FN MAG

[reconsweden]

I was wondering somethings after i saw US troops with the FN MAG on the news. What units use the weapons and what role is it used in? Also is it being replaced by the MINIMI or is does it still have it´s place in the US Armed Forces?? Having had a lot of experience with the MAG I must also ask i you use(used?) disintegrating links ´cause we don´t. BTW looks like the entire US military is switching to 5.56 weapon systems.......

[TR]

The FN MAG is being used by the USMC, US Army Rangers and general adoption by the US Army. It's intended to replace the M-60 and bolster the M-249 as many felt that during the Persian Gulf War there were problems with it's penetration capabilities. (Though what the hell were they thinking? Tryng to get a 5.56 round to penetrate brick structures...)

T.R.

[reconsweden]

Replace the M-60??? Why replace a 7,62 weapon with a 7,62 weapon that is already used by all other US military? I realise that the M-249 would be supplemented by a medium MG(kinda saw that one coming) since the 5,56 can´t pentrate shit(perhaps with the AP rounds we manufacture for you:-). We still use the HK G3 in the urban warfare units because the AK5(FNC) is to underpowered for that kind of duty.
Still need to know if you use desintegrating links.

thanks for the reply

To see but not be seen

[This message has been edited by reconsweden (edited 11-01-1999).]

[TR]

Your asking me why the brass thinks the M-60 needed replaced?

:-)

Beats me! I think they wanted something THEY percieved to be BETTER. Now by what standards they used to come to that determination is questionable I suppose. Don't know whats going to happen to exsisting stocks of M-60's but I can tell you their working on AP rounds for the 5.56 NATO.

and yes-as far as I know our distinegrating and compitable with NATO standards (makes sense though).

Hope this helps

T.R.

[LRSC Grunt]

I was a 240 gunner for a while, LOVED IT. A VERY worthy replacement for the legendary 'pig'. Why replace it you ask? Well its not hard.....In my old 'line' unit we had serious problems with the 60s breaking down after shooting 800+ rounds during live fires, due to carbon on the gas piston. We got tired of fucking with them. Why spend money to rebuild or buy a new one when you can have a m240 which can shoot 2400+ round before they break down? Not only that but the 240s cyclic rate of fire is selectable: 600rpm, 800rpm, and 900rpm, as compaired to the 60s 550rpm. The 240s also have a much faster barrel change over the 60 and is a hell of a lot more accurate(the flex plate is the shit). In fact im pretty pissed the brits had this shit for decades while we are just starting to get them issued to us.

BTW, the 249 has nothing to do with the demise of the 60. The 249 is an individual weapon deployed one per fire team. It takes one man operate it. The 60 and 240 are crew served weapons that take 2-3 men to hump the equiptment and operate it and its deployed two per platoon. How can you compare the two????



[This message has been edited by LRSC Grunt (edited 11-02-1999).]

[TR]

So their not going to replace the 60 overall... interesting-I had heard (obviously false rumors) that they were.

Thanks for the info

T.R.

[LRSC Grunt]

the 60 is still used in poge units

[jeff]

recon, your MG doesn't have desinegrating link? I've worked with Czech, Polish and Ukrainians their PKs have to be hand loaded back onto the link. HUGE pain in the ass. Normal gunner carries 200-400rds then NO MAS, reload time. Tough system. I imagine the swedes have some type of mechanical reload system. True? Yes ours are desinegrating link

[reconsweden]

Sigh....
No we don´t use desintegrating links in our FN MAG´s(I´m sure we have them someware). Instead we use flexible 50 round belt that can be linked togheter(usually 100-150 when moving) to form longer belts. The gunner leaves the first and last link free so that he can link belts "on the fly". One thing we sometimes do is that we strap a wooden ammo box(about 1300 rounds) to a backpack frame (after removing the sack) and slinging the belt over the gunners left shoulder trough a homemade "feeder" that makes it run smooth and finally in to the weapon making all rounds availible. This is mostly used by our urban warfare units since they need the firepower most. The short barrel change time can make this quite useful. Whoa, getting way of track here....

Mechanical reload system...
Does mechanised soldiers handloading the belts count????