M48 – Small Arms Review

The Yugoslavian M48 Rifle: The Last of The State Produced Mausers

Charles Brown — Thu, 08 Feb 2024 14:00:00 +0000

By Charles Brown

By the end of World War II, just about everyone had decided that the era of the magazine-fed bolt-action rifle had ended, at least in a modern well-equipped army thanks to the U.S. Rifle Caliber .30 M1. However, millions remained in service and stores all over the world while their state owners modernized small arms and replaced the bolt action rifle with both selective fire and semi-automatic firearms.

Yugoslavia doesn’t exist as a state anymore; it began with the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire following the end of World War I in 1918 and started its slide into disintegration with the death of Marshal Tito in 1980 and picking up momentum with the implosion of the Soviet Union in 1991.

The Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, cobbled together like Frankenstein’s monster (with about the same results) from the remains of the Austro-Hungarian Empire shortly after the end of WWI, became Yugoslavia in 1929.

Serbia, the most nationalistic and militant province, the former Kingdom of Serbia (and now the Republic of Serbia) has a long history of arms manufacture that dates back to 1853 when they began the manufacture of cannons in Kragujevac.

The magazine floor plate is numbered to the receiver and, like the trigger guard assembly, is forged/machined and held on by locked front and rear guard screws. The stock and other parts have various geometric shapes with letters and numbers indicating inspection/acceptance markings. The three-digit number visible on the shank of the bolt handle is apparently a production/assembly number. Instead of the round bolt knob and clearance cut in the stock found on the 98k the M48 has a flattened bottom and slightly less of a bend in the bolt handle. (Charles Brown)

The Kingdom of Serbs et al first order of business was to an attempt to modernize and standardize their small arms, as they were using an assortment of rifles procured from Turkey, Germany, and others. They adopted the German 7.92×57 service cartridge as a standard and in 1924 contracted with FN in Belgium and BRNO in Czechoslovakia to produce the Mauser designed M1924 rifle, then proceeded to acquire machinery and tooling to produce their own M24 in country. The M24 was a “short rifle” having a barrel length of 23.25 inches.

The short rifle concept was intended to supply a single length weapon for all troops replacing the assortment of full-length rifles for infantry, short rifles for service troops, and carbines for mounted troops. The Austro-Hungarian Army was the first to field the short rifle concept, that is a rifle with a barrel length in the vicinity of 24 inches, in 1895 and the U.S. followed suit with the Model 1903 rifle. Yugoslavia adopted the short rifle concept in 1924, while the 98k didn’t appear until 1936.

Germany invaded Yugoslavia in 1941 and proceeded to lay waste to everything it came across, including the capture of the arms complex in Kragujevac.

Things did not go well for the Germans; various bands of partisans of every political stripe resisted the invasion and each other with equal enthusiasm.

Even with all the infighting and jockeying for position with the Allies and the Soviet or both, the partisans, or banditti (depending on who was doing what to whom and your point of view) managed to toss the Germans out in 1944 without direct boots-on-the-ground Allied help. No small accomplishment when dealing with the German Army.

The bayonet is attached to the rifle by a rail and locked in place by a spring-loaded catch on the bayonet. The nose cap and barrel band are retained by a double ended spring set into the stock. (Charles Brown)

The Communist partisans headed by Josip Broz, better known as Marshal Tito, ended up being the most powerful political force in post WWII Yugoslavia. While Tito was a confirmed Socialist, he entertained some closet free-market ideas that put him at odds with Stalin. When he died in 1980, things began to unravel and in the early 1990’s the situation turned into a civil war between the disparate parts of Yugoslavia complete with “ethnic cleansing”, NATO airstrikes on the Zastava Works, and war crime trials.

Tito was very wary of the Soviets and their history of heavy-handed take overs and continued his successful WWII strategy of playing both ends against the middle. Yugoslavia became a “non-aligned” state, neither fish (aligned with NATO) nor fowl (a member of the Warsaw Pact), receiving aid from both the west and the Soviets. This caused the COMINTERN (Communist International) to toss Yugoslavia out in 1948.

The Kragujevac complex was rebuilt after WWII using some machinery confiscated by the Soviets as war reparations from Germany and some of Czech manufacture, also furnished by the Soviets.

The Yugoslavian Army continued to use the 7.92×57 cartridge as their service standard cartridge rather than adopt the Soviet calibers.

The M48 magazine can be charged using a stripper clip or individual cartridges. Most of the M48’s marketed in the U.S. came with an ammunition pouch. This two-cell pouch is well made of thick leather with two sewn on and riveted belt loops and a “D” ring for suspenders. The inside of one flap is stamped with a star and the letters TOKO in a triangle and dated 1953. Each cell holds four 5-round stripper clips. (Charles Brown)

By 1948, the Yugoslavians had perfected the design of a “new” rifle. It was to be a amalgamation of the M24 and the German 98k rifles, of which they had a good supply captured from German forces both in the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia.

While the M48 design was approved in 1948, production didn’t really get under way until 1950 and continued to 1952, when, as a cost cutting and production expedient, the M48A variant was adopted and produced until 1954. The A model, as it left the factory, features a stamped fabricated magazine floor plate.

There is also an M48B model with a few more stamped parts such as trigger guard and barrel band and a welded magazine well which had a production run from 1954 to 1965. However, this model is also marked M48A. Last but not least, there is the M48BO model which has no markings whatsoever except for a serial number. It was intended for export to various insurrectionist groups in third world countries. Some M48s were converted to “sniper” rifles by the addition of optics and used unofficially in the civil wars that consumed Yugoslavia in the 1990s.

The M48 has the typical Mauser style tangent rear sight regulated for the Yugoslavian M49 ball cartridge and is adjustable in 100-meter increments from 200 to 2000 meters. Hitting a man-sized target with open sights and the skills of the average conscript at much beyond 200 meters is, in the author’s opinion, wishful thinking. (Charles Brown)

The M48 uses the same intermediate length receiver and bolt as the M1924/M24. The M48 is definitely a 98k clone with standard Mauser features such as the three position turn-over safety and large circular gas shield on the bolt sleeve, the cup-style butt plate, and tangent rear sight (regulated out to 2000 meters in 100 meter increments for the Yugoslavian M49 Ball cartridge), with a 196 grain projectile and a “V” notch battle sight regulated to what appears to be (on the author’s sample) 200 meters and hooded inverted “V” front sight.

The major differences between the 98k and the M48 are overall length, longer upper hand guard that extends all the way to the nose cap, and the bolt handle/stock area. While both have a turned down bolt handle, the 98k has a round bolt knob and a relief cut in the stock to aid in grasping the bolt handle. The M48 has a flattened bottom surface on the bolt knob and has slightly less of a bend to provide grasping clearance.

The model designation and Communist Yugoslavian crest, complete with sheaves of grain, a flame, and the obligatory star that seems to appear on everything Communist, is well marked on the top of the receiver ring. (Charles Brown)

Except for very late war production, most 98ks have a metal ferrule set into the stock as a bolt take-down assist tool or a hole drilled through the side of the cup butt plate to accomplish the same function. The M48 did not have this feature.

The Serbian Cyrillic letters on the receiver ring are the abbreviation for the Federated People’s Republic of Yugoslavia. After 1953, rifles and ammunition intended for export were marked FNRJ, which is the Roman alphabet equivalent. The Serbian Cyrillic lettering on the receiver body is Preduzece 44, the code for the Zastava Works at Kragujevac, Serbia. (Charles Brown)

All of the M48 models were produced in the “PREDUZECE 44” factory, which is really a code for the Zastava Works in Kragujevac, Serbia. Preduzece translates to “enterprise” and 44 was the number assigned. This complex has operated under many different names including Military Technical Workshops Kragujevac, Military Technical Works, and during the M48 production period, Zavodi Crvena Zastava or Red Flag Institute. Zastava, the name of the Serbian firm operating the complex today, means flag or banner in English. The total production run was between 1.25 and 1.5 million.

Apparently, post WWII Yugoslavian troops were armed with various models of the M24 arsenal rebuilt as M24/47 and M24/52 models and the M48s were placed in stores for some contingency not readily apparent today as a good number imported to the U.S. are in arsenal new condition.

This situation went on until 1959 when Nikita Khrushchev, trying to woo the Yugoslavians into the Soviet camp, gave them a complete production line to produce the SKS. The Zastava works proceeded to build a very high quality SKS Models 59 and 59/66.

This illustrates the main fault with any socialist government operating with central economic planning and production. The infamous Soviet 5-year plan comes to mind, they keep producing goods that they don’t need, that their people don’t want, and end up selling for pennies on the dollar.

Like most European military firearms, some of the parts are numbered to the receiver. The bolt carries the full receiver serial number including the alpha characters while the magazine floor plate and stock have only the numerals. The stock while a good fit to the metal, was roughly finished and uncomfortable to handle. The cup style butt plate gives good protection to the end grain of the stock. (Charles Brown)

In any event, the Kragujevac/Zastava works was the only producer of the high-quality M48. With its forged and machined parts, it’s nearly the equal of pre-war German 98k production rifles in both fit and finish.

The author’s sample was delivered in arsenal mint condition with what appears to be a good quality nitrate blue/black finish. The bolt and the cup style butt plate are in the white. The wood-to-metal fit is very good for a service weapon; however, the stock (which looks to be made of some sort of birch) is extremely rough and gave the impression that splinters would result if one rubbed the grain in the wrong direction. The stock finish seems to be a very light coat of Tung oil, giving a yellowish finish. Several coats of linseed oil smoothed the stock and improved the feel. The M48 is designed for the 98k style sling, (actually, a carry strap) on the left side.

Typical M48 maintenance kit with muzzle protector/cleaning rod guide, chamber brush, oiler and pull-through thong. The pull-through is unique, made of cotton cord, nearly 3 meters (9 feet) long with lead weights on both ends and an eye spliced in the middle that is apparently designed to hold a cleaning patch. The chamber brush is fitted to the cleaning rod carried under the muzzle. Three sections of cleaning rod must be screwed together to make a length usable to clean the entire bore. The carrying pouch comes in several different designs, this one is canvas. (Charles Brown)

The M48 features a 23.5-inch (597 mm) barrel with four-groove rifling, right hand twist 1 in 240 mm (about 9.44 inches). The M48 has a 5-round internal magazine with a removable floor plate and can be filled with 5-round stripper clips or loose rounds. The author’s sample weighs 4.6 kg or just under 9 pounds with a leather sling.

Many of the imported M48s were marketed with a bayonet, steel scabbard, and leather frog, two-cell ammunition pouch, and cleaning kit.

The M48 was being produced in one form or another all the way up to 1965, mostly because it was a reliable and inexpensive way to equip third-world insurgent combatants (many of which had limited mechanical skills and little or no experience with firearms) with a simple weapon to master, or at least to shoot someone with.

YUGOSLAV M48: A NEW M98 MAUSER

SAR Staff — Fri, 01 Mar 2002 00:30:00 +0000

By Charles Q. Cutshaw

The classic Mauser M98 defined bolt action military rifles during the first half of the 20th Century, having been adopted by over 40 nations in one form or another, including the United States, which paid Mauser a $200,000 licensing fee to produce the venerable M1903 rifle. The M1903 design was little more than a M98 with magazine cutoff and a few other minor modifications to suit US Ordnance. The Model 98 originally was adopted by Germany as the G98 and later as the K98k, which was the mainstay of the German Army during World War II. Most M98s were produced in 7.92x57mm caliber, although it was manufactured in other calibers, as well. Not only did many nations adopt the M98 or one of its variants, most of those who did produced their own versions of it, including Serbia/Yugoslavia.

Variations of Mauser rifles had been produced at the Kragujevac Arsenal since the 1920s, contrary to some advertising press that claims that the M48 rifles were produced on captured or Nazi-provided German machinery. In fact, Mauser 98 variants had been in production at Kragujevac on machinery purchased from FN for many years prior to 1948. These rifles were essentially copies of the Czech/FN Vz24 rifle, short rifle or the Czech Vz 12/33 Carbine. In fact, the M48 that we received more closely resembles these rifles than a German K98k. For example, the handguard of the M48 begins at the receiver ring rather than at the rear sight as is the case with the K98k. There are even more differences, between the M48 and K98k, however.

M48 receiver ring showing Yugoslav Crest. Note that rear handguard begins at forward edge of receiver ring.

The buyer of an M48 may be misled by advertising to believe that he is purchasing a K98k “clone” that will accept all Mauser 98 components and can be “sporterized” using hardware designed for M98 rifles. This is not the case, as there are significant dimensional differences between the Yugoslav M48 and the German 98 series rifles. The most significant difference is the M48’s receiver, which is approximately 1/4 inch shorter than that of a K98k. The center to center measurement of the floorplate screws of the two rifles differs by some 5/16 inch, making it virtually impossible to install a M48 action into a stock intended for an M98. The M48’s bolt is almost exactly 1/4 inch shorter than the bolt of the 1943 German (Mauser) manufactured K98k we used for comparison. The M48 lacks the K98k’s stock cutout for access to the bent bolt handle, as well. The M48’s bolt handle is flattened on the bottom, which serves the same purpose as the K98k’s stock cutout. M48 sights are also placed and graduated differently than the K98. There are other detail differences as well, but the receiver dimensions are the most significant. We verified these differences by direct comparison and measurement between our M48 and a 1943 production Mauser K98k owned by a friend.

Bottom view of bolt handle showing flattened area that M48 uses instead of stock cutout.

Regardless of the differences between the M48 and the true K98k, the Kragujevac rifles are, in fact, legitimate M98 variants. They simply are not exact K98k replicas. That said, these rifles are well made, if somewhat rough in certain areas, and should stand up to a lifetime of civilian service for the collector of military arms and military shooting enthusiast.

M48 rear sight.

The rifle we received was new production, not one of the used or reconditioned M48 rifles that are also available at lower prices. Although new and unissued, our rifle had been in storage for approximately 50 years and was literally soaked in cosmoline! The heavy preservative grease had permeated every nook and cranny of the rifle. We had to detail strip the rifle to its least common denominator and put the metal components into a parts bath to get into all the interior crevices. Even then, there was residue that we had to work at with pipe cleaners and small brushes soaked in cleaning solvent. It was a time-consuming and messy job! The stock was likewise permeated with cosmoline and had to be treated, lest the stuff get into our clothes on the range. Needless to say, there was no rust on the rifle.

Besides being soaked in cosmoline, the M48’s stock apparently had never been sanded. We can only surmise that final finish was to be the responsibility of the soldier to whom the rifle would ultimately be issued. The stock on our rifle was the roughest this writer has ever seen. Although some advertising states that the stocks are made of teak, we question this. Our rifle’s stock was a dark blonde colored wood that did not appear like any teak that we have ever seen, but we have limited knowledge of wood. The stock was so rough that it actually had splinters in several places and the rough spots just aft of the forward band were so deep that we never could completely eliminate them without sanding recesses into the stock. In addition to having the rifle’s serial number stamped into it, the stock also had a penciled-in serial number that we wished to retain, so we did not sand the stock entirely smooth — just enough to remove the splinters and the worst of the rough spots. Interestingly, once we had sanded the stock and rubbed it with linseed oil, we found it to be virtually the same texture as the World War II vintage German stock on the K98k that we used for comparison. The overall result of our efforts on the stock were pleasing to us, giving the old M48 a patina of use despite the fact that it was a “new” rifle.

M48 middle and forward bands. Note rough edges along retaining clip. These rough areas actually were lengthy splinters prior to sanding.

Other than the Cosmoline and rough stock, our M48 was fairly well finished – about as can be expected of a military rifle. The bluing was on generally on a par with wartime German K98k’s, although there were a few light spots. The overall fit of parts was good — again as good as other military issue rifle of the era. There were light machining marks on some of the components. All major parts are serially numbered in the European tradition. The M48’s action was not the “butter smooth” that one associates with commercial Mauser 98 rifles and well-worn World War II rifles, but then this rifle had never been fired, except in testing, until we received it. When we compared the action to that of the K98k, there was only a slight difference in “feel,” so we suspect that the action will improve with use, although it isn’t bad, as is. When the bolt is opened and the rifle is vertical with the butt down, the bolt will fall to the fully retracted position under its own weight, although there is some roughness. The M48’s trigger pull is two-stage military, with the first stage seven pounds and the second stage a whopping 9.5 pounds! The trigger pull is so heavy that it made the M48 difficult to shoot with any accuracy. If our rifle was truly representative of all M48s, any owner who wishes to shoot the rifle on a regular basis will have the trigger pull lightened.

The M48 is shipped with a number of accessories, including bayonet, cleaning kit, front sight guard, muzzle protector, oil/solvent bottle, leather ammunition pouches and sling. The leather sling we received, however, was so oil soaked and stretched that we simply threw it away and ordered a reproduction K98k sling. Otherwise, the accessories were all usable. Like the rifle, the M48’s bayonet was soaked in cosmoline and had to be thoroughly cleaned. The leather ammunition pouches were filthy and moldy, but turned out to be serviceable after having been cleaned and treated with neatsfoot oil.

Shooting the M48 brought no surprises. The rifle shot 3.5 inch groups at 100 yards at point of aim using surplus Ecuadorian ammunition. We believe that accuracy could be improved by lightening the trigger pull and using commercial ammunition. Although advertised as non-corrosive, the surplus ammunition we used proved to be mildly corrosive, if the rust that appeared in the bore of our M48 about three days after cleaning is any indication. We have been advised that there is no truly non-corrosive military 7.92x57mm ammunition available, so the shooter should be advised to clean his rifle on three consecutive days after shooting military surplus ammunition. All in all, the M48’s accuracy is satisfactory for a military rifle, despite the abysmal trigger pull. As stated, a lighter trigger and better ammunition should improve accuracy, as should continued shooting to break in the new rifle.

All in all, we consider the M48 Kragujevac Arsenal rifles to be a reasonable buy for the collector and shooter who desires a military Mauser bolt action rifle. Ammunition is plentiful and cheap, although most surplus ammunition is at least mildly corrosive. There are so many of these rifles available that the M48 probably has little potential for increasing in value, however. On the other hand, the rifles are relatively inexpensive and are sturdy and well made, except as noted above. The M48 is a true M98 Mauser variant, but we should reemphasize that it is most definitely NOT a K98k replica as is represented in much advertising. Moreover, as the reader can surmise by our comments, the M48 is most definitely not as well finished as an original German Mauser. In the final analysis, though, we believe that the M48 is an interesting M98 variant that can be fired and enjoyed strictly for what it is – a solid military rifle that represents one of the last production versions of the legendary Mauser 98.

Following is a list of sources for M48 Mauser rifles compiled from Shotgun News and several periodicals. We have made every effort to search out as many sources of M48 rifles as possible, but cannot guarantee that the following list represents all sources of M48 Mausers. The potential M48 purchaser should also be aware that while new M48s with accessories and all matching numbers are reasonably priced and probably most desirable, used rifles are available in very good to excellent condition, although most do not have all the accessories of the unissued rifles. Some used M48s are available with all matching numbers. The latter rifles are significantly less expensive than the new ones and may well be an alternative for the shooter who wishes to own an M48, but who does not wish to expend the cash for an unissued rifle.

Kragujevac Arsenal M48 Rifle Specifications *

Caliber 7.92x57mm (8mm)
Length 43.5 inches
Barrel length 23.25 inches
Weight 10.0 lbs.
Rifling 4 groove, rh twist
Feed 5 round magazine
Sights Tangent leaf, graduated to 2,000 meters

*Source: Ball, R.W.D., Mauser Military Rifles of the World.

M48 Kragujevac Mauser Sources
(New and used)

AIM (used)
PO Box 556
Springboro, OH 45066
Tel: 513-424-9960
Fax: 513-424-9970
www.aimsurplus.com

Classic Arms (used)
PO Box 125
Indian Trail, NC 28079
Tel: &04-238-1222
Fax: 704-238-9121
www.classicarms.org

J&G Sales (used)
PO Box 10400
Prescott Valley, AZ 86304
Tel: (928) 445-9650
Fax: (928) 445-9658
Email: jgsales@qwest.net

Mitchell’s Mausers (new)
PO Box 9295
Fountain Valley, CA 92728-9295
Tel: 714-899-3660
Fax: 714-899-8611
www.mitchellsales.com

SOG International (used)
PO Box 590
Lebanon, OH 45036
Tel: 800-944-4867
Fax: 513-932-8928
Email: soginc@go-concepts.com

Wholesale Guns & Ammo, Inc
(New & used)
232 Blydenburgh Rd
Central Islip, NY 11722
Tel: 631-234-7676
Fax: 631-234-7408
www.gunsnammo.com

This article first appeared in Small Arms Review V5N6 (March 2002)

Bushmaster 25mm Machine Cannon

SAR Staff — Thu, 01 Mar 2001 00:19:06 +0000

By Robert Bruce

Designed in the early 1970’s by engineers at Hughes Helicopters, cannon-caliber BUSHMASTER CHAIN GUNS on the Apache Attack Helicopter, the Bradley Fighting Vehicle, and many other platforms have proven in combat to be without equal in the world. With Hughes having been successively merged with McDonnell Douglas and now Boeing, more than 10,000 of the 30mm M230 and the 25mm M242 are in service in the US and allied nations, enjoying an unsurpassed reputation for reliability, accuracy and operational effectiveness.

Concepts Compared

Typically, large caliber automatic cannon suffer from any number of problems that must be addressed by tradeoffs in design. Self-powered guns utilize by-products from firing the ammunition to operate all functions including feed, locking, extraction, and ejection. This means that their parts must be relatively heavy and resistant to extreme stress. Also, even small variations in the ammunition can lead to stoppages.

Seen here with its protective translucent plastic cap removed, the M910 TPDS-T (Training Practice Discarding Sabot Tracer) round is easily identified by its needle nose and blue plastic sabot collar. This special 25mm training ammunition is being used on Range 13 instead of the M791 APDS-T (Armor Piercing Discarding Sabot Tracer) combat load. While the training round matches its combat counterpart in velocity and trajectory out to at least 2000 meters, its maximum range is shorter at 8000 meters. Both are “discarding sabot” rounds; the plastic collar peels off the penetrator head immediately after exiting the barrel. Matte green lacquered steel cartridge cases are cheaper to make than brass and the highly reliable Chain Gun feeds and fires them with no trouble.

Gatling-type weapons utilize external power, usually electric motors or hydraulic systems, to rotate a cluster of barrels into firing position. While this can promote greater reliability and high rates of fire, the penalties tend to be an increase in complexity and maintenance difficulties, a high system weight and bulk, plus a greater cost.

A useful overview of the Chain Gun’s mechanism showing both feeding chambering and ejection. Designed by engineers at Hughes Helicopters in the early 1970’s, the weapon gets its name from the distinctive electric motor driven automobile-type timing chain that precisely controls all movement except recoil.

In contrast, Hughes engineers offered their single barrel, rotating bolt, electrically driven “Chain Gun,” so called because of its motorcycle type sprocket and chain operating mechanism. Not unlike an automobile engine’s timing chain, the Hughes system provides unparalleled precision, smoothness and positive action to all phases of the cycle of operation.

Anyone who has been frustrated by the process of separately adjusting headspace and timing on a Browning .50 cal should appreciate how simple and “idiot proof” the Chain Gun is. Each movement from feed to ejection takes place at exactly the right time with no fuss and bother.

Empty steel cases and links from the 25mm Chain Gun spill out of the right side of the turret, eliminating the bother of messy brass catchers. Note also the short barrels of the four smoke grenade dischargers that fire screening smoke to hide the vehicle.

Use of a single barrel means lighter weight, relatively few moving parts, and consistent accuracy. Unlike Gatling system revolving cannon, the Chain Gun’s single fixed barrel is not subject to boresight deviations inherent in multi-barrel clusters, nor to the “lawn sprinkler” effect of tangential velocity as experienced from Gatling pipes spinning at high rate of fire.

A logical alternative to self-cycling designs is provided by the Bradley’s electrical system as a power source. Operated by a small 1.5 horsepower motor, the M242 runs quite smoothly with little recoil-induced vibration. In the unlikely emergency of a total electrical system failure, a hand crank can cycle the gun for a last-ditch shot or clearing.

Damping of the short recoil stroke of the barrel is efficiently accomplished with a sealed unit containing ordinary coil springs.

The M240 7.62mm machine gun is mounted co-axially with the 25mm Chain Gun and is aimed using the ISU. This is a license-built American version of the remarkable Belgian FN MAG 58, distinguished by extraordinary reliability and accuracy.

Dual Feed Not Double

Dual feed – its capability to instantly switch over between two types of ammunition – is one of the more useful characteristics of the Chain Gun design. This means that a gunner who is expecting to engage an armored vehicle can immediately change to a high explosive if an appropriate target presents itself.

The Chain Gun’s cycle of operation begins and ends with the bolt fully rearward and no round in the chamber. This eliminates “cookoff,” the possibility of accidental explosion of a round left in an overheated chamber. Similarly, “double feed” – attempt to feed a round when another is still in the chamber – is blocked by a sensing rotor that instantly tops the feed system if a round fails to extract. In addition to avoiding ugly malfunctions, this eliminates the possibility of catastrophic in- turret explosion from jamming the nose fuze on an HE round being fed.

Its deceptively simple mechanism is all the more remarkable for its extraordinary reliability. Not only do published figures cite better than 10,000 mean rounds between stoppage, the gun can also be cleared with speed and safety.

Not surprisingly, the Hughes CHAIN GUN overcame virtually every objectionable aspect of competitive systems and quickly took the lead in the Army’s Vehicle Rapid Fire Weapon System test program. The M242 was formally adopted on 19 February 1973 with the official nickname of BUSHMASTER, the large and deadly poisonous snake of the Central American jungles.

Ultimate Machine Gun Mount

Since the hard-hitting, multi purpose 25mm M242 version weighs over 230 lbs and has an effective range in excess of 3000 meters, the best way to maximize its lethality is to put it in what might be called the ultimate machine gun ground mount.

This is the Bradley Fighting Vehicle, a fully tracked armored weapons platform with a stabilized turret and highly sophisticated day and night sighting systems. Designed to keep up with the M1 Abrams’ main battle tank in the mechanized “AirLand Battle” once envisioned for central Europe, it clearly outclasses its rival, the Soviet BMP armored fighting vehicle.

Enormous amounts of ammunition are needed to run Table VIII qualification for a whole battalion of Bradleys and this big, ugly HEMTT (Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck) is just the ticket. Parked in the staging area behind Range 13, Bradleys are driven right up to the truck to get a basic load of 25mm and 7.62mm ball and tracer ammo.

As mounted in the Bradley, the Chain Gun has distinct advantages in mobility and crew protection, allowing the gunner to identify and destroy a wide variety of threats including bunkers, other armored vehicles, and even helicopters. And for those situations when the 25mm isn’t ideal, the Bradley turret also features both a 7.62mm M240 machine gun and a pair of TOW missiles, fully integrated with the vehicle’s fire control system.

Live Fire Gunnery Training

Small Arms Review was invited to examine the Chain Gun in action with the North Carolina National Guard’s 1st Battalion 119th Infantry Regiment (Mechanized). The Tarheel trackmen were up in my neck of the woods at Fort Pickett, Virginia’s Range 13, spending several weekends rotating Bradley crews through the demanding Bradley Table VIII live fire qualification course. This was a perfect opportunity for me to have plenty of time to observe and photograph all aspects of the training without getting too much in their way at a stressful time.

The tracked and armored Bradley has been called the ultimate machine gun mount because it maximizes effectiveness of the 25mm Chain Gun in an electrically stabilized power turret with highly sophisticated day-night sighting system.

Under command of Major Greg Lusk, this is a great bunch of guys and I found them to be quite serious about maintaining high standards despite the very real problems of today’s budget- starved military. Master Sergeant Tim Davis, battalion training NCO, wisely hooked me up with a Charlie Company Bradley M2 commanded by Sergeant First Class Dannie Lewis. Along with the gunner, Sergeant James Pierce, Lewis and the rest of his crew patiently answered my endless (and often borderline stupid) questions and provided a step-by-step “show and tell” for photographs as they prepared for their turn at bat.

Operational sequence of the Chain Gun barrel recoil. Detonation of a chambered cartridge moves the mechanism back approximately 14 mm, buffered by heavy springs. As the bolt is pushed back in the carrier it is unlocked by an inclined camming slot.

After a thorough before-operation check of all systems and final preparations of both the Chain Gun and the M240 coaxial machine gun, Lewis’ Bradley pulled up next to the big ugly ammo HEMMT. The Army has a standard load formula for this course so they got the prescribed mix of 25mm M910 TPDS-T plus linked 7.62mm in the usual four ball plus one tracer mix. According to Army specifications, the 25mm Target Practice Discarding Sabot- Tracer matches the velocity and trajectory of real combat ammo well beyond 2000 meters with twin advantages of lower cost and an 8000 meter maximum range that won’t exceed the impact area safety fan limits.

T-Slot extractors on the boltface ensure positive feeding and extraction.

The gunner, Sergeant Pierce, showed me how the linked 25mm is hung in two separate compartments on opposite sides of the turret, ready for feeding as the situation dictates. A simple diagram is thoughtfully provided on each magazine to make sure the bullets are pointed in the right direction; important soldier proofing to help tired and stressed crewmen. For safety purposes the belts weren’t actually fed into the guns at this time. Instead, this final step was not performed until the vehicle was cleared to move onto the range for its trial by fire.

Riding the Range

Wishing them well, I moved up to the main range area for a quick orientation. The sand table was a great place to start, providing a miniature overview of the terrain including firing points and target types. While some might say that this gives an unfair advantage not likely to be experienced in combat, the Army contends that the job of determining baseline gunnery skills should be done in an orderly and standardized manner. Coping with surprise targets on unfamiliar terrain is a higher-level challenge, best done after the crew has proven that it has mastered the basics.

The range control tower was manned by a team of active Army Master Gunners who had been sent to Ft. Pickett to conduct the Guardsmen’s testing. These guys were making sure that each task in the course was fairly presented and impartially graded. Their work was not made easy by the somewhat poor condition of the whole radio-controlled target system. It performed erratically and sometimes just refused to work, giving the unit’s target detail plenty to do downrange with resulting delays. On a positive note, this gave me an unusual opportunity to ride with them and to get a close look at both the stationary and moving target mechanisms in the enormous impact area.

Sergeant Pierce hangs a belt of M910 TPDS-T in the AP magazine. A diagram on the door reminds him which way the rounds must point in order to correctly feed into the Chain Gun.

The effects of eight years of miserly military budgets can be seen in a million ways, big and small, throughout the armed forces; in this case worn-out target lifters paired with old and abused electronic controllers. While Bill and Hillary flew around like a king and queen on Air Force jets, muddy-boot soldiers make the best of a bad situation literally with duct tape, and coat hanger wire. Many have to buy batteries themselves.

The “sand table,” complete with plastic model Bradleys and enemy troops, is a miniature representation of Range 13, used to familiarize crews with the terrain, targets and firing points of the Table VIII gunnery test.

In the rare situation when everything goes well, the daylight part of the table can be fired by a Bradley crew in about 45 minutes. This includes a substantial amount of time for zeroing and for getting into full chemical gear for Task 6.

Mover 1 is the closest of two railroad tracks with electric trollies that carry moving targets across the range.

The course begins with the vehicle moving up into the first of two fixed firing points identified on the accompanying map as BP2. This is used to zero both the coaxial machine gun and the Chain Gun by optically sighting clearly identified panels positioned 500 and 1100 meters distant. If the tracers hit the panels then the guns are zeroed, if not then it takes some more time and adjustments to get them working together.

Puffs of smoke from the 25mm main gun are emphasized by sunlight behind the trees as the Bradley engages a series of targets from its first firing position at BP2.

When the vehicle commander and gunner are satisfied with their zero then record firing can begin, escalating in degree of difficulty. From stationary Bradley and fixed targets to shooting at trolley-borne movers while on the run, the course presents many realistic situations likely to be encountered in combat. Bare minimum qualification standards require hits in at least seven engagements including one while wearing a gas mask and two at night.

A view of an M48 target tank sitting about 1600 meters from the firing line through the Bradley gunner’s Auxiliary Sight with 5 power magnification. The greenish tint is caused by special antireflective and laser-proof coating on the optics.

No Excuses

When the crew on the hot seat has finished its run, they download and clear their guns then dismount for an unflinchingly honest evaluation. All of the target action for each Bradley’s range time is recorded on gun camera videotape with an on-screen time code, then played back for the crew by a member of the test team like a real-world video game. Each target presentation scenario can be looked at again and again in real time or in slow motion and even stopped for a detailed analysis.

For task 5, the gunner is using his Auxiliary sight to aim the 7.62mm coaxial machine gun at target B11, an enemy truck at 1100 meters. Note tracers and dust impacts.

This high-teh After Action Review not only allows the Bradleymen to see what they did right or wrong, it also provides the necessary evidence to challenge any miss-scoring that might have happened in the tower such as not leaving the target up for the minimum required time. More than just a series of dry score sheets, these videos give the unit’s leadership a highly objective view of each crew’s proficiency in target identification, choice of the best weapon (main gun vs. coax) fire commands and marksmanship.

This article first appeared in Small Arms Review V4N6 (March 2001)