9 Comments

  5. I saw that yesterday from Say Uncle, and must say, that I was drooling!

    I don’t know how much it costs, but that would certainly give the punk kids second thoughts when it comes to mischiefing in your neighborhood.

  6. What’s scares me more is how fast they have gotten the rate of fire on these new modernized M2s. Modern technology and lightened internals = 1000rpm+ .50 cal? Duck!

  7. Jeremy P.,

    There was/is an M-2 variant which was widely used in WWII and Korean War aircraft, such as the P-47, P-51 and gunner stations in all medium and heavy bombers.

    It had a 1,200 rpm cyclic rate, in order to reduce the “empty air” between rounds.

    I know that it was equipped in jets as late at the F-86 Sabre, but I’m unsure if it was used in later jets, or if they all transitioned to various platforms for the 20mm cannon round.

    Forgive me for not knowing the nomenclature of the high-rate .50 M-2, but I know it was the standard aircraft heavy MG.

    If some more knowledgable reader could provide the details, I’d humbly appreciate the increase in knowledge!

    Jim
    Sunk New Dawn
    Galveston, TX

  8. The high rate sibling to the M2HB is the M3. Originally, the US military had wanted a high degree of interchangability with the M2HB, but they soon found that this goal was not compatible with achieving a higher rate of fire. Thus, the new design became the M3.

    You’ll note that FN carried on the M3 designation with their modern version: the M3P and M3M. These are now in US Army service on the Avenger Air Defense System and the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior. The USMC uses them as a helicopter door gun, designated the GAU-21.

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