GAU-18A, .50 caliber Machine Gun

Question 1

Characteristics of GAU-18A

Answer 1

Fully Automatic, recoil operated, belt fed, air cooled

Question 2

What kind of belt does the GAU-18A use?

Answer 2

A disintegrating metallic link belt.

Question 3

Which side does the GAU-18A feed from?

Answer 3

Either the left or right side.

Question 4

Rate of fire?

Answer 4

750-850 rounds per minute

Question 5

Tracer burnout?

Answer 5

1500 meters

Question 6

Maximum range

Answer 6

7000 meters

Question 7

What are the GAU-18A’s major components?

Answer 7

1. Barrel and Barrel extension assembly
2. Back Plate Assembly
3. Rod Assembly
4. Breech Bolt Assembly
5. Recoil Buffer Assembly
6. Cover Assembly
7. Retracting Slide Assembly
8. Receiver Assembly and Barrel Jack Assembly with Flash Suppressor

Question 8

Consists of a barrel, barrel extension, breech lock, breech lock pin, and barrel locking spring.

Answer 8

Barrel and Barrel extension assembly

Question 9

Consists of a trigger, back plate, back plate latch and back plate latch lock.

Answer 9

Back Plate Assembly

Question 10

Provides energy for returning the bolt to the firing position.

Answer 10

Rod Assembly

Question 11

Provides feeding, stripping, cocking, chambering, firing, extraction, and ejection of cartridges during recoil and counter recoil.

Answer 11

Breech Bolt Assembly

Question 12

Assists in recoil and counter recoil

Answer 12

Recoil Buffer Assembly

Question 13

Provides the feed mechanism

Answer 13

Cover Assembly

Question 14

Serves to charge the weapon

Answer 14

Retracting Slide Assembly

Question 15

Supports and protects the barrel assembly also serves as a housing and support for various assemblies of the gun.

Answer 15

Receiver Assembly and Barrel Jack Assembly with Flash Suppressor

Question 16

What are the cycle of operations of a GAU-18A?

Answer 16

1. Firing the First Round
2. Recoiling
3. Extracting the round
4. Cocking
5. Counter Recoiling
6. Feeding
7. Ejecting
8. Chambering the round
9. Automatic Firing of Subsequent Rounds

Question 17

To fire the first round, the gun must be loaded and manually cocked by charging the bolt to the rear

Answer 17

Firing the First Round

Question 18

Starts the instant of firing, with the recoiling parts, the barrel extension, and the bolt fully forward or battery position.

Answer 18

Recoiling

Question 19

As the recoil starts, a live cartridge held in position by the cartridge stop is drawn from the ammunition belt by the extractor.

Answer 19

Extracting the round

Question 20

Begins immediately after firing via cocking lever.

Answer 20

Cocking

Question 21

After completion of the recoil movement, the bolt is forced forward by the energy stored in the drive springs, buffer tube discs and the oil buffer assembly, this energy forces the bolt, barrel, and barrel extension.

Answer 21

Counter Recoiling

Question 22

The process of extracting a live cartridge from the ammunition belt, positioning, and then chambering the cartridge.

Answer 22

Feeding

Question 23

On counter-recoil movement, the extractor pushes and holds the live cartridge into its correct position in the T-slot, at the same time, the live cartridge moving into place ejects the empty cartridge case that been withdrawn from firing the chamber.

Answer 23

Ejecting

Question 24

The movement of the live cartridge ejecting the spent round positions the live cartridge into its correct position in the T-slot.

Answer 24

Chambering the round

Question 25

Automatic subsequent rounds is maintained as long as the trigger is depressed.

Answer 25

Automatic Firing of Subsequent Rounds