Midway through 2007 there were no current generation metal barrels available for the M2 Cal.50 HB Machine Gun in 1:35 scale yet by the close of the year we have five individual sets from five different manufacturers to choose from so it's timely we have a closer look to see how they compare in terms of quality and accuracy.

This is just a brief comparison summary for the five available barrels and for a more detailed look at each and notes on assembly I refer you to the individual reviews of the five barrels. I should note here that I am comparing the barrels only and the sets with the additional etched parts just give these as a bonus but doesn't alter the barrel comments.

The six barrels compared here are from:

• Set #ANM35024
• Set #B35-072
• Set #LM10026/28 andSet #P35-027/27S (Same barrel marketed under both brands)
• Set #LB3528
• Set #35B13
• Set #VBS0201

All six follow the same design formula of the brass barrel and separate machined brass perforated cooling jacket with three (armorscale, Lionmarc, Voyager) having additional etched parts for the barrel changing handle and receiver details and the barrels have been fitted to a variety of kit M2 Cal.50s to show the assembly is the same for any gun.

As with most Adlers Nest barrel sets this is available in plain brass or anodised finish for a more realistic appearance at a slightly higher price.

The set has just three parts, the barrel with correct size bore hole in the muzzle and the perforated brass cooling jacket which features the correct indentations on the sides of the jacket and a small bracket for fitting the barrel. The side recesses on the jackets are actually indented into jacket on the real item and this is nicely portrayed on the metal part. Also included is an additional part for fitting the barrel but due to the language barrier I may have wrongly described the use of this part in my main review. As the instructions are in Japanese only it's not easy to determine the correct procedure when linguistically challenged when I have more info on this I will update the review accordingly.

The barrel also includes a threaded receiver end if you want to show the gun stripped in a diorama setting which is a nice touch and has the indentations around the securing boss in front of the cooling jacket.

There is no barrel changing handle included with the set and this will have to be found elsewhere if required but there are numerous etched update sets available for the M2 which have these.

An excellent looking barrel with correct details and relatively easy assembly although its use is a little limited without the barrel changing handle.

Barrel parts showing the normal brass and the anodised parts

Close-up of cooling jacket

Close-up of muzzle bore hole and screw thread on receiver end.
Image of real muzzle for comparison (middle)

Assembled barrel

This set has the brass barrel with separate perforated brass cooling jacket as well as two small brass washers that fit either end of the jacket for fitting to the barrel and three brass handles. Also included are five etched parts to add to the receiver as well as the barrel changing handle.

The barrel has the correct sized muzzle bore hole but the cooling jacket is slightly undersized and lacks the two side recesses that are evident on all M2 cooling jackets as well as not having the notches in the securing boss in front of the cooling jacket which makes this the least detailed of all the barrels on offer.

The additional etched parts do add a little to the set with the rear firing handle brackets and brass firing handles.

Assembling the barrel and fitting is straightforward and the additional etched parts add appeal to the set but the lack of details on the cooling jacket and barrel let this set down considerably when compared to the others on offer.

Two brass barrel parts with close up of cooling sleeve


Assembled barrel and received details

These sets have been revised with the two sets, one with and one without the barrel changing handle. The barrel now has the correct size bore hols and the perforated brass cooling jacket features the correct indentations on the sides of the jacket. These are actually indented into jacket on the real item and this is nicely portrayed on the metal part.

Assembly is very straightforward and is made easier with the inclusion of the rear jacket washer to keep the barrel central resulting in easy fitting to the target receiver to get the barrel and cooling jacket aligned correctly.

These revised barrel are a big improvement over the initial Lionmarc/Passion Model sets and makes it one of the three preferred replacement barrels as far as details go.

The three brass barrel parts in both barrel sets (left)
and the additional changing handle parts in set #LM10028 (right)


Image of barrel bore hole and the actual bore hole for comparison

Note the new rear collar to ensure the
barrel pin is located centrally in the jacket

Assembled barrel


The set also has just two parts, the barrel and the perforated brass cooling jacket which featured the correct indentations on the sides of the jacket. These are actually indented into jacket on the real item and this is nicely portrayed on the metal part.

Detail on the barrel is quite good with the notches on the securing boss and correct size muzzle bore hole and the barrel includes raised sections to ensure the cooling jacket sits evenly over the barrel. There is again no barrel changing handle included with the set and this will have to be found elsewhere if required but there are numerous etched update sets available for the M2 which have these.

Assembly is very straightforward made easier by the raised washers on the barrel to keep the jacket central and fitting to any gun is quick and easy.

An nice looking barrel with correct details and easy assembly although its use is a little limited without the barrel changing handle.

Barrel parts with close up of bore hole

Assembled barrel

This set has the brass barrel with separate perforated brass cooling jacket as well as two small brass washers that fit either end of the jacket for fitting to the barrel and three brass handles. Also included are seven etched parts to add to the receiver as well as the barrel changing handle.

The barrel has a oversized muzzle bore hole and the cooling jacket is slightly undersized and lacks the two side recesses that are evident on all M2 cooling jackets as well as not having the notches in the securing boss in front of the cooling jacket which makes this along with the armorscale barrel the least detailed of all the barrels on offer.

The additional etched parts do add a little to the set with the rear firing handle brackets and brass firing handles.

Assembling the barrel and fitting is straightforward and the additional etched parts add appeal to the set but the lack of details on the cooling jacket and barrel let this set down considerably when compared to the others on offer.

Two brass barrel parts with close up of cooling sleeve


Assembled barrel and received details

Image showing the etched and brass firing and cocking handles
and comparison with the armorscale parts (left)


This set again has just two brass parts, the brass barrel with separate perforated brass cooling jacket as well as well as eight etched parts to add to the receiver and for the barrel changing handle.

The barrel has the correct sized muzzle bore hole but the cooling jacket is oversized and while it has the two side recesses that are evident on all M2 cooling jackets they are not indented into the jacket as they should but this is only a minor point and may not be evident when looking at the jacket.

Assembly is fairly straightforward but made a little trickier as there is no washer at the back of the jacket to keep the barrel central and is loose meaning you have to be careful when fitting to the target receiver to line up the barrel and cooling jacket correctly. Also the fit at the front of the cooling jacket to the barrel is a little loose and additional care is needed to fit the jacket centrally over the barrel.

The additional etched parts add nice details to the set with the rear firing handle brackets and and top rear and foresights with the AA ring sight included for a nice bonus.

Overall this is a nice looking barrel and while the minor detail and fit issues may be of concern the additional etched part add additional value to the set.

2 Brass barrel parts and etched detail parts

Muzzle bore hole and close up of cooling jacket
Note; rough recess not indented correctly under close examination
and the cooling jacket being oversized


Assembled barrel and etched parts for the receiver


All five barrel sets add a visual appeal to the target gun that only the excellent Tasca M2 Barrels sets in plastic come close to giving and its really only in the finer details that differences become evident.

All but the RB Models barrel have the correct size bore hole and the armorscale and RB Models barrels lacks the side recesses in the cooling jacket or the notches in the securing boss making them the least detailed of the barrels.

The armorscale, Lionmarc/Passion Models and Voyager Models sets provide additional etched detail parts with the Voyager Models parts being better detailed than the armorscale other than the brass handles.

Overall I would rate the six barrels as:

• 1. Set #ANM35024
• 1. Set #LM10026/28 andSet #P35-027/27S
  (Same barrel marketed under both brands)
• 1. Set #LB3528
  These three are very close in details and hard to separate on the barrel detail alone with the barrel changing handle in the Lionmarc set being a nice bonus.
• 4. Set #VBS020
  Has some detail and size issues but is a nice looking barrel with the additional etched parts adding further appeal.
• 5. Set #B35-072
  While this has the additional brass and etched parts it is lacking in details such as the cooling jacket side recesses and the notches in the securing boss and is really only an option if you can't get any of the other barrels on offer.
• 6. Set #35B13
  This barrel like the armorscale barrel has the additional brass and etched parts but lacks the cooling jacket side recesses and the notches in the securing boss and is further let down by the oversized bore hole which is very off putting for those familiar with the M2 Cal.50.

Note; minor differences in barrel length are all under 1mm
and not really an issue and are magnified in the image