Aircraft Browning .303 muzzle choke

[derekbu]

Hi All,

continuing my research on the machine guns used aboard the Wirraway aircraft (for a planned book on the Wirraway / Boomerang / Ceres aircraft), I have finally uncovered all the details of wing-mounted gun packs with Browning Type 4 Mk.II* .303 machine guns which were used post-war for air gunnery training.

But there is one question I have not been able to answer yet: According to Ian Skennerton's book "Australian Service Machine Guns" the No. 4 Browning had a "muzzle choke intended for wing installation"... so I'm wondering what exactly is a muzzle choke on one of these guns, and what does it look like?

Regards,
Derek

DB Design Bureau - drawings of Australian aircraft

[woodsy]

Derek, all the photos in my reasonably extensive library of Mk II and II* Brownings all show the conical type flash hider in wing installations. There were two styles of flash hider, both conical but the second type also had a few radial fins at the back. I have a first pattern conical flash hider on my 1939 Mk II. I have .50 M2 wing gun that was fitted with a stainless steel extension sleeve, the purpose being to prevent leading edge damage from the muzzle flash.

[derekbu]

Thanks for that Rod, makes sense to me.

I've heard these conical extras called "flame guard" and "flash eliminator" but not "muzzle choke", so I guess these are the same thing.

In fact when I went back and read the Air Publication for the Browning Mk. II, it states "The small end of the flash eliminator is coned and forms a choke for the front end of the muzzle attachment", so I guess this is indeed the muzzle choke of which I ask!

Regards,
Derek

[derekbu]

Here's where I'm going with my research... creating a detailed 3D model of the gun, which will generate front, rear, top, bottom and side views which will be included in my CAC Wirraway drawings.

Attachments:

[pilot06]

Derek,

Any further details on the 3D model? Looks fantastic so far.

Best,
Patrick