What was your favorite weapon you've fired?

SPC(P) (Join to see) - Yes, the M-2 was a great platform, a big punch, good thing was, don't matter what you're shooting at, it works. Down range, everything is being chewed up, fun to see things coming apart.

I did get to use the 50 caliber while in Vietnam and there was no question about how effective it was. We had them on both fixed perimeter post and also mounted on Our APCs. Shown here is one of our 50 calibers We used with the USAF 366th Security Police Squadron, Da Nang, Vietnam on our Base perimeter.

A photo I took in 1968 showing a 50 caliber mounted on one of our APCs used by the USAF, 366th Security Police Squadron, Da Nang, Vietnam.

SMSgt Lawrence McCarter - That M-2 putting it on and off the vehicle, sure was heavy. Even if it was just the barrel or the gun body by itself.
Hell, a box of ammo was even heavy, for the 50cal, the tripod was just occurred to carry, it made a good swing bat. Lol
And, much better than carrying the 81mm base plate, or jumping out of a airplane with 2ea, 81mm mortars attached to you. I still can remember the PSGT telling me, Blas, all we need is the 81mm rounds, we can always replace you.

SPC(P) (Join to see) - MSG Cristofaro is right, vehicles and aircraft gets you there, then your dog covers do the rest. Picture is in UH1, doors were always opened, to unass the slick. While at Bragg, as 11-Bush, we had training and were familiarized with other weapons, the AK-47 and other weapons of the enemy. The SF did that training to us 82nd, when they had post support.
11-Bravo, is just what it's MOS says, light weapons, even C-4 or a claymore.

MSG (Join to see) - You're right, I really never saw the lower enlisted having a pistol. But I did hear when some asked, but the PSGT would always tell them, "You don't need a pistol, You'd F$$en loose it!" And, get out of my sight!" Lol

MSG (Join to see) - The Purpose of the carbine was to replace the pistol, that why M-1 and M-2 carbines were adopted. M-3 was a M-2 with a night scope. If M-4 carbine follows precedence, it is, too.

MAJ Ronnie Reams -
The M-4 was an AR-15 with a slightly shorter (14.5 inch) and thicker barrel along with a collapsible stock. It had a removeable carrying handle that allowed for the mounting of optics such as red dot sights, iron sights, etc.
With the exception of certain MOSs, the only enlisted who normally receive a pistol to carry are Senior NCOs such as E-8 and E-9.
In a combat zone, such as Iraq and Afghanistan, most officers and senior NCOs had both an AR and a pistol.

Thank you for your response Sergeant. I've heard the .50 Cal is extremely fun to use. How was firing that from a technical standpoint? Like what did it feel like? I know it's not necessarily comparable, but my dad said while he was in the Marines, he got to fire a Desert Eagle, and it was the only firearm he's ever fired that bruised his hands (my dads a pretty big dude - 6'2, 250+ pounds).

The Barrett was fine for me in terms of recoil effect. If you lay properly, you'll know it fired for sure, but you won't hurt yourself. I fired only in the prone supported position.

The M2 I've fired on a remote weapons system RWS and from the tripod position. The RWS was mounted to a stryker and controlled from within the vehicle with a joy stick and screen, so no recoil effect felt for me. The RWS was nice because I could zero it in real time, but could also zoom in and see heat, great for night time exercises. The tripod was a little goofy to get used to, but once I was in and got a rhythm going, it was great. I used it with a T&E system, and a good team with gunner and assistant gunner, we were on target quickly. Recoil was mostly absorbed by the ground, but the hands get a lil wonky after a while, but the butterfly trigger helps from the hands getting cramped up or anything like that.

O yea twin 50s was even better. Floating down the mekong.