M2 Browning: The WWII Machine Gun we Still Use Today

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[@Sideprojects]

Play War Thunder for FREE on PC, PS®5 and Xbox Series X|S: wtplay.link/sideprojectswt. Follow the link to download the game and get your exclusive bonus now. See you in battle!

[@allangibson2408]

And the final note - the 50 cal is not a 1/2” bore - it is exactly 13mm bore (like the Mauser TuFG).

[@Grevsnes]

I love CC and BB, along with much of the channels you do, and understand that this was not intentional. I try not to get political. However, running WT as a sponsor today might just be a little insensitive.

[@anarchyantz1564]

Simon: Imagine for a moment that World War III has started.... Yeah....not good timing with this quote Simon at the moment.

[@KrazzyKelsie]

Not to mention Gaijin the makers of warthunder is Russian (edit: Correction: they were Russian, they are now based in Hungary with large offices in Germany. With only a small office in Russia)

[@mandalor45]

well ya its free but its pay to win

[@splintersparten9989]

You should definitely make a biographic's video on John Moses browning. He is by far the most prolific weapons designer in history.

[@Sommertest]

I second that idea

[@GarretTheGussy]

What about the designer of the Lee Enfield (Springfield is based on this) or the Mauser (Lee Enfield is based on this)

[@troybray7523]

@@GarretTheGussy Springfield and the Pattern 14/ 17 Enfields are Mausers. The SMLE is not.

[@splintersparten9989]

@@GarretTheGussy why not all three! I am basing it off numbers firearms produced, number of successful designs both military and civilian and year's of service of his firearms. The lee-enfield is a fantastic series of rifles and probably the single longest serving series but when you look at the service life span of each model it's pretty short plus it wasn't like each new Enfield rifle was just minor modifications done to it they did pretty massive overhauls between models for the majority of the lee-enfield full service span. Another great one would be on who ever designed the mosin-nagant them and the lee-enfields are to of the most produced rifles ever.

[@Sommertest]

@@GarretTheGussy Wilhelm and Paul Mauser we’re good designers, but the Mauser rifle action was a group effort by designers within the Mauser organization. John Moses Browning was the main engineer behind such things as the pump shotgun action, the semi-automatic recoil action, direct gas impingement for semi and fully automatic actions, and dozens of other feed and action designs. He worked for pretty much every major American gun builder and some European gun manufacturers. That’s what makes him stand apart.

[@Pile_of_carbon]

The M2 Browning is literally the definition of "If it's not broken, don't fix it." I can easily see this gun still being in use in another hundred years, with very few updates made.

[@Solnoric]

They're working on replacements. There are a bunch of shortcomings in the design.

[@cgmason7568]

@@Solnoric the A1 upgrade is all its gonna get for awhile

[@havoc3742]

@@Solnoric they've been working on Replacements since the 1980's, and every time, it all comes down to the same thing: It's too fragile, it's not as reliable, it isn't as accurate, it's rate of fire is inadequate, it's too expensive for too little gain, Etc, Etc, Etc, ad all. the fact of the matter is, the M2 is just too good at it's job. Yes, it's heavy, yes, the giant recoil spring can catapult out the back if you fuck up during setting up the timing, yes, the barrel falls out occasionally because you fucked up the change. But, if you need a gun that'll run as long as it has ammo in it, that's proven and tested, that'll blow a man clean in half, and tear through anything lighter than an IFV and reduce whatever's behind it to a mangled heap, Ma Duece's song will keep on chugging along, as long as you treat her right.

[@finickybits8055]

They’ll keep the weapon, and just make cooler bullets

[@zyoninkiro]

I could see the Ma Deuce being mounted on a robotic platform. Yes, 21st century tech packing early 20th century weapons.

[@jacobklunder8552]

“Imagine WWIII breaks out…” Well, that’s gonna be easy right now.

[@thetruerift]

Beat me to this :P

[@robertsears8323]

Right. We are getting a small taste right now with Russian going to war.

[@moose2577]

Oh the timing!

[@dumdidumdumification]

Yep little imagination needed.

[@ClickClack_Bam]

Especially since as I'm writing this Russia is having an emergency meeting where the sole reason is to determine has the US went too far against Russia v Ukraine in that biological & nuclear weapons will be used. Funny how it's not even being covered by the media that much huh???

[@Norbrookc]

R. Lee Ermey on one of his shows talked about the M2, and he said "The only thing that can replace the Ma Deuce is another Ma Deuce." The axiom of "If it's not broke, don't fix it" applies to it, although it has several tweaks over the years to make it better.

[@Cheka__]

R. Lee Ermey was awesome. Maybe it was "Mail Call" you saw that on.

[@tacticalrepair]

Simon, I'm a gunsmith at an Army depot and I come across very early production M2s often. I ran across serial #1390 just the other day. You might also be surprised to see some of the extremely early M16s we still have in inventory as well.

[@dmytro732]

I've heard the Air Force still uses the occasional Colt 601 in basic training, albeit, refurbished.

[@tacticalrepair]

@@dmytro732 in active service, not just training. Absolutely.

[@jackofalltradesmasterofnon5765]

I remember back around 06 my platoon got several M2's added to our inventory. They were all fresh from depot level maintainence/refurb. Two of them had OEM manufacturers markings from GE as they were probably built by GE back in the 40s. Those guns ran better than most of our newer stuff.

[@skrawny-clown-snatcherofth8651]

The stories those firearms could tell

[@odinfromcentr2]

If it ain't broken, don't try to fix it. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@admiraltiberius1989]

A joke in the Warhammer 40k community is that you'd likely find a M2 50 cal in a few Space Marine armories, they'd treat them as honored relic weapons.

[@mitcharcher7528]

If that’s not canon, it should be.

[@admiraltiberius1989]

@@mitcharcher7528 id love to see a Land Raider with a remote controlled Quad 50 perched on top.

[@geodkyt]

I've said for decades that when we have David Drake style fusion powered hovertanks with energy guns that can shoot down targets in orbit or blast though both sides of a 20th Century tank like it was plywood, the commander's hatch will probably have a Ma Deuce on it.

[@vb1564]

theres probably some pdf out there, or even an entire regiment, using a weapon that can trace its lineage to an m2

[@tanks608]

Aren’t stubbers .50s already?

[@christiphorballestero683]

I was an Armorer in the US Army and I saw one that was manufactured by the Singer Sewing Machine Co during WWII. Damn thing still drummed out rounds like clockwork.

[@robertsears8323]

Singer made a lot of guns for the Army in WW2. One of the most expensive 1911s out there is one made by the Singer Sewing Machine Co.

[@shawnr771]

@@robertsears8323 What about the ones made by Remington Rand corporation?

[@robertsears8323]

@@shawnr771 They are nice guns. But it is also the rarity of the Singer guns that make them worth so much money.

[@jimdavenport8020]

@@shawnr771 Remington-Rand made thousands of 1911A1s as opposed to Singer who only made a test production batch of (as I recall) 1,000 pistols. It was decided that Singer's ability to do precision work was better suited to more demanding projects than the .45, which, although a wonderful handgun, is not machined to tolerances that demanding. The only 1911s more collectable are a handful made in Montreal by a Canadian company.

[@shawnr771]

@@jimdavenport8020 very cool. Most people always assume most 1911s are Colt etc. Which I knew was not true. When I was in the Army in the 1980s my assigned 1911,s serial number started with a 0. The weapon was machine stamped M1911. Beside that was a hand stamp A1 MOD It was a Colt.

[@keatoncampbell820]

M2, the standard of reliable and effective design. Blows my mind that there are m2s from the original production batch still in service

[@troybray7523]

The one I was issued had a 5 digit serial number. Not first run, but pre- Pearl Harbor. It had some wear, and was as ugly as any other, but it went bang every time I wanted it to.

[@devikwolf]

@@troybray7523 that's some heritage right there.

[@ChipmunkRapidsMadMan1869]

I’m not surprised.

[@colincampbell767]

As those weapons arrived at the depot for periodic rebuilding to a 'like new' condition - those weapons were separated out and transferred to museums.

[@colbeausabre8842]

They never wear out

[@bo7341]

Simon: Imagine for a moment World War 3 erupts *looks at the news today* ....timing is impeccable

[@Pile_of_carbon]

Was thinking the same thing. Not much imagination required there...

[@FluxDeimos]

I was gonna say "that did not age well" lol

[@jasonritner9662]

Seriously...

[@amandajones661]

Yep.

[@darthbalgarus6986]

World war 3? No. A massive european war? Possibly. My point is that America will only get involved if our politicians are braindead. Enough Americans have died cleaning up european messes

[@devikwolf]

A little extra info: Simon mentions "three zero zero six" but it would be pronounced "thirty ought six" as in 30 caliber, version of 1906, and written as 30-06. This was an improvement on the earlier 30-03 round, redesigned as a response to Germany's 7.92 round being capped with a new style bullet.

[@mikek4288]

Not to mention his pronunciation of Ma Deuce...made it sound like Muduece

[@jasoncarney5886]

Yea.... noticed both of these

[@ogreshrimp733]

He also said "on this episode of MegaProjects..."

[@devikwolf]

@@ogreshrimp733 our boy with the blaze has like 50000 channels, I'm giving him a pass on that

[@ClickClack_Bam]

A ten second bother to check would've found this mistake. Funny how money changes people.

[@Nipplator99999999999]

It's "Ma", as in mother not "My", she'll care for and protect you like you are her child as long as you show her the respect she deserves. I had the honor of using the AN models From Blackhawks, and I certainly never want to be on the business end of her.

[@chernobyl68]

thats what I'd thought as well

[@MrTexasDan]

Be easy on him Nip, he just reads the text.

[@Nipplator99999999999]

@@MrTexasDan I was just trying to let people know for future reference, not to be an a$$. Sorry if I came across any different

[@MrTexasDan]

@@Nipplator99999999999 no, I was the a$$, I should have put a smiley. Totally tongue in cheek.

[@jarheadcharlie2315]

This is one of those times that it is much better to give then to receive...

[@justinkashtock333]

The M2 was one of my all-time favorite firearms to shoot while I was in the Army. All but the most firearm illiterate people know about bullet velocity, leading a target, etc. due to the fact that bullets take time to reach a target, but there's a big difference between knowing that information mentally and seeing it first-hand: the bullet fired by the M2 is large enough that on a clear day firing at a distant target, you can watch the bullet travel all the way to the target. When I first fired it, what amazed me the most was realizing how slow bullets actually fly compared to what you imagine in your head; I could see the bullet at it appeared to somewhat slowly float towards the target in the distance before making contact and unleashing its devastating power. You could see the vapor trail of a bullet fired from an M16, but it was still a completely different experience to watching the .50 caliber bullet glide through the air on the way to the target. It was a very surreal experience that I've never experienced with any other firearm. Anyone who has the opportunity to fire an M2 on a long distance target range should absolutely give it a try, because it's a surreal experience that will broaden your cognition of ballistic principles. 10/10 - highly recommended!

[@bartfoster1311]

Ma Deuce, the iconic heavy machine gun. I have carried one of these and they certainly aren't light but sure are powerful. The cloud of dust kicked up as the pressure wave spreads from the blast separates this from your normal rifle. With a 666 grain bullet you can reach out and turn someone into mist.

[@geodkyt]

Running cadence I used to use as a Drill Sergeant included the verse, "Screw in flush, and back off two, "Ma Deuce turns them all to goo! "All I ever want to see, is... "Bodies, bodies, bodies!"

[@everydayhero5076]

Ahhh, pink mist...

[@duncancurtis1758]

The Soviet Degtareva won ww2 comrade

[@OGBenPowell]

No one carried one of these…. This isn’t G.I. Joe.

[@bartfoster1311]

@Ben Powell then how do you get it somewhere if noone can carry it? I didn't say I shot it free hand, it is way too big to hold and shoot. We were loaned a couple demiled M2 and M1919A4 to make replicas for museum display.

[@MrWizeazz]

It’s hard not to feel like a bad ass when you’re manning one of these during a firefight! Luckily the M2 never went down like our Mark 19 constantly did.

[@Rudyelf1]

I hate the mk19. Bitch went down on me in an ambush. I always prefer the 240. If it is a dismounted patrol, it will suck, but it is better than the SAW. (But I still think the PKM is the best for maneuvering as infantry.)

[@troybray7523]

@@Rudyelf1 240 and 249 are bot reliable enough if you treat them right. I never had either let me down. Mk19? Well, I won't argue with your assessment. The PKM has it's drawbacks. Personally, I like the M60, but I know how to use one right, and most of it's problems were "operator headspace and timing."

[@noticedruid4985]

Hey the Mark 19 isn't that bad. And when your sending grenades down range, you can see those fruckers go for cover.

[@pauld6967]

@@troybray7523 "Operator head space" was used in my non-Infantry units as a derogatory insult. Later in my career I learned that the phrase had an actual meaning when I learned the joys of firing Ma Deuce (yeah!) and lugging the receiver, barrels, tripod & ammo overland (ugh!).

[@troybray7523]

@@pauld6967 In my combat units, it was derogatory as well. Mechanics used it to clear BS write ups on PMCS, and NCOs used it to describe "remedial training". And, yes, I've humped everything with a belt, and lots of stuff without. M2 was a favorite, but most of the time, I had a 60. It can be reassembled wrong by troops who needed their headspace and timing adjusted. Generally, that adjustment was permanent.

[@robertsears8323]

The story about Carlos Hathcock is true but you left one thing out. That shoot was the one and only shoot Carlos ever regretted taking. The whole story is that he seen that it was a very young boy pushing the bike. That was why he shot the bike first to try and just scar the kid off. but the kid picked up a AK and started shooting right in his direction, and a AK round will still kill you even at almost 2 miles if it hit you. So that was when Carlos hit the kid in the chest. He always said that was the only kill he wish he did not have to make.

[@tonyatthebeach]

kids nowdays have it so easy

[@DeosPraetorian]

​@@tonyatthebeachI mean that depends on where The kids live

[@chesspiece81]

The 1911 .45 ACP is such a legendary pistol.

[@makeracistsafraidagain]

I carried them as an Army MP. My SGT roommate at Ft Eustis was a gunsmith back in the world and he was a wizard with the 1911. I also carried the M-60 as part of a security alert team in West Germany. I know it's long been replaced... but what a machine.

[@MrFichstar]

It's basically the first modern pistol, imo.

[@trooperdgb9722]

@@MrFichstar No, its not. One of the first modern pistols sure...

[@ripvanwinkle2002]

@@trooperdgb9722 bro LITERALLY SAID IMO

[@andersjjensen]

Having had a long term relationship with one of these: It's impossibly good. There are way too many parts in it. It should not work this well. It's everything engineering tells you not to do. All theory says that it should be either unreliable or maintenance heavy... but it is neither. I don't know how many thousand rounds I've put through one of these. Of all of those I've had exactly one malfunction: a failure to extract. I can't blame that on the gun though. It did extract the bottom section of the casing alright. But since the case had ruptured most of the front end was still stuck in the chamber. It's kinda hard to extract two pieces as if they were one...

[@mikek4288]

Not sure if its true, but i believe they did away with the head space and timing. How dare they do away with that staple of gunnery classes.

[@JaenEngineering]

@@mikek4288 I believe the only reason for the headspace/timing adjustment was because of manufacturing tolerances at the time of design and initial production. While it was possible to machine for a perfect fit, doing it at scale and speed was difficult back when everything was done manually. Now, with modern CNC, you can knock out barrels/bolts with 0.001" tolerances all day every day.

[@andersjjensen]

@@mikek4288 They did indeed. I was trained on "the OG Ma Deuce" and the message was "So basically... don't change barrel in combat because you won't have time for that shit. Just toast the barrel if you absolutely have to."

[@Benson_aka_devils_advocate_88]

Good ol' .50 cal slap round. Just remember to "Stick a thumb in it!" 😆

[@robertsears8323]

Also make sure they are REAL and not counterfeit.

[@dutchess406]

they are in the picture in this video as welll. definitely adds weight to the "theory" thay they are only supposed to be fired out of m2

[@Adiscretefirm]

If you have a century old MA2 and a century old M1911 you are better equipped than most modern soldiers.

[@buncer]

Until you get your hands on a Glock.

[@noticedruid4985]

The M1911 is still better than a glock.

[@Mike-ul1xn]

@@noticedruid4985 I own both. If shit went down I'd grab the glock first.

[@coltinyancey6420]

@@buncer we arent talking about glocks yet here you come. Glock fanbois sure are pushy.

[@md_vandenberg]

@@noticedruid4985 Why, because the 1911 won two World Wars? I seem to remember that a couple of nukes were involved.

[@arieldahl]

2 conversions you missed to discuss: - QCB barrels - barrels that can be changed within seconds not half a minute and doesn't require a safety check for barrel alinement. - conversion to full auto, closed-breach - some armies remove the receiver release trigger and the retaining mechanism. this makes the gun a closed breach system. then it is possible to create a solid contact-on-contact safety latch that blocks the movement of the trigger when engaged.

[@rayraudebaugh5395]

The genius of John M. Browning. I loved shooting the M2 HB but the Model 1919 was no slouch. The ones we had were from the 1950's and I can't remember ever having a malfunction with one. The M-60s we had would consistently go down after only a few hundred rounds.

[@itsapittie]

Sometimes a thing is so well designed that it just can't be improved upon. There have been a few upgrades to the M2 over the years but nothing really major. It just works. It provides legendary destructive power and almost never goes down. The M2 is used by almost every military in the free world and will continue to be for the forseeable future. In fact, it continues in production today. It isn't going anywhere.

[@davidaprians]

well, you didn't have to fix or upgrade something that isn't broken..

[@dbltrub98]

At least it has a mechanical safety now 😂

[@itsapittie]

@@dbltrub98 It also now has a barrel that doesn't have to be manually headspaced. Those things make the gun more soldier-friendly but they're relatively minor tweaks. For the most part, Browning just got it right.

[@robertschumacher2707]

There have been several attempts by the U.S. Army to create a replacement. All have been abject failures due to trying to improve portability. usually by using lighter-weight parts that can't handle the .50's sheer power, shorter barrels that rob the round of range and hitting power, and by reducing the rate of fire to unacceptable levels so the lightweight version wouldn't shake itself off-target in a few rounds.

[@edbecka233]

The Ordnance dweebs after almost every "improvement" to the M2: "well, THAT crap goes in the scrap bin!"

[@KillaAkuma]

In Army it was nicknamed the hammer of god. I spent many years behind one of these. We had ones that were still wrapped in storage grease and paper with serial numbers from WWII original ones were you had to head space and timing gauge.

[@Sergiblacklist]

Browning's weapons really stood the test of time.

[@patrickdurham8393]

The Ma Deuce I ran in the early 80's was Korean war vintage but she was a sweetie. The USMC got crappy equipment but our armorers were the best.

[@sliveredtongue]

"Imagine for a moment that World War III..." Simon. I'm going to have to stop you there.

[@usonumabeach300]

During my time in the Marines, we were taught that the m2 could be used as light artillery, and pointing the rifle 45 degrees up you could land rounds at 11.5 miles, and dial in with a spotter. I have no idea if this is true, there are many urban myths we were told when I was in that ended up being 🐂 💩

[@bigdatapimp]

I think you are confusing the M-2 with the Mk-19 automatic grenade launcher.

[@troybray7523]

@@bigdatapimp MK19 is a short range weapon.

[@bigdatapimp]

@@troybray7523 "short range" it is effective at 9/10ths of a mile on a point target. You could lob 40mm mk-19 further than that. It wouldn't get 11.5mi but at least 2-3 for indirect fire.

[@troybray7523]

The range is a little off, but yes, any machine gun can be used for indirect fire. Using it that way takes a lot of training, and is much easier with a T&E device, and an observer with good eyes, but it can be done. I've done it.

[@troybray7523]

@@bigdatapimp Max indirect fire range for MK19 with high pressure rounds is about a mile. It is lobbing rounds in like a mortar at that range already, so it going farther. As a guy who calls for artillery fire from 20 miles away, a mile IS short range. An M1A1 Abrams can hit a target with direct fire at 2 miles, so, yeah, short range weapon.

[@teng029]

Talk about designs that stood the test of time. In that regard, John Browning has no peer..

[@mbathroom1]

last time I was this early, there was a world war.. Oh wait, another one might have just begun

[@timerover4633]

I had a lot of fun firing the .50 in the semi-automatic mode, and drove the ROTC instructors nuts because the assumption was that no ROTC cadet would know how to set it to that. I asked the sergeant if I could set to semi-auto, and he said "sure". I think that he thought I was joking. That aside, the M2 Heavy Barrel is simply the idea weapon for some many targets. Can you imagine being on the receiving end of a B-25G with 12 forward-firing .50 guns? There are reports of those aircraft literally cutting small ships in half with that firepower. The P-47 was not far behind with 8 wing guns. During the Korean War, the F-80 with 6 nose guns could burn through the rear armor of the North Korean T-34 and take the engine out. I am also glad that you mentioned Audie Murphy. His cold-blooded decision to get on the burning tank destroyer and use the .50 while calling artillery fire down on his own location is incredible to contemplate.

[@ignitionfrn2223]

3:50 - Chapter 1 - Development history 9:00 - Chapter 2 - Features 13:10 - Chapter 3 - Accolades

[@joshjohnson6942]

Not even the editor caught that Simon said "Mega Projects" and not "Side Projects" in the intro.

[@Pile_of_carbon]

With the amount of massive projects ending up on Side Projects and relatively small-ish projects ending up on Mega Projects, the two channels should just be called This is Cool Thing 1 and 2 and they're both pretty much extensions of Today I Found Out. Same with the latest episodes of Casual Criminalist and Decoding the Unknown. Even Simon makes fun of how much of a hot mess the Whistler media empire is sometimes.

[@desperado8605]

God Bless John Moses Browning

[@kevintemple245]

Amen

[@robertsears8323]

Absolutely. He was the greatest man to ever live.

[@Dank-gb6jn]

Let’s cover the Mosin Nagant next. One of the longest serving bolt action rifles in existence, likely the most mass produced bolt action rifle in existence, and one of the best shooting rifles around.

[@terrorform242]

Hell the mosins ammo alone is the longest serving military cartrige in history currently if im not mistaken.

[@Dank-gb6jn]

@@terrorform242 I believe you’re right on that. It’s a versatile cart. that packs an awesome punch that’s not as bad as people make out. Plus, it’s a very accurate.

[@md_vandenberg]

Mosins are great, right up until you need a rock to beat the bolt open.

[@MrMinuteman69]

The Mosin is a very robust buy crude rifle. It won't win any beauty contest and is not a technical wonder. It was basic and simple. Build to do a job of sending bullets down range. The 7.62x54R cartridge has served longer than any other military cartridges. It is reliable and still considered a powerful round. I personally witnessed a Mosin blowing up on a friend. We were having a memorial shoot in honor of his recently passed brother. The mosin belonged to his brother. He went to shoot it and it would chamber a round. Upon inspection he found a spent .308 case jammed in it. We found out another guy that was there had shot it but loaded it with .308. (He wasn't very gun smart) After one shot he realized the case was stuck. Instead of saying something he just laid the gun back down on the bench. Once my friend saw the case stuck he took the cleaning rod and with a great amount of force knocked the case out. Upon seeing it was a .308 case we started asking who shot it last. The other guy admitted he did it. My friend went ahead and chambered a round and fired. Gases blew out and peppered his face. Two of the rounds in the magazine went off blowing out the floor plat and breaking the trigger housing. The bolt stayed in the gun to our surprise. Immediately after that he realized he didn't remove the cleaning rod from the barrel which caused the backfire. We found the cleaning rod about 100 yards down range stuck in the ground. The rod has helicoiled around the bullet. The bullet still with rod. I hammered the bolt open and brass from case has came back around the locking lugs. After a lot of work on straightening the receiver (it twisted slightly from me hammering out bolt) I got a new used bolt and magazine assembly and put rifle back together. I clamped it in a gun vise and tied string to trigger to remote fire it. It still shoots. Today it hangs on the wall with the cleaning rod and bullet, along with the other broken parts and brass. For us it is a reminder of how his deceased brother put his hand on the breach the protect his little brother.

[@sn0lder]

fun fact the madsen mg the first ever functional light machine gun mass produced and employed by armies, has been in service since 1902 and is still used in limited numbers by brazilian police and drug cartels

[@finickybits8055]

When we were training on the M2, we were instructed that it was an anti-materiel weapon system, not to be used on personnel… “See that canteen on the enemy’s back/hip? That’s materiel!”

[@md_vandenberg]

In case anyone was curious, anti-material is derived from the French "matériel", which in this case means "military". It has nothing to do with shooting a substance that an object may be made of. If it belongs to the opposing military, you can shoot it.

[@finickybits8055]

@@md_vandenberg The explanation given to us was people are people, but stuff is materiel. Don't shoot people with a 50; shoot their stuff. Ostensibly, don't waste big bullets on squishy targets. The joke then was that a canteen on someone's back is also materiel....

[@jffry890]

@@md_vandenberg >the joke >your head

[@krunk28]

This was taken as misunderstanding from an that AT gunners are not to use the ranging gun on enemy personnel giving their position away.

[@patrickfullan9509]

"MA Duce" is the ultimate expression of "Lets see things my way". My AMTRAC in the Corps had a WW2(1942) issue M2 in the turret, so yeah I see the M2 still in the system for a few more decades.

[@decayingsun5798]

Great gun, my absolute favorite to shoot. The feel, the sound, it's great. The only downside is the weight. She's heavy as hell when you're carrying her around.

[@krymera666x7]

Cleaning sucks too. Having to pay for your fun.

[@302racing3]

3:30 In this episode of megaprojects… *visible confusion*

[@stephen7135]

The line about WW3 breaking out didn’t age well.

[@edwardloomis887]

One of the best memories of 24 years of military service? Running a night fire .50 cal MG range with crumbling cases of World War Ii-era API-T issued by the Wildfilecken Ammunition storage point ~ 1985. The rounds hitting the far hillside was a beautiful light show.

[@amandajones661]

Amen!!! 👍🙂

[@PaulMcElligott]

“Imagine WWIII breaks out…” Imagine?

[@edbecka233]

As a competitive shooter and State marksmanship cadre in the National Guard, I attended the SAIROC (Small Arms Instructor/Range Operator Course) at the NGMTU academy HQ. I was the three-way Honor Student (high academic, high rifle, high pistol) and was invited to be an adjunct instructor at two subsequent iterations of the course. Both times, I was assigned as the M2HB NCOIC. This came in handy in civilian life! One of the reserve Deputies at the Sheriff's Office (my day job was as the Rangemaster/armorer/etc there) was a Class III dealer and bought himself an operational M2. Of course, it arrived "some assembly required" and he knew enough to be terrified of the potential kaBOOM if he failed to headspace and time it right. He asked me to help him out, and I spent a whole day teaching him right from the MTU curriculum and having him dis/reassemble the whole thing repeatedly until he could narrate himself doing so. He never had any trouble out of the beast once he found a range and saved up for ammo...

[@Solnoric]

The phrasing around how the gun is safed(there's now a manual safety mod btw) gives me a giggle - "to prevent depression" when I can attest it's firing it which prevents depression.

[@nickh495]

There have only been three changes to the original design. Outside of the variants used of course. But the basic infantry version only had the charging handle and grips switched from wood to synthetic grips, there was a safety added, and eventually they made a guide and locking notch to the barrel to ensure that head space and timing doesn’t need to be fixed or adjusted. You can also switch which side the weapon feeds from. Audie Murphy now has his order order and award. I’ve personally seen someone get this award. It’s a very big deal! But all in all I can say confidently as a combat vet who has used this platform over seas the M2 Browning is an amazing weapon that is here to stay and I’m glad for that fact!

[@megmolkate]

It just works that is why it is still in service. I sometimes use the example of the claw hammer vs the nail gun, the latter is higher tech and much quicker but requires an air compressor and specially packed nails and isn’t terribly portable. The former is cheap, portable, and can be used for a vast array of tasks limited only by imagination. The really amazing thing about the M2 is that the DoD hasn’t commissioned a billion dollar study to replace it with a “smart” weapon that breaks three times more often, requires someone with a degree to repair, and costs at least 10 times as much………..beware committees and studies they can break anvils if you let them.

[@robertschumacher2707]

They've tried. Needless to say the attempts were abject failures.

[@scott9278]

Jonh Browning was probably the greatest gun designer in history not only has the M2 served 100yrs his tilting barrel locking system is still being use on the majority of pistols today

[@Predator42ID]

That wasn't the only thing. Turns out the manual safety, grip safety, slide release, and thumb release were also his. Forgotten weapons point this out as he goes through brownings pistols that led up to the M1911. In short, very few pistol designs can escape Browning's principles. Among other things.

[@ruud6025]

world war III wasn't a thing when you made the video, I'm sure, but now things've changed I think. Especially from prague, I hope you're doing fine. It's a good video and a good gun. I don't like weapons that much, but I had the pleasure the fire the M2 50cal at multiple occasions (I'm not even from 'murica). It's still after all the years one of the most reliable guns and still produced. Thanks for the vid!

[@timengineman2nd714]

The standard rifle cartridge during WW1 (and other wars) was the .30-'06 (0.30 caliber, adopted in 1906). The Groves are 0.308 inch, the Lands 0.300 inch.

[@rayraudebaugh5395]

Yep and not the only little error. I seriously doubt the bullet of that German anti-tank rifle weighed 800 grams. That would be close to 2 pounds. I would guess that it was actually 800 grains. And I had to cringe at the way he pronounced "Ma Deuce".

[@funfactor4528]

You know, it's often said that the last 50 cal gunner has yet to be born

[@wishunter9000]

By far the most fun gun I’ve ever shot, definitely my favorite experience from the Military and I want one soooooo bad. I wish I had a spare $100,000+ grand for a “transferable” M2. That’s right non-Americans, civilians (as long as you’re not a felon) can own a full-blown machine gun in most States if you’re rich enough and fill out the appropriate paperwork.

[@thetruerift]

"Imagine WW3 breaks out..." *nervously glances at Russia*

[@oban6051]

I was a .50 gunner for 2 years. I love that weapon system more than any other ever made. It’s a magically machine.

[@Paul_Ch52]

One of the manual maintenance items on an M2 is adjusting the "operator headspace and timing". That has been my pet phrase, or excuse, for every screwup.

[@cyberfutur5000]

I know, this video was not made the day it came out, but holy macaroni, that opening sentence lands a little close to home, today.... 😅

[@desperado8605]

Cause nobody messes with Ma'Duece and Ma'Duece loves her boys. Everybody loves momma

[@Ideo7Z]

I remember during Desert Storm our armorer had a an M2 in the arms room that was manufacturdd just before the Korean war. I thought geeze, we've got stuff that's 40-50 years old being used alongside state of the art Abrams M1s, Apaches and F16s. Now those things are pushing 40+ years of use themselves.

[@Sam-tm2un]

Simon you picked quite a day for that script intro

[@reddevilparatrooper]

Incredible design! My Dad's generation used it in WWII and Korea, my Uncles generation used it in Vietnam, with my cousins and me from Panama, 1st Gulf War, Iraq and Afghanistan. During my time in the Army in the peace time Cold War before I went for real combat around 1986-88. Majority of the M2s I have handled were made by Ramo Manufacturing which I can remember was 4 of them. The fifth one stood out as the receiver was built by AC Delco Sparkplugs probably from WWII. Majority of the receivers the main component have stood up well, but all the internals are all replacements to include the barrel. There are no original inside parts because everything wears out over time. The M2 is still in service with many countries around the world till today. Very effective and reliable design. Even in my dreams I can still imagine myself still remember how to install the barrel and head space and time the gun to include taking it apart.

[@samnemeth-smyth6109]

"Imagine WW3 breaks out" Ummmm Simon, I hate to break it too you.....

[@joecoastie99]

Browning was such a boss. He gave the patents to the US government for the M2, the 1919, the 1911, BAR and anything else used during WW2. He didn't charge them anything.

[@shawnr771]

Add the design for the Browning Hi Power for FN.

[@joecoastie99]

@@shawnr771 technically he didn’t finish it before he died. His son did. Still, it’s also an iconic firearm

[@shawnr771]

@@joecoastie99 I dont think it was his son but yes he died during the building of the HiPower. His father was also a gunmaker. He built for the better lack of the term a Harmonica Rifle. Look it up on Forgotten Weapons. Really cool idea.

[@westherm]

Imagine WWIII started...lol

[@Sgt_SealCluber]

Yup

[@L.J.Kommer]

*nervous chuckling

[@keab42]

Slightly awkward timing on that one...

[@TheGrinningViking]

I'm glad I can't be drafted - this damn disability is good for something after all. 🎭

[@charlierice5756]

Amazing weapon. We used to have to memorize min and max ranges of all our weapons. I asked my drill sergeant why the M2 didn’t list a max range. He said if you can see it you can hit it.

[@YZ250W1]

Thanks to John Browning. Incredible weapon.

[@stevenveltrie1868]

I was a small arms repairman in Vietnam. Had a M2 come in one day with bulged receiver and no top cover. Asked what happened. "Fire fight, guy replaced barrel never set headspace. Blew top cover off, badly bulged receiver. Greatest update was quick change barrel.

[@canaanval]

Hey Simon, you can do a live warographics episode now!

[@MegaFortinbras]

There is a problem with the M2. When you field strip it for cleaning one piece that comes out is the bolt carrier. This is essentially a box with two spring-loaded "fingers" on the top and one on the bottom. When reassembling the gun, it is all too easy to put the bolt carrier in upside-down. If you do, the gun will fire one round, and then jam. It takes an armourer who knows what he's doing at least half an hour to fix it. It would not have been difficult to design the bolt carrier so that it couldn't be put in the gun upside-down. I don't know why this wasn't done.

[@vw2112]

man you live in Prague yo might just see what war is like shortly. Pretty sure id be starting to find a way out of there pretty soon

[@robertsears8323]

Why? He will be fine.

[@davidgates1122]

The real testament to the M2 is the fact that the military declared it obsolete -- to be phased out and replaced by the Mk19 automatic 40mm grenade launcher but ended up contracting with one of the various U.S defense contractors to build new M2s and replacement parts because of demand from the troops for M2s to replace the Mk19s they were issued.

[@ahniiso5642]

“Headspace and Timing” Can’t even count the times I’ve done it. Fun weapon!

[@geodkyt]

Can still do it with a dime and a dogtag.

[@GuntherRommel]

@@geodkyt you don't need to. Not since 1997, when they replaced the Quick Change Barrel with one that had fixed headspace.

[@GuntherRommel]

Correction: 2010 it was fully implemented.

[@MrWizeazz]

@@GuntherRommel Yea I was about to say, I definitely remember having to do it in 2008 when I was in country.

[@geodkyt]

@@GuntherRommel As someone who literally deals with these as my day job, no, it *hasn't* been "fully implemented" even in 2022. We are still switching over M2HBs to M2A1 configuration. I'm one of the engineers working the fielding plan and design work for the changeover.

[@rabidlenny7221]

5:19 I love the way Simon says “fiyahpowah” 😂

[@geodkyt]

"Ma Deuce" is pronounced "Mah Deuce", as in "Ma" short for "Mama".

[@james8449100]

Check out his video on MK ultra

[@MosoKaiser]

...and "Mama" is long for "M", I'd presume? :D

[@geodkyt]

@@MosoKaiser Probably, as "Uncle Sam" is long for "US". But, most of us just felt safer when Ma was watching over us. 😉

[@TK199999]

Another M2 Browning was discovered after this in the same maintenance and upgrade program. That bore the serial number of the first test batch of guns created in 1921. According to Pentagon records that gun had been in active service for over 100 years. The US Army decided that they already had one 90 year old gun sent to a museum, that they would just finish the upgrade and maintenance program. Then send the 100 year old gun back to its unit for active service. One aspect of M2 success is its .50cal or 12.7mm round, which makes essentially light cannon fire. Its a sweet spot that has remained useful for last 100 years. Even today Ukraine has deployed its donated M2 Browning on the battlefield (rather than the anti-drone role). Since Ukrainian troops say its lighter and easier to deploy/use than its Soviet equivalent the DShK and NSV. While its combined anti-personnel and anti-light armor abilities have been instrumental in repelling Russian attacks. Especially the current Wagner strategy of human wave attacks. To the point some Wagner sources claim locating and destroying the Browning's is first objective of any operation against Ukrainian defenses.

[@MrDextroll]

The intro is a bit unsettling seeing how things are currently going

[@tfs203]

My Grandfather, part of the 778th AAA Weapons Battalion. He was the gunner of a Quad-M2 mounting, on an M16 White Halftrack. One of the rare times he had to use it against humans, and not planes, was during the Battle of the Bulge.

[@GordonMck]

The 30-06 is pronounced 'Thirty-Aught-Six'.

[@tristenturner832]

minor point, but I believe it was an 800 grain projectile, not 800 grams

[@EyMannMachHin]

Yeah, 800 grams seem sour of high. The German MK 103 had 30x184B cartridges that weigh 800g.

[@trapperjohn3488]

It was also used as a sniper "rifle" by Carlos Hathcock USMC in Vietnam.

[@james8449100]

That sounds like it needs a video all of its own

[@brianacton8463]

"Rifle"? It is a rifled barrel.

[@jarraandyftm]

Really?

[@shawnr771]

@@jarraandyftm yes. Simon talks of it in the video.

[@MrFagedaboudit]

I went to war with the "05" four times (Nam, 3x with the IDF), found it reliable, easy to use and maintain, and an extremely accurate tool for the job, whether on half-tracks, APC, or nest-mounted. Also excellent for fire-boxing MIGs. In the field on LARR I always preferred its 'little brother', the "03" rather than a BAR, and hope you'll consider a feature on that honey as well. War s*cks, but if ya hafta, go with the best, and that would be the 05. Kudos, out.

[@getnohappy]

"imagine if WW3 erupts". Well, this video dated quickly ^^

[@mikejohnson5900]

The way it was explained in the book, Hathcock was able to see that the persons with bicycle was a young man who when his bike was shot, picked up a rifle form basket attached to it and began shooting. He then shot to kill the youth.

[@rogerbartlet5720]

They’re probably using the M2 right now!

[@johnanderson2564]

Simon and crew, could you please do a video on the Springfield Armory, Springfield Mass. Great video, thanks 👍

[@benjaminrees6665]

I live about an hour from Springfield. So much history

[@martinstallard2742]

3:44 chapter one development history 8:57 chapter two features 13:03 chapter three accolades

[@robertfrost1683]

You need to do a mega projects on the many firearms of John Moses Browning.

[@_M_a_r_t_i_n_M]

Canada's military still uses German MG34 machineguns of the original design that harkens back to WWII and earlier. If it works, it works. And the MG34 just.works. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[@alancox5777]

That opening statement aged well 😭.

[@scocon8658]

I remember watching a documentary during the 1st Gulf War (AKA Desert Storm 1) where the camera crew followed a company of Army Infantry while on their deployment. They were attacked by insurgents, and responded with the .50 cal. One of the soldiers hit an enemy in the legs, but the documentary crew had to blur the damage. Apparently the .50 simply mushed the guy's legs - couldn't tell what was thighs, and what was feet. Dayum!

[@krunk28]

5.56mm get behind cover, 7.62mm stay behind cover, .50 cal FU and your cover.

[@Sgt_SealCluber]

"Ma" = Maw, so Maw Deuce.

[@Sgt_SealCluber]

I guess since I'm here the .30-06 round is generally pronounced "30 ought 6"

[@24934637]

It really is a wonderful piece of kit. Nice slow rate of fire so it's economical on ammo, and a beautifully long reach. Incredible that it's been around so long but I honestly can't see ANY reason why it shouldn't last another 100yrs!

[@Chaosoftheunicorns]

"Imagine for a moment world war 3 finally erupts" *Russia invades Ukraine that very morning*

[@Zach-ku6eu]

I enjoyed the Ma Deuce. But I Loved the MK19 Auto Grenade Launcher!!

[@ssgtdan480]

This is my baby when I was in Iraq.

[@funfactor4528]

Thank you for your service

[@deanharris7149]

Found out my NG unit was being deployed, the armorers showed up with the weapons we were taking and started tearing into them replacing parts as needed. Noticing one old girl had been around awhile I asked them when it was made. They didn’t reply acting like I wasn’t there. Next day I walked up to their table and the senior guy looked at me and said, “1926” (or sometime in the 20’s can’t remember for sure). “Man that is so cool” I replied. They smiled and never said another word.

[@RR2269]

Pronounced “MAW DEUCE”. MA is short for mother in the U.S. so M2 became Ma Deuce.

[@james8449100]

You should watch his video about the CIA's LSD experiments

[@vr4042]

It hurt my ears to hear it lol. Like Steve Martin listening to Rick Moranis in My Blue Heaven LOL

[@1pcfred]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/nmeZh2SejqadfZI

[@The_McFortner]

7:23 The .30-06 Springfield cartridge is properly called the "thirty-aught-six".

[@Cheka__]

👍 Correct. Simon just reads the scripts, though. He's a pretty good narrator.

[@TheEvilCommenter]

Good video 👍

[@bayuchandrasukma820]

The Gun is just so legendarily awesome, that it upgraded the status of the video from a mere Sideproject, to a whole Megaprojects all on its own.

[@j0eblden342]

"imagine" ww3 erupts. ha, imagine.