M2 .50 Cal Machinegun Overview a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i. j.

Characteristics Clearing Weapons conditions Nomenclature Disassembly Assembly Loading and unloading Headspace and timing Immediate actions Remedial action

1. Characteristics a. Belt fed, recoil operated, air cooled, crew served machinegun with the ability to shoot in the single shot or automatic fire position. It operates on the short recoil principle. i. Explain the above to a general understanding level. b. Weight a. Receiver 58 lbs (26.3kilogram) b. Barrel 26 lbs (11.793kilogram) c. M3 tripod with T&E and pintle 44 lbs (19.958kilogram) d. Total with gun and tripod 128 lbs (58.06kilogram) 1. Explain the importance of weight and the thought considerations that go into planning a movement or an engagement. c. Operational characteristics a. single shot or automatic fire b. Max. range 6767 meters c. Max effective range 1829 meters d. Muzzle velocity 3050 feet per second (929.64 meter per second) d. Rates of fire a. Cyclic 450-550 rpm b. Rapid 40 rds or more per minute c. Sustained 40 rds or less per minute e. Lengths a. Overall gun length 65 inches (165.1 cm)

b. Barrel 45 inches (114.3cm)

Note: At this time the students will break down into small groups, as feasible, around the guns for the rest of the period of instruction and follow along with the instructor with the aid of the asst. instructors. 2. Clearing- Gunner must maintain positive control of the bolt at All times. a. unlock the bolt latch release b. Pull retracting slide handle to the rear and hold it to the rear. c. Raise the cover d. Remove the ammunition belt from the feed way e. Visually and physically inspect the chamber and T-slot for rounds. f. If there is a round on the T-slot, pull the bolt to the rear an additional 1/16 of an inch to the rear. g. Push round up and out of the T-slot by reaching under the gun and force the round up the face of the bolt. h. Utilizing a cleaning rod insert in muzzle end of weapon until it can be seen in the chamber then remove. i. Press the bolt release and ease the bolt forward with retracting slide handle.
3. Weapon conditions a. Condition 4: Bolt forward, no round on the feed way, no round in the chamber cover closed and weapon on safe in single mode. b. Condition 3: Bolt forward, rounds on the feed way, 1st round held by the belt holding pawl, no round in the chamber, cover closed. Weapon is on safe and is on safe and is either in single or automatic mode. c. Condition 2: Bolt forward, rounds on the feed way, 1st round against the cartridge stop, grasped by the extractor assembly, no round in the chamber, cover closed. Weapon on safe and either single shot or automatic. (half-load) d. Condition 1: Bolt forward, rounds on the feed way, round in the chamber, cover closed. Weapon on safe and either single shot or automatic.

4. Nomenclature a. Barrel group b. Receiver c. Bolt group d. Barrel buffer group e. Barrel extension group

Note: This is the point where the students will start the dis/ass with the instructor. The above will be as far as the students will take down the guns. At this time we will discuss the function of each part, how to inspect for damage and how to apply lubrication in its various forms. Functions check with the new safety system will also be instructed in a hand on format.
5. Loading- cover closed a. Ensure the bolt is in the forward position and weapon on safe. b. close the cover. c. Insert the double-loop end in first until the belt-holding paws engage the first round. d. Pull the retracting handle to the rear and release it. If the weapon is in automatic mode the bolt and retracting handle will move forward on its own from the pressure of the driving spring group, if it is in single shot mode then move the retracting handle forward and press the bolt latch release to allow the bolt to go forward. You are now at half load. Repeat the process once more for a full load. 6. Loading- cover open a. Ensure the bolt is in the forward position and weapon on safe. b. Insert the double-loop end in first until the belt-holding paws engage the first round. c. . close the cover. d. . Pull the retracting handle to the rear and release it. If the weapon is in automatic mode the bolt and retracting handle will move forward on its own from the pressure of the driving spring group, if it is in single shot mode then move the retracting handle forward and press the bolt latch release to allow the bolt to go forward. You are now at half load. Repeat the process once more for a full load.

7. Unloading a. To unload the machinegun. The gunner must first ensure that the weapon is in the single shot mode. The cover is then lifted and the assistant gunner removes the ammunition belt from the feed way. The bolt is the locked to the rear, the chamber and the T-slot are examined to ensure they are not holding rounds. Then a cleaning rod is inserted from the barrel end through to the face of the bolt. 8. Headspace a. The distance between the face of the bolt and the base of the cartridge case, fully seated in the chamber is called headspace. The headspace is checked with a gauge that is marked NO GO and GO. 1. Raise the cover, retract the recoiling parts, aligning the lug on the barrel locking spring with the 3/8 inch hole in the right side of the receiver, and screw the barrel all the way into the barrel extension. Then unscrew the barrel two notches. Conduct a barrel check by twisting the barrel to ensure it is locked into the barrel extension. 2. Cock the gun by retracting the bolt group to the rear and sending it forward by pressing the bolt latch release. 3. Pull the retracting handle 1/16 inch to the rear to relieve pressure on the trunion block and insert the go gage into the T-slot. If the go gage will not go, headspace is too tight. Unscrew the barrel one notch at a time and continue until the go gage fits. 4. Remove the gage from the T-slot. 5. Insert the no-go gage if the gage slips in then headspace is too loose and the barrel must be tighten until it does not enter the T-slot. 6. When the go gage goes and the no-gage does not enter the T-slot then headspace is properly set. 9. Timing a. Timing is the adjustment of the weapon so that firing takes place when the recoiling groups are between .020 and .116 inches out of battery. This prevents the contact between the front end of the barrel extension and the trunnion block. 1. Pull bolt to rear with retracting slide handle to cock machine gun; while holding handle, depress the bolt latch release and slowly return bolt forward. Do not press trigger. 2. Grasp retracting slide handle and retract bolt just enough to insert NO FIRE gage with beveled edge against barrel notches between barrel

Extension and trunnion block. Release retracting slide handle slowly. 3. Depress the trigger firmly, attempting to release the firing pin. The firing pin should not release. If it does the gun is times to fire early and must be adjusted. 4. To correct this pull the retracting handles to the rear and allow the bolt to go home. Insert the fire gage into the gun. Remove the back plate. 5. Unscrew the timing adjustment nut to the left until it is resting on the bottom end of the timing post assembly. 6. Attempt to fire by pressing up on the trigger bar, if the weapon does not fire turn the timing nut to the right (up to the trigger bar assembly). 1 click and attempt to fire. Once the firing pin releases turn the nut 2 more clicks to the right and replace the back plate. 7. Charge the weapon by pulling the retracting handles to the rear. Place the NO FIRE gage in ands attempt to release the firing pin by pressing on the butterfly trigger, weapon should not fire. If weapon does fire begin with step 4. 8. If the firing pin does not release place the FIRE gage into the weapon and again attempt to release the firing pin by depressing the butter fly trigger. If the firing pin releases then timing is set, if the firing pin does not release then begin the process at step 4. 10. Immediate actions a. Sound MISFIRE b. Wait 5 seconds for a hang fire c. Charge the weapon within the next 5 seconds to guard against a cook off, sling shot the retracting slide handle observing for feeding and ejection. 11. Remedial Action a. Should only utilized after 3 failed immediate actions b. Ensure the gun is in single shot mode and pull the retracting slide to the rear. c. Open the cover d. Keep retracting slide handle to the rear e. Physically and visually inspect for cartridge in the chamber and T-slot. f. If round is present in the chamber, insert a cleaning rod into the muzzle end of the machinegun and gently tap the round/casing from the chamber

g. If a round is on the T-slot pull the retracting handle to the rear and remove round from the face of the bolt by pushing up on the round. h. Return bolt to the forward position and inspect the weapon for the cause of the stoppage.