Tag Archives: Ma Deuce

Going Loud

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You just gotta love a fiddy. Because 761-grains of armor-piercing incendiary tracer can send just the right message sometimes when folks get too close for comfort. 

Aviation Ordnanceman Airman Mackinze Hallhanna fires a .50-caliber machine gun during a live-fire exercise aboard USS Kearsarge (LHD 3). ATLANTIC OCEAN (Sept. 21, 2021) Aviation Ordnanceman Airman Mackinze Hallhanna fires a .50-caliber machine gun during a live-fire exercise aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), Sept. 21, 2021. Kearsarge is conducting surface warfare advanced tactical training (SWATT). SWATT provides the fleet opportunities to complete the reps and sets required for increased lethality and tactical proficiency. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jesse Schwab) 210921-N-MZ836-1025

The Navy’s third Pascagoula-built Wasp-class amphibious assault ship and the fifth to carry the name, the WWII aircraft carrier-sized Kearsarge relies on her escorts for principal defense but has twin Sea Sparrow and twin RAM launchers for taking care of close-in missiles and aircraft, as well as a pair of CIWS and four Mk 38 25mm cannons as a last-ditch along with the weapons of her embarked Marines. Oh yeah, and up to 8 pintel mounts for Ma Deuce .50 cals.

Because some folks just want belt feds, man

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Folks have been making semi-auto belt-fed machine gun clones for years. Why? Well, I guess, why not, right?

I mean, if you always wanted, say, an M1919, M60, or M249 but live in a state where it is unlawful for a “civilian” to own such hardware– even if it is transferrable and you pay the average $30K going rate for it– or just don’t want to jump through the NFA hoops, which can leave your family in an odd legal space should you pass without having it in a trust, these semi-autos make a certain sense.

These days, FN sells the M249S, a semi-automatic version of the SAW light machine gun, for $8,499.

Plus, if you are really into historical reenacting, such a piece can instantly catapult the user into a key player at the next event. For instance, I have a buddy that does WWII living history at Fort Morgan/Gaines/Battleship Alabama and has a fairly correct firing NFA-compliant MG42/M53 that always gets lots of attention.

Along that vein, Ohio Ordnance Works– a company that makes full-up M2 .50 cals for Mil/Gov customers as well as the semi-auto M1918A3 BAR for the rest of us– now has a “no stamps required” Ma Deuce, the M2 SLR .50 cal.

“Starting to ship on Dec 7th, 2021… what the people want, the people get!” says OOW. (Photo: OOW)

More in my column at Guns.com.

That will get your attention

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A relatively quiet day during the Battle of the Bulge: Posed U.S. Army Signal Corps photo of an 82nd Airborne Div machine gun nest “somewhere in the Ardennes.”

Note the big M2 .50-caliber Browning heavy machine gun in a ground defense role with a spare barrel literally chilling out to the left. “Ma Deuce” still fills this same role today, and will likely for generations to come. Turns out you just can’t beat 100~ rounds of 671-grain APIT headed out per minute as long as the ammo holds up.

Also, note the M1919 .30-06 light Browning to the right for close-in work. Together with the above set-up, this one post can own that field out to 2,000m against advancing infantry– until the StuGs and panzers show up anyway, at which point it becomes time to rapidly displace to the rear.

Just chillin with my .50 (and my M50)

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U.S. Army Soldiers with 1st Brigade, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division conducting defensive operations during Swift Response 16 training exercise at the Hohenfels Training Area, a part of the Joint Multinational Readiness Center, in Hohenfels, Germany, Jun. 20, 2016.

(U.S. Army photo by Spc. Nathaniel Nichols/Released)

(U.S. Army photo by Spc. Nathaniel Nichols/Released)

Note there seems to be a good old fashioned CBRN drill going on, hence the paratrooper with his tripod mounted M2HB-QCB Browning heavy machine gun in 12.7mm (.50BMG) and his new-fangled M50 joint service general purpose mask, which replaced the older M40 a few years back.

The beercan-sized cage on the muzzle of ma deuce, held by a three-legged bracket is the blank firing adaptor. The adaptor reduces the muzzle size, slowing the escaping gasses and thus causing a recoil “kick” large enough to cycle the weapon. So if you ever see a M2 so equipped, the picture was taken during an exercise.

(U.S. Army photo by Spc. Nathaniel Nichols/Released)

(U.S. Army photo by Spc. Nathaniel Nichols/Released)

And, as this short-sleeved paratrooper above shows, Germany does get hot in June. Of course we can’t fault him for not being in a chem suit, but good luck getting a cheek-weld on that M4 (note yellow BFA) while wearing a mask. Still, it’s nice to see mono-pod grips being used more. They are hella useful.

If it ain’t broke

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U.S. Army Cpl. Brittany Montana fires an M2 Browning .50-caliber machine gun on Camp Atterbury. Montana is a Reservist assigned to the 354th Military Police Company. U.S. Army photo by Master Sgt. Michel Sauret.

U.S. Army Cpl. Brittany Montana fires an M2 Browning .50-caliber machine gun on Camp Atterbury. Montana is a Reservist assigned to the 354th Military Police Company. U.S. Army photo by Master Sgt. Michel Sauret.

Earlier this year Anniston Army Depot, which is upgrading all the service’s legacy M2 Browning heavy machine guns to the new M2A1 standard which allows faster barrel changes without having to headspace (laws yes), had a vintage 1921 production model Ma Deuce come through. The gun, serial number 324, has somehow remained in service for 94 years and still works just fine.

From the Army’s presser:

“Looking at the receiver, for its age, it looks good as new and it gauges better than most of the other weapons,” said John Clark, a small arms repair leader.

Despite the fact that the weapon still meets most specifications, it may be destined for the scrap yard.

Modifications made to the weapon in the field mean part of the receiver would have to be removed through welding and replaced with new metal, a process which usually means the receiver is scrap.

“I’d rather put this one on display than send it to the scrap yard,” said Clark, adding the weapon’s age makes it appealing as a historical artifact.

Here’s to hoping the gun stays on extended retirement rather than goes to the torch. After almost a century on the sharp end of the spear, the old soldier deserves it.