The caliber .50 cartridge consists of a cartridge case, primer, propelling charge, and the bullet. The term bullet refers only to the small-arms projectile. There are eight types of ammunition issued for use in the caliber .50 machine gun. The tips of the various rounds are color-coded to indicate their type. The ammunition is linked with the M2 or M9 metallic links for use in the machine gun.
Cartridge
M2 Ball
M1 IncendiaryM8 Armor-piercing
M20 Armor-piercing
M1 BlankM2 Dummy
M858 SRTA M860 SRTA M903 SLAP M962 SLAPT GDTUse
In marksmanship training, against personnel, and light materiel targets.
To aid in observing fire-secondary purposes are for incendiary effect and for signaling.
Against armored aircraft and lightly armored vehicles, concrete shelters, and other bullet-resisting targets.
Incendiary effect-especially against aircraft.
Combined armor-piercing and Incendiary effect.
Combined armor-piercing and incendiary effect, with the additional tracer feature.
For simulated fire (contains no bullet).
For training (completely inert).
