To fully load the gun, follow the same procedure as
Gun maintenance
for half-loading, except pull and release the bolt twice.
The importance of a thorough knowledge of how to
When you have fully loaded the machine gun, fire it by
care for, clean, and preserve the machine gun cannot be
depressing the butterfly trigger.
overemphasized. Proper care, cleaning, and
preservation determine whether this gun will shoot
accurately and function properly when needed. The
WARNING
bore and chamber must be kept in perfect condition to
ensure accurate fire. Because of the close fit of working
Once fully loaded, the M2 .50-cal. machine
surfaces and the high speed at which the gun operates, it
gun maintains a round of ammunition in the
is important that the receiver and moving parts be kept
chamber at all times. During sustained firing
clean, well-lubricated, and free of burrs, rust, dirt, or
operations, the high temperature of the barrel
may cause the round in the chamber to fire
grease.
without the trigger being depressed. This is
To be cared for properly, the machine gun must be
known as cook-off. Therefore, you should
cleaned according to a prescribed schedule. Such a
always keep the weapon pointed in a safe
schedule normally follows the 3-M Systems MRCs.
direction or cleared during breaks in firing.
TM 9-1005-213-10 also provides maintenance
According to Clearing of Live Ammunition
instructions for this gun. Under combat conditions,
From Guns, NAVSEA SW300-BC-SAF-010,
it may be necessary to clean the gun where it is
the M2 HB reaches cook-off temperature after
mounted; however, when possible, the gun should
a burst of 250 rounds or more.
be disassembled, cleaned, and oiled in a clean, dry
location where it is least exposed to moisture, dirt,
While firing the M2, or any other belt-fed machine
and so on. Be particularly careful to remove all sand
gun, you may experience an emergency condition
or dirt; it will act as an abrasive on moving parts,
known as runaway firing. In this situation, firing
causing excessive wear, sluggish operation, or
continues after the trigger has been released. If this
malfunction. Do not oil parts excessively. Excessive oil
happens to you, twist the ammunition belt at the feed
solidifies and causes sluggish operation or complete
slot. This will cause the weapon to jam and cease
firing.
failure,
Each gun should be cleaned as soon after firing as
possible, and each time it is taken to the field and
WARNING
returned. Under combat conditions, the gun should be
cleaned and lightly oiled daily. Under ideal conditions,
In case of a runaway gun, keep the weapon
where the gun is not used and is stored in a clean, dry
laid on target and keep the cover closed. Again,
place, it may only be necessary to inspect, clean, and
DO NOT UNLATCH THE COVER!
lubricate the gun once a week. The threads on the gun
barrels must be protected against being burred during
To unload the gun, the unlock the bolt-latch release,
handling and cleaning.
turn the cover-latch release, and raise the cover. Lift the
ammunition belt from the gun, pull the bolt to the rear,
For more detailed information on the pre-
and examine the chamber and the T-slot to see that they
scribed cleaning materials, lubricants, and rust
hold no rounds. After you have finished this
preventives to be used in the .50-cal. BMG
examination, allow the bolt to go forward, close and
maintenance, refer to the Army's FM 23-65 and TM 9-
latch the cover, and press the trigger.
1005-213-10.
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