Lewis machine gun .303

01. Original name Lewis Gun  
02. Other official names Model 1915; M1917 in .30-06; M1918 Lewis ( aircraft version); M1918s  
03. Popular names Lewis automatic machine gun; Lewis automatic rifle  
04. Chamberings .303 British; .30-06; 7.92x57mm Mauser; 7.62x54mmR  
05. Designed by Colonel Isaac Newton Lewis; Samuel McLean; BSA company  
06. Design date 1911  
07. In service date(s) 1915-1942  
08. Adopted by Australia, Belgium, Canada, Czechoslovakia, Finland, France, German empire, Italy, Norway, Poland, Russian empire, United kingdom and British empire (all 8 marks) ,United States, New Zealand  
09. Production quantities Estimated 202,050; 50,000 WW1; 150,050 WW2  
10. Mechanism Gas-operated long stroke gas piston, rotating open bolt; 97 round drum magazine  
11. Weight 13kg (28lbs)  
12. Mountings Bipod mounted; Tripod mounted for anti-aircraft use; Used in aircraft and light vehicles  
13. Practicality in action In field used considered too heavy for light machine gun use and complicated. Introduce mud and dust and there was a variety of malfunctions and stoppages. The ammunition supply mechanism was considered flawed and prone to miss feeding. They were best used in aircraft and boats due to the cleaner environment  
14. Comments / Other information Rates of fire were 5-600 rpm with mark 7 ammunition. Effective range of 880 yards and a maximum range of 3500 yards Rates of fire were sustainable with 47 or 97 round magazines The Lewis gun was produced in .303 British originally but for other markets around the world in .30-06, 7.92x57mm Mauser and 7.62x54mmR. Introduced 1915, chambered for the .303” Service round; 47-round horizontal drum magazine: cyclic rate about 550rpm; weight without magazine 27lb. It has the following unusual features, air-draft barrel radiator, clock-type return spring, and rotation of the magazine by movement of the bolt/piston group.