M2 Machine Gun Gets U.S. Army Makeover

[Gunreference1]

M2 Machine Gun Gets U.S. Army Makeover

By Brendan McGarry and Tony Capaccio - Jan 23, 2012 10:00 PM MT

The U.S. Army’s “Ma Deuce,” the .50-caliber M2 machine gun wielded by World War II hero Audie Murphy, is being revamped to prevent malfunctions that have injured dozens of soldiers.

Congress shifted $34 million at the Army’s request to supplement $15 million originally sought in this year’s defense budget for modifications to correct a “safety issue” with the M2, according to the conference report (http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CRPT-112hrpt331/pdf/CRPT-112hrpt331.pdf) accompanying legislation. The funds may benefit gunmakers General Dynamics Corp. (GD) (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/quote?ticker=GD:US) and U.S. Ordnance Inc.

To read the rest of the story click the link below.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-24/m2-machine-gun-gets-u-s-army-makeover.html

Steve

[old Grump]

Setting them involves screwing in the barrel, listening for clicks and making adjustments with a small tool. “It’s a very tedious process,” Ryan said. “It can take upwards of 20 minutes on a really bad day.”

Ohh-kay - 20 minutes?

I'm all for the quick change barrel, grabbing hold of that hot barrel with the supplied gloves was a torture test of pain endurance and guts but once the clean cold barrel was on it was a minute job if the operator had a clue to what he was doing. I'm betting problems came when the operator didn't have or if he had didn't know how to use the Go/No go gauge and he guessed and goshed it.

Still I am all for an improvement, even John Browning's old 1911 has been tweaked for the better by skilled gunsmiths. Everything walking, talking, sliding, floating, rolling, flying or running can be improved.

[raxar]

Thank God, I feared they made it "tactical"

[btcave]

Many of the units using these in the turret of a truck are not combat arms. They don't take the training of the weapon system serious and then their soldiers can't use the weapon other than to remove the safety and fire and maybe reload. There is more to operating a Ma Deuce than that. As OG said above, they never took the training seriously and it bit them when it counted.

[Texas Soldado]

It will be an improvement if 'headspace and timing' is eliminated. definitely.:bigun2:

[Schuetzenman]

Interesting link article. Thanks for posting it.

[1 Patriot-of-many]

I'd hate to have a .50 explode with a bad headspace setting! It'd ruin my whole.....life.

[1 Patriot-of-many]

It will be an improvement if 'headspace and timing' is eliminated. definitely.:bigun2: That would be interesting if it were a possibility. First guy to figure that out is almost as rich as the first guy to invent a pill that dissolves and expels fat from the body.

[slamfire51]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Px0wErIeJI

[old Grump]

Can't help it and I'm glad I wasn't part of that crew but I crack up everytime I see that clip.