Talk:M73 machine gun

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The M73/M219 is obviously based on the Browning machine guns, Just asking did it use the modern 'push through' links?.


 * The M73/M219 had very little to do with Browning machine guns. Brownings have very long receivers, and the M73's was extremely short.  That was its major problem, too much spring tension to work the bolt in such a short space.  The Brownings receiver was long to pull the cartridge out of the belt from the back.  The M73 and M219 use the same ammunition and links as the M-60 and M-240, and pushed the cartridge out the front of the link.  —Jim Davis 2007-12-07 20:18 Z 


 * The M73/M219's resemblance to the the Browning M1917/M1919 was almost entirely cosmetic, due to the use of a perforated barrel jacket and flash hider very similar to that used on the M1919, and a receiver formed of flat steel plates similar to that of the M1917/M1919. Internally it was completely different.  It used a small breechblock, sliding within a barrel extension as on the M1917/M1919 but much lighter, which was fed from the side rather than from above as with the Brownings, and a push-through (as on the MG34, MG42, FN MAG, etc) rather than pull-out as on the Brownings.