M2 to M240: In search for the perfect machine gun

Meet Browning M2HB, or “Ma Deuce” as it’s sometimes colloquially known.

Although orginally developed in 1918 and technically first adopted by the US military in 1922 these guns are still in ubiquitous, widespread service today. 

It is a tremendously long-serving, venerable, and incredibly effective firearm.

The M2 has been used by the United States in almost all its conflicts since its production. 

The Machine Gun is almost 61.42 inches in length and weighs 84 pounds alone and 128 pounds with its tripod. 

One belt of the M2HB comes with 100 rounds.

A lot of the US military inventories are being upgraded to the M2A1.

A lightweight version, weighing 24 lb (11 kg) a mere 60 lb (27 kg) was also developed. 

Since these guns don’t really tend to wear out to the point that they can’t be just a few parts repaired and put back in service it’s not cost effective to replace them with anything brand new.

So, 100 years after its adoption by the US military, Ma Deuce is still very much alive and kicking!

Are you familiar with M60, aka The PIG

The machine gun choice of John Rambo

Well, This is the machine gun that replaced that legendary weapon

As a formidable complement to the lighter 5.56 mm-based M249, M16, and M4 weapons, M240 is a successful and well-regarded tool of destruction that has proven itself in battle in Afghanistan, Iraq and now in Ukraine.  

With a rate of fire up to 950 rounds per minute, this weapon can throw out a wall of lead and wreak havoc on those on the receiving end. 

In the urban warfare settings the 7.62 mm round’s high penetration and stopping ability are particularly valued.

And, it has a great combat report as the 100% of the soldiers using it are confident in this weapon. 

The M240 is a US-built version of the Belgian FN MAG, that is one of the most widespread and effective General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs) in the world. 

MAG had several design attributes of the World War II-era German MG-42, including its trigger mechanisms, quick-change barrel, and spring-loaded dust cover. 

But much of the weapon was derived from the basic design formula of the venerable Browning Model 1918 BAR. 

Although M240 entered the US Army in 1977 as a co-axial tank gun, it slowly found more applications in the 1980s and 1990s as it has also been adopted by the US Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. 

While possessing many of the same basic characteristics as its predecessor, the durability of the M240  results in superior reliability when compared to the M60. 

This weapon is bulkier and heavier than contemporary machine guns. 

With accessories like optics and a starter belt, it is over 30 pounds. 

Even its lighter “L” version weights 21.8 pounds with a short barrel. 

Ammunition is fed into the upper left side of the weapon by a belt. 

The M240 accepts linked belts with disintegrating or non-disintegrating links. 

These belts are typically 50 to 250 rounds in length, typically in boxes or pouches. 

The 50-round belts are the most widely-used, and can be linked end-to-end.