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The high rate M2's are actually redesignated M3. Used on Avengers and on USMC helos, probably on a bunch more stuff, but that's all I know for sure. Actually been around since WWII as an aircraft machinegun, it's just that the early guns were essentially disposable, lasting less than 5000rds IIRC. It was an unacceptably low number, at any rate. FN re-engineered the design to make use of better materials and fitted their QC barrel. There was some decidedly brief discussion about going to these(M3) across the board to replace old M2's when they adopted on helos and Avenger. Happily that got all of 30 seconds of consideration when the doubled ammo consumption was brought up. Not that having nice new stuff isn't great, but 1200rpm from a .50cal ground mt for use vs ground targets doesn't seem the proper tool. The QC barrel on the plain M2 would be very nice. At this point, it may simply be better to wait on the XM312 and see where that goes. S/F....Ken M
Last edited by EchoSixMike; 07-31-2005 at 20:58.
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