Browning M2 .50 caliber (12.7mm) Machine Gun, is a World War II era automatic, belt-fed, recoil operated, air-cooled, crew-operated machine gun. It is currently fielded by 20 different militaries around the world.

The M2 machine gun is crew transportable with limited amounts of ammunition over short distances. This Browning machine gun has a back plate with spade grips, trigger, and bolt latch release. The gun is equipped with leaf-type rear sight, flash suppressor and a spare barrel assembly. By repositioning some of the component parts, ammunition may be fed from either the left or right side. A disintegrating metallic link-belt is used to feed the ammunition into the weapon. The gun is capable of single-shot (ground M2), as well as automatic fire.

The M2 HB machine gun is used to engage dismounted infantry, crew-served weapons, ATGM teams, light-armor vehicles, and aircraft. The M2 fires from the closed-bolt position and is belt fed, recoil operated, air cooled, and crew operated. The gun is capable of single shot and automatic fire. The AN/TVS-5 night-vision sight can be used with the M2 machine gun.

The preferred combat ammunition mix for the M2 HB machine gun is four (API-M8) and one (API-T-M20). Maximum effective range is 1,830 meters.

M2 Machine Gun Builder: Saco Defense
Numerous manufacturers originally produced the M2 Heavy Machine Gun.
M2 Length: 61.42 inches (156 centimeters)
Weight Gun: 84 pounds (38 kilograms)
M3 Tripod (Complete): 44 pounds (19.98 kilograms)
Total: 128 pounds (58 kilograms)
Bore diameter: .50 inches (12.7mm)
M2 Maximum effective range: 2000 meters with tripod mount
M2 Maximum range: 4.22 miles (6.8 kilometers)
M2 Maximum effective range: is 1,830 meters
Cyclic rate of fire: 550 rounds per minute
Unit Replacement Cost: $14,002

The .50-caliber machine gun fires cartridges 6 inches long and a half-inch in diameter. The .50 caliber ammo is belt fed using disintegrating metal links. Link to .50 caliber ammo types.

M2 HB CALIBER .50 MACHINE GUN
M2 AMMUNITION	USE
M2 Ball	In marksmanship training against personnel and light, materiel targets.
M1 Tracer	To aid in observing fire. Secondary purposes are for incendiary effect and signaling.
M2 Armor-piercing	Against armored aircraft, light-armor vehicles, concrete shelters, and other bullet-resisting targets.
M1 Incendiary	Incendiary effect, especially against aircraft.
M8 Armor-piercing	Combined armor-piercing and incendiary effect.
M20 Armor-piercing	Combined armor-piercing and incendiary effect, with the additional tracer feature.
M903 SLAP	Saboted, light-armor penetrating.
M962 SLAP	Saboted, light-armor penetrating, with tracer.
M1 Blank	For simulated fire (contains no bullet).
M2 Dummy	For training (completely inert).

Browning M2HB .50 caliber Machine Gun

M2 .50 Caliber Ma Duce

M2 Machine Gun

.50 Caliber - 12.7mm Browning Machine Gun

Link: M2HB Machine Gun in Action

M2 .50 Caliber Ma Duce