New .50 Cal Chain Gun | Ma Duece M2 Replacement | Tactical Rifleman

[@SupaSargeakaQ]

Loved my Ma Deuce which helped me stay alive during my firefight on the Al Shahaddah Bridge in Mosul 2004

[@TacticalRifleman]

Thanks for sharing

[@johnlehew8192]

Thank you for your service

[@justme_gb]

Nothing can replace perfect Karl. If US Marines haven't been able to break the M2 in 90 years, there is nothing wrong with the 'ole girl.

[@dposcuro]

Having to deal with head space/timing? Instantly makes it not _perfect._ I don't think there is a .50 cal currently that could replace it. Most modernized .50s have gone the way of constant recoil and lower RPM to reduce the effect of recoil on the mount. But that is because they were developed for the requirements of other countries. Many countries prefer the rate of fire to be in the 600-800 rpm range. I mean, really, dual feed, a bit less weight, a faster barrel change and no need to give a shit about headspace or timing, I think would be pretty nice, wouldn't it?

[@richardlahan7068]

The modernized M2s don't even need to be timed or headspaced. You can just drop the barrel into the receiver and you're good to go. The reason that the older M2 versions needed to be headspaced and timed had to do with the impossibility of making millions of interchangeable barrels across a dozen manufacturers during WWII and beyond with 1920s machine tool technology. With modern machine tooling, those tolerances are not a problem.

[@SuperRip7]

That because they are service members and not weapons engineers.

[@codyaaron2129]

This makes more sense used as automated defense weapon, rather than vehicle mounted. Unless the gun itself is damaged, the Ma Deuce will run. This thing is usless if power is cut. It has a place, but Mama is gonna be chilling with Master Chief.

[@ph11p3540]

Power supplies are often more reliable than a round in some scenarios. You don't want to send a soldier out to where your ROGV is when the gun has a dud round in it. The chain drive is very well proven and was made for applications where soldiers and pilots can't get at the gun. You are substituting one advantage for another.

[@danielv7964]

I am a former USMC machine gunner 0331 and currently a technician in the oilfield that works on mechanical and electrical equipment in many different challenging environments. Without even digging into the weeds I foresee many problems with this weapon system. It definitely cannot completely replace the current machine guns for the military. The biggest problem that sticks out like a sore thumb, it needs electrical power to operate.

[@robman247]

I have to agree with you on that, A Battery 🔋 !? So if the guys out up on a tower with it what if the batteries 🪫 run low who’s going to get the jumper cables or will there be solar panels to help charge the batteries 🔋 and giveaway the position with a shining panel 😅👍👌✌️🔋🪫🫡🇺🇸

[@ArmoredAlgebra]

It reminds me of the solenoid on a CROWS system that runs an M2 and is already combat proven. The M2 works, but I do the .338 Norma is the future for the range.

[@T20-c8f]

But not going electric is soooooo 2000 and laste. Just because it’s lowers the over all carbon footprint doesn’t mean you have to turn into a mean, homophobic, islamophobic, ableist, vaccine hesitant, cisgendered, racist, bigot, facus, ethnocentric, Cheeto supporting, mansplaining, prolife, murderer over it.

[@johnb8190]

I was thinking the exact same thing. What happens when you have no juice? Now your gun is down.

[@infidel24]

Agreed

[@417jumps3]

Next to artillery the .50cal is the king of battle!! An M2 in full operation is one of the sexiest, most intimidating sound!!

[@MarkBerenger]

The M2 is a bb gun compared to the 20mm thru 40mm chain guns.

[@stickfighter1038]

Amazed at the new technology improvements and believe we have to keep improving. That said, memories in the Army of the Ma Duece in the late 80s and 90s so would be sad to see it replaced.

[@TacticalConsiderations]

Great video. I got to play with that Toyota it was mounted on when it was being built.

[@TacticalRifleman]

Very cool!

[@davidquist8963]

"I like big guns" well yeah, chances are so do we, that's why we're all here. Enough said. LOL

[@LanternFlies]

Now that's some serious firepower! Love it!

[@Chris-zh3zv]

Reminds me of the m242 bushmaster chain drive auto cannon we have on the m2 bradley, just scaled down. I dont see the electrical drive being a prob as long as this is kept vechicle mounted.

[@darinbarber2922]

My only question is whether Randy has approved this weapon yet? What I got from this video was "I like big guns, and I cannot lie" 😂

[@TheEventRecorder]

50/50...You Still Have A .50! Awesome Channel!!

[@nickjohnson710]

Holy cow karl, You've spoiling us with this !👌🇬🇧

[@richardlahan7068]

Maybe they would work well on vehicles, ships and helicopters.

[@withoutfurtheradoforever]

The envy...oh the envy... ❤

[@williamneal7210]

Recon we got to start calling the old Ma' Deuce "GrandMa' Deuce"

[@gaigejones3947]

Big shout out to daycraft solution, putting az on the map for firearm manufacturers!!

[@williamsmolinski9405]

Thanks 4 the reply!!! Google failed me but " Gun Jesus" hooked me up!!! The breach stays locked longer b/c it relies on the electric motor 2 cycle, not the energy of the round so all that energy goes downrange. It's also heavier with the motor/ battery etc.Thank you Karl and Thank you Ian !!!

[@glockguy4127]

Great stuff? Thanks for the interesting content.

[@TacticalRifleman]

Thanks for watching!

[@ronsmith9251]

Fifty Cal Friday should be a regular thing 🙂

[@teamwisconsin3009]

I see alot of commenters are pointing out the need for power as a problem. But I'm pretty sure the Humvee-mounted mini-gun systems that Steve Holland got into Iraq also used external power, and the soldiers loved them. So it might not be as big an issue as everyone thinks.

[@TacticalRifleman]

Agreed.

[@AccipiterAtricapillus]

this thing would make a sick ass coax on an armored vehicle

[@gfin4576]

I think the need for an outside power source will exclude this from a lot of applications. regardless of reliability in the parts and electrical connections.

[@chrishooge3442]

It's vehicle mounted so multiple power sources.

[@sonoforygun7593]

For years I was a scout gunner, I see some very innovative ideas. The biggest problem I see is the power to run the gun. Just like the tow missile there are always going to be power concerns. Portable batteries are always a liability and crew serve power supplies are the same way especially in a combat environment. I am sure they know these things am I love the versatility of caliber options. I hope the best for them, joes need solid freedom dispensers.

[@thomasnugent3836]

Karl, Very informative discussion!

[@kakarot4star]

Looks very similar

[@Slave-nl8xn]

Nice.

[@sennest]

Seems like Chad is always bringing the "punch" to the party🎉🎉 I'm hoping he can get the TR team into the taste testing kitchen more often😎👍👍

[@TacticalRifleman]

I hope so too!

[@irafowlerjr.7492]

Yes, I need one😊

[@mikel2730]

Almost at 750k karl 🍻 Looking forward to seeing that counter hit 1 mil🔥

[@MarkBerenger]

That barrel change is fkn rad.. I wish all rifles had that

[@cm-pr2ys]

I wonder if theyll ever come out with a lightweight .50 Cal upgrade to the M2. Something like the STK CIS 50 could be useful for the US military, especially with the dual feed mecahnism for AP ammo, and polymer rounds like SOCOM and the USMC are adopting.

[@leifleblanc160]

Pretty awesome, especially the reduction of recoil should allow a grester level of accuracy making bettrr use of ammo count. Win win .. Thanks for showing this Karl . RLTW

[@scotteaston4766]

👍👍👍👍. Beast of a Weapon

[@capthappy345]

Sweet ass weapon system!

[@dkoz8321]

What if there is no power avaliable? Is there a hand crank?

[@rickburke7167]

Why not use the energy released by detonation e.g. by barrel recoil to generate top up power for the battery ?

[@johnnybagofdoughnuts4193]

Awesome! I’m sure the M2 will stick around for another 40-60 years, but this looks like a nice little incremental improvement

[@ChiIeboy]

You call a sub-minute barrel change "incremental"? LOL

[@johnnybagofdoughnuts4193]

@@ChiIeboy they removed the need to headspace on M2’s like a decade ago. In other words, it’s been sub-minute on the M2 for a while as well. I’ve done it myself, just about 3 months ago.

[@joshblack2362]

Hell yea!!! 🇺🇸

[@Dulles2SASItaly1945]

Omg dream chain gun 30 cal liberty gun modification. Springfield stock, bar handle, iorns and 4x scope.

[@DragonflyAcres2022]

Happy 4th of July 🇺🇸

[@sawdustwhisper9397]

Stupid question but with the optic moving like that how does it retain zero?

[@erikmckaygunsmithing6470]

My buddy bill has a m2 with a crank device we mount up to the 5 ton it's alot of fun. And gets some looks

[@arapahoetactical7749]

Chain guns have some very distinct advantages, such as if there is a failure to fire, it doesn't stop the gun. The motor continues to run and the dud round is cycled out. It also allows much greater control over the rate of fire just by adjusting the speed of the motor. But on the down side, it is vehicle dependent. You can't dismount the gun and fire it remotely from a tripod. If the vehicle goes down, the weapon goes down unless you happen to carry an extra 12 volt battery. I will give them high marks on the over all size of the chain drive system, most chain guns are much larger, and the ability of this system to still use the old links though that is probably because the feed system most likely borrows heavily from the the M-2. It seems that he's a little over the top about the barrel change, but the newer versions of the M-2 have had a quick change system for several years now. It's not really something new. Kind of like the .30 cal version; the original "Chain Gun" developed by Hughes Aerospace was chambered for 7.62mm NATO. Other companies like Bushmaster have taken the chain drive system up to 30mm and larger so again, there is not much new about that.

[@ingemar_von_zweigbergk]

any tips how to fight a T1000 ?

[@almightytwee1188]

I see this being used in QUAD AA systems or in aircraft, I can’t imagine this being used by grunts in the field, just because of electrical motor IMO but I love innovation like this. We need to move forward and I think we have definitely stagnated once the Cold War ended

[@dasy2k1]

I must admit, if you need an electrical supply why not just send it and get a Dillon 503D?

[@dkoz8321]

Why is a D30 122mm gun sharing frame with M2?

[@renegadearms]

That is sweet.

[@Jason_556]

I like to see the gun be loaded.

[@fishrrelaxing9361]

But does it fire the sabots 😉

[@TacticalRifleman]

If you mean SLAP rounds, yes, it will shoot any ammo rated for the 50bmg machine gun

[@Red-238]

⁠@@TacticalRiflemancan you someday make a video about SLAP round

[@luftmoth]

C'mon the m26 mass was bad enough, now this?

[@JohnSmith-ii7dw]

watching jerry mucilec? fire a semi-auto 50 from the shoulder is impressive.

[@williamsmolinski9405]

Great job, as usual. Why is the recoil sooo dramatically reduced on a chain gun as opposed to a mechanical equivalent???

[@TacticalRifleman]

That I don’t know

[@John_Redcorn_]

Because most of the gases are vented away from the action, as gas/recoil isnt needed to cycle the action. The chain drives the action

[@sixgun79]

There is a recoil mechanism built internally that dampens the recoil.

[@mymic208]

Because the m2 needs that recoil to cycle the weapon, so its not just the force of a 50 cal going off slamming back into you, its also the weapon cycling. This uses an external power source to feed and cycle the weapon. Which is great, because infired rounds will just be ejected without jamming the gun. However the need for an external power source comes with problems. I also noticed they didn't mention anything about weight. The main problem with the 50 cal at the moment is its weight. Which doesn't really matter seeing as its mounted mostly on vehicles. So I'm suspicious it might even be heavier than the m2. If and when a replacement for the m2 comes it will either look something like the korg the Russians are using. Or, seeing as every nato nation has loads of these, and loads of parts for these, it wont be till there is a massive improvement in ammunition, like a polymer 50 cal round.

[@Mrgunsngear]

🇺🇸👀

[@khanhgiapham-mi4hg]

nothing can match the M2, except the Soviet DHSK.

[@kschwords9223]

Buuuut it requires a power source…. I’ll stick to the M2A1.

[@davidquist8963]

Chances are any vehicle that would allow you to carry and fire that beast of a weapon will have sufficient power to charge it, not sure if they discussed the wattage that it takes to run it probably isn't more than any standard car alternator or battery (if the engine isn't running) should be sufficient to run it probably for longer than your ammo in such a vehicle would hold out. If you were sitting somewhere for an extended period of time without other power, I guess that could be a problem, but I suspect that would be a problem earlier for other devices that require power.

[@kschwords9223]

@@davidquist8963 I don’t doubt it can run off mobile batteries or a Vic easily but it’s about cross platform integration and reliability. Take the current conflict in Europe - you can drive in a M2 on a Vic mount, have the tri pod in the back, and easily move it to a fixed location. Plus, when guys are running over mines or catching rounds to the engine block, it’s nice to have a gun that’ll keep rocking after the alternator belt shears off. You could tripod mount a M2 with some bolts or sand bags in the back of a contractor van. That’s your low vis technical. I like the chain .50, seems nice for aircraft or maybe heavy Vic platforms but for the doods on the ground perspective, anyone can run the M2 and do maintenance. Really, an updated lightweight thermal with a rangefinder that runs off of a shit ton of 123s or a 5590 would be a better upgrade.

[@andybecker5001]

Well 50 call chain gun is awesome, but why not mount the Apache chain gun on a vehicle? Edit, there’re doing a 25mm!

[@kirbymoffatt3641]

Batteries

[@sneekyblacktiger]

Y’all gonna tip the taco over with the .50 and Mini gun aintcha!? Lol

[@ronniepapepape1629]

Sweet

[@andersoncox6892]

Needs a water jacket and modern water circulation system A .50cal with basically unlimited time of firing

[@11C1P]

While it's an awesome gun, I don't see it replacing the current M2 at least not completely. It's a lot more complicated which means a lot more things to fail.

[@chrishooge3442]

It's a tried and true concept. The Bradley's 25mm Bushmaster is also a chain gun.

[@TacticalRifleman]

Actually, I thought the design was very simple

[@John_Redcorn_]

@@chrishooge3442thats a 25mm tho. I dont see the need for it on something drastically smaller like a 50 cal that can operate just fine being recoil operated

[@ghost-do8fg]

“Hello, this is Ian here with Forgotten Weapons “

[@mattandrews8528]

I’d be more interested in the bigger versions. Now he said “up to 30mm” and then the 40mm grenade launcher to replace the mk19 is cool. But the higher velocity flatter shooting 20/25/30mm for direct fire have me more interested than compared to say a 40mm which will need to arc. I mean that’s cool for indirect fire, but I want DIRECT fire. I can only imagine the effectiveness of those larger calibers, would love to see some footage of those.

[@SGobuck]

you can check out the Bradley, they use 25 mm chain guns, but the HE rounds arc more than the AP rounds. It's not practical to stick a 25 mm on a humvee or on a truck. Too heavy, you'll think you're being attacked by ammo boxes and I don't see anyone traversing those things by hand, IF someone attempted to do it.

[@lostinpa-dadenduro7555]

In 2149 the M2 will still be in use. We’ll see it in the first Martian war, between the separatists and the colonial loyalists.

[@jacobxiaolong9104]

M8 you predicted Overheaven's Red-Blue War.

[@srinivarma1320]

We are proably going to use this gun on mars

[@victormaxwell5947]

Hoorah ,, 🧂🧂🧂🧂🧂🇺🇸

[@eljefeamericano4308]

Cool weapon system, but making it require electricity eliminates it as a direct competitor to the M2 in my mind.

[@andreybelkin6872]

👍🔥

[@coomman-e4j]

Hope you bring up the AGS-30 and indirect fire support capability with this guy that might the only place western armies are behind

[@arthurdsoto5751]

Karl, I don't want Randy hitting me with ANYTHING! Just Saying IMO

[@TK199999]

Here is the main issue why the Browning gun is still around. Its actually a very simple gun, yeah it has quarks, especially for a weapon of its age. But its still a very simple operating system and overall mechanically its relatively simple gun. That means there is very little that can go wrong with it and it comes down to same argument. Which guns is harder to break and easiest to fix? The answer is still the Browning 1919/21 design.

[@markcoffman9522]

All well and good until the battery pukes!

[@ditzydoo4378]

It's nice and all, but since it requires a power source for the motor, is overly complicated, far heavier and bulkier I'd say it's still far from replacing the immortal Ma-Deuce.

[@southronjr1570]

So, it's bigger, is reliant on outside power, and has electrical devices that can, and most definitely will at the worst possible time, fail. So how exactly is this an improvement over the M2?

[@khanhgiapham-mi4hg]

just salesman pitch

[@southronjr1570]

@khanhgiapham-mi4hg Yeah, gotta agree with ya there. While I come from the generation of new and exciting toys litterally every month, some things just can't really be drastically improved upon, and the M2 is one of those things. When adjusted properly, it's an incredibly reliable machine that works as long as it is kept in spec and fed decent ammo and oiled regularly, the absolute best they can do is equal it with a chain driven system. Not saying the M2 couldn't use some upgrades, but the dasic design can't be beaten by designers of today who are as much electrical engineers as they are mechanical engineers.

[@2genders]

Seems like an overengineered and probably overpriced solution to a problem that marginally exists

[@russellridge8623]

Sweet! Wonder if we can get the Ukrainians to give us back some munitions so we can shoot it ?

[@briankudalis9572]

I don't like the electric motor . How long does that electric motor take to change out in a gunfight ?

[@drgonzo305]

Seems like a lot of unnecessary complications and not a whole lot of benefit

[@gonzogonzo3920]

I don’t believe adding batteries is a improvement 🪫

[@WearilyCorrect]

Needs a suppressor

[@sharonrigs7999]

20mm or 25mm would have been a better choice IMHO

[@DisgustedGenXr]

Um. Shoot it more?🤔

[@secondamendment1927]

It's a cool gun. But I really think the electronics are gonna stop it. Complexity of production and maintenance, cost, training, power supplies, parts procurement-particularly as the coming war with china will kill our supply chains. It just can't beat out a mechanical system for most uses.

[@cornpopwasabaddude4188]

Seems like a lot of failure points

[@callumbush1]

Aw man was going to get one for home defense until I read the disclaimer!

[@henrylee4892]

Why would the U.S. tryna replace the reliable Ma deuce? Why not instead of wasting money from developing new stuffs that requires systems that could fail. why not just allocate the budget to the navy where china is slowly going ahead of us

[@Hoopaball]

The recoil, the recoil, the recoil... No one complained about it before, why are you complaining now?

[@be5718]

I'm trying to understand how a chain driven 50 is an improvement over a proven design. Looks like more complications and many more points of failure.

[@TacticalRifleman]

The cut in recoil was the biggest selling point for me

[@nuclearTANK]

If it ain't broke don't fix it, this is some stupid ass money grab shit

[@lifetrees1]

Nothing replaces the M2, which is so simple and reliable, but maybe lighten up the gun, too heavy

[@dkoz8321]

M2 has been around since tail end of WWI. Used in Philippines, used in Bananna Wars, WWII, every war on every continent since then. Inlcluding Ukraine.

[@alz.7716]

SIG Sauer MG 338 seems like the better option.

[@joemama.556]

why would this be any better than a GAU-19/B? lol

[@warrenb8228]

I’m disappointed it’s not a .60 cal. Why? I don’t know, why do I wake up in the morning. No reason… just keeps happening

[@Bounty6Gulf]

Way better design the the Ma Duce, that goes down from dust

[@mantia39]

Might be good for airborne applications and shipboard....but not much else. IMO....and wtf do I know...

[@nocapbussin]

This doesnt impress me at all. In fact this weapon is a mistake to make a standard primary weapon system I was a Mk 38 gunner and tech. A chain and sprocket bolt carrier system is a great thing for 25mm- 30mm, but for a .50cal it makes no sense. What happens if you get hit with an electric weapon that fries the battery? What if the battery is a bad battery and doesnt take a charge properly and fails while on mission? Sometimes more complex technology isnt the answer.

[@MegaVincenzo13]

Maybe put an extra barrel or 5 . Then you could just rotate instead of changing the barrel and if you need huge firepower you could gatling it for a short time.

[@tylerleavitt2715]

What do I know, but why replace what’s been working for 100yrs? The answer is in $ of govt contracts.

[@salt6]

Kiss principle.

[@MikeHunt-rw4gf]

Algorithm.