XM806 - Army's New Developmental Alternative To The Ma Deuce

Military.com ran a story on Friday discussing the XM806 .50 caliber machine gun. The new machine gun is intended to be a lighter weight alternative to the venerable Browning M-2 Heavy Machine Gun.

According to the article, this new developmental machine gun comes in at about half the weight of the M-2. Where the M-2 weighs approximately 120 pounds, the XM806 weighs just over 60 pounds.

The XM806 also has 60% less recoil than the M-2 and has made changes in the way barrels are replaced. An unidentified Army official said:

“Safety is improved through a manual safety and a quick change barrel that eliminates the requirement for the operator to adjust headspace and timing,” Army officials added. “The reduced recoil permits the mounting of an optic for greater lethality through increased first-burst accuracy and control.”

Kitup.Military.Com

 The new machine gun was developed by General Dynamics. It is currently being tested at the Aberdeen Test Grounds. Each of the four test guns has had at leat 90,000 round fired through it. The XM806 is not expected to be deployed to units until late 2012 if all goes well.

The article makes clear that the M-2 is not being retired. Rather the XM806 is an effort to bring that same long range firepower to light infantry and special operations units.

H/T Christian