The M2 Browning .50 caliber heavy machine gun was designed near the end of World War I by John Browning. While similar to his M1919 Browning machine gun, which was chambered for the .30-06 cartridge, the M2 uses a larger and more powerful .50 BMG cartridge. The gun has been used extensively as a vehicle weapon and for aircraft armament by the United States since the 1930s. It was heavily used during World War II and virtually every armed conflict since. US forces have used the M2 longer than any other firearm, except the .45 ACP M1911 pistol from the same designer. First manufactured in 1933, it is still in production today with around 3 million made so far.
0:00 The finished machine guns are brought to the test area and the barrels are swabbed to ensure they are clear, after which the weapon is installed on a test stand and a belt of ammunition is loaded. It is then cocked and the belt emptied in bursts of full automatic fire. The rate of fire of this variant was between 450 and 600 rounds per minute, a maximum of ten rounds per second.
0:45 One of the unique features of the M2 is its ability to fire in a quasi semi-automatic mode, with the bolt locking back after each shot and needing to be manually released, as the tester can be seen doing. He subsequently adjusts the collar to disable the bolt lock allowing for automatic fire. During both the Korean and the Vietnam wars, this enabled the weapon to be combined with an optical sight and used as an ad hoc "sniper rifle", and during the latter conflict USMC sniper Carlos Hathcock set the record for the longest confirmed kill at a range of 2250 meters.
1:12 The test stand incorporates a chute to collect the spent brass which on the M2 is ejected through the bottom of the gun, as well as an extraction duct to remove fumes from firing from the work space. Directly beneath the gun, the disintegrating belt links are collected.
1:20 Workers use Link Loading Machine M2 manual lever devices to create the .50 BMG belts that will be used for testing.
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