What prompted the design?
Like the lineage of many modern firearms, the Browning M2 .50-caliber machine gun was born of necessity during WWI. During The Great War, tactics and weapons were challenged at a level that the world had never seen.
In late 1916, General John Pershing commissioned a gun that could deliver a round of at least half an inch in diameter, at around 2,700 feet per second.
This request was based on the need to defeat new aircraft models that flew faster and had thicker armor. This advancement had rendered the standard .30-06 Springfield cartridge ineffective.
Enter John Moses Browning
Whenever there was a need for a new American weapon, John Moses Browning was always up for the challenge. From the American M1917 belt-fed machine gun to the FN model 1910 that killed the Archduke, Browning already had a great impact on the war.
Related: Two Guys One Gun, Episode 3 – Colt M3AC
In 1918, John Browning embarked on merging his successful belt-fed machine gun design with Pershing’s .50-caliber upgrade request. At the same time, Winchester began production of the new .50 BMG (Browning Machine Gun) cartridge that the new firearm was to be chambered in.
The M1921 Browning .50-caliber Machine Gun
By 1921, Browning brought forth a water-cooled design that mimicked the M1917 and saw great success with the U.S. Expeditionary Force. The gun was designated the M1921 .50-caliber machine gun. Unfortunately, besides being dependent on having a fresh water source, the weight of the water made the design too heavy.
The other issue was the performance of the new .50-caliber cartridge. The M1921 was only able to produce about 2,300 FPS, falling well short of the goal set by General Pershing.
Try, Try Again
Determined to improve the design, John Browning took the design back to the drawing board. In 1919, Browning had been working on a replacement for the.30-caliber machine guns in service during WWI. When the M1919 air-cooled machine gun entered service, it dropped almost 70 pounds compared to the water-cooled M1917.
In the mid-1920s, a second generation of the Browning .50 machine gun was introduced, designated the M2. The M2 had a water circulation system that cooled more efficiently. However, the entire design still weighed over 100 pounds, limiting it to stationary anti-aircraft service.
Taking from his newer designs, Browning knew the massive advantage of an air-cooled system would extend its service to many more branches and roles. But extensive testing showed the barrel would fracture after only 75 rounds of continuous fire due to the heat of the cartridge.
Unfortunately, in 1926, Browning passed away and would not be able to solve the barrel issue. He would never see the final iteration of what is arguably his most successful design for the U.S. Military, there is no denying the incredible impact that John Browning continues to have on the gun world.
Colt Takes the reins
In the mid-1920s, Colt began mass production of the water-cooled Browning M2 design. Colt continued work on the project, and in 1933, Colt finally brought Browning’s air-cooled idea to production with the M2 HB (Heavy Barrel).
The M2 HB was affectionately called the “Ma Deuce” and features a closed-bolt, air-cooled, belt-fed operation. The .50 BMG M2 ball cartridge in the 35-inch barrel comes out at almost 3,000 FPS, with an effective firing range of almost 2,000 meters.
While it may seem like a small thing, it is incredible for a belt-fed machine gun to operate in a closed-bolt fashion. The open-bolt design was often used to increase cooling and to prevent cartridges from cooking off in hot barrels.
The M2 HB is a short recoil operation, where the barrel moves back into the receiver, using the momentum of the recoil to cycle the action.
The success of the M2 HB over the past century
The Browning M2 would become a mainstay in every branch of service. Mounted on the wings of fighters, in gunner doors on bombers, on the decks of warships, the backs of Humvees and Jeeps, and in the turrets of tanks, the M2 has not taken a backseat in any capacity almost 100 years after its design.
Not many firearms can dictate the outcome of a battle, but the Browning M2 gives a massive support advantage to any unit graced with its presence. In fact, during the War in Afghanistan, two mounted M2 HBs were the key to the famous defense of Outpost Keating in the Korangal Valley.
It’s Not Going Anywhere
With its reputation and resume, there are few firearms in the history of the world that have amassed the record of service that the Browning M2 has achieved.
After countless trials, the U.S. military has determined that there is basically nothing to improve, so there is no justification to spend the money to find a replacement for the M2. Now if that isn’t a compliment, I am not sure what is.
Fast-forward to the 21st century. Produced by over 20 companies, over 3 million M2 Brownings are in service across the globe. I love history as much as the next person, but the crazy thing is that you can get your very own M2 Browning for all your plinking needs.
The Colt M3
The Colt M3AC (Air-Cooled) was a specific variant of the M2, centered around service in aircraft. The M3 dates to a late-1930s U.S. Army Air Corps request for a .50-caliber machine gun with an increased cyclic rate of no less than 1,000 rounds per minute. Along with an increased rate of fire, the system had to be diverse enough to be mounted in fixed positions on aircraft or be positioned in mobile roles with bombers and ball turrets.
Colt spent the entirety of WWII perfecting a variant of the Browning M2 to meet the requirements. The company produced several prototypes throughout the war, all struggling to maintain reliability.
from the faster fire rate. (Photo: National Archives)
After several modifications to the springs, extractor, and bolt, Colt finally created a system that was lighter, doubled the rate of fire over the M2, and remained reliable in diverse roles. In April of 1945, the U.S. Army officially adopted the design and designated it the Colt M3.
The M3 would be mounted as a primary weapon system in fixed-wing aircraft, often featuring an electronic firing system and a thick barrel shroud to better dissipate heat. It was also mounted as a defensive weapon for door gunners in helicopters and bombers.
The M3 served in many different aircraft models, spanning all four branches of service, until 20mm and 30mm cannons usurped its position as king of air-related firepower. While the role has diminished, the M3 still serves as a weapon system for several U.S. helicopter designs.
You can have one, too
Working in the warehouse at Guns.com means that I have seen a great number of cool and interesting firearms. I’ll even admit, though I am ashamed to say it, some days the novelty of working at such a great job goes unrealized.
It means a lot when something comes through the doors and the entire floor stops in their tracks. Well, that is exactly what happened when this Colt M3AC was unloaded from the delivery truck a few months ago.
Hailing from our incredible We Buy Guns program (shameless plug), this Colt M3 receiver was converted for commercial use and has been configured closer to the classic M2 HB, with the rear grip and paddle trigger. This rifle fires semi-automatic and includes the tripod and TnE (traverse and elevation) tool. The closed-bolt nature of the M2 design makes it an easy candidate for commercial use and production, as open-bolt firearms are heavily regulated in the United States.
Conclusion
It is not every day that you get to marvel at such an iconic American design. Yes, it is heavy, long, and expensive, but I still want it very badly. What an incredible country we live in. Not only can you learn about the history and legacy of such an iconic piece, but you can also own it!
John Moses Browning’s legacy will live on for decades more in the United States. The only question is, will it also live on in your back yard?
