Capt. Mooron wrote:
Heavy Autos are intrinsically weak at long ranges....

???

The Browning .50 cal M2 was originally designed as an anti tank weapon.
I don't think there is any small boat (by which I mean under 50 tons),
even Joe's, which could not be totally disabled or sunk by one in a very
short time (say, two minutes tops).

I'd pick them off at 500 meters with a
338 Win Mag .... never mind a .50 cal Barnett Semi Auto at 2000 meters.


Dream on.

Peter Wiley wrote:
Doubt it. A 30 BMG is remarkably accurate and that design dates back to
(IIRC) 1917.

Yep, right on.

... The 50 BMG is not a lot worse tho I've never had the
pleasure of playing with one.

I have. If assembled & mounted properly the M2 is an inherently very
accurate (approx 1/2 MOA) gun. It's a lot of fun.


.... Long odds if you didn't get a first shot
hit, the MG guy would walk a burst right arcoss the boat. They have
tracer.

Makes it real easy, even if the gun isn't made up or mounted all that
well. We used to shoot at 55 gal drums at about 1,000 yards range. Even
the klutziest cook's assistant could score. An opposing rifleman would
get off exactly one shot, and that only if he was quick.

However I seriously doubt many 3rd world pirates are armed with such
military hardware. AK-47s I could see, M2 50s, nyet.

There are a couple of kits that used to be available to turn most SLRs
into a sort of twin mount Gatling gun. Spade handles, small crankshaft
to pump the triggers, mags upwards for quick changing. That might be
handy but you'd have to pick something you can get tracer rounds for.
And of course, not get caught with it because in the Land of the Free &
Home of the Brave, one is not allowed to own such things.



Us Aussies and you Canucks don't have to worry about such stuff, tho.
All we need to do is fly a NZ flag and pirates will know we have
nothing worth stealing. Demeaning, but if you can fake the accent
you're home.


Hmm, that's worth a try.

DSK