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A weapon mounting system for a vehicle, such as a helicopter. The weapon mounting system illustratively includes a weapon cradle supporting a machine gun for pivoting movement about a generally horizontal elevational axis. A carriage supports the weapon cradle and is supported by a pintle for rotati

A weapon mounting system for a vehicle, such as a helicopter. The weapon mounting system illustratively includes a weapon cradle supporting a machine gun for pivoting movement about a generally horizontal elevational axis. A carriage supports the weapon cradle and is supported by a pintle for rotation about a generally vertical azimuth axis. An ejection collection device is supported by the carriage and collects spent shell casings and links ejected from the machine gun for discharge through the pintle. A trigger assembly illustratively provides for manual operation by a gunner and for remote electrical operation by a pilot.

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1. A weapon mounting system for a helicopter, the weapon mounting system comprising: a landing gear structure;an external mounting structure coupled to the landing gear structure;a tubular support post supported by the external mounting structure and defining a support post passageway;a tubular pint

1. A weapon mounting system for a helicopter, the weapon mounting system comprising: a landing gear structure;an external mounting structure coupled to the landing gear structure;a tubular support post supported by the external mounting structure and defining a support post passageway;a tubular pintle supported by the support post and defining a pintle passageway;a machine gun operably coupled to the pintle; andan ejection collection device configured to direct spent shell casings and links from the machine gun through an ejection path, the ejection path including the pintle passageway and the support post passageway. 2. The weapon mounting system of claim 1, further comprising: a weapon cradle for releasably coupling to the machine gun; anda carriage operably coupled to the weapon cradle and defining an elevational axis, the cradle configured to pivot about the elevational axis;the tubular pintle operably coupled to the carriage and defining an azimuth axis extending perpendicular to the elevational axis, the carriage configured to rotate about the azimuth axis. 3. The weapon mounting system of claim 1, further comprising a base assembly including a base tube supporting a lower end of the support post and defining a base tube passageway and an exit opening, wherein the ejection path for the spent shell casings and links from the machine gun includes the base tube passageway from the support post passageway to the exit opening. 4. The weapon mounting system of claim 3, wherein the base assembly includes a mounting plate coupled to a helicopter, and the exiting opening is configured to discharge the spent shell casings and links from the machine gun below the mounting plate. 5. The weapon mounting system of claim 4, wherein the base assembly further includes a tiedown loop removably coupled to the mounting plate. 6. The weapon mounting system of claim 4, wherein the support post is inclined relative to the pintle, such that the lower exit opening is positioned forward of the pintle. 7. The weapon mounting system of claim 6, wherein the tubular support post is concentrically received within the base tube. 8. The weapon mounting system of claim 3, further comprising: a base coupler securing the support post to the base tube, the base coupler including a plurality of securing devices, each of the securing devices including:an upper housing;a handle pivotably supported by the upper housing;a lower housing having a lower end threadably secured to one of the support post and the base tube;a securing rod supported for axial and rotational movement within the inner housing and having a lower end threadably secured within the other of the base tube and the support post; anda detent mechanism operably coupled to the handle and configured to secure the handle in a desired angular position relative to the upper housing. 9. The weapon mounting system of claim 2, wherein the carriage includes a base including a cylindrical side wall, the pintle having a cylindrical side wall concentrically received within the cylindrical side wall of the cylindrical side wall of the carriage, spaced apart first and second arms supported by the base, first and second pivot pins support the weapon cradle intermediate the first and second arms, an elevational limit stop member supported by at least one of the first and second arms, and a pivot plate supported by at least one of the pivot pins and configured to rotate with the weapon cradle, engagement between the pivot plate and the elevational limit stop member defining first and second elevational limit positions of the weapon cradle to limit pivoting movement of the weapon cradle about the elevational axis. 10. The weapon mounting system of claim 9, further comprising first and second connecting wings connected to the weapon cradle and pivotably coupled to the first and second arms by the pivot pins, a locking pin supported by the carriage and configured to be received within a first recess of at least one of the connecting wings to secure the weapon cradle in a horizontal position about the elevational axis, and the locking pin configured to be received within a second recess of at least one of the connecting wings to secure the weapon cradle in a first depression position about the elevational axis. 11. The weapon mounting system of claim 10, wherein the locking pin is configured to be received within a third recess of at least one of the connecting wings to secure the weapon cradle in a second depression position about the elevational axis. 12. The weapon mounting system of claim 2, further comprising an arcuate azimuth stop member removably coupled to the pintle, and a projection supported for rotation with the carriage about the azimuth axis, engagement between the projection and the azimuth stop member defining first and second azimuth limit positions of the carriage to limit rotating movement about the azimuth axis. 13. The weapon mounting system of claim 12, further comprising first and second locking pins supported for rotation with the carriage, the pintle including first and second circumferentially spaced openings, the locking pins configured to be received within the openings of the pintle to secure the carriage in desired angular positions about the azimuth axis. 14. The weapon mounting system of claim 12, further comprising a bore sight adjustment device including an arcuate band supported by the carriage, and adjustment screws configured to adjust the angular position of the projection and the locking pins relative to the carriage. 15. The weapon mounting system of claim 2, wherein the weapon cradle includes a shock absorber to resist recoil of the machine gun. 16. The weapon mounting system of claim 3, further comprising an ammunition canister removably coupled to the base assembly, a securing device securing the ammunition canister to the mounting plate, including: an upper housing;a handle pivotably supported by the upper housing;a lower housing having a lower end threadably secured to one of the ammunition canister and the mounting plate;a securing rod supported for axial and rotational movement within the inner housing and having a lower end threadably secured within the other of the mounting plate and the ammunition canister; anda detent mechanism operably coupled to the handle and configured to secure the handle in a desired angular position relative to the upper housing. 17. The weapon mounting system of claim 1, wherein the machine gun is a .50 caliber machine gun. 18. The weapon mounting system of claim 1, further comprising a base assembly including a support post passage extending through said base assembly adapted to receive and support a lower end of the support post and defining a support post receiver passageway and an exit opening, wherein the ejection path for the spent shell casings and links from the machine gun includes the support post receiver passageway from the support post passageway to the exit opening; a base coupler securing the support post in the support post passage, the base coupler including a plurality of securing devices, each of the securing devices including:an upper housing;a handle pivotably supported by the upper housing;a lower housing having a lower end threadably secured to one of the support post and the base tube;a securing rod supported for axial and rotational movement within the inner housing and having a lower end threadably secured within the other of the base tube and the support post; anda detent mechanism operably coupled to the handle and configured to secure the handle in a desired angular position relative to the upper housing.