Caliber .50 BMG Operation - The War Wagon

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Project .50/.50 -/- The War Wagon

M2 Caliber .50 BMG Operation

Warning: The following information is provide for reference use only. Proper Training as well as the appropriate Technical Manuals are required to operate this or any weapon system that you are unfamiliar with. Gun Safety is you responsibility. Note: Due to the maximum range of this weapon special safeguards and control measures need to be planned and applied.

Max Range

7,440 YARDS

or 2.35 Miles

6,765 METERS

or 6.75 Km

Half-Loading and Loading the Gun

a. To half-load the gun, the gunner insures the bolt is forward and the cover is closed. The assistant gunner inserts the double loop end of the ammunition belt in the feedway until the first round is engaged by the belt holding pawl. The gunner grasps the retracting slide handle with the right hand, palm up. and vigorously jerks the bolt to the rear and releases the retracting slide handle. If the bolt latch release lock is engaging the bolt latch release, the bolt and retracting slide handle will move forward under pressure of the driving spring group, half-loading the gun. However, if the bolt latch release is up and free of the bolt latch release lock, the bolt latch will hold the bolt and retractor side handle to the rear. The retracting slide handle must be returned to its most forward position prior to releasing the bolt. To complete half-loading, press the bolt latch release, allowing the bolt to go forward.

b. To fully load the gun. the procedure is the same as in half-loading, except it requires the gunner to pull and release the bolt twice.

IMMEDIATE ACTION - CLEARING

Use the following procedures when clearing cold guns:

Cold Gun.
1. Unlock the bolt-latch release (if applicable) and raise the cover.
2. Lift the extractor away from the ammunition belt.
3. Lift the ammunition belt from the feedway.
4. Pull the belt to the rear.
5. Inspect the chamber and T-slot for rounds.
6. Press the bolt-latch release and ride the bolt forward.
7. Close the cover.

Use the following procedures when clearing hot guns:

Hot Gun.
1. Place the gun in single-shot mode.
2. Fire the round that is in the chamber.
3. Open the cover and remove the ammunition belt.
4. Press down on the belt-latch release, allowing the belt to go forward and chamber the round from the T-slot.
5. Close the cover.
6. Fire the round.
7. Open the cover and inspect the chamber and T-slot for rounds.
8. Press the bolt-latch release and ride the bolt forward.
9. Close the cover.

NOTE: A HOT GUN IS ONE THAT HAS FIRED MORE THAN 150 ROUNDS IN 2 MINUTES.

TAKING IMMEDIATE ACTION

If the caliber .50 machine gun fails to fire, take the following immediate actions:
1. Pull the bolt to the rear and observe for ejection of round or brass.
2. Return the retracting slide handle forward.
3. Relay the gun and attempt to fire.
4. If the gun fails to fire again, wait 5 seconds, pull the bolt to the rear (engage with bolt latch if applicable), and return the retracting slide handle forward.
5. Open the cover and remove the belted ammunition.
6. Inspect the gun to determine the cause of the stoppage.

CLEARING THE GUN

Before disassembly, clear the gun as follows:

1. Unlock the bolt-latch release and raise the cover.
2. Pull the bolt to the rear. Examine the chamber and the T-slot to insure that they hold no rounds.
3. Place a wooden block inside the receiver between the bolt and the rear of the barrel.
4. Insert a clearing rod in the muzzle end of the barrel until the rod can be seen in the receiver.
5. Remove the rod. The gun is now clear.

Warning: The following information is provide for reference use only. Proper Training as well as the appropriate Technical Manuals, Safety and Armor's Equipment and Range Facilities are required to operate this or any weapon system that you are unfamiliar with. Gun Safety is you responsibility. Note: Due to the maximum range of this weapon special safeguards and control measures need to be planned and applied.
Max Range = 7,440 YARDS = 2.35 Miles or 6,765 METERS = 6.75 Km!

Back To: More on the Caliber .50 BMG

Ammunition Info & Ballistics Charts M2 BMG Operation M2 BMG Headspace M2 BMG Timing

Project .50/.50 -/- The War Wagon