2. M2 .50 CALIBER MACHINE GUN PMI
INSTRUCTORS:
REFERANCES:
FM 23-65

3. PHASE 1 General description Types of ammunition Clearing
Disassembly, assembly
Operation and functioning
Performance problems

4. PHASE 2 Fundamentals A. Firing positions B. Dry fire exercise
C. Range setting and layout
D. Traverse and elevation mechanism
E. Range determination
Observation and adjustment fire
Fire commands

5. GENERAL DESCRIPTION THE BROWNING MACHINE GUN CALIBER .50; M2 IS A BELT
FED, RECOIL OPERATED, AIR COOLED, CREW SERVED,
MACHINE GUN. THE GUN IS CAPABLE OF SINGLE SHOT
AS WELL AS AUTOMATIC FIRE, AND OPERATES ON THE
SHORT RECOIL PRINCIPLE

6. GENERAL DESCRIPTION WEIGHT 84 POUNDS WEIGHT OF BARREL 24 POUNDS
GUN LENGTH INCHES
BARREL LENGTH INCHES
LENGTH OF RIFLING INCHES
NUMBER OF LANDS AND GROOVES
TWIST, RIGHT HAND ONE TURN/15 INCHES
FEED LINK BELT
OPERATION RECOIL
COOLING AIR
MUZZLE VELOCITY ,050 FEET/SECOND
RATE OF FIRE ROUNDS/MINUTE
MAX RANGE ,440 YARDS
MAX EFF. RANGE ,000 YARDS
AREA TARGET ,830 METERS
POINT TARGET ,500 METERS

8. COMPONENTS OF THE .50 CAL.
Barrel group – houses cartridges for firing; directs projectile
Carrier assembly – provides handle to carry barrel and to remove barrel from the receiver
Backplate group – houses the trigger, blot latch release, buffer tube sleeve, and the left and right spade guides
Receiver group – serves as a support for all major components; houses action of weapon, which controls functioning of weapon
Bolt group – provides feeding, chambering, firing, and extracting, using the propellant gases and recoil spring for power
Cover group – feeds linked belt ammunition; positions and holds cartridges in position for extracting, feeding, and chambering
Bolt stud – provides a means to move the bolt to the rear with the retracting slide handle

9. COMPONENTS CONT.
8. Barrel extension group – secures the barrel to the recoiling parts
9. Barrel buffer body – assists in recoil and counterrecoil of the bolt group
10. Driving spring rod assembly – drives the bolt forward when the bolt latch release is depressed

11. TYPES OF AMMUNITION

12. AMMUNITION CONT.
Ball – for use in marksmanship training, and against personnel and light material targets
Tracer – to aid in observing fire. Secondary purposes are for incendiary effect and for signaling
Armor piercing – for use against armored aircraft and lightly armored vehicles, concrete shelters, and other bullet-resisting targets
Incendiary – for incendiary effect, especially against aircraft
Armor piercing incendiary – for combined armor piercing and incendiary effect
Armor piercing incendiary tracer- same as above just with additional tracer feature
Blank - for simulated fire (contains no bullet)
High pressure test – for use only in proof firing of weapons and barrel
Dummy – for training (completely inert)

13. Clearing The Weapon

14. DISASSEMBLY Barrel group Backplate group Driving spring rod assembly
Bolt stud
Bolt group
Barrel buffer body group and barrel extension group
Barrel buffer assembly

16. REASSEMBLY Barrel buffer assembly and barrel buffer body group
Barrel buffer group and barrel extension group
Bolt group
Bolt stud
Driving spring rod assembly
Backplate group
Barrel group

18. FUNCTIONS CHECK Place the weapon in single-shot mode
Open the cover and lock the bolt to the rear
Hold the retractor handles, press the bolt latch release and ride the bolt forward
Press down on the trigger; weapon should fire (check T-slot to insure fire pin does protrude)
Place weapon in automatic fire mode
Pull the retractor slide handle to the rear and hold
Release the pressure on the slide handle and ride the bolt forward
Make sure firing pin does not protrude
Press trigger weapon should fire
Make sure firing pin does protrude

19. OPERATION AND FUNCTIONING
Mounting on the M3 tripod
Loading
Single-shot mode
Automatic mode
Unloading
Ensure weapon is in single-shot mode
Cycle of functioning (some of these steps may occur at the same time)
Feeding Unlocking
Chambering Extracting
Locking Ejecting
Firing Cocking

20. OPERATION AND FUNCTIONING CONT.
Headspace and timing – headspace is the distance between the face of the bolt and the base of the cartridge case, fully seated in the chamber. Timing is the adjustment of the gun so that firing takes place when the recoiling parts are in the correct position for firing.
Gauges – the headspace and timing gauge consists of a headspace gauge and two timing gauges. These gauges provide accurate means of checking the adjustments of headspace and timing.
*check headspace and timing after assembly and after changing barrels*

21. PERFORMANCE PROBLEMS Malfunctions Failure to function freely
Uncontrolled automatic fire
Stoppages
Failure to feed Failure to unlock
Failure to chamber Failure to extract
Failure to lock Failure to eject
Failure to fire Failure to cock
Immediate action
Remedial action

22. MARKSMANSHIP FUNDAMENTALS
BASIC FUNDAMENTALS
STEADY POSITION
SIGHTING
AIMING
DETERMINING RANGE
MANIPULATING THE T&E MECHANISM

23. FIRING POSITIONS
PRONE – overview, full contact to the ground behind the gun with the elbows on the ground.
SITTING WITH TRIPOD- the gunner sits directly behind the gun between the legs under the tripod or cross them, depending on his physique. The elbows on the inside of his thighs to get the best support
STANDING WITH TRIPOD- standing directly behind the gun with his feet spread a comfortable position

24. DRY FIRE EXERCISE Sighting and aiming Range setting and laying
Traverse and elevation manipulation
Range determination
Observation and adjustment to fire

25. Sighting and aiming
The first step in proper sighting is finding a natural, comfortable spot. Second step in sighting is to move the weapon until the top center of the front sight blade through the rear peep sight. The third step is to establish correct sight picture

27. Range setting and laying
Accurately setting the leaf sight- the gunner will then raise and set his sights, and align the weapon on the aim point. When the gunner completes this task, he will announce “UP”

28. TRAVERSE AND ELEVATION MANIPULATION
T&E- manipulation of the T&E mechanism is a key factor in effectively engaging targets
The traversing mechanism consists of a traversing hand wheel, locking nut, scale and yoke.
Elevating mechanism consists of an upper and lower elevating screw.
The elevating hand wheel is graduated in 1 mil increments.
Direction and elevation readings constitute the data necessary to engage preselected target areas during limited visibility

31. Range determination Methods of determination of distances and sizes
Ranges are determined to the nearest 100meters for the machine gun firing.
For targets that appear to be more than 500 meters, the gunner must modify this technique.
Terrain affects the appearance of 100 meter units of measure.
The appearance of objects method may be used if the gunner is unable to use the 100 meter unit of measure method because of the terrain.

32. Observation and adjustment to fire
Observation is used when firing on the 10-meter range because the impact of the round is visible on the target.
1 click on the traverse wheel adjustment at a 10-meter target moves the round ½ inch
Field fire- 1 click on the traverse wheel adjustment will move the round ½ inch at 500 meters, 1 inch at 1000 meters
The gunner may use the adjusted aiming point method to adjust the fire.

33. SIX ELEMENTS OF A FIRE COMMAND
ALERT FIRE MISSION
DIRECTION FRONT
DESCRIPTION TROOPS IN OPEN
RANGE ONE HUNDRED
METHOD OF FIRE AT MY COMMAND
COMMAND TO OPEN FIRE FIRE

34. .50 cal Performance Examination
Clear the MG
Disassemble the MG
Assemble the MG
Functions check
Maintain the MG
Headspace on the MG
Timing on the MG
Load the MG
Perform immediate action on the MG
Unload the MG

35. SUMMARY General description Types of ammunition Clearing
Disassembly, assembly
Operation and functioning
Performance problems
Fundamentals
Fire commands