Vern Humphrey
Member
Yes, the M2 is one of the machineguns that fires from a closed bolt. I commanded a Mechanized Rifle Company in Viet Nam, and each M113 had an M2 .50 Cal. I have seen M2 barrels get so hot they "drooped" from the heat, and even seen bullets tear through the sides of drooping barrels -- but never saw an M2 cook off. Admittedly, we cleared the guns when we stopped firing.Vern, M2 fires from a closed bolt. Cooking off rounds is possible.
I have had cook offs with an extremely hot M16, but was using blank ammunition and 3 rd burst. I don't know if repeating the same procedure with live ammo would have changed the outcome.
And the M16 also fires from a closed bolt -- run a few hundred rounds through on full auto and leave on up the spout, and you might well get a cook-off.
The M240 fires from an open bolt. Where were the cartridges that cooked off?Been present for 2 different cookoffs in M240 MGs...and we were wearing them out and they were REAL hot....