PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-620
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 620
JULY 2004
PS 620
JUL 04
15
M2 Machine Gun…
Dear Half-Mast,
We have run into prob-
lems on our M2 machine
guns with the notched stud
on the side plate that acts
as a bolt stop on some
M2s. Sometimes gouges
develop on the stud and
then the extractor arm
catches on the gouge. The
M2 fires once and stops.
Do you know what could be
causing this gouging?
SPC J.D.
Dear Specialist J.D.,
First of all, only some M2s use the notched stud as
a bolt stop. If your M2 is one of these, the extractor
arm and stud should not come into contact as long as
the cover is closed during firing. If the stud is being
gouged by the extractor arm, it could be caused by:
Tell your armorer if you notice
gouging on the stud. He and direct
support need to find the problem.
PS 620
JUL 04
14
Machine Gun
Mounts…
S
ome units are looking to save money by fabricating their own machine gun
mounts. Those units should immediately
stop
looking at fabrication as a way of sav-
ing a few dollars. That kind of savings can cost lives.
Before a piece of equipment is fielded by the Army, it undergoes lots of testing
for safety and reliability. And when you're talking about something that must with-
stand the force of an M2 machine gun firing, all that testing is critical. If a machine
gun mount fails, bullets could go flying where they're not supposed to or a machine
gun could topple off a tank or truck. Either situation would be a disaster.
So no fab-
rication when it comes to machine gun mounts!
No modifications are allowed, either. Any
modification could affect the safety and relia-
bility of the mount. Need something in writing
to show your commander? Para 3-11 in AR
750-1 says: “Modifications or alteration of
Army materiel is forbidden, except as author-
ized by AR 750-10.” Para 3-1e in AR 750-10
states: “Commanders will not allow their
equipment to be modified unless there is an
official MWO.” There are exceptions to this
rule for special missions, but any modifica-
tions must go through channels for approval.
The best
source for
mount info is
TM 9-1005-
245-13&P.
but have you
thought about
what we could
lose
if that
mount fails?
honest!
this is
going to
be
great!
• a cover extractor cam that is worn, broken or missing
• a cover that is not latched or becomes unlatched
during firing
• a cover that is out of tolerance with the cover latch
Gouging in bolt stop? Tell your armorer
and think
how much
money we’ll
save!
Use
only
the mounts the
Army authorizes for your
machine guns.
620. 14-15 (C)
6/6/04
9:37 AM
Page 1
Click here for a copy of this page to email to a friend
Click here for a copy of this page to email to a friend
Back to TopBack to Top
