Browning M2HB
John M. Browning's .50 BMG heavy machine gun: in continuous service since 1933, mounted on vehicles, aircraft, ships and tripods.
Browning M2HB
Community
Data trust
- Reliability
- Unverified
- Sources
- Sources pending review
Identity
- Designation
- Browning M2HB
- Alias
- Ma Deuce / .50 Cal
- Manufacturer
- FN Herstal / General Dynamics / vari
- Country
- United States
- Year
- 1933
- Category
- Heavy machine gun
- Status
- In service
Ballistics
- Caliber
- .50 BMG (12.7×99 mm NATO)
- Muzzle velocity
- 890 m/s
- Rate of fire
- ~550 rpm
- Effective range
- 1830 m
- Maximum range
- 6800 m
Dimensions
- Barrel length
- 1143 mm
- Overall length
- 1654 mm
- Empty weight
- 38 kg
Mechanics
- Operating system
- Short recoil
- Bolt / action
- Accelerator-locked bolt
Feed
- System
- 12.7 mm disintegrating belt
- Standard capacity
- 100 rounds
Fire modes
Historical profile
Development
The M2 originated in 1918 from a request by General Pershing at the end of World War I: a machine gun larger than .30 caliber was needed to engage aircraft and light armor. John Moses Browning developed the M1921 prototype by scaling up the M1919 and adopting the new .50 BMG cartridge designed with Winchester.
After a decade of refinement — largely by Dr. S. G. Green — the standardized version was adopted in 1933 as the M2; the heavy-barrel M2HB (Heavy Barrel) variant for ground and vehicle use became the dominant model.
Design
It operates by short barrel recoil with an accelerator locking system: the barrel recoils with the bolt for a few millimeters, then is slowed while the bolt continues to extract and chamber the next round. Belt feed can be converted to right- or left-hand side.
The 1,143 mm heavy barrel allows sustained fire. The empty weapon weighs 38 kg and is used on the M3 tripod or vehicle mounts. Moderate cyclic rate (450–600 rpm) avoids overheating and allows accurate single-shot fire.
Operational service
Over 3 million units produced, in continuous service since 1933 — a longevity record for a Western firearm. Used in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Falklands, the Gulf, Iraq, Afghanistan, Ukraine. Mounted on jeeps, Humvees, M2 Bradley, M1 Abrams, ships and helicopters.
Adopted by over 100 countries and a NATO standard. The M2A1 variant (2010s) introduced a quick-change barrel with factory-set headspace and timing, eliminating one of the most delicate field operations. Also famous for Marine Carlos Hathcock's 2,286 m shot in Vietnam, made with an M2HB fitted with a Unertl scope.
Variants
Main users
United States · NATO · over 100 countries
Key components
- ●Stock — Rear spade grip with firing levers.
- ●Receiver — Steel housing with Browning mechanism.
- ●Grip — Dual vertical grips.
- ●Magazine — Disintegrating .50 BMG belt feed.
- ●Barrel — Heavy barrel with muzzle brake.
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