What's it like to shoot an M2?

[ABPOS]

Lost an extractor, not at a critical time. Broke a lug off on a bolt, again not at a critical time. Plenty of spare parts at the depot. Otherwise no feed issues. Only went through either five or six spam cans on that tour. Three crates, don't remember if we finished off the last or not. But it started my fascination with the carbine. Could afford to buy my first in 1974, by chance it was a Rock-Ola.

Jim

I could see losing an extractor, but a busted lug on a bolt??? Wow, that's heavy. Either a bad part or it was beat to death. Used a hammer or something. Hehhehehe. I'm glad it didn't happen at the worst time. God is good. Thank you for sharing. Do you have Kuhnhausen's (not sure how to spell it) book?

[painter777]

I could see losing an extractor, but a busted lug on a bolt???

Closely inspect all bolt lugs.
Bolts are known to be one of the weak links on GI carbines.
Busted/cracked lugs are more common than many would expect.

CH-P777

[ABPOS]

Closely inspect all bolt lugs.
Bolts are known to be one of the weak links on GI carbines.
Busted/cracked lugs are more common than many would expect.

CH-P777

I'll do that. Thank you!

[emmagee1917]

I have launched and misplaced a lot of small parts and I have replaced springs and extractors just because . The only part that has ever busted on me in all my years of shooting was a slide while shooting the M2 . The arm left the box , and the spring pushed the box part forward , leaving the arm and the bolt back. Took me several seconds to figure out what happened.
Years later I had the same type of thing happen on an M1 Garand . The piston came free of the op-rod when the op-rod was back . Spring pushed the piston to the front of the gas cylinder leaving the op-rod and bolt to the rear.
Chris

[shadycon]

In my experience with FA fire, In service and after with M2's ,Tsmg's,M3's, M16's is: Hold the trigger down and you have a spray gun, control bursts and the target goes down! If you ever get the chance to fire a M3 with the curvred barrel, you are in for a surprise.My unit in Germany [1972-1974] we had 2 of them for are recovery vehicles.GK

[kar66]

I have fired a M2 a few times and know they are hard to hold down. Usally the first shot will hit what you are aiming at. The next one will be about a foot higher and to the right. I'm just talking standing shooting freehand. If you really lean into it over something it's alot better. M2s are much harder to hold down than a MP5. You see alot of photos of Vietnam of ARVNs with carbines that have the barrels cut down. Most look like the bands were cut from type 3 to type2. Then the barrel cut down all it could be cut back and still get the band moved forward behind the front sight. To get the action out of the stock. I would like to try one like that. It looks like it may be easier to hold down. But I don't know anybody that has one and I'm sure not going to do it to one of mine. I don't want to find out how they shoot that bad.

[JimF4M1s]

Iver Johnson and Universal made the enforcer. They are still around.

enforcer carbine - Google Search

[Bruce McAskill]

The big thing wrong with an M2 carbine with cut down barrel is the muzzle blast. Sure lights up the neighborhood in the evening and night time hours.

[gsimmons]

Allegedly favoured by Patty Hearst.