PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-715

PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly

ISSUE 715

JUNE 2012
PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-715 - Page 19 of 33
35
PS 715
JUN 12
T
he good news is that all of the new M2A1 machine gun’s barrels are interchangeable.
You can switch any M2A1 barrel with any M2A1 receiver without worrying about its
affecting headspace and timing of the machine gun.
The bad news is this doesn’t apply to the M2 machine gun. No M2 barrel can be
used with an M2A1 machine gun and no M2A1 barrel can be used with an M2. If
you try to use an M2 barrel in an M2A1 machine gun, it will damage the M2A1 and
possibly you.
How do you tell the difference between barrels? M2A1 barrels have interrupted
threads on the receiver side of the barrel, a barrel lock pin (or lug), and a carrying
handle assembly. M2 barrels have the same serial number as their receiver and do not
have a carrying handle assembly or barrel lock pin.
You can interchange M2 barrels
with
other
M2
machine
guns,
but of course you then must go
through the timing and headspacing
procedure before you Fre the M2.
The M2A1 does not need to be
headspaced and timed when you
change its barrel. Any M2A1 barrel
can be used with any M2A1 receiver
without affecting headspace and
timing. See WP 0023 00-1 in TM
9-1005-347-10 for more info on
taking care of the M2A1 barrel.
Reflex sight, M68 close combat optic (CCO) (LIN S60288):
M68 compM2,
NSN 1240-01-411-1265, TM 9-1240-413-13&P
M68 compM4,
NSN 1240-01-540-3690, TM 9-1240-413-13&P
M68 compM4S,
NSN 1240-01-576-6134, TM 9-1240-413-13&P
Rifle combat optic (RCO) sight (LIN S45729):
M150 RCO,
TM 9-1240-416-13&P
M145 straight telescope (LIN T60185):
M145,
TM 9-1240-415-13&P
M2/M2A1
Machine
Guns…
M2 vs. M2A1 Barrels
All versions of the
M68 can be used on the
M16-series rifle and the
M4
/
M4A1 carbine.
The compM2 and
compM4 versions are
no longer supported.
Replace them with the
compM4S when they no
longer work.
The M150 can be used on the M16-series rifle,
the M4
/
M4A1 carbine, and M249 machine gun.
The M145 is
used on the
M240-series
machine gun.
Any time you have
questions about what
you can OR can’t use
on your weapon…
…check out the Small
Arms Integration Book,
which can be accessed at:
suite/folder/4718898
Armorers,
immediately
check all your M2A1
machine guns!
make
sure they
have
M2A1
barrels!
Hey little
m2a1 barrel
buddy,
how about
switching
places?
sorry,
mr. m2, you
can’t handle
a switch
with
me!
715 34-35.indd
1-2
4/24/12
4:23 PM
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