"US Army Builds New Lightweight .50-Cal Machine Gun" Topic
8 Posts
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| Tango01 | 06 Jan 2017 9:25 p.m. PST |
"The Army is creating a new, lightweight version of its iconic .50-cal machine gun designed to better enable Soldiers to destroy enemies, protect convoys, mount weapons on vehicles, attack targets on the move and transport between missions. The new weapon, engineered to be 20-to-30 percent lighter than the existing M2, will be made of durable, but lighter weight titanium, Army officials said. The emerging lightweight .50-cal, described as still in its infancy stage, still needs to be built, riveted and tested.
The parts for the titanium prototypes will be built at Picatinny Arsenal, N.J. and then go to Anniston Army Depot, Ala., for riveting and further construction…."
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| zoneofcontrol | 07 Jan 2017 6:19 a.m. PST |
I hereby volunteer myself to assist in testing these guns. I know it is a dirty job but somebody has to do it. Do I get to pick my own targets? |
 Legion 4   | 07 Jan 2017 10:08 a.m. PST |
I'd like to see this become a reality. .50 is a very effective weapon. |
| Tango01 | 07 Jan 2017 10:58 a.m. PST |
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| Lion in the Stars | 07 Jan 2017 1:51 p.m. PST |
Part of the reason that the Ma Deuce has such a heavy barrel is to handle heat. Thinner, lighter barrels get into trouble with rounds cooking off. Though I suppose you could shave some pounds off the existing barrel by fluting the hell out of it (like the Bushmaster chain gun barrels). The aircraft versions of the Ma Deuce (AN/M-2) are already 61lbs, but have issues with overheating when mounted on helicopters. |
| Mitochondria | 07 Jan 2017 9:26 p.m. PST |
The mass of the weapon also absorbs some of the recoil. Making it lighter transfrs more of that energy to the mount. A ma deuce can already make its tripod "walk" while firing. Make it lighter and it will be unsuitable unless they develop a new tripod. |
| Legion 4 | 08 Jan 2017 10:47 a.m. PST |
Yes, there would need to be a lot of "new tech" involved with this endeavor … As it is now, the complete M2 including tripods, T&E, etc. weights in at @ 127lbs. |
| Skarper | 08 Jan 2017 1:59 p.m. PST |
I'm dubious the benefits will outweigh the costs. Even if they pull out all the stops and end up with a very expensive project and high unit cost, the weight saving will not make the weapon easily portable. 100lbs is still too much to move about without a vehicle. And the ammo will still be as heavy. I expect this project will waste a few million dollars and then be quietly shelved. |
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locates some hard-to-find military toys at the dollar store.
