The browning machine gun caliber 50 hb m2 figure 1 2 is a belt fed recoil operated air cooled crew served machine gun the gun is capable of single shot as well as automatic fire and operates on the short recoil principle a the machine gun is capable of being fed from either the right or left by repositioning certain parts. C1 fm 23 65 preface this manual provides technical information training techniques and guidance on the caliber 50 hb machine gun m2 unit leaders and designated gunners will use this information to successfully integrate the weapon into combat operations they can instruct on the range or at concurrent training stations. Fm 23 65 field manual no 23 65 headquarters department of the army washington dc 19 june 1991 fm 23 65 browning machine gun caliber 50 hb m2 table of contents preface chapter 1 . This manual provides technical information training techniques and guidance on the caliber 50 hb machine gun m2 unit leaders and designated gunners will use this information to successfully integrate the weapon into combat operations