M2 Browning Step By Step Headspace Timing

Video by Sgt. Maj. James Denton 1st Battalion, 158th Infantry
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The M2 Machine Gun or Browning .50 Caliber Machine Gun is a heavy machine gun designed towards the end of World War I by John Browning. It is very similar in design to Browning's earlier M1919 Browning machine gun, which was chambered for the .30-06 cartridge. The M2 uses the much larger and much more powerful .50 BMG cartridge, which was developed alongside and takes its name from the gun itself (BMG standing for Browning Machine Gun). The M2 has been referred to as "Ma Deuce", as a GI phonetic slang or "the fifty" in reference to its caliber. The design has had many specific designations; the official designation for the current infantry type is Browning Machine Gun, Cal. .50, M2, HB, Flexible. It is effective against infantry, unarmored or lightly armored vehicles and boats, light fortifications and low-flying aircraft. The M2 machine gun has been in production longer than any other machine gun.
The Browning .50 caliber machine gun has been used extensively as a vehicle weapon and for aircraft armament by the United States from the 1930s to the present. It was heavily used during World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Falklands War, and during the Iraq War and War in Afghanistan in the 2000s and 2010s. It is the primary heavy machine gun of NATO countries, and has been used by many other countries. The M2 has been in use longer than any other small arm in U.S. inventory except the .45 ACP M1911 pistol, also designed by John Browning.
The current M2HB is manufactured in the United States by General Dynamics and U.S. Ordnance for use by the United States government, and for U.S. Foreign Allies via FMS sales. FN Herstal has manufactured the M2 machine gun since the 1930s.

[@Guitcad1]

God *_DAMN,_* I hated doing all that! Actually, I hated pretty much everything about the M2 except actually *_firing_* it. *_That_* was always fun. Everything else sucked balls. Carrying various pieces of it around, setting the goddamn headspace and timing, and worst of all *_cleaning_* the goddamn thing when you came back from the range or the goddamn desert or wherever. What a *_nightmare!_*

[@RemoveChink]

At least its better than what happens if you dont do it.

[@cabezadepija7318]

i'd still rather be behind one of these than behind a saw out there

[@shockwave6213]

I feel like I'd be the one the platoon puts in charge of cleaning, inspecting and maintaining the heavy weapons because I am an absolute fanatic for weapon maintenance. I get a certain satisfaction out of knowing the gun will run flawlessly.

[@alexanderrosales7675]

@@cabezadepija7318 Dshk is easier to use and fires a bigger round.

[@Turboy65]

The M2 was designed in 1918, production started in 1921 with first deliveries to the US Army in 1921, and 101 years later it's still a mainstay weapon on the front lines of combat. The best designs last the longest. And now I know how to headspace and time one.

[@dmoney8602]

What ever you say CoD player

[@Turboy65]

@@dmoney8602 Never played CoD in my life.

[@dmoney8602]

Whatever asshole. It’s really sick to read your comment, you getting a giddy hard on About a gun that kills people. You don’t know how to headspace or time shit. You’re a fucking loser.

[@amitmichaeli9019]

When I was trained on it in 1996, they told us that it's a WW1 relic that will soon be replaced... Now our kids are using it.

[@worldoftancraft]

Or I can say the other thing: the dwarves cannot replace inventions of the titans. While Russians already have the 3rd generation of HMG which is like 25 pounds lighter and portable. While M2 can rest on laurers, being an antiquated overly heavy design, not serviceable by an average GI grunt.

[@TheEmeraldReaper]

I went to a gun range in 2022 where I got to shoot this. Before I could shoot it, the RSO's had me help them set headspace by holding back the charging handle while they twisted the barrel. I thought it was so cool that I got to do more than just shoot it. But now I see I was making their job easier by being a second set of hands.

[@ilyask5078]

It is 34 Years ago 😑 time flies, and I forgot all of this settings.

[@imjinrat2325]

I barely remember it, but what I do remember is a little different. Had to do it in 1979 during PNOC in 2nd Division, Korea. Seems like we had to count a lot of clicks while turning the barrel. Like 40 or 50 of them. Don't remember what for, just that I was surprised as hell when it actually functioned when I was done doing it in front of the class. Maybe they changed the gun since then. Also remember strong warnings not to pull the back plate off with weapon cocked to avoid a metal rod shooting into your gut.

[@tibbs3112]

Sounds like the counts of the trigger lever stop nut (aka the timing nut). If I recall right if your timing is really off you screw it up as far as it goes then back it off 35 clicks and go through the timing normally. If all else fails. Go one click at a time and you'll get there but if it's your gun it should never come to that.

[@imjinrat2325]

@@tibbs3112 Yea backing off 35 clicks seems to jog my memory. All I know is that even with all the new technology it is still an awesome weapon still used as invented over years ago.

[@goodclasstesla4373]

Thank you very much for your presence

[@imnotteagan]

Ha wild to see my old unit as the video that pops up for this instruction set.

[@thomasjones2377]

God I love that weapon.. long live the maw deuce

[@СырнаНе-Бака]

US soldiers don't like this gun because too hard reload

[@tibbs3112]

​@user-io9sb2yt3z US soldiers wouldn't can't figure out how to use them half the time. US Marines love these things.

[@lishnoff]

Does anybody knows the thickness of the all those probes? Need to properly adjust M2, but have no this gauges...

[@tibbs3112]

Headspace "Go" Guage is .202" "No Go" is .203" Timing Fire Guage is .020" No fire is .115" Cheers

[@joe9349]

When I was an E.I.B. instructor me and buddy were doing this in 15, 18 seconds, we gave candidates 8 min. Had to kick a few people out of the way when they charged it with the back plate off. And if you NOGOED someone's ass, they call you a badge protector.

[@ReconM1A]

I was No GOd for doing it with the back plate removed to save time.... I understand it's not standard but it works... lol

[@MrLynch-ei4dc]

Damn badge protectors!!!

[@BlancaZicafi-wt9vd]

Thanks Guys ❤🎉

[@АлександрМельниченко-с5у]

A good machine for processing bad russians into good ones

[@worldoftancraft]

Even NSV Utôs does that more reliably than mammoth age M2. Not speaking about more modern Kord HMG

[@maicolsilva2006]

Nice

[@bb3283]

KZbin airborne ranger here and I can confirm this video

[@댓글군단]

It's an old weapon. The new one doesn't need a gauge.

[@karatos]

The new what? Look, all guns need gauges, you just might not know it.

[@tibbs3112]

Just cause your armory sets your headspace and you get the new fancy quick changing barrel on the new ones doesn't mean they don't need the guages.

[@nams0ldier584]

Finnaly a guide on how to assemble and use my school "tools". Bout time

[@premium-juicebox]

LOOOOOL

[@Fal41]

Combien coûte cet article ?

[@IKEMOTO___77]

Go No go!!

[@johnsmith-by3yg]

just put barrel in my 50 cal. receiver 15 clicks that was it. Most times i had a nail holding to the pod haha go army back in the 70des had an inspection they ask me how i would fire my 50, i said i would not, its held with nails. one inspector said you have a Russian tank comping at you what do you do, i told him i would take out with an anti tank gun, the inspector said where did you get the anti tank gun, i look at him an said the same place you got your tank, i was put ok KP i am good at pealing potato, 2/92.

[@rommas1555]

Дяк!) Guys !))

[@rocksteel44]

...AUSGEZEICHNET!!!!!

[@johnvitalis952]

Crossroads of the Pacific ........

[@pangyarlee510]

way harder then i thought, i tought its just putting the ammo belt. and rack the bolt twice. thats what i thought😂i am just 11 years old

[@ivanhorvat1995]

U don't do this every single time before firing dude

[@pangyarlee510]

@@ivanhorvat1995 well if i need to do this ,i would not know how to🤣btw pls dont roast me

[@Woody-nc1ru]

3 clicks and go if the shit hits the fan.

[@shockwave6213]

This is something that only needs to be done after reassembly after disassembly and cleaning. It just so happens that said cleaning is pretty regular when rotating your guns around on patrols.

[@Investing_WithDrake_Culver]

This is so confusing

[@СвойСобственный-б1ъ]

За 30секунд будуть втрати. Ти готовий спілкуватись з рідними

[@juancampoa8080]

Esa es la m3 no la dos

[@wollywolly2734]

Why do you think it is a M3?

[@geoffreyjohn4160]

I'm french and i don't understand

[@Rikard_Nilsson]

In order for an M2 heavy machinegun to not malfunction in a dangerous way the distance between the barrel and the moving parts need to be checked with a bunch of spacers in certain areas before firing. Otherwise you risk the cartridges exploding in your face instead of sending the bullet down range. This is what they're doing here.

[@TheSelfeDestruct]

If you are French you don't really need to get the M2 into working condition, you just drop it and run to the POW camp so you have first choice of the good bunks.

[@destroyerarmor2846]

Mediocre old design

[@pcquintana]

I mostly forgot all about that. Good thing there are good Americans that know how to set up a 50.

[@j.settle6448]

You no longer need to these days. They have the modern version that requires no headspace checks. Think M2A1

[@Kappi1997]

@@j.settle6448 Yes but saddly these aren't those you can get on the civilian market. The M2HB is the most modern one i saw in a while on the civilian market

[@nazeershaik6019]

Its wonderful timming setting as same as vechile engine timming ...

[@elijahschott9978]

19K: This video is spot on.

[@cvnevada807]

19K - 19D, liked being 19K much more!

[@jessicacastro27]

Fire, no fire is for timing. Go, no go is for headspace and you should NEVER ride the bolt forward. Also when checking for the headspace you want to ensure the firing pin is not sticking out before you shove the guage in so you do not break the firing pin and ending up with a out of service weapon.

[@wollywolly3953]

Sir The Operators Manual states to RIDE the bolt forward during HS process.

[@dmozonnersepicoutdooradven3524]

YES!

[@dmozonnersepicoutdooradven3524]

@@wollywolly3953 You ride it forward when there is no barrel. Slam it home a LEAST twice before checking head space.

[@isaachousley325]

Ride the bolt home on empty chamber. The operating springs of semiauto and auto weapons are designed to exert force on a cartridge to feed it into and set it in the chamber. If there is no round being fed, that force that would feed the cartridge is now slamming the bolt against the chamber. You ride the bolt home on an empty chamber to prevent breaking parts.

[@stevehammond9156]

This is an excellent video on how to perform these VITAL functions on this weapon. If you cannot perform all of this in LESS than 2 minutes, you are a NO GO as far as I am concerned. Mis-setting the timing can result in a weapon that fires too fast or too slow and can result in stoppages. Mis-setting the headspace on an M2 can result in a weapon that is DANGEROUS!

[@christophernore7201]

Yeah, and who would want a dangerous weapon, right? Btw, that's a joke. I get what you're saying.

[@johnkato4138]

50 cals that do not know their headspace set have been known to explode. The round does not cleanly leave the chamber and partially breaks apart in the chamber.

[@christophernore7201]

As I said, I was joking, but thanks for clarifying further. I was wondering though, wouldn't it be possible to make a 50 cal. Machine-gun that doesn't have to be "tuned" like the M2? I know that there already are some new ones, but they can't fire all the rounds that the M2 can.

[@Key_highway]

Christopher Nore the QCB model doesn’t require it and as far as I’m aware can still fire the full range of ammunition that we used with the old 50

[@brianhalligan1138]

@@Key_highway Sorry... there's a CQB M2?

[@colddeadhand7414]

My dad said he was constantly having to check the headspace and timing on these back when he did small weapons repair back in Vietnam because the guys kept losing their gauges. He said that a dime could be used as an improvised gauge as long as it was the same thickness.

[@kevins9346]

aka most annouing shit ever. My pockets would jingle jangle every day. We were required to have that tool on us at all times.

[@jk1209]

If an enemy happens to come too close and you are still assembling this cumbersome gun then quickly grab a catapult and protect youself from the enemy in close range.

[@worldoftancraft]

Or just invent NSV to replace the DŠK and eventually replace it with KORD and have no headaches.

[@StarDark4]

I don't want to use a weapon that is this complicated to set up. If it jams in a firefight it's essentially useless now

[@shockwave6213]

Its not that complicated. In fact, I dare say its actually very simple for such a heavy weapon. I guess that's why everyone tells me they'd want me setting up, cleaning and maintaining the heavy weapons if we were in a combat zone. I love performing weapons maintenance. LOL.

[@kirkbean8197]

Much more reliable than the M85 that’s for sure.

[@pappydc12]

M85? Old 19E here. Luckily, I never had to go fight with the M85 in the M60A1/A3 etc. During tank gunnery the best practice was to just shoot one LONG burst at tank commander/M85 targets. It was always "when the M85 jams" and not IF. POS.....glad they dropped it from the Abrams line of vehicles.

[@bwb3636]

adjusting the timming to get the click should be counter clockwise

[@عبداللهختامي]

If the machine gun cuts the shot into the barrel, what's the reason?

[@unknownpeople1687]

I do this in 2:32 min easy my last crono.

[@olgader2199]

это пиздец...

[@ferna2294]

Thank you [Enter your name here] for your service.

[@robbyshick3895]

First time I fired it had a Vietnam Veteran help with head space and timing…. He let me shot fist and as I was ready he ask me if I was sure head space and time was right…. He said he saw them blow up in Vietnam, I shot first round with my eyes closed…

[@chilldudes4368]

Does it hurt on the grips to shoot the m2?

[@christophersine84]

It's almost always 3 clicks out

[@mudekerezabisimwa471]

Sawa.

[@unknownpeople1687]

dismounted and reassembled 2 min 32 sec my best time

[@jalisciensehastalascachas1938]

I gotta watch this video a couple times Imma have a important test soon, need to know my shit right!! Never thought Ma’ Deuces were such a complicated mess (for starters I guess)

[@harpomarx7777]

Photographer fails to zoom in on the gauge insertion ... stands on wrong side ... wiggles camera. Sucks. FAIL

[@TheSelfeDestruct]

Probably because he's a soldier and not a professional cameraman. But you keep on being your shiny happy ray of sunshine sweetheart.

[@Woody-nc1ru]

@@TheSelfeDestruct 🤣😂🤣 awesome

[@shockwave6213]

Its very simple: The Go (Thin side) should fit between the bolt and barrel while the bolt is forward and the No Go (Thick side) should not fit there with the bolt closed.