Browning FN-30 (ground) Machine Gun Manual (with reference to FN-38)

CONTENTS INCLUDE:

• Browning c1920 FN-30 Air Cooled Machine Gun Manual
• Changing the Feeder
• Cleaning
• Cocking
• Data and Specifications
• Detailed Functioning
• Extracting and Ejection
• Feeding
• Firing and Recoil
• Pictures and list of Parts
• Precautions
• Principles of Operation
• Receiver Group
• Rounds per minute 1,500
• Stoppages
• Storing the Gun

Manual deals with the models FN-30 (ground) and FN-38 (aircraft). The cyclic rate quoted is correct for aircraft, I believe that the ground gun ran a little slower although it could be stepped up to the 1600 RPM speed. The bolt shown on page 15 is the FN -30 bolt and the bolt on page 16 is the FN-38 which is bi directional feed. It is my understanding the FN-30 could run on the FN-38 bolt but could not feed from the right side because it did not have the correct furniture on the receiver housing. I have an FN-30 in shop as I speak and looked at it and I see no easy way to use the FN-38 right feed on that weapon it is strictly left feed. The function is similar to our US Machine Gun Cal .30 US model M-2 but the M-2 parts do not directly interchange with the FN. both families are related to the M2HB .50 US or commonly called Maw Deuce or simply .50 cal. in the firing cycle is very similar. During WW-2 most of the M-2 .30’s were used in aircraft where the bidirectional feed was desirable because of the symmetrical way aircraft are built, the ammo would be placed in the wing next to the gun, if the guns feed from the same side the outboard guns feed would place mass of ammo outside of balance compared to the guns on the other wing. I know a lot of M-2 .30 were used on US naval aircraft. Also, understand the high cyclic rate is more desirable on aircraft because bullets are closer together. The 1919 series started with the water cooled Browning .30 cal weapons and progressed in line through all variants and was discontinued during the Viet Nam war, they built 1919 style weapons because the design was a lot cheaper to mass produce.

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