Browning M1919A6
Browning Arms Company · Machine Gun · Out Of Production · 1943
Also known as: Browning .30 cal A6, M1919A6 LMG
Overview
The Browning M1919A6 was a 1943 modification of the M1919A4 medium machine gun, intended to serve as a squad-level light machine gun replacement for the Browning Automatic Rifle. Standardized as 'Substitute Standard' in April 1943, it added a metal buttstock that clamped to the backplate, a bipod copied from the BAR, a carrying handle on the barrel jacket, a lighter barrel, and a muzzle booster to lift cyclic rate above the A4's 400-450 rpm. Despite being lighter than the A4, the gun still weighed nearly 15 kg with bipod and stock - heavier than purpose-built LMGs like the German MG42 - and was widely regarded as an unhappy compromise.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 14740 g (519.9 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1346 mm (52.99") |
| Barrel Length | 610 mm (24.02") |
| Action Type | Recoil Operated |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 250 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Belt |
| Muzzle Velocity | 854 m/s (2802 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 3540 J (2611 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 1370 m (1498 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 4500 m (4921 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 500 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 254 mm (10.00") |
| Number of Grooves | 4 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Steel |
| Finish | Parkerized |
Calibers
- .30-06 Springfield · primary — also known as .30-06, 7.62x63mm
Features
- Firing modes: Full Automatic
- Feed systems: Fabric Belt, Metallic Disintegrating Link Belt
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety
- Features: Bipod, Carry Handle, Shoulder Stock, Muzzle Booster, Lighter Barrel, Recoil Operated Short Recoil
Base model
Service history
Operators
- United States Army · adopted 1943 · as M1919A6
- Republic of Korea Army · adopted 1950
- Army of the Republic of Vietnam · adopted 1955
- West German Bundeswehr · adopted 1955
Conflicts
- World War II (1943-1945)
- Korean War (1950-1953)
- Vietnam War (1955-1975)
Production
Estimated total produced: 43,000 · Production years: 1943-1945
Approximately 43,000 produced during WWII; many M1919A4 guns were also field-converted to A6 standard by adding stock, bipod, and carry handle
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: John Moses Browning
Discontinued: 1957
Notes
Often described as an interim solution because the U.S. lacked a proper general-purpose machine gun in WWII. Withdrawn from front-line U.S. service after the M60 entered production in the late 1950s.
Background
Soldiers nicknamed the M1919A6 'a pig with wings' - every modification meant to make it a true LMG (stock, bipod, carry handle) only added more weight to a gun that already started life as a tripod-mounted medium MG. Rifle squads still preferred the lighter BAR despite its 20-round magazine.