Machine Gun Monday – XM806 Lightweight .50 Caliber Machine Gun
The XM806 Lightweight .50 Caliber Machine Gun (LW50MG) was supposed to replace the Browning M2.
The US Army wanted to find a replacement for the Browning M2 .50 caliber machine gun.
XM806 Specifications
- Weight: 40lbs
- Length: 61.5 inches
- Caliber: .50BMG
- Action: Recoil Operation
- Rate of Fire: 265 rounds per minute
- Feed System: Belt Fed
- Sights: Modified M145 Machine Gun Optics, BUIS
General Dynamics first started developing the XM312/307 25mm autocannon/.50cal machine gun in 2008. That project was cancelled, so General Dynamics next developed the XM806 lightweight .50 caliber machine gun. It started development in 2009 and was expected to be deployed in 2012. Unfortunately, in 2012 this project was also cancelled.
The money budgeted for the XM806 project was reallocated to upgrade the existing M2 machine guns to the M2A1 versions.
The XM806 weighed 49% lighter and had 60% less recoil than the M2. However, it also had a much slower rate of fire.
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