What would cause so many stopages?!

[flanker7]

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=461_1179122664

It seems that this .50cal has 1 stopage every 5-6 rounds. What would cause such a problem?

[szr]

Improper headspace and timing adjustments following a barrel change will cause a lot of malfunctions.

[flanker7]

You are propably right.... I thought it was a QCB model but after a second look it's standard

[velvet-cream]

And sometimes old guns just don't work.
I've fired ones that jam after every few rounds, no matter how much we tinkered with them.

It's hard to tell. But when he was cocking the weapon, could you see or hear any rounds been ejected?

[Hollis]

And sometimes old guns just don't work.
I've fired ones that jam after every few rounds, no matter how much we tinkered with them.

It's hard to tell. But when he was cocking the weapon, could you see or hear any rounds been ejected?

Velvet, Some times it is also the person working on the fire arm, some times the Ammo, and sometimes.... As with everything mechanical, Some one forgot to do maintenance, which could include replacing wear parts.

[velvet-cream]

Velvet, Some times it is also the person working on the fire arm, some times the Ammo, and sometimes.... As with everything mechanical, Some one forgot to do maintenance, which could include replacing wear parts.

Yeah I know. There's just too many variables to speculate on that and we can't tell from a grainy video. We could sit here all day and list the stoppages on a 50cal.

The M2 isn't the ever reliable workhorse that some people (who haven't shot one) think it is. Stuff up on your drills, and it can seriously injure the operator. Nor is it the most user friendly/ergonomic design (Unlike the US we didn't have handles on our barrels until the QCB, so screwing out hot barrels with asbestos gloves was always fun. I couldn't imagine trying to do that and then check and adjust headspace/timing under combat situations). By modern standards it's way behind, but it's a pretty good design considering it's been around since my grandparents were toddlers. With the QCB mods it made life a lot easier, but there are modern competing designs out now which I dare say are better and will seriously challenge it in the future.

[Hollis]

Velvet, I believe I read somewhere that the US military is planning on retiring the Ma Deuce. I forgot with what.

On Barrels, Part of keeping it cool, is to burst. The Ma Deuce is not actually a anti-personal weapon as it is a anti-equipment weapon, wall penetrater, etc. A high rate of fire in not that necessary (800- 1200 RPM).

I never heard of problems from Tankers about the Ma Deuce, I will have to ask one that I know. Head spacing may only be needed to be done during servicing. Barrel are something like 80 pounds, I don't think they change them in combat. The M60 has quick change barrel, and I don't remember any one changing a barrel or carrying a extra barrel in the bush. You don't carry that much ammo. Maybe in a fixed position.

[Spinal Tap 84]

HOLLiS, I think this it what you were talking about:
http://www.defense-update.com/products/x/xm307.htm

[IDF_TANKER]

Improper headspace and timing adjustments following a barrel change will cause a lot of malfunctions.

^^ + soot, sand, lack of lubricant, too much lubricant(combined with the desert fine sand becomes kind of mud), old frayed (ground?) parts etc etc.
God, I hated this thing...

[velvet-cream]

Velvet, I believe I read somewhere that the US military is planning on retiring the Ma Deuce. I forgot with what.

On Barrels, Part of keeping it cool, is to burst. The Ma Deuce is not actually a anti-personal weapon as it is a anti-equipment weapon, wall penetrater, etc. A high rate of fire in not that necessary (800- 1200 RPM).

I never heard of problems from Tankers about the Ma Deuce, I will have to ask one that I know. Head spacing may only be needed to be done during servicing. Barrel are something like 80 pounds, I don't think they change them in combat. The M60 has quick change barrel, and I don't remember any one changing a barrel or carrying a extra barrel in the bush. You don't carry that much ammo. Maybe in a fixed position.

Never had to use one in combat but never will. But if we train as we were to fight, then it's going to be a bit of fun.

We carried spare barrels in the tracks with us. I was told barrels should be changed after a few hundred rounds of rapid fire. I raised my doubts with my instructor, and he said it's been done before in combat, even if it meant getting a crew member to help you change it. I don't think I would ever do that to one of my soldiers!!!

You are suppose to check both headspace and timing everytime you change barrels on the non-qcb models. But in combat, I doubt I would.
Adjusting headspace needs to be done everytime you install a non-qcb barrels. I suppose if you remember the headspace for the particular barrel, you could just count the clicks required and do away with actually checking it. Adjusting timing on the other hand is done during servicing, and usually by more qualified people.
But like you said, it's improbable that anyone would want to change the non-qcb barrels in combat... unless the barrel is absolutely shot out.

With the qcb, changing barrels is like changing barrels on a LMG - Unlock the action a bit, grab the handle, rotate and slide the barrel out. Reverse order for a fresh barrel. With the qcb, i would consider changing barrels during a lull in the battle.

The whole gun weighs around 80 pounds (38 kilos). From the top of my head the barrel is around ~14kgs (or was it 16??). Nonetheless it's still heavy!! The barrel on the 50 weighs as much as the whole 30cal MG.

As for carrying spare barrels for infantry use. Doctrine still says we are to carry a spare barrel for the Minimi (m249). And we do. I doubt anyone would be changing it during an assault, but I suppose it has uses in fixed positions or fire support.

And as for carrying ammo for the 50cal. There's plenty of room in an APC.

[ShakesFIST]

I had a 50 firing like that. It was caused from SOMEONE leaving the ammo box out in the rain (rusted links).

[Ruledbyjames]

I had a 50 firing like that. It was caused from SOMEONE leaving the ammo box out in the rain (rusted links).

Just about to say bogey ammo. We get plenty of that in our Reserve here!

[flanker7]

For headspace and timing we had, for non QCB models, the two keys, "fire-no fire" and "go-no go". Impropes setting can cause serius problems and sevier injuries from exploding ammo(fired when non fully chambered-in battery)

[Sabre]

Just about to say bogey ammo. We get plenty of that in our Reserve here!

Get plenty of that in our regular army! :lol:

[USMC Tanker]

I've never had any major issues with an M2, firing from either my tank or mounted on humvees. As stated, the usual suspect is faulty ammo/links or improper maintenace. You're only one rack away from being back in the fight. Take care of the M2, and the M2 will take care of you, just like any other weapon on the planet (as you can see, the M2 in question appears to be fairly dirty).

Being a tanker, we put ROUNDS through our .50s. I've kept firing even with some VERY hot barrels. That being said, the caliber .50 is typically used against lightly armored vehicles, trucks, and other light skinned vehicles. The COAX or the loader's 240 is much more effective against troops (not to mention easier to manipulate). So, unless you're engaging a parking lot full of vehicles, you probably won't be firing the M2 so much that you'll REALLY need to perform a barrel change.

[Engine Mech]

WE had AN M3 50 cal guns and these gave us no problems. We had an AD on the flight line. Gun fired 100 rds all by itself no problems.

[2/1kiwi]

looks the bolt was catching to the rear, used to have this problem when using the soft mount, solved it by jamming brass in the springs to stop the recoil after that guns fired sweet

[tango44]

We had issues with the nato head stamp ammo!
Really don't remeber what was the issue but the batch was changed!

[Sabre]

So, unless you're engaging a parking lot full of vehicles, you probably won't be firing the M2 so much that you'll REALLY need to perform a barrel change.

Plus you can't really be very accurate with a light vehicle-mounted .50 firing more than 2-3 rounds at a time. Out there you need to readjust, lock off and fire again to hit a point target at distance. No WW2-film belt-fed antics with a WMIK.