M2 — .50 Caliber Machine Gun

• Defend against low-flying hostile aircraft,
• Support the infantryman in both attack and defense,
• Destroy lightly armored vehicles,
• Provide protection for motor movements, vehicle parks and train bivouacs, and
• Reconnaissance by fire on suspected enemy positions.

84 lbs.
_{(FM 3-22.65 Mar 2005 / 1-2 / PDF 12)}

FM 3-22.65.

Incorrect head space adjustment can cause a malfunction of the gun and lead to sluggish operation or failure to function freely.
_{(FM3-22.65 Mar 2005 / 4-1 / PDF 61)}

45 inches.
_{(FM 3-22.65 Mar 2005 / 1-2 / PDF 12)}

6,764 meters.
_{(FM 3-22.65 Mar 2005 / 1-2 / PDF 12)}

3050 feet per second.
_{(FM 3-22.65 Mar 2005 / 1-2 / PDF 12)}

The Browning machine gun caliber .50 HB, M2 is a belt-fed, recoil-operated, air-cooled, crew-served machine gun. The gun is capable of single shot, as well as automatic fire, and operates on the short recoil principle.
_{(FM 3-22.65 Mar 2005 / 1-2 / PDF 10)}

• Point targets, single shot — 1,500 meters.
• Area shot — 1,830 meters.
(FM 3-22.65 Mar 2005 / 1-2 / PDF 12)

• Single shot.
• Slow.
• Rapid.
• Cyclic.
_{(FM 3-22.65 Mar 2005 / 5-10 / PDF 85)}

Place the gun in the single-shot mode and engage the target with aimed shots. The machine gun is accurate out to 1,500 meters.
_{(FM 3-22.65 Mar 2005 / 5-10 / PDF 85)}

Slow fire consists of less than 40 rounds per minute, in bursts of five to seven rounds, fired at 10- to 15-second intervals.
_{(FM 3-22.65 Mar 2005 / 5-10 / PDF 85)}

Rapid fire consists of more than 40 rounds per minute, fired in bursts of five to seven rounds, at 5- to 10-second
intervals.
_{(FM 3-22.65 Mar 2005 / 5-10 / PDF 86)}

Cyclic fire is when the weapon fires 450 to 550 rounds per minute.
_{(FM 3-22.65Mar 2005 / 5-10 / PDF 86)}

Approximately 65.13 inches.
_{(FM 3-22.65 Mar 2005 / 1-2 / PDF 12)}

450–550 rounds a minute
_{(FM 3-22.65 Mar 2005 / 1-2 / PDF 12)}

A semi-fixed blade type with cover.
_{(FM 3-22.65 Mar 2005 / 1-2 / PDF 10)}

A leaf type rear sight graduated in both yards and mils.
_{(FM 3-22.65 Mar 2005 / 1-2 / PDF 10)}

• Failure to function freely.
• Uncontrolled automatic fire.
_{(FM 3-22.65 Mar 2005 / 4-1 / PDF 61)}

• Failure to feed.
• Chamber.
• Lock.
• Fire.
• Unlock.
• Extract.
• Eject.
• Cock.
_{(FM 3-22.65 Mar 2005 / 4-2 / PDF 61)}

1. Barrel Group.
2. Carrier Assembly.
3. Back plate Group.
4. Receiver Group.
5. Bolt Stud.
6. Cover Group.
7. Barrel Buffer Body.
8. Barrel extension group.
9. Bolt Group.
10. Driving Spring Rod Assembly.
_{(FM 3-22.65 Mar 2005 / 1-3 / PDF 14)}

If machine gun fails to fire, take the following action:
1. Wait 5 seconds; a hang fire may be causing the misfire. In the next 5 seconds, pull the bolt to the rear (check for ejection and feeding of belt), release it, re-lay on the target, and attempt to fire. If the bolt-latch release and trigger are depressed at the same time, the bolt goes forward and the weapon should fire automatically.
2. If the gun again fails to fire, wait another 5 seconds, pull the bolt to the rear (engage with the bolt latch if applicable), and return the retracting slide handle to its forward position. Open the cover and remove the belted ammunition. Inspect the gun to determine the cause of stoppage.

A hang fire or cook off can cause injury to personnel or damage to the weapon. To avoid these, the gunner must take the following precautions:
1. Always keep the round locked in the chamber the first 5 seconds after a misfire occurs. This prevents an explosion outside of the gun in event of a hang fire.
2. If the barrel is hot, the round must be extracted within the next 5 seconds to prevent a cook off. When more than 150 rounds have been fired in a 2-minute period, the barrel is hot enough to produce a cook off.
3. If the barrel is hot and the round cannot be extracted within the 10 seconds, it must remain locked in the chamber for at least 5 minutes, to guard against a cook off.
4. Keep the gun cover closed during the waiting periods.
_{(FM 3-22.65 Mar 2005 / 4-3 / PDF 63)}