I was a tank mechanic in the Swiss army and had to mount and dismount a turret mounted m2 every day by the books. After the first week of two it feels as natural as locking your front door when leaving in the morning except you got a pair of feeler gauges instead of keys in your hand.
We had one of these on our m113 apc, and they are an utter joy to shoot and maintain. The headspace and timing is easy to master, after a few dozen times, and it is far easier than working with an m60 machine gun. My fondest memory on the range was cutting trees with this monster. After a while, going to the range with an m16 is routine and boring, but with a 50 cal, everyone wanted to shoot it.
Especially if you see a mob of useful idiot SOCIALST UTOPIAN FOOLS attempting anarchist actions towards your area. WE ARE READY FROM NOW ON IF THEY TRY THAT FREE CITY SHIT.
One of the first things I learned when firing the M2 was to always fire longer bursts, 7 rounds or more. It gets surprisingly stable at that point once the weapon and you start working as one fluid piece, much easier to control.
Makes sense. It has a slow enough rate of fire that once you and the gun get over the initial shock of firing the first couple of rounds, you can just chug merrily along.
A guy I worked with said that what you did - was start firing and then walk your fire onto the target. If you just tried to fire a short burst - the gun wouldn't stabilize and you'd never hit anything. .
Walking fire into the target uses up your ammo fast and makes your weapon heat up fast, too. The general rule for getting on target with the M" is as with every other machine gun. A short burst. View the impact and then correct your aim according to the impact. It does climb a fair bit, depending on what kind of mount you got it it, but a rule of thumb is to correct you point of aim from the lowest impact of your previous burst.
The Browning M2: because screw you, the guy behind you, the room you two are in, the building that room is in, and the hearing of everyone in the immediate vicinity.
Having seen a Ma Deuce recoil spring embed itself into a sheetmetal wall locker when someone was stupid enough to remove the backplate with the bolt to the rear, seeing him *CHARGE THE GUN* with the backplate removed caused my heart to skip a beat.
Lil story from my superior about why there is a hole in the wall of the cleaning room (room used to clean the collective weapons) there was this guys that had to clean this 12.7 alone because she came back from afghanistan later, so the man start his shit to clean it up does the security manoeuver and fuck it, the fuck Spring go flying in his shoulder take a lil bit of meat with it and go fucking flying into the wall creating the hole we now know, poor guys was quite shocked
I gasped when he charged the bolt with the backplate off. That "little" recoil spring as he called it in the previous video is extremely powerful. I legitimately couldn't believe that someone who knows the gun would charge it with the backplate off.
as a mechanic, i feel his pain at trying to explain what he is doing . ya do things 1000 times.... and its hard to slow down and show people the little interesting things you just see them as normal other people are like "thats so cool" . "ya, a grab it here, it has more texture...... and....... " (just starts working on the gun)
This is why you want dedicated instructors to teach people what they need to know. Many professionals are very good at what they are doing, but that doesn't make them good instructors. And people are different and learn in different ways, so an instructor constantly have to evaluate his students needs and adjust his instructions accordingly.
Thank you to the people on Patreon who make this possible for those who cannot pay. Happy Christmas to you generous folk and to Ian for make such content possible
I knew someone who flew a B17 in the war and one of the few things he ever mentioned is that maintaining the .50cals was a very involved job for himself as the commander. If a gun was disabled, it meant he could not cover fully all his assigned arcs in formation, and might even have to trade places with another plane, a very shameful thing apparently. So he worked hard to ensure his crew had the tools, spare parts, and as many spare guns as he could manage so he could keep guns pointing every way they were supposed to. Sadly, more than once, keeping enough men intact to man them all proved the bigger problem. His was not a happy war.
He sounds like a great man. It's hard work to stay in top shape with all of this. Without proper maintenance, and without his guns, his plane isn't really any good is it? It sucks that all those men died. Funny, America has never really been invaded or threatened in such a way that we have to summon up an army to defend ourselves. It's always retaliatory invasions... That's better than having no army at all though right?
Indeed. The irony is that the one time Americans fought a great war on their own soil in earnest was the Civil War, and that should have been a solid warning to the world at large that Americans were most stubborn and determined warriors when roused. Germany and Japan didn't heed that warning in 1941, and it fell to men like my kinsman to make them see the error of their ways. He didn't serve with joy, but he served willingly, and didn't regret seeing the Empire of Japan and Nazi Germany alike being brought to ruins by their own folly and his efforts.@@bilbo_gamers6417
@@genericpersonx333 Ah, so World War 2. Yeah, that was probably as close as you can ever get to a justified war... Men like that are why the USSR didn't take over Europe. I mean, if we didn't get involved in Europe, the reds would've "Liberated" men women and children all the way to the ocean. Never a pleasant thing to take part in but unfortunately this war was kind of unavoidable. Good on him for doing his part. That was certainly not an easy job, even just from a logistical perspective. Industry had to be put on overdrive everywhere for our men to even have a chance of staying alive. He saved American lives by doing what he did in the end, in my view.
And lo, it was on the day after Christmas that we gathered all around the world at the RUclipss to bear witness to Gun Jesus performing the Sermon On The Browning M2 Mount. And as the lead was sent downrange and the gun kicked like a mule and the spent casings jingled a hymn to John Moses, we all saw that it was not just good, it was freakin' excellent.
What's also funny is the look of this gun is almost timeless. It looks just as much like a gun from the 1920s as it does a gun from the 1950s and 2000s, even in the 2020s it still looks modern
@@edwardschmitt5710 Obligatory: Depends on the situation, given CAS isn't a simple 1 sized fits all question. quick reaction: multiroles like the F-16 and F/A-18. F-16 has been the top CAS workhorse in Iraqistan since 2006, and the F/A-18 is number two. Why? Because they can get from the airfield to overhead the units needing support faster than anything else quick reaction with the option to loiter: F-35 and F-15E. They can react fast, and they can loiter for 60+ minutes. long loiter: AC-130, A-29 and AT-6. None of them are fast, but neither is the A-10. Where they excel is their ability to stay up for 8+ hours, and hit targets as needed. CAS in high threat environment: F-35. Literally nothing else will make it to the target CAS in low threat environment: A-29 and AT-6. A-10 costs some $17K an hour, while A-29 and AT-6 are around $1500 an hour. Don't need over 10x the cost just to hit a Toyota Hillux A-10 is in a weird limbo where it's too slow for quick reaction, can't loiter as long as other platforms, can't survive high threat environments, and costs over 10X as much as low threat options. Beyond that, CAS is virtually all done with PGMs (precision guided munitions) nowadays anyways, so be it 500lb JDAM or 250lb SDB, or 70mm APKWS, the platform carrying the ordnance doesn't realistically matter. A-10's claims to fame were; GAU-8: could barely even kill base model T-62s, and anything newer/more modern it can't kill. Had to rely almost exclusively on Mavericks in Desert Storm to kill armor, while the 30mm was used to do what even 20mm can do; shoot up unarmored vehicles and lightly armored IFVs. armored: it's realistically not as survivable as people meme it to be. They were the most lost platform of Desert Storm, and weren't even allowed on the front lines for over half of it. Plus, having to fly slow means you're going to take more damage simply because you're an easier target. Iraqi flak claimed more than a few A-10s. Great visual identification: sensors are simply better than the Mk I eyeball. F-35's EOTs can register a person in a window from 70nmi out. A-10 pilots using the Mk I eyeball are responsible for the most friendly fire events of any platform used for CAS. Sensors don't trick you into believing that allied marker is an Iraqi unit badge, the Mk I eyeball does. So what's the advantage beyond simple meme-ery? There realistically isn't one. Sure, it's cheaper than the F-16 or F-35 to operate, but when it can only do COIN, might as well buy A-29s or AT-6s and get the same capability while saving over $2B a year. What could the USAF do with over $20B saved over just a decade? That's almost half the initial B-21 order expected. That's over 250 F-35s. That's the entire RTD&E for the NGAD program. Just from replacing a platform with another
But I should mention, that we germans are trained to save ammo, by shooting short bursts. The MG3 eats whole belts in the blink of an eye, compared to the Ma deuce
Clearest and most useful block of instruction on how to set headspace and timing I have ever seen. Where was this guy 35 years ago when I had 4 M2 ring mounts in my platoon and nobody (including the company armorer) knowing shit from shinola about how to run the guns?
I was C Co. 4/8 8th ID 35 years ago and I can guarantee you that absolutely everyone in our unit was trained to do this. No shit. You had a lousy CO and 1stSgt.
@@Rick-mn5zy We were an MI BN. Even though the guns were assigned to the M-548s carrying the MSQ-103s, nobody had seen an M2 in AIT or subsequent school training. Our supply SGTs doubled as armorers (common, I know), and none of these guys knew what to do with the gun. All of that was moot, as in 2 years I was never able to get .50 ammo added to the yearly training ammo forecast. I wonder how many non combat arms units there are that have M2s assigned but never quite get around to taking them to the range.
I was disappointed that he didn't explain why the "timing" needs to be adjusted. The recoiling parts, the barrel, barrel extension and bolt, are very heavy and if allowed to slam against the trunnion block at the end of their forward movement then the barrel extension and the trunnion block will be smashed and eventually damaged. So the timing causes the cartridge to fire slightly prior to the barrel extension smashing up against the trunnion block so that the recoil slows down the recoiling parts so they make a much gentler contact against the trunnion block. The "fire gauge" is 0.020 inches thick so the gun must fire when there is still at least this much space between the barrel extension and the trunnion. The "no fire gauge" is 0.116 inches thick so the gun should not fire when there is this much space between the barrel extension and the trunnion block. Ideally, the gun fires in the middle of these spaces, when there is about 1/16 th of an inch space, 0.076 inches. The trigger bar is at an angle and it acts like a cam so as the bolt goes forward this cam eventually pushes the sear upwards (at the rear of the bolt) releasing the firing pin. By adjusting the timing wheel it adjusts the height of the trigger bar thereby changing the place where it is high enough to release the firing pin. In one of your other videos on the Oerlikon, that it also fired out of battery . I can't believed that he cocked it with the back plate off. The recoil spring is VERY strong and is on a guide rod that is only held in place by an itty-bitty- pin only about a quarter inch long put into a hole in the side plate.
Excellent post but please let me make some corrections In a proper timed gun the only time barrel extension contacts the trunnion is on the very first shot all parts fully forward. There is no soft contact during automatic fire as the extension will never contact as it recoils before contact Proper timed gun does not fire out of battery and the term battery does not apply to this class of weapon. The term out of battery only applies to Arty. It is slang when used here. The correct term is locked or unlocked
One thing I really miss about my time in the military was the M2. A couple of us working together got so good at swapping barrels we could swap and check headspace and timing in less than 15 sec.
As a former Army armorer, there is a pretty high pucker factor watching someone stand directly behind an M2, with the rear plate off, recoil spring in, and charging the weapon.
@@cuckertarlson3329 Charging the weapon with the backplate off you are betting the little pin holding the recoil spring assembly won't slip. If the recoil spring pops loose under compression it will leave a mark. You wanna risk the recoil spring poking your eye out?
pretty normal for someone with armorer training, and especially true if he worked in a grunt armory. Given his apparent age, he might even have worked as an armorer in a combat theater -- which would have meant that he needed to check headspace on any .50 that needed service or parts.
I rode behind one of these beauties on an ACAV in Vietnam (Blackhorse 11th Cav 68-69). I did my best to keep it cleaned and functioning well. My memory is fading as I cannot remember ever dealing with headspace and timing, however, I was fortunate that I never had to fire so much that I had to put on the heavy gloves we had to effectively change barrels. Thanks for the presentation on history and taking apart on the first video and the firing demonstration with explanation on headspace and timing. Our armorers did a fantastic job as yours does. I am so glad that I never had to fire (in combat) anything more powerful than one of these. Amazingly powerful and accurate when mounted on the cupola of our modified APCs. If you could see it you could hit it out beyond a thousand yards, or right in front of you.
God I miss this gun. All the details I remembered, the tungsten Go/No-Go gauge, the little bump you need to see on the barrel before you set headspace, the feed paw, the little lip you have to engage under the spade grips to take the back off. Blast from the past. I was an M1 Abrams tank platoon leader and I miss the M2 a lot.
I don't think the no go gauge is tungsten. I remember being told that they were expensive to replace because the measurements were so precise. Maybe I'm wrong, wouldn't be the first time.
@@sleepingninjaquiettime Just a standard ground feeler gauge I'd think. Expensive because it's custom, and the military gets reamed a lot harder than they did in WWII.
@@notforsaletoday1895 Under tension that recoil spring and guide can come flying out the back. Instructors used to demonstrate its effect against a sheet of plywood or some such. It's also listed in the Operator's Manual as an official practice that you're not supposed to do. Yeah, there's a detent holding it in place, but think of it like standing in front of a loaded pistol with the safety engaged. I wouldn't do that either.
That's the way it is when you train with a weapon on the reg. I've been out since '07, and I can still do a functions check on an M-16A2, without any thought at all.
Yep, yep, yep. Takes me back to my days in the Army and the infantry guys instructing us POG pukes on weapons systems we SHOULD have been trained on. And yeah, some of those guys could (and did) do stuff like this literally blindfolded. IIRC, the Expert Infantry Badge standard for unloading, disassembling, reassembling, function-checking, reloading, and firing an M240B was something like 2 minutes or less.
Being able to set up a gun practically in your sleep is an important military skill, since in combat you may well need to do it when you are exhausted and have not slept for days.
when I was in the army, this was my favorite weapon. I love everything about the crew serve m.2; just keep in mind, you don't "stay on target" you walk this bad sucker up to your target and say bye to everything around it.
This is why I stuck around until the end of all the videos. It’s a Christmas miracle. I still remember all these procedures from the fifty crew I was in, weird how som things stick with you. By far my favorite crew served weapon.
I still remember it too and I was a Corpsman, but I jumped at every chance to get behind a M2. There's just something comforting about being behind one.
I could never quite figure out until now how the headspace gauge tool for these things worked. I kept trying to see it work like a normal rifle GO or NO-GO gauge. Then actually seeing how the timing is handled as well is a great treat.
@@PBMS123 See my post at the top Serious he did the entire process completely wrong so much so that the Operators manual clearly warns NOT to do all the things did I mean its a perfect demo of what not to do
@@wollywolly2734 So I've never handled the M2 that much, but I just found 3 different manuals that specified 3 different things about timing. Regardless of the manual there is certainly a warning that states not to charge the weapon with the back plate off. However one of the differences I noticed was in the Army manual I found, it has a warning that specifies to not adjust timing with the back plate off, and a note to not attempt to fire the weapon by depressing the trigger bar. In a separate manual from usord(dot)com, it doesn't have either such warning or note, and specifically says to adjust timing with the back plate off, by depressing the trigger bar. A handout from the USMC that I found on training for the M2 states about the same as the army manual, except the warning just states to "Never cock the gun or insert the gauge with the backplate off", but does say to use the trigger bar to fire the weapon (edit for more context)"Screw the timing adjustment nut up (to the right) one click at a time. Push the trigger after each click. Keep doing this until the gun fires. NOTE:You must apply firm pressure to the trigger lever." Just posting this for other people to see, I would generally trust military technical orders, but I'm not an armorer, so maybe the military instructions are that way for a reason and are not actually completely necessary, maybe they're out of date. Depending on whose manual he's following he didn't do anything wrong (except charging it with the back plate off).
Almost 40 years ago I worked on the Peacekeeper ICBM program. At a special test facility we were testing missile skin against small stone impacts (flight through a nuclear dust cloud). I was looking around and almost tripped on a lump in the rug. It was a brand spanking new Browning ANM2. It was supplied to the test contractor as GFE when he requested some 50 cal barrels. He ended up not needing them since 12 gauge barrels were used to launch saboted granite cylinders at missile skin test coupons. Much later, we tested missile components in a special test underground near Mercury, NV. We validated that our hardware could survive exposure to extreme nuclear radiation environments and still function. I had a lot of fun in that program.
I never got to run one while I was in, but in Army AIT we were taught to use the sights only for the first couple of rounds. After that, heat mirage and the recoil would make them ineffective - you just peer over the top to where the tracers land and keep it on target that way.
OHHHHHHH- Jingle Bells! Lobbing Shells! Double Vid Release! Ma Deuce Fun on Forgotten Weapons! May It Never Cease! Dashing through the brass, With a Bereted Francophile O'er the top we go, Smiles for all, for Miles **BOOM-BOOM-BOOM** Artillery and Half-Tracks, Sniper rifles too, 20mm Lahti Guns, Because he cares for me and you! OH! Jingle Bells! Lobbing Shells! Double Vid Release! Ma Deuce Fun on Forgotten Weapons! May It Never Cease! Merry Gun Je-sus Christmas, To YOOOOOOOOU!
Longtime viewer, first time commenter. A couple of points: Charging the gun with the back plate off (during the timing check) is a serious no-go. Remember that long recoil spring and guide held in place by that itty-bitty detent? Charging the gun with backplate off runs the risk of jarring the spring guide out of it's detent, resulting in the spring and guide flying out of the gun at a high rate of giddyup. I saw this occur a couple of times in my career - Usually from over eager joes during EIB testing. Secondly, it's not necessary to raise the top cover to load the gun. Simply push the link into the feed port until you hear it click into place then charge twice and you're ready to go. Keep up the good work! RLTW!!!
If you open the cover you might just as well lift the delinker arm up and load the belt all the way in, then you only have to rack it once to chamber a round. Many ways to skin a cat, and all that. If we're nitpicking, I was trained to keep a little bit of tension on the charging handle while checking headspace. Reason for this is to take out any slack so you're not fooled by the recoil spring pushing the bolt forward, and also so you don't need to apply force on the gage like he did. With the method shown, one must push down on the headspace gage hard enough to overcome the recoil spring tension to take out any slack in the locking mechanism. Over time, doing that with a hardened steel gage can wear a groove into the breech face. By pulling back on the handle a bit, you take the slack out manually so there's no need to apply that much force on the gage.
@keith moore Easier? If you remove the first link in the belt, loading is as easy as breathing. With the first link removed you can push the round into a locked position so much faster. And ofcourse reload speed matters. No one is gonna connect your belts together when you are the roof gunner of the vehicle. And every second wasted on reloading is a second not able to suppress or engage the enemy.
It's huge, and terrifying, but if the little hand grabbing the belt to feed into the gun in the final clip isn't the cutest little thing ever mine. mine. mine. mine. mine. mine. mine. It's like a little kitty
Needs nice cigar in place of one of the rounds, when the gun stops, you hear a match being struck, the piano music starts & smoke rings appear out the barrel . . . ahhh : )
It's like one of those kitten moneyboxes, with the little hand that grabs the coins. Except that it's a moneybox that converts all your money into loud noises.
I had the opportunity to qualify on one back when I was in the Navy, loved shooting it. You don’t use the sights, really, you watch where the rounds are hitting, and walk it to the target
I've fired one of these onboard a ship and it remains one of the best moments I've had in my two-decades plus of firearms training. I absolutely love these things.
In 8 years of being in the Army, I have only had the opportunity to shoot the M2(A1) once. Being aviation will do that to you I guess. But on the flip side, I get to shoot the M240H from a moving helicopter a bunch, so I guess I have that going for me.
I feel you. I got to fire the M85 on the M60A3 (once, because our S3 was a kindly old man who took pity on his sad sack loader one day), but somehow it's not the same. My Guard unit had vehicle-mounted M2s, but I never even touched one, or learned how to do headspace and timing. I've always felt I missed out on something essential. Kind of like how I didn't get bayonet training in Basic.
My father once owned a semi-automatic only version of the M2 that he'd put together out of a parts kit. The mount he had his on only had four legs, but in exchange the entire base was made of solid brass and painted OD Green. Thing arguably weighed half as much as the gun itself did, but it didn't move an inch when firing.
Ian spoils us so much that even after a great Christmas video we still get to see the shooting portion anyway. I choose to believe this was deliberate. Thank you for all you do Ian, and may everyone have a safe and haooy holiday.season.
When people told me that you could single shot the M2 I always thought they meant like a Grease Gun because of the relatively slow cyclic rate... never knew it had an actual switch. This was fun to watch! Maybe I'll pick up a semi-auto version... I've seen a couple of those up in Alaska.
Fun fact: the narrow loop of a link, inserted between the barrel extension and receiver, will hold the extension in the right place to freely spin the barrel in and adjust headspace. Also, once properly set up for timing, I never had an M2 need adjustment. Headspace was normally two clicks, rarely three clicks.
I remember the first time I fired this weapon. We would do familiarization fires from time to time, to get people acquainted with the weapon basically. After the training block, I was making effective hits on a truck sized target at 1100+ meters. I was using a T and E mount, but it still surprised me when I heard the hits at that range. The effect of the weapon itself is very impressive.
"Number 1 gun...1500m...vehicle slightly right of crossroad" "SEEN....GUN ON!" "Three rounds...fire" "Up two...fire" "GUN ON!......Traverse left to right by twos....FIRE" Oh....ya....the original "Should your erection lasts more than 4 hours...see a doctor"
We used them to cut branches out of tree tops on one of the ranges at Ft Bragg. There was a raven with tree top sticking up on one side of the range. Used traversing fire off the tripod to shift fire laterally. Made an effective way to turn limbs into match sticks.
We had the T&E device on the tripod...I was using it to try and cut down the red/white striped barber poles that marked the range limits...until the OIC, Cot Schneider caught me...after that I hadda rely on the tracers...
I mean in a scifi setting I worked on with some folks on a Discord I basically pushed the idea of the M2 still existing but in a form using the far more powerful ammo of the era. but it sticks around beause sometimes a big ole bullet still solves the problem. And the only design changes where just evolving it to handle ever higher chamber pressures of scifi ammos.
So some minor materials upgrades, propellant upgrades and projectile material changes with no mechanical change at all? That sounds about right. Or the design might be public domain and colonists need something that works right now. Or both, both is good.
My Dad was a gun plumber for the New Mexico Air National Guard from the mid 50s until the 80s. He started out with Ma Deuce in the F86 and maybe the F80. He finished with the MK12 20mm rotary cannon in the A7D. On his mantle and now on mine, where 4 20mm practice rounds he dug out of a very jammed A7 and 6 50Cal rounds, a couple of which were still hot, he scrounged from a Ma Deuce. Because they were his, they are among my prized possessions. He would say firing the Ma Deuce from the cockpit of a jet fighter, post maintenance, was a religious experience. These were great stories along with his cop stories to listen to. These days, I remember them with great fondness
My uncle built one of those in semi only from a parts kit, he never shot it because he couldn't find a physical manual for head spacing or timing (he is one of the people that mistrusts anything not on hard paper). I was visiting for the 4th of July, downloaded a PDF of the manual (I only ever messed around with the aircraft variants, and I wasnt a crew chief, so I have very little trigger time on .50s, and therefore did not feel comfortable going off of memory for a .50 that has never been fired) got the gun headspace and timed, then was able to take it to the range for all of the shooting on the 4th. Great guns, ingenious design, I think they will be in service for a long time still.
I love this old gun. We fired her in Gagetown (Cnada) we had it mounted on a tripod, fires from the prone or sitting possition. The tripod had 10 incc spiked anchoring it on each leg and sandbags on each leg. One of the instructors, Terry; Set the gun up including a complicated bore sighting process. We locked the Travers and Elevation mechanisms including micrometer adjustments on a target and slammed the target first burst, A great and venerable old gun. That one was marked GM (I suspect a subsidiary of GM built it) and dated 1944. I think the course was in about 1979 or 80. As best I can tell we were the first people ever to fire that old girl. I love your videos !
Oh god, this. My grandma, at 92, could still pin me to the ground using one hand. Still dont know if the cracking sound was the bones in my wrist or her rheumatism 🤣 Probably Both! I love you Oma, and I miss you dearly❤️
I really like the nuts and bolts part of this. Pulling the trigger is the easiest part, understanding what needs to be done before pulling the trigger is what is so interesting. As Ian mentioned in the previous show, I wonder what the wing stress was when a P47 had 4 of these in each wing.
Honestly, after standing next to a P47 in person I wouldn't be worried at all... that plane deceptively huge when side by side with comparatively svelt small planes like the P51!
7:37 I never realized how much the barrel moved and yet the gun remained able to fire. I also admire his confidence in how he took the rear plate off without being afraid the springs would impale him.
This is gonna sound strange, but i really was hoping youd send a couple of rounds in semi mode. I know thats not as exciting as full auto but i really think it would show the power of each round on such a heavy platform.
Calling it "semiautomatic" is a bit incorrect. It's actually just single shot. Every time you shoot, it fires once and the bolt locks to the rear. So you have to hit the bolt release each time to chamber the next round. Imagine if you were shooting an M4, and every time you shot, the bolt would lock and you had to hit the bolt release to chamber the next round. Really only useful at targets at or past 1500m while using a thermal optic.
Candidate, you have 3 minutes to clear, disassemble, reassemble and functions check the M2 in sequence, confirm zeros on the clock... time starts when you touch the weapon system. *Me going over the right head space click during reassembly, gazing up at the timer "fuck" #No-Go
Dude is doing setup with the motivation of being under fire. I struggle the same way just training while getting production going. I can’t imagine when things really matter, and how going through that effects you
When you shoot the guns show the targets more often . In particular in a case of large calibre gun like Browning .50 M2HB the effects of shooting are interesting.
I remember the sound of this weapon firing in the distance at all hours at the east range at Ft Sill. The steady muted thump thumping in the distance is unique.
A couple of points to add as an Abrams crewman who has had a fair bit of experience with the M2. 1) Technically the fire side of the gauge is not "No-Go, Go" but "No-Fire, Fire", it says as much on the gauge itself and I've made the mistake of saying "No-Go, Go" during qualifications for it and got docked for it (stupid I know, but going off words alone it makes it sound like you're trying to use the headspace side to check timing which would be incorrect, and you're supposed to verbally walk through the process to prove you know what you are doing). 2) You can load it the way shown with the double charge, or you can lift the extractor and seat the round past the extractor, then lower the extractor arm onto the cartridge. This way once you close the cover you only have to charge it once for that round to get pulled into the chamber. I'm glad he showed using the trigger bar instead of putting the back panel onto the gun again, some trainers require we do this for timing and it is a royal pain having to put it on, use the butterfly, remove it, click timing up a notch, and put the thing back on again. Although I believe that is how the training packet has you do it. Some trainers also require you bottom out the timing wheel, making the process much longer and more arduous. Overall happy to see the M2 featured, its a beast of a weapon system. Thank you for bringing the content you do, it's definitely really informative and interesting. The coolest moment of having seen a lot of your content for me was seeing a CETME at a local gun range, knowing what it was, and being able to identify it was an MCM build. I'd probably have overlooked it otherwise if I didn't watch your content. Merry Christmas to you and look forward to more content!
After watching this, I realize I never set the timing over my 4- years working as an Abrams crewman. I only set head space... Ooops. I don't remember ever being taught timing, but I know I did head space correctly.
The guns will typically retain timing once it's been done once. If you're using a gun you haven't previously set up it's good to do the full check with the timing nut, but normally if you have a gun you're using a lot you can get away with just checking timing with the go/no go without touching the nut, and then doing headspace.
Was looking forward to this video. When I saw that it was over 10 minutes long, and given how expensive .50BMG must be to shoot, I immediately knew Ian would come through to fill the non-shooting time with more interesting detail!
That mount needs to be sandbagged for proper operation If I recall the manual correctly. Ma never was a problem for bouncing around on the mounts we used in the Navy.
The stand mounts are always wonky under recoil. A conventional infantry/low tripod with sandbagged legs and the T&E mechanism engaged is about the best way to shoot one.
@@JayKayKay7 yeah i guess especially Marines. But I've noticed that whenever a highly trained soldier handles something with his hands it's always very fast and deliberate.
9:00 the falling brass and links sound like Christmas bells ringing!
The M2HB - Bringing death to your enemies while keeping the Christmas with you!
Probably is some sort of bell sound with lowered pitch and slightly distorted
An Jesus wept.
i was just going to say that hahahhahah
Like the bells of a cathedral :)
I like how the automated subtitles writes "MUSIC" when the gun fires... I see it is a program of culture as well.
must be a drum solo...
Didn't see that. It didn't show with, without CC, I didn't see it.
Primordial dubstep
@@Svensk7119 Probably took it out
Go to my safe space!!! 🌌
You can tell that guy has calibrated a looot of M2s in his life.
I bet he can do it in 30 seconds or less under perfect conditions.
He was a USMC armorer so he could probably do it in his sleep if he wanted to lol
Watching it yesterday I was pretty sure he was forcing himself to do it slow enough for the camera to follow.
I was a tank mechanic in the Swiss army and had to mount and dismount a turret mounted m2 every day by the books. After the first week of two it feels as natural as locking your front door when leaving in the morning except you got a pair of feeler gauges instead of keys in your hand.
We had one of these on our m113 apc, and they are an utter joy to shoot and maintain. The headspace and timing is easy to master, after a few dozen times, and it is far easier than working with an m60 machine gun. My fondest memory on the range was cutting trees with this monster. After a while, going to the range with an m16 is routine and boring, but with a 50 cal, everyone wanted to shoot it.
"Quit your frowning and grab your browning"-R Lee Ermey.
R.I.P R Lee Ermey
Especially if you see a mob of useful idiot SOCIALST UTOPIAN FOOLS attempting anarchist actions towards your area. WE ARE READY FROM NOW ON IF THEY TRY THAT FREE CITY SHIT.
One of the first things I learned when firing the M2 was to always fire longer bursts, 7 rounds or more. It gets surprisingly stable at that point once the weapon and you start working as one fluid piece, much easier to control.
Makes sense. It has a slow enough rate of fire that once you and the gun get over the initial shock of firing the first couple of rounds, you can just chug merrily along.
That and be liberal with the clp and it will be silky smooth
A guy I worked with said that what you did - was start firing and then walk your fire onto the target. If you just tried to fire a short burst - the gun wouldn't stabilize and you'd never hit anything.
.
Walking fire into the target uses up your ammo fast and makes your weapon heat up fast, too. The general rule for getting on target with the M" is as with every other machine gun. A short burst. View the impact and then correct your aim according to the impact. It does climb a fair bit, depending on what kind of mount you got it it, but a rule of thumb is to correct you point of aim from the lowest impact of your previous burst.
The video out there of a US soldier telling a trainee "It's a *machine gun!* " is funny.
The Browning M2: because screw you, the guy behind you, the room you two are in, the building that room is in, and the hearing of everyone in the immediate vicinity.
What about Dushka?
What about Zip .22?
Now imagine in WW2, P-47's ground crew test firing simultaneously 8 of those things, after servicing them...
@@magoid or those half tracks that had quad mounts of these.. were there even 8 mounted ones, not sure
@keith moore About 5-8 dollars for every round it fires.
Having seen a Ma Deuce recoil spring embed itself into a sheetmetal wall locker when someone was stupid enough to remove the backplate with the bolt to the rear, seeing him *CHARGE THE GUN* with the backplate removed caused my heart to skip a beat.
The book has a critical warning that prohibits what he did because serious injury or death can occur
Lil story from my superior about why there is a hole in the wall of the cleaning room (room used to clean the collective weapons) there was this guys that had to clean this 12.7 alone because she came back from afghanistan later, so the man start his shit to clean it up does the security manoeuver and fuck it, the fuck Spring go flying in his shoulder take a lil bit of meat with it and go fucking flying into the wall creating the hole we now know, poor guys was quite shocked
I gasped when he charged the bolt with the backplate off. That "little" recoil spring as he called it in the previous video is extremely powerful. I legitimately couldn't believe that someone who knows the gun would charge it with the backplate off.
As a former 0331, I had the exact same reaction.
"I see the back plate, drill sergeant".
The cyclic rate of this weapon coincidentally matches some Slipknot songs.
Hmmm I like where you are going with this. Keep up the great work btw
Not even kidding our doctrinal count for a killing burst is 5x "die mother fucker die"
Browning, no coincidences
Dude, exactly.
I would say that it matches better with Anaal Nathrakh - Forward ruclips.net/video/Lmloi1rcres/видео.html
as a mechanic, i feel his pain at trying to explain what he is doing
.
ya do things 1000 times.... and its hard to slow down and show people the little interesting things
you just see them as normal
other people are like "thats so cool"
.
"ya, a grab it here, it has more texture...... and....... " (just starts working on the gun)
He ducked the process up so bad even a shade tree mechanic looks good
This is why you want dedicated instructors to teach people what they need to know. Many professionals are very good at what they are doing, but that doesn't make them good instructors. And people are different and learn in different ways, so an instructor constantly have to evaluate his students needs and adjust his instructions accordingly.
As the saying goes, "When Ma-Deuce speaks, people listen."
No one argues with Ma Deuce.
When Ma Deuce speaks, people feel the concussion!
Yep. You know she's talking from miles away.
Lol, or just walk around in a daze, screaming "whaaaaat?"
Thank you to the people on Patreon who make this possible for those who cannot pay.
Happy Christmas to you generous folk and to Ian for make such content possible
I second that.
Patreons are suckers.
@@CadillacDriver So is your mother this christmas
@@johny__hazmat8133 Only for Christmas? I heard it was year-round.
@@CadillacDriver your comment spurned me to increase the monthly donations to the channels I support.
love how we all said "im not gonna wait till tomorrow if i dont want to!"
How is this comment 20 hours old if the vid has only been up for 4 minutes?
@@georgeheld1901 patreon
@@georgeheld1901 He occasionally puts the firing video thumbnail at the end of the overview video by mistake!
👍🤣🤣🤣
ROFL
What’s that expression? “When Ma deuce speaks, everyone listens”
"YADADADADADA"
@keith moore Don't fuck with Ma's kids.
When Ma starts talkin', bodies start droppin'
Ma deuce turning cover into concealment
"Everyone respects Ma Deuce."
I knew someone who flew a B17 in the war and one of the few things he ever mentioned is that maintaining the .50cals was a very involved job for himself as the commander. If a gun was disabled, it meant he could not cover fully all his assigned arcs in formation, and might even have to trade places with another plane, a very shameful thing apparently. So he worked hard to ensure his crew had the tools, spare parts, and as many spare guns as he could manage so he could keep guns pointing every way they were supposed to. Sadly, more than once, keeping enough men intact to man them all proved the bigger problem. His was not a happy war.
What war is a happy one?
Sounds more like happy to have got through it still breathing, happy bein a relative term 🏴☠️the world will forever owe these people
He sounds like a great man. It's hard work to stay in top shape with all of this. Without proper maintenance, and without his guns, his plane isn't really any good is it? It sucks that all those men died. Funny, America has never really been invaded or threatened in such a way that we have to summon up an army to defend ourselves. It's always retaliatory invasions... That's better than having no army at all though right?
Indeed. The irony is that the one time Americans fought a great war on their own soil in earnest was the Civil War, and that should have been a solid warning to the world at large that Americans were most stubborn and determined warriors when roused. Germany and Japan didn't heed that warning in 1941, and it fell to men like my kinsman to make them see the error of their ways. He didn't serve with joy, but he served willingly, and didn't regret seeing the Empire of Japan and Nazi Germany alike being brought to ruins by their own folly and his efforts.@@bilbo_gamers6417
@@genericpersonx333 Ah, so World War 2. Yeah, that was probably as close as you can ever get to a justified war... Men like that are why the USSR didn't take over Europe. I mean, if we didn't get involved in Europe, the reds would've "Liberated" men women and children all the way to the ocean. Never a pleasant thing to take part in but unfortunately this war was kind of unavoidable. Good on him for doing his part. That was certainly not an easy job, even just from a logistical perspective. Industry had to be put on overdrive everywhere for our men to even have a chance of staying alive. He saved American lives by doing what he did in the end, in my view.
And lo, it was on the day after Christmas that we gathered all around the world at the RUclipss to bear witness to Gun Jesus performing the Sermon On The Browning M2 Mount. And as the lead was sent downrange and the gun kicked like a mule and the spent casings jingled a hymn to John Moses, we all saw that it was not just good, it was freakin' excellent.
Hallelujah brother.
Praise the Lord Browning....for it is he who is the maker of death....his disciple Ma Deuce the giver of death eternal... here endeth the sermon
Amen
amen
Yea verily.
This just proves how timeless browning’s designs were, nearly 100 years later, we’re still using the same gun that he designed.
Heck, we are still using the principals he designed in the majority of weapons today. Especially pistols.
@@Predator42ID M2 and A10. Because perfection achieved.
What's also funny is the look of this gun is almost timeless. It looks just as much like a gun from the 1920s as it does a gun from the 1950s and 2000s, even in the 2020s it still looks modern
Well the M2A1 now, new flash hiders and no loner requiring headspace or timing.
@@edwardschmitt5710 Obligatory: Depends on the situation, given CAS isn't a simple 1 sized fits all question.
quick reaction: multiroles like the F-16 and F/A-18. F-16 has been the top CAS workhorse in Iraqistan since 2006, and the F/A-18 is number two. Why? Because they can get from the airfield to overhead the units needing support faster than anything else quick reaction with the option to loiter: F-35 and F-15E. They can react fast, and they can loiter for 60+ minutes. long loiter: AC-130, A-29 and AT-6. None of them are fast, but neither is the A-10. Where they excel is their ability to stay up for 8+ hours, and hit targets as needed. CAS in high threat environment: F-35. Literally nothing else will make it to the target CAS in low threat environment: A-29 and AT-6. A-10 costs some $17K an hour, while A-29 and AT-6 are around $1500 an hour. Don't need over 10x the cost just to hit a Toyota Hillux A-10 is in a weird limbo where it's too slow for quick reaction, can't loiter as long as other platforms, can't survive high threat environments, and costs over 10X as much as low threat options.
Beyond that, CAS is virtually all done with PGMs (precision guided munitions) nowadays anyways, so be it 500lb JDAM or 250lb SDB, or 70mm APKWS, the platform carrying the ordnance doesn't realistically matter.
A-10's claims to fame were;
GAU-8: could barely even kill base model T-62s, and anything newer/more modern it can't kill. Had to rely almost exclusively on Mavericks in Desert Storm to kill armor, while the 30mm was used to do what even 20mm can do; shoot up unarmored vehicles and lightly armored IFVs. armored: it's realistically not as survivable as people meme it to be. They were the most lost platform of Desert Storm, and weren't even allowed on the front lines for over half of it. Plus, having to fly slow means you're going to take more damage simply because you're an easier target. Iraqi flak claimed more than a few A-10s. Great visual identification: sensors are simply better than the Mk I eyeball. F-35's EOTs can register a person in a window from 70nmi out. A-10 pilots using the Mk I eyeball are responsible for the most friendly fire events of any platform used for CAS. Sensors don't trick you into believing that allied marker is an Iraqi unit badge, the Mk I eyeball does. So what's the advantage beyond simple meme-ery? There realistically isn't one. Sure, it's cheaper than the F-16 or F-35 to operate, but when it can only do COIN, might as well buy A-29s or AT-6s and get the same capability while saving over $2B a year. What could the USAF do with over $20B saved over just a decade? That's almost half the initial B-21 order expected. That's over 250 F-35s. That's the entire RTD&E for the NGAD program. Just from replacing a platform with another
"It's a machine gun. A machine gun!"
"Haha, okay"
Nobody :
Absolutely nobody :
German soldier : - - - Starts blasting ERIKA in his head and sends lead down range - -
But I should mention, that we germans are trained to save ammo, by shooting short bursts. The MG3 eats whole belts in the blink of an eye, compared to the Ma deuce
That's not a machine gun...This is a M2HB, it laughs at your tiny machinegun. Said with humor
(1944 intensifies)
@@marcoh.3467 the shooting in bursts wasnt so much to save ammo as it was to save the barrel.
Clearest and most useful block of instruction on how to set headspace and timing I have ever seen. Where was this guy 35 years ago when I had 4 M2 ring mounts in my platoon and nobody (including the company armorer) knowing shit from shinola about how to run the guns?
Another YT "serviceman" 🤦♂️
That's what TMs are for! Geoff Who has dealt with some pretty sketchy unit armorers.
I was C Co. 4/8 8th ID 35 years ago and I can guarantee you that absolutely everyone in our unit was trained to do this. No shit. You had a lousy CO and 1stSgt.
@@Rick-mn5zy stolen valor is rife on YT. It is absolutely atrocious behaviour.
@@Rick-mn5zy We were an MI BN. Even though the guns were assigned to the M-548s carrying the MSQ-103s, nobody had seen an M2 in AIT or subsequent school training. Our supply SGTs doubled as armorers (common, I know), and none of these guys knew what to do with the gun. All of that was moot, as in 2 years I was never able to get .50 ammo added to the yearly training ammo forecast. I wonder how many non combat arms units there are that have M2s assigned but never quite get around to taking them to the range.
I was disappointed that he didn't explain why the "timing" needs to be adjusted. The recoiling parts, the barrel, barrel extension and bolt, are very heavy and if allowed to slam against the trunnion block at the end of their forward movement then the barrel extension and the trunnion block will be smashed and eventually damaged. So the timing causes the cartridge to fire slightly prior to the barrel extension smashing up against the trunnion block so that the recoil slows down the recoiling parts so they make a much gentler contact against the trunnion block. The "fire gauge" is 0.020 inches thick so the gun must fire when there is still at least this much space between the barrel extension and the trunnion. The "no fire gauge" is 0.116 inches thick so the gun should not fire when there is this much space between the barrel extension and the trunnion block. Ideally, the gun fires in the middle of these spaces, when there is about 1/16 th of an inch space, 0.076 inches. The trigger bar is at an angle and it acts like a cam so as the bolt goes forward this cam eventually pushes the sear upwards (at the rear of the bolt) releasing the firing pin. By adjusting the timing wheel it adjusts the height of the trigger bar thereby changing the place where it is high enough to release the firing pin. In one of your other videos on the Oerlikon, that it also fired out of battery . I can't believed that he cocked it with the back plate off. The recoil spring is VERY strong and is on a guide rod that is only held in place by an itty-bitty- pin only about a quarter inch long put into a hole in the side plate.
Yes, they seemed like they were rushing.
Excellent post but please let me make some corrections
In a proper timed gun the only time barrel extension contacts the trunnion is on the very first shot all parts fully forward. There is no soft contact during automatic fire as the extension will never contact as it recoils before contact
Proper timed gun does not fire out of battery and the term battery does not apply to this class of weapon. The term out of battery only applies to Arty. It is slang when used here. The correct term is locked or unlocked
PS
The trigger bar pushes down on the Sear not up
But you did give the best read Ive ever seen in RUclips ever !
Forgot to mention the the trigger lever pushes up on the aft end of the trigger bar. Front of trigger bar thus pivots down
@@Mekhanic1 my guess would be that it's just being on camera. The guy's probably fine under fire though!
One thing I really miss about my time in the military was the M2. A couple of us working together got so good at swapping barrels we could swap and check headspace and timing in less than 15 sec.
As a former Army armorer, there is a pretty high pucker factor watching someone stand directly behind an M2, with the rear plate off, recoil spring in, and charging the weapon.
@@cuckertarlson3329 sage wisdom
@@cuckertarlson3329 if that spring is under pressure it will pop out the back is what they are talking about.
Not what i wanta do with butterfly plate off!!!
@@cuckertarlson3329 maybe the spring can go flying out? Maybe it's just something mostly harmless but you screamed at for doing anyway.
@@cuckertarlson3329 Charging the weapon with the backplate off you are betting the little pin holding the recoil spring assembly won't slip. If the recoil spring pops loose under compression it will leave a mark. You wanna risk the recoil spring poking your eye out?
Wow, the support guy sure knows how the service that thing.
pretty normal for someone with armorer training, and especially true if he worked in a grunt armory. Given his apparent age, he might even have worked as an armorer in a combat theater -- which would have meant that he needed to check headspace on any .50 that needed service or parts.
I rode behind one of these beauties on an ACAV in Vietnam (Blackhorse 11th Cav 68-69). I did my best to keep it cleaned and functioning well. My memory is fading as I cannot remember ever dealing with headspace and timing, however, I was fortunate that I never had to fire so much that I had to put on the heavy gloves we had to effectively change barrels. Thanks for the presentation on history and taking apart on the first video and the firing demonstration with explanation on headspace and timing. Our armorers did a fantastic job as yours does. I am so glad that I never had to fire (in combat) anything more powerful than one of these. Amazingly powerful and accurate when mounted on the cupola of our modified APCs. If you could see it you could hit it out beyond a thousand yards, or right in front of you.
God I miss this gun. All the details I remembered, the tungsten Go/No-Go gauge, the little bump you need to see on the barrel before you set headspace, the feed paw, the little lip you have to engage under the spade grips to take the back off. Blast from the past. I was an M1 Abrams tank platoon leader and I miss the M2 a lot.
I don't think the no go gauge is tungsten. I remember being told that they were expensive to replace because the measurements were so precise. Maybe I'm wrong, wouldn't be the first time.
@@sleepingninjaquiettime Just a standard ground feeler gauge I'd think. Expensive because it's custom, and the military gets reamed a lot harder than they did in WWII.
In 1998 they were $350.00 to replace.
@@sleepingninjaquiettime
5:48 As an old SF Weapons Guy my heart went in my throat when he cocked that gun with the backplate removed.
I gripped a little too when I saw that.
How come, would the bolt come out the back or is it just frowned upon?
@@notforsaletoday1895 there's a few strong springs under compression when you cock the gun, not a good time / way to find out a detent is worn down
@@notforsaletoday1895 Under tension that recoil spring and guide can come flying out the back. Instructors used to demonstrate its effect against a sheet of plywood or some such. It's also listed in the Operator's Manual as an official practice that you're not supposed to do. Yeah, there's a detent holding it in place, but think of it like standing in front of a loaded pistol with the safety engaged. I wouldn't do that either.
I have huge balls. But in reality it isn't as dangerous as people make it out to be. A 1919 drive rod scares me way more.
I love how instinctively Chris headspaces and times the thing. Clearly, he could do that in his sleep.
That's the way it is when you train with a weapon on the reg. I've been out since '07, and I can still do a functions check on an M-16A2, without any thought at all.
I bet he has done h&t in his sleep.
Yep, yep, yep. Takes me back to my days in the Army and the infantry guys instructing us POG pukes on weapons systems we SHOULD have been trained on. And yeah, some of those guys could (and did) do stuff like this literally blindfolded. IIRC, the Expert Infantry Badge standard for unloading, disassembling, reassembling, function-checking, reloading, and firing an M240B was something like 2 minutes or less.
Being able to set up a gun practically in your sleep is an important military skill, since in combat you may well need to do it when you are exhausted and have not slept for days.
He completely fucked it up
when I was in the army, this was my favorite weapon. I love everything about the crew serve m.2; just keep in mind, you don't "stay on target" you walk this bad sucker up to your target and say bye to everything around it.
Stellite is a cobalt alloy used for high temperatures such as high pressure steam valves. Not cheap.
All I can think about after watching the prep was - I'm sooo glad that guy was an M2 armorer instead of an explosives/demolition expert (shivers).
This is why I stuck around until the end of all the videos. It’s a Christmas miracle. I still remember all these procedures from the fifty crew I was in, weird how som things stick with you. By far my favorite crew served weapon.
I still remember it too and I was a Corpsman, but I jumped at every chance to get behind a M2. There's just something comforting about being behind one.
Good news, it's a double feature! This is the gift that keeps on giving!
I bet he slipped up on purpose 😉
I could never quite figure out until now how the headspace gauge tool for these things worked. I kept trying to see it work like a normal rifle GO or NO-GO gauge. Then actually seeing how the timing is handled as well is a great treat.
Same. I always wondered how that worked. And now we kinda know.
He fucked up the time process He did it completely wrong He even violated a Caution Warning Note
@@wollywolly2734 Can you explain what he did wrong?
@@PBMS123 See my post at the top
Serious he did the entire process completely wrong so much so that the Operators manual clearly warns NOT to do all the things did
I mean its a perfect demo of what not to do
@@wollywolly2734 So I've never handled the M2 that much, but I just found 3 different manuals that specified 3 different things about timing. Regardless of the manual there is certainly a warning that states not to charge the weapon with the back plate off. However one of the differences I noticed was in the Army manual I found, it has a warning that specifies to not adjust timing with the back plate off, and a note to not attempt to fire the weapon by depressing the trigger bar. In a separate manual from usord(dot)com, it doesn't have either such warning or note, and specifically says to adjust timing with the back plate off, by depressing the trigger bar. A handout from the USMC that I found on training for the M2 states about the same as the army manual, except the warning just states to "Never cock the gun or insert the gauge with the backplate off", but does say to use the trigger bar to fire the weapon (edit for more context)"Screw the timing adjustment nut up (to the right) one click at a time. Push the trigger after each click. Keep doing this until the gun fires. NOTE:You must apply firm pressure to the trigger lever."
Just posting this for other people to see, I would generally trust military technical orders, but I'm not an armorer, so maybe the military instructions are that way for a reason and are not actually completely necessary, maybe they're out of date. Depending on whose manual he's following he didn't do anything wrong (except charging it with the back plate off).
Almost 40 years ago I worked on the Peacekeeper ICBM program. At a special test facility we were testing missile skin against small stone impacts (flight through a nuclear dust cloud). I was looking around and almost tripped on a lump in the rug. It was a brand spanking new Browning ANM2. It was supplied to the test contractor as GFE when he requested some 50 cal barrels. He ended up not needing them since 12 gauge barrels were used to launch saboted granite cylinders at missile skin test coupons. Much later, we tested missile components in a special test underground near Mercury, NV. We validated that our hardware could survive exposure to extreme nuclear radiation environments and still function. I had a lot of fun in that program.
I never got to run one while I was in, but in Army AIT we were taught to use the sights only for the first couple of rounds. After that, heat mirage and the recoil would make them ineffective - you just peer over the top to where the tracers land and keep it on target that way.
Yeah, and most people wouldn't score expert that way either.
OHHHHHHH-
Jingle Bells! Lobbing Shells!
Double Vid Release!
Ma Deuce Fun on Forgotten Weapons!
May It Never Cease!
Dashing through the brass,
With a Bereted Francophile
O'er the top we go,
Smiles for all, for Miles
**BOOM-BOOM-BOOM**
Artillery and Half-Tracks,
Sniper rifles too,
20mm Lahti Guns,
Because he cares for me and you!
OH!
Jingle Bells! Lobbing Shells!
Double Vid Release!
Ma Deuce Fun on Forgotten Weapons!
May It Never Cease!
Merry Gun Je-sus Christmas,
To YOOOOOOOOU!
Okay.....We need someone to sing this in the background of another match video. Like Personal Shotgun Jesus was.
That´s pretty glorious
I think I need another small sherry . . .
😭😭😭😭😭😭🙏🙏🙏🙏
I thought I was good for wanting to make a haiku. You take the cake.
Longtime viewer, first time commenter.
A couple of points: Charging the gun with the back plate off (during the timing check) is a serious no-go. Remember that long recoil spring and guide held in place by that itty-bitty detent? Charging the gun with backplate off runs the risk of jarring the spring guide out of it's detent, resulting in the spring and guide flying out of the gun at a high rate of giddyup. I saw this occur a couple of times in my career - Usually from over eager joes during EIB testing.
Secondly, it's not necessary to raise the top cover to load the gun. Simply push the link into the feed port until you hear it click into place then charge twice and you're ready to go.
Keep up the good work!
RLTW!!!
Cool to hear, I figure opening the top was not required but like when you see the WW1 heavies being demonstrated it is to show the mechanics.
@keith moore
During my m2 training we used both methods just to show the difference. A well drilled shooter spared seconds not opening the top cover.
If you open the cover you might just as well lift the delinker arm up and load the belt all the way in, then you only have to rack it once to chamber a round. Many ways to skin a cat, and all that.
If we're nitpicking, I was trained to keep a little bit of tension on the charging handle while checking headspace. Reason for this is to take out any slack so you're not fooled by the recoil spring pushing the bolt forward, and also so you don't need to apply force on the gage like he did. With the method shown, one must push down on the headspace gage hard enough to overcome the recoil spring tension to take out any slack in the locking mechanism. Over time, doing that with a hardened steel gage can wear a groove into the breech face. By pulling back on the handle a bit, you take the slack out manually so there's no need to apply that much force on the gage.
@keith moore Easier? If you remove the first link in the belt, loading is as easy as breathing. With the first link removed you can push the round into a locked position so much faster. And ofcourse reload speed matters. No one is gonna connect your belts together when you are the roof gunner of the vehicle. And every second wasted on reloading is a second not able to suppress or engage the enemy.
@@kerrafox11 if you're not traveling with the belt in the gun outside the wire, you're doing it wrong.
"Sir, we can't seem to flank the enemy."
"Where are they?"
"Taking cover behind that wall."
"Not for long."
When you have an M2, most cover is actually just concealment
@@bwilliamstown M-2 turning rock walls into gravel for a century! Don't settle for second best. Geoff Who notes FN is the current producer.
BLAM-BLAM-BLAM-BLAM-BLAM!!
"Wall? What wall?"
I always loved the handgrips of this gun. Basically built for you to become part of it while firing.
Definitely need to calibrate before going into battle.
If he had only did it correctly
Garrus Vakarian approves this message.
Hello armourer, I am going into battle and I want your tightest timings.
@@asdgashash *my tightest timing is too tight for you,stranger*
@@asdgashash You need to call Zach
Teacher told us that every time brass and belt links ring an angel gets its wings
Zuzu’s little petals.
Or somebody goes to hell in a liquid state
@@jehb8945 well Someone has to fly them down, so I guess it is a rookies first job?
And every time Trump tweets and SJW cries.
@@johnwhauserman ys
It's huge, and terrifying, but if the little hand grabbing the belt to feed into the gun in the final clip isn't the cutest little thing ever
mine. mine. mine. mine. mine. mine. mine. It's like a little kitty
Needs nice cigar in place of one of the rounds, when the gun stops, you hear a match being struck, the piano music starts & smoke rings appear out the barrel . . . ahhh : )
NOM NOM NOM NOM NOM
It's like one of those kitten moneyboxes, with the little hand that grabs the coins. Except that it's a moneybox that converts all your money into loud noises.
@@AshleyPomeroy That's what it was reminding me of! Thank you!
I couldn't quite place it
@@AshleyPomeroy
"Except that it's a moneybox that converts all your money into -loud noise- *eargasms* "
Fixed
My time in the army. the Ma deuce was my favorite weapon. I still have a headspace and timing gauge
I had the opportunity to qualify on one back when I was in the Navy, loved shooting it. You don’t use the sights, really, you watch where the rounds are hitting, and walk it to the target
I've fired one of these onboard a ship and it remains one of the best moments I've had in my two-decades plus of firearms training. I absolutely love these things.
Same here! It was a thrill to send red golf balls down range on blue water...Love is a belt fed weapon!
I love the sound of the empty cartridges during slow-mo.
_Ooooh, jingle bells, jingle bells..._
That was very surprising to me, too!
To quote Gorillaz: "Tomorrow comes today"
The future is now
Always one of my favorite weapons. On a M113, it was easier to lean into the gun and watch the beaten zone and walk it into the target.
In 8 years of being in the Army, I have only had the opportunity to shoot the M2(A1) once. Being aviation will do that to you I guess. But on the flip side, I get to shoot the M240H from a moving helicopter a bunch, so I guess I have that going for me.
I feel you. I got to fire the M85 on the M60A3 (once, because our S3 was a kindly old man who took pity on his sad sack loader one day), but somehow it's not the same. My Guard unit had vehicle-mounted M2s, but I never even touched one, or learned how to do headspace and timing. I've always felt I missed out on something essential. Kind of like how I didn't get bayonet training in Basic.
I was a track driver (M113A1) in early '70s. Had to hump the M2 back up to Arms room after field exercises. Took 2 guys.
My father once owned a semi-automatic only version of the M2 that he'd put together out of a parts kit. The mount he had his on only had four legs, but in exchange the entire base was made of solid brass and painted OD Green. Thing arguably weighed half as much as the gun itself did, but it didn't move an inch when firing.
So much info in this weapon over these two videos, especially timing and headspace adjustment. Brilliant work Ian
Well spoken, clear and concise. Good job, Chris.
Ian spoils us so much that even after a great Christmas video we still get to see the shooting portion anyway. I choose to believe this was deliberate.
Thank you for all you do Ian, and may everyone have a safe and haooy holiday.season.
Ian: "But I still have some more shooting footage"
*EVERYONE LIKED THAT*
When people told me that you could single shot the M2 I always thought they meant like a Grease Gun because of the relatively slow cyclic rate... never knew it had an actual switch. This was fun to watch! Maybe I'll pick up a semi-auto version... I've seen a couple of those up in Alaska.
Ours did not have single shot mode, it was all trigger control...
Why not just get a semi auto .50 rifle at that point?
@@chucksneed1264 Probably because the belt-fed is a little more fun and closer to owning a real M2.
@@kentvesser9484 anything belt fed that isn't semi auto is gonna run you at LEAST $15,00]
@@howardwhite1507
Most likely not a M2.
A Christmas present! An "unintentional" omission I bet
A surprise to be sure, but a welcomed one!
@@Menaceblue3 1... Letter. We were on the verge of greatness, we were this close!
With the magic of RUclips links, Today is the new "Tomorrow"!
With an October date no less!
It's a Christmas miracle! =D
"THE FUTURE IS NOW, OLD MAN"
A time machinegun!
It’s been almost 50 years since I messed around with a M2. Thanks for the memories.
Fun fact: the narrow loop of a link, inserted between the barrel extension and receiver, will hold the extension in the right place to freely spin the barrel in and adjust headspace. Also, once properly set up for timing, I never had an M2 need adjustment. Headspace was normally two clicks, rarely three clicks.
Finally an explanation of headspace and timing in a way I understand.. This was a great way to kick off my new year!
It is amazing seeing an expert make the weapon ready! Makes Browning’s design even more impressive.
I remember the first time I fired this weapon. We would do familiarization fires from time to time, to get people acquainted with the weapon basically. After the training block, I was making effective hits on a truck sized target at 1100+ meters. I was using a T and E mount, but it still surprised me when I heard the hits at that range. The effect of the weapon itself is very impressive.
"Number 1 gun...1500m...vehicle slightly right of crossroad"
"SEEN....GUN ON!"
"Three rounds...fire"
"Up two...fire"
"GUN ON!......Traverse left to right by twos....FIRE"
Oh....ya....the original
"Should your erection lasts more than 4 hours...see a doctor"
Kinda wish they had something downrange to get torn apart by this monster.
They had. It fled.
@@andreasmartin7942 😂😂
Look up Kentucky ballistics he did a collab with same guest with the mini gun and ma deuce
We used them to cut branches out of tree tops on one of the ranges at Ft Bragg. There was a raven with tree top sticking up on one side of the range. Used traversing fire off the tripod to shift fire laterally. Made an effective way to turn limbs into match sticks.
We had the T&E device on the tripod...I was using it to try and cut down the red/white striped barber poles that marked the range limits...until the OIC, Cot Schneider caught me...after that I hadda rely on the tracers...
Chris did a great job explaining what he was doing - clear, concise and informative.
When the first settlers to alpha centauri encounter the space vampires in the war of 2220, they'll still be fighting 'em with M2's. And winning.
The Heavy Stubber, mounted on many of the Imperial Guard's vehicles 40,000 years later is still basically a Ma Deuce with some furniture changes.
I mean in a scifi setting I worked on with some folks on a Discord I basically pushed the idea of the M2 still existing but in a form using the far more powerful ammo of the era. but it sticks around beause sometimes a big ole bullet still solves the problem. And the only design changes where just evolving it to handle ever higher chamber pressures of scifi ammos.
So some minor materials upgrades, propellant upgrades and projectile material changes with no mechanical change at all? That sounds about right.
Or the design might be public domain and colonists need something that works right now. Or both, both is good.
Started my military life with m16a1 m1911a2 m60 and m2 ended m4 m249 m240b m9 and m2.love that weapon
My Dad was a gun plumber for the New Mexico Air National Guard from the mid 50s until the 80s. He started out with Ma Deuce in the F86 and maybe the F80. He finished with the MK12 20mm rotary cannon in the A7D. On his mantle and now on mine, where 4 20mm practice rounds he dug out of a very jammed A7 and 6 50Cal rounds, a couple of which were still hot, he scrounged from a Ma Deuce. Because they were his, they are among my prized possessions. He would say firing the Ma Deuce from the cockpit of a jet fighter, post maintenance, was a religious experience. These were great stories along with his cop stories to listen to. These days, I remember them with great fondness
My uncle built one of those in semi only from a parts kit, he never shot it because he couldn't find a physical manual for head spacing or timing (he is one of the people that mistrusts anything not on hard paper). I was visiting for the 4th of July, downloaded a PDF of the manual (I only ever messed around with the aircraft variants, and I wasnt a crew chief, so I have very little trigger time on .50s, and therefore did not feel comfortable going off of memory for a .50 that has never been fired) got the gun headspace and timed, then was able to take it to the range for all of the shooting on the 4th. Great guns, ingenious design, I think they will be in service for a long time still.
It's a festivus miracle!
This video is the most work I've ever seen a Marine Corps armorer do in one sitting.
I kid, I kid of course
Ian: Tune in tomorrow for some shooting
Everyone else: That sign can't stop me cuz I can't read!
I love this old gun.
We fired her in Gagetown (Cnada) we had it mounted on a tripod, fires from the prone or sitting possition.
The tripod had 10 incc spiked anchoring it on each leg and sandbags on each leg.
One of the instructors, Terry; Set the gun up including a complicated bore sighting process. We locked the Travers and Elevation mechanisms including micrometer adjustments on a target and slammed the target first burst,
A great and venerable old gun.
That one was marked GM (I suspect a subsidiary of GM built it) and dated 1944.
I think the course was in about 1979 or 80.
As best I can tell we were the first people ever to fire that old girl.
I love your videos
!
"Oi Sergeant, Jerry is coming!"
"Can you engage them in a debate about the matter of life? We still need to adjust head space and timing."
I love how "no bullshit" this gun is. Just a giant block of metal that spits giant pieces of metal down range. Murica
@@slaughterround643 So is your pfp
It spits 650 grain pills of pure testosterone. F yea!
@@slaughterround643 gotchu on deez nuts
what did he say? i can't see it
@@LIONTAMER3D is your brain in your head?
Ol Ma Deuce reminds me of my Grandma. They're both big, old, loud, reliable, and boy do they pack a punch.
Oh god, this.
My grandma, at 92, could still pin me to the ground using one hand.
Still dont know if the cracking sound was the bones in my wrist or her rheumatism 🤣
Probably Both!
I love you Oma, and I miss you dearly❤️
And both are contemporary to John Moses Browning
That was my weapon for six months in Iraq. I still have my headspace and timing gauge and still remember how to check the headspace and timing.
i dont think we
e supposed to see this yet
finally some footage down range, even if it was just a couple of seconds...
If I remember correctly, back in OIF III (2005) we used shell casings behind the butterfly triggers as our safety when on convoys.
I did one of the last runs in a quad version mid 80’s. In short: very impressive.
I really like the nuts and bolts part of this. Pulling the trigger is the easiest part, understanding what needs to be done before pulling the trigger is what is so interesting.
As Ian mentioned in the previous show, I wonder what the wing stress was when a P47 had 4 of these in each wing.
Honestly, after standing next to a P47 in person I wouldn't be worried at all... that plane deceptively huge when side by side with comparatively svelt small planes like the P51!
Check out Greg's Airplanes, on RUclips for all there is to know about the "Jug".
M2s are mighty, but I dare say the P-47's wing is mightier still. It's a very strong plane.
The P47 is an absolute beast of a plane. She’s not built to win beauty contests, she was built to shred. Sort of a prehistoric A10.
@@scottdrone-silvers5179 It was the premier ground attack light aircraft in its time.
7:37 I never realized how much the barrel moved and yet the gun remained able to fire. I also admire his confidence in how he took the rear plate off without being afraid the springs would impale him.
I'm reminded of Carlos Hathcock putting a scope on one of those.
I once had the pleasure of firing one of these. 'Tis an awesome beast!
The thirty calibre is also a mean machine. I fired that too...
I never realized how musical falling shell casings could be in slow motion.
This is gonna sound strange, but i really was hoping youd send a couple of rounds in semi mode. I know thats not as exciting as full auto but i really think it would show the power of each round on such a heavy platform.
Calling it "semiautomatic" is a bit incorrect. It's actually just single shot. Every time you shoot, it fires once and the bolt locks to the rear. So you have to hit the bolt release each time to chamber the next round. Imagine if you were shooting an M4, and every time you shot, the bolt would lock and you had to hit the bolt release to chamber the next round.
Really only useful at targets at or past 1500m while using a thermal optic.
not much recoil as the tripod mounts pretty much translate that into barrel wobble
I’d like to have seen them firing into a junk car or something, to see the damage it can inflict.
@@Grabbagar670 Gunny Hathcock approved
@@travistucker1033
Indeed.
good times 🇺🇸
Candidate, you have 3 minutes to clear, disassemble, reassemble and functions check the M2 in sequence, confirm zeros on the clock... time starts when you touch the weapon system.
*Me going over the right head space click during reassembly, gazing up at the timer "fuck" #No-Go
You know it’s a good day when you’re firing a full auto .50 cal.
At school
Dude is doing setup with the motivation of being under fire. I struggle the same way just training while getting production going. I can’t imagine when things really matter, and how going through that effects you
This kid has done this procedure zillions of times.
Hasn't taught it (successfully) even once.
I still find it surprising that this design has been around so long. I guess when something is nearly perfect there's no reason to change it up.
When you shoot the guns show the targets more often . In particular in a case of large calibre gun like Browning .50 M2HB the effects of shooting are interesting.
I remember the sound of this weapon firing in the distance at all hours at the east range at Ft Sill. The steady muted thump thumping in the distance is unique.
A couple of points to add as an Abrams crewman who has had a fair bit of experience with the M2. 1) Technically the fire side of the gauge is not "No-Go, Go" but "No-Fire, Fire", it says as much on the gauge itself and I've made the mistake of saying "No-Go, Go" during qualifications for it and got docked for it (stupid I know, but going off words alone it makes it sound like you're trying to use the headspace side to check timing which would be incorrect, and you're supposed to verbally walk through the process to prove you know what you are doing). 2) You can load it the way shown with the double charge, or you can lift the extractor and seat the round past the extractor, then lower the extractor arm onto the cartridge. This way once you close the cover you only have to charge it once for that round to get pulled into the chamber.
I'm glad he showed using the trigger bar instead of putting the back panel onto the gun again, some trainers require we do this for timing and it is a royal pain having to put it on, use the butterfly, remove it, click timing up a notch, and put the thing back on again. Although I believe that is how the training packet has you do it. Some trainers also require you bottom out the timing wheel, making the process much longer and more arduous. Overall happy to see the M2 featured, its a beast of a weapon system. Thank you for bringing the content you do, it's definitely really informative and interesting. The coolest moment of having seen a lot of your content for me was seeing a CETME at a local gun range, knowing what it was, and being able to identify it was an MCM build. I'd probably have overlooked it otherwise if I didn't watch your content. Merry Christmas to you and look forward to more content!
The slow mo footage at the end is great, because you can see a little hand thing coming out of the breech, grabbing a round and going "yoink."
After watching this, I realize I never set the timing over my 4- years working as an Abrams crewman. I only set head space... Ooops. I don't remember ever being taught timing, but I know I did head space correctly.
The guns will typically retain timing once it's been done once. If you're using a gun you haven't previously set up it's good to do the full check with the timing nut, but normally if you have a gun you're using a lot you can get away with just checking timing with the go/no go without touching the nut, and then doing headspace.
The latest iteration of the M2 that is currently in use no longer requires either.
It does still require gauging by the armorer at set intervals, but yeah deleting it from the user level was a nice touch.
In the Navy, they had us check it, but they never told us about the wheel to fix it. We just called for a gunner's mate if it didn't work.
@@catpatchtactics or if you accidentally adjust it during disassembly or reassembly
Was looking forward to this video. When I saw that it was over 10 minutes long, and given how expensive .50BMG must be to shoot, I immediately knew Ian would come through to fill the non-shooting time with more interesting detail!
That mount needs to be sandbagged for proper operation If I recall the manual correctly. Ma never was a problem for bouncing around on the mounts we used in the Navy.
The stand mounts are always wonky under recoil. A conventional infantry/low tripod with sandbagged legs and the T&E mechanism engaged is about the best way to shoot one.
That opening sequence gave me flashbacks to the channels original opening. A classic.
Soldiers move their hands in a certain way. Fast but deliberate.
Marines. (They don't like to be called soldiers.)
@@JayKayKay7 yeah i guess especially Marines. But I've noticed that whenever a highly trained soldier handles something with his hands it's always very fast and deliberate.
@@linusdn2777 Muscle memory.
@@linusdn2777 In the dark, blindfolded, in the rain with the DI screaming in your ear and simulated pyrotechnics going off.
....or under real fire in the desert when your life depends on your weapon functioning correctly. Kudos to all of them and God bless.