Should the U.S. Have type classified the 30 Cal Stinger?

[2nd Bat]

Some Marines at Bouganville came up with idea of using the version of the Browning .30 Cal normally used on aircraft into a light, man portable machine gun. They married these with M1 Garand stocks, BAR bipod and a carry handle so they could be fired from the hip. Instead of a 700 to 800 rounds per minute cyclic rate they fired at 1400 RPM (yikes). Six were known to be produced and saw combat on IWO Jima resulting in one of the gunners being awarded the Medal of Honor.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=YgecTgbz3ik&feature=emb_rel_end

Here is a video detailing the weapon:

[volkssturm]

I think the MG42 was 1100 rounds per minute? And their policy was a barrel change after every two belts. Since the M1919 couldn't easily change barrels I question how well it would have done in the hands of other than well trained operators. But the question would probably be moot, since to be type classified the Ordnance Department would have to test it, and with their usual glacial speed the war would have long been over before they finished. They actually did have a program to produce a better M1919 and about the only thing that came from it was the M1919A6, which was sort of a poor imitation of the MG34 / MG42.

[2nd Bat]

Forgot about the inability to rapidly swap barrels...Yeah at the increased rate of fire unless you,re in frigid weather at 20,000 feet that's quickly going to be an issue!

[volkssturm]

That's the big flaw in the Browning machineguns. Brilliant mechanism, absolutely reliable, but it was designed as a water cooled gun where barrels changes weren't an issue. I found a webpage a few years ago about all the experimental work Ordnance did trying to figure out how to do an easy barrel change, among other improvements. Of course now I can't find it again. The closest they came was making it more like the .50 HMG with the barrel screwing in from the front.

[2nd Bat]

I remember part of the M60 Machine guns spare parts pouch was a spare barrel a number of common replacement parts (extra bolt, firing pin, and the T&E mechanism) along with a white asbestos mitt to use when changing barrels. We sometimes abused the guns firing them until the barrels glowed. Airsofters have no sense for the difference between cyclic rate of fire and sustained rate of fire.