XM806 LW50
General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products · Machine Gun · Prototype · 2009
Also known as: LW50, LW50MG, Lightweight .50 Caliber Machine Gun
Overview
The XM806 LW50 is an American recoil-operated, belt-fed .50 caliber machine gun developed by General Dynamics under the Lightweight .50 Caliber Machine Gun (LW50MG) program. Intended as a lighter replacement for the Browning M2, it weighed roughly half as much as the M2 and produced around 60 percent less recoil thanks to a soft-recoil action. The cyclic rate was deliberately kept low at about 265 rounds per minute to manage barrel heat and recoil. The U.S. Army cancelled the program in July 2012 in favor of upgrading the existing M2 fleet to the M2A1 standard.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 18000 g (634.9 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1562 mm (61.50") |
| Barrel Length | 1143 mm (45.00") |
| Action Type | Long Recoil |
| Firing Mechanism | Open Bolt |
| Magazine Type | Belt |
| Muzzle Velocity | 853 m/s (2799 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 18000 J (13276 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 2000 m (2187 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 6800 m (7437 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 265 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Number of Grooves | 8 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Finish | Matte Black |
Calibers
- 12.7x99mm NATO · primary · 12.7x99mm NATO — also known as .50 BMG, .50 Browning Machine Gun, 12.7x99mm, .50 caliber
Features
- Firing modes: Full Automatic
- Feed systems: Disintegrating Belt
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety
- Features: Quick Change Barrel, Recoil Mitigation System, Soft Recoil Action, M3 Tripod Compatible, Lightweight Construction
Service history
Operators
- United States Army · as XM806
Production
Production years: 2009-2012
Prototype/development stage only; cancelled before production
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products
Discontinued: 2012
Notes
Designed to fire from the M3 tripod with a low cyclic rate to improve controllability and accuracy. Development was shaped by lessons from the earlier XM307 ACSW program. Cancelled in 2012 before entering service.
Background
The XM806 grew out of the XM307 Advanced Crew Served Weapon effort, which sought a single lightweight platform able to engage with both 25mm grenades and .50 caliber fire. When the dual-caliber concept proved overly ambitious, the .50 caliber portion was spun off as the LW50MG. Despite cutting the M2's weight nearly in half, the Army ultimately judged a modernized M2A1 the safer bet and cancelled the program in 2012.