Ammunition Characteristics
Ammunition Characteristics
http://www.olive-drab.com/od_firearms_ammo_50cal.php
There are over 20 different types of ammunition that have been made for the M2, each with it's own individual characteristics, color coding and uses. The primary round discussed on this web page is the M2 .50 caliber ball cartridge. The M2 ball round is one of the few rounds that does not have any color coding. This round consists primarily of the casing, primer, powder, and projectile. The projectile is 58.7mm long, 12.7mm in diameter and has a weight of 42.9grams. The projectile is a soft lead core incased in a full metal jacket. Most ammunition for the M2 comes linked in 100 round belts as shown below.
http://www.olive-drab.com/od_firearms_ammo_50cal.php
These are the eight primary types of ammunition.
http://atiam.train.army.mil/portal/atia/adlsc/view/public/296764-1/fm/23-65/ch1.htm
Uses of the eight primary types of ammunition.
1. Ball - used primarily for training and against personnel.
2. Tracer - used as an aid in observing fire.
3. Armor Piercing - used against lightly armored vehicles.
4. Incendiary - used for incendiary affect.
5. Armor Piercing Incendiary - utilizes both the incendiary and armor piercing effects.
6. Armor Piercing Incendiary-Tracer - utilizes the combined effects.
7. Dummy - used as a training aid.
8. Blank - used for training purposes, contains no projectile.
Index
Traversing and Elevating Mechanism