M2HB.NET

HICKS439 · Loader Joined: 03 Jan 2010 Posts: 14

Hi I,m guessing I have to remove the inner ring inside the shroud somehow then push in the spring loaded push pin and turn??

Thanks in advance

WarCloud · MASTER BLASTER Joined: 29 Jan 2008 Posts: 1935

I think you mean barrel support?

All you need do is remove the barrel, then yes, push in the lock pin at the lower side (I have the cotter pin holding in my lock pin bent in such a way that I can rotate the lock pin 90 degrees and the bent cotter pin will hold it fully retracted)..once lock pin is disengaged, take bar, place through holes in barrel support, and break loose counterclockwise looking at front of gun reciever. Depending on who set the shims this will be fairly easy to damn near impossible. Whatever you do, resist the urge to go for the big hammer or torch. The threads on the barrel support and reciever are fairly fine and you don't want to burr them or strip them, no no.

You do not need to remove the barrel bushing to remove the support.

HICKS439 · Loader Joined: 03 Jan 2010 Posts: 14

thanks I'll give it a shot, much appreciated

OREO · Gunner Joined: 07 Jul 2007 Posts: 23 Location: Colorado

If the barrel support is the least bit tight, be careful to properly support the receiver, especially at the trunnion area. I suggest also placing the breech end of a .50 aircraft barrel into the barrel hole (backwards thru the back end of the receiver) it further support the trunnion. (You can use the stub of the breech end of a .50 barrel, just so long as it is long enough to provide support completely thru the trunnion barrel hole. You might also be able to use a heavy barrel but I don’t know if it will fit thru the back end of the receiver.) The military used a special fixture to hold the receiver

You definitely don’t want to warp or collapse, even slightly, the trunnion area of the receiver. The material is thin at the top of the trunnion barrel hole, especially at the rear.

See pics for details of removal, along the lines of the above post.

OREO

WarCloud · MASTER BLASTER Joined: 29 Jan 2008 Posts: 1935

Actually I was going to suggest doing this with the gun in it's gun cradle, if the owner has a gun cradle (like an M23 or 30/50 on an M63), mount it in the cradle to support the reciever.

Lord I love these old military fixtures..Wanna work on a .50? No problem..big ole' vice, big ole bar..I miss the Machine Age.

BeltFedEd · Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 9:40 am Post subject:

Let me first say that I'm just guessing here.

Do you really want to use the cradle as a fixture? Aren't most cradles cast? My M23 is cast, but the Izzy is welded forged steel.

Yes, the M23 is one heavy piece of equipment, but still cast. Looking at the photo OREO posted, the fixture looks to made out of forged steel. Either all machined, welded or bolted together.

Again, no expert, just guessing.

WarCloud · MASTER BLASTER Joined: 29 Jan 2008 Posts: 1935

Yeah, but it beats having your fat nephew sit on one end of the reciever while you twist on it with a big pry bar. I'd rather see it clamped in a big mounted bench vise or bolted in a cool old fixture, but a lot of guys don't have that stuff. Just hope its' not torqued on too tight.

BeltFedEd · Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 4:22 pm Post subject:

You're right WC. If it's all you have, it's all you have.

One more note for HICKS. You may have to replace the barrel support shim when you re-install the barrel support.

When putting the support back on, it should take more than your hands to put it in final position, or it's too loose. Basically, you don't want the support rattling around on the trunion threads. There was a discussion about this here a while ago. I'll have to do a search.

tomt · ARMORER Joined: 16 Nov 2005 Posts: 811 Location: ohio

i've had to heat the hell out of a couple older
ones. i put a bar in the trunnion and use a 1" bar to break the support loose. sometimes it's a bear, and heat is needed. HTH. tomt Cool

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WarCloud · MASTER BLASTER Joined: 29 Jan 2008 Posts: 1935

You're either brave or have spare trunnions.

BeltFedEd · Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2010 1:31 am Post subject:

tomt · ARMORER Joined: 16 Nov 2005 Posts: 811 Location: ohio

what ed said !! i don't like to do it. but as curchill said "sometime you have to do whats required" it's not pretty, but it works-----how in the hell do you spell churchill ???? LOL tomt
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HICKS439 · Loader Joined: 03 Jan 2010 Posts: 14

thanks again for this usefull info guys by the way as I mentioned this gun is in rough shape and its rear sight is without the screws to affix it to the gun.

Anyone have any spares laying around I can buy or know where I could get some.

take care

m2a1 · Gunner Joined: 02 Mar 2009 Posts: 25 Location: OHIO

www.bmgparts.com has the screws you need Very Happy

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TANKER · Posted: Mon May 03, 2010 10:26 pm Post subject: Big Ole Bars

I use two "four way" tire irons. You can use just the straight tire iron. Tire irons are pretty stout and fit through the holes in the barrel support. If using the "four way" type, you've got a couple of places to grab onto. Get you fat nephew to twist one tire iron in the front holes and you twist the tire iron in the rear holes....put tire iron all the way through holes. I've always had good luck this way. If you need more leverage, a couple of three foot pieces of iron water pipe will work too....or old Ruger 10/22 barrels. TANKER
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