Browning M2 .50 cal and Rate of Fire

[Kweassa]

Incidentally, has anyone tried getting 700~800 yard shots on the target with the Soviet UBS machine-guns?

 From what I've read, the Beresins have higher initial speed upon the bullet leaving the barrel, and at the same time have higher rate of fire, is more powerful, and has at least equal - if not better - trajectory than the M2 Browning. If I remember correctly, the best MGs of the era ranging from 7.7mm to 13mm was not the M2 but the UBS.
 
 I don't think I've ever seen people complaining about the UBS.. maybe its because they only have 1~2 of them..? Or because people pay attention to the ShVAK and not the MGs? Can anyone who uses Yaks a lot tell me what he feels about the UBS when compared to the M2??

[-ammo-]

wulfie--

NP at all.  Just dont want to be misunderstood if possible.  Don't get me wrong, I am a certified Jughead though.

Kweassa. I would be interested in reading that reference that the Russian 12.7 mm was as hot as the 50 BMG.  the M2 cartridge projectile has an excellent ballistic coefficient and very good velocity.  Please tell me where I can find that. Thx!

[Kweassa]

 I'm sorry to say all the references I have are secondary source of information put on various websites - which I admit, some may object to as being unreliable. However, I do seem to notice in most cases the Soviet UBS machine guns are considered pretty much one of (if not) the best heavy machine guns ever to be used in WWII.

 From what I've read:

 The UB(Universal'nyj Berezina) machine guns used 12.7mm rounds and were divided into three groups:

*UBS: fixed, synchronized installation(800rpm)
*UBK: fixed, wing-mounted installation(1050rpm)
*UBT: flexible mounting (1050rpm)

 UB
 RPM: 800rpm (sync), 1050rpm (unsync.)
 Muzzle velocity: 860m/s
 Ammunition weight: 48g

 M2
 RPM:750rpm
 Muzzle velocity: 870m/s
 Ammunition weight: 48.5g
 
 I'm not sure if the weight of the ammunition means the whole shell. I keep hearing that the UBS fired heavier bullets.. maybe the warhead itself is heavier? Sure wish Tony Williams was here to clarify things..

R.A.M website
(follow the "WEAPONS" link on the UB)

Russian Ammunitions

Table of guns

[Kweassa]

Wow, found Tony's comment on the UB machine guns.

the UBK was also the best HMG ever made

Name Ammunition Rate of Fire Muzzle velocity Weight Q-factor
Browning .50 M2 12.7 x 99 (48.5 g) 750 rpm 870 m/s 30 kg 7650
UBK 12.7 x 108 (48 g) 1050 rpm 850 m/s 21 kg 14500
MG 131 13 x 64B (34.6 g) 900 rpm 730 m/s 17 kg 8140

Note that the UBK is only 20m/s slower than the US .50cal and has a great ROF of 1050rpm, unfortunantly in syncronized installations it's ROF is dropped to 800m/s but it is armed with HE rounds making it more effective than the browning M2 .50cal

-by Soviet

I agree that on paper at least the Berezin was a better gun than the Browning (aspects such as relative reliability are difficult to determine). However, although the Soviets did have a 12.7mm HE round, I have only come across one mention of it - AFAIK they normally used an API (which was eventually copied by the Americans to make the .50" M8 round). Do you have any details of the proportions of rounds of different types normally loaded into ammunition belts?

-by Tony Williams

Thread is here

ps) sorry for the temporary hi-jack, guys. I thought the comparison on the M2 and UBS might be of some use.

[-ammo-]

thx kweassa.  Indeed the external ballistics for that UB MG round were impressive.