.50 Caliber or M2

[TexasHighlander]

Just curious, is there a difference between the two weapon systems or are they one in the same?

 

[Torkku]

Well... .50 is caliber and M2 is weapon which uses .50 round. But "fifty cal" name is used for M2 Machine Gun (Browning .50 Caliber Machine Gun) in military slang.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M2_Browning_machine_gun

 

[HokieMSG]

M2 is the designation of the Browning .50 caliber MG. So yes, they are one in the same.

 

[David5711]

M2 is a model of heavy machine gun that is chambered for the .50 BMG round. the M2 in its original form was designed in WWI but did not see combat as it came too late in 1918 to see service. the fifty caliber BMG (browning machine gun) cartridge was designed for this weapon and has since also been chambered in many other weapons. As with most weapons designed by Browning (one of the greatest firearms designers of the 20th century) it exists to this day and is still in service with many countries.