Description
.50cal M3 Buffer Body
The .50cal M3 Buffer Body is a U.S. military internal component for the .50-caliber AN-M3 aircraft machine gun. Installed in the gun's buffer and buffer-body group, it supports the barrel-buffer assembly and associated accelerator components within the weapon.
The official AN-M3 illustrated parts manual identifies the underlying body as part 7312758. When fitted with two guide components, part 6009715, the manual catalogs it as barrel-buffer body assembly 7312759 under Federal Stock Number 1005-731-2759.
Historical Significance
The AN-M3 was a U.S. military .50-caliber aircraft machine gun in the Browning aircraft-gun family. Its documented parts system included the buffer and buffer-body group illustrated in the 1955 Army and Air Force parts manual.
Figure 18 of that manual documents the .50cal M3 Buffer Body beside the barrel-buffer assembly, accelerator, accelerator pin, and buffer-body lock, preserving its exact relationship to the AN-M3 mechanism.
What This Item Is and Does
The .50cal M3 Buffer Body is the long machined housing used in the AN-M3 buffer and buffer-body group. Its channels, openings, and forked end provide the supporting structure for the buffer assembly and related parts in the gun's operating mechanism.
This is the buffer body component, not the complete barrel-buffer assembly, accelerator, back plate, receiver, or complete machine gun. The manual distinguishes body 7312758 from body assembly 7312759 and from the separate buffer assembly 7312663.
Key Features
- U.S. military AN-M3 aircraft machine-gun component
- Offered item: .50cal M3 Buffer Body
- Applicable weapon: .50-caliber AN-M3 aircraft machine gun
- Manual body part number: 7312758
- Manual body-assembly part number: 7312759
- Federal Stock Number for assembly 7312759: 1005-731-2759
- Modern NSN format: 1005-00-731-2759
- Body assembly uses two guides, part 6009715
- Part of the buffer and buffer-body group
- Illustrated in ORD 9 SNL A-67, Figure 18
Why This Item Matters
The .50cal M3 Buffer Body is a substantial, specifically documented component from a historic U.S. aircraft armament system. Its distinctive form and exact manual illustration make it useful for AN-M3 restoration work, aircraft-armament displays, technical study, and identified military-parts collections.
About This Item
The offered .50cal M3 Buffer Body is for the .50-caliber AN-M3 aircraft machine gun and corresponds to the body illustrated in the gun's buffer and buffer-body group. The photographed component has a dark finish with visible handling marks and scattered areas of surface oxidation.
Only the pictured buffer body is included. The separate barrel-buffer assembly, accelerator, accelerator pin, buffer-body lock, and other gun components shown in the manual illustration are not included.
Ideal For
- AN-M3 aircraft machine-gun restoration projects
- U.S. military aircraft-armament displays
- Browning-pattern aircraft-gun parts collections
- Museum and educational exhibits
- Technical and mechanical reference collections
Approx length 7", Approx width 2", Approx height 2", Approx weight 2.3lbs.
Pictures are stock images of our inventory. Unless otherwise noted, you will not be receiving the exact item shown in the pictures. The pictures are representative of the item's general condition. The item you receive might be slightly better, or worse, condition than was shown in the pictures.
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