M240 Machine Gun

Model: M240
The M240 family of medium machine guns is based on the FN MAG. The M240 has been used by the United States armed forces since the mid 1980s. It is used extensively by infantry, as well as ground vehicles, watercraft, and aircraft. It was first adopted by the U.S. Army in 1977, as a coaxial tank gun, and slowly adopted for more applications in the 1980s and 1990s. The M240 and M240E1 were adopted for use on vehicles. This led to further adoption in more uses, especially for the Army and Marine infantry. While possessing many of the same basic characteristics as its predecessor, the durability of the M240 system results in superior reliability when compared to the M60. The M240 actually has a more complex gas system than the M60, but gives better reliability combined with lower maintenance requirements, though this comes at greater manufacturing cost and weight.

Where to find:
The M240 and its variants are used exclusively by the United States military although the FN MAG is used by almost 50 countries around the world. Firing line

Complexity:
The M240 has been widely regarded as superior to its successor, the M60, due to improved reliability. It also has a rapid change barrel which does not require the use of the asbestos mitts that the M60 needed. However during prolonged firing, the barrel can get hot enough induce second degree burns and melt the nylon assistant gunner bag.

Size and weight:
Weight: 12.5 kg (27.6 lb) Length: 1,245 mm (49 in) Barrel length: 627 mm (24.7 in) w/ flash hider

Action:
Gas operated, open bolt

Caliber(s):
7.62x51mm NATO

Magazine:
Disintegrating belt with M13 links

Trigger:
Single action. Some variants have spade grips and "butterfly" triggers pressed down with the thumbs.

Controls:
The safety is a cross-push button above and behind the trigger. Push it to the right for safe and to the left for fire (a red ring on the button is visible when the safety is off). The charging handle is on the right side of the receiver. The feed tray cover on top of the receiver is lifted to expose the feed tray for loading. The barrel-locking latch is located on the left side of the receiver where the barrel joins the receiver.

Loading:
1) Point the gun in a safe direction. Critical step in case the gun accidentally discharges.
2) With your palm up, pull the charging handle back until the bolt clicks into place, push the safety from left to right to put it on and then slide the charging handle back to the front. DO NOT take your hand off the charging handle until the weapon is on safe.
3) Squeeze the feed tray cover latches to the sides of the rear sight and lift the feed tray up. Clear the feed tray of any debris.
4) Place the first round of the belt in the feed tray groove, double link leading, with open side of links face down. Hold the belt about six rounds from the loading end.
6) Close the feed tray cover firmly. If necessary, firmly hit the top of the cover to make sure that it locks into place.

The M240B is carried loaded with the bolt locked to the rear in all tactical situations where noise discipline is critical to the success of the mission. Trained gun crews are the only personnel authorized to load the M240B and only when command directs the crew to do so. During normal training exercises, the M240B is loaded and carried with the bolt in the forward position.

Unloading:
1) Point the gun in a safe direction. Critical step in case the gun accidentally discharges.
2) Take the safety off.
3) With your palm up, pull the cocking handle all the way to the rear, put the safety on while holding the handle, and lock the cocking handle forward.
4) Lift the feed tray cover and remove the ammo belt. Pack the belt back in the box neatly. Inspect the feed tray, lift the feed tray to inspect the chamber, and use two fingers on your left hand to probe the magazine well for brass and ammunition.
5) Close the feed tray cover firmly.
6) Take the safety off.
7) Pull the charging handle back and then press the trigger while easing the cocking handle back to the front.
8) Put the weapon on safe.

Field Stripping:

a. Remove the Buttstock and Buffer Assembly. Depress the back plate latch located on the underside of the butt stock where it joins the receiver. Slide the butt stock upward (straight up) and remove it from the receiver.

b. Remove the Driving Spring Rod Assembly. Push the driving spring rod assembly forward and up to disengage its retaining stud from inside the receiver.

Pull rearward on the drive spring rod assembly, removing it from the receiver driving spring rod assembly

WARNING

To avoid injury, keep face away from rear of receiver. Hold rod assembly securely as it is under tension.

c. Remove the Bolt and Operating Rod Assembly. Pull the cocking handle to the rear to start the rearward movement of the bolt and operating rod assembly inside of the receiver. With the index finger, reach inside the top of the receiver and push rearward on the face of the bolt until the bolt and operating rod assembly are exposed at the rear of the receiver. Grasp the bolt and operating rod and remove them from the rear of the receiver. Return the cocking handle to the forward position

NOTE:

Pulling the trigger maybe necessary to lower the sear and allow the bolt to release.

WARNING

When buttstock is off, do not pull the cocking handle to the rear without first removing the drive spring assembly.

d. Remove the Trigger Housing Assembly. Depress spring pin and remove. You may need to use the back of the back plate of the buttstock to tap on the spring pin, then remove pin with fingers. All pins go from right to left

Rotate the rear of the trigger-housing group assembly down, disengage the holding notch at the front of the assembly from its recess on the bottom of the receiver, and remove the assembly from the receiver.

e. Remove the Cover Assembly. (A) Close cover. Depress spring pin and remove. You may need to use the back of the back plate of the buttstock to tap on the spring pin. (B) Then remove pin with fingers. All pins go from right to left. (C) Depress cover latches, lift upwards and remove cover assembly. (D) Remove feed tray

f. Remove the Barrel Assembly. (A) Make sure that the barrel-carrying handle is to the right side. Depress the barrel-locking latch located on the left side of the receiver where the barrel joins the receiver and hold. (B) Grasp the barrel carrying handle and rotate the carrying handle to the upright position (without pulling up on the barrel release). (C) Then push forward and pull up, separating the barrel from the receiver.

g. Disassemble the Barrel Assembly. (A) Hold the barrel at the point where the gas system attaches to it. (B) Grasp and rotate the gas collar clockwise until it releases from the gas plug. Remove the collar from the gas plug. (C) Slide the gas regulator plug from front to rear, removing it from the gas hole bushing. (D) Remove heat shield. Lift the rear of heat shield assembly off the barrel, then pry one of the front metal tabs out of hole on gas hole bushing, rotate the heat shield towards the other metal tab, and remove heat shield from the barrel. This completes the general disassembly.

Design Quirks:
One of the primary features of this weapon is that any one of its variants can be reconfigured for use as both ground and vehicle mounted. It is also mostly interchangeable with the FN MAG on which it was based, with one exception: The feed belts used by the US military are not compatible with the feed belts used by other NATO countries, which use the German DM1 belt. The M240 has several variants that are currently in use by the US Military:
· M240 standard coaxial machine gun used by US armored vehicles. It is used in the M60 series of tanks (where it replaced the M73/M219 7.62mm machine guns) and the M1 Abrams family. It has an electrically-operated trigger and a reloading lever. Compared to the MAG Model 60-40, the M240 has a different flash hider and gas valve.

M240C with a right-hand feed system. It is used in the M2 and M3 Bradley series of infantry fighting vehicles as a coaxial gun to the main armament.
M240E1 installed since 1987 on LAV-series wheeled armored fighting vehicles, has a spade-type grip with an integral trigger and cocking mechanism.
M240D an upgrade of the M240E1 and is optimized for use in military helicopters in a pintle-mounted configuration. The M240D is also supplied with a kit for dismounted use.
M240H an improved version of the M240D. The M240H features a rail equipped feed cover, an improved flash suppressor, and has been configured so it can be more quickly converted to infantry standard using an Egress Kit. The M240H is 41.2in (1,050 mm) long, has a 23.6in (600 mm) barrel, and has an empty weight of 26.3lb (11.9 kg).
M240G introduced into service with the United States Marine Corps and the 75th Ranger Regiment in the early 1990s in place of the M60E3. This was due to an interservice agreement in which the USMC swapped all M60-series weapons, parts and tools to the US Army and were given M240s built for the M1 Abrams. The USMC then developed modifications, which resulted in the G variant designation. The M240G features a different gas adjustment valve and shorter flash hider than the MAG Model 60-20. The weapon was also modified to accept optical sights through the use of a MIL-STD-1913 receiver-mounted rail. The M240G is used on the M122A1 tripod for stationary use, and is also used in vehicular and aircraft mounts. It weighs 10.99kg (24.2 lb), has an overall length of 1,245mm (49.0 in) and a rate of fire of 650–950rounds/min.
M240B is a modernized and product-improved derivative of the M240G, which features a perforated hand-guard and heat shroud, a MIL-STD-1913 rail integral with the receiver top cover, which enables the use of optical day and night sights, a new synthetic stock and a new ammunition container. It was selected to be the U.S. Army's new medium machine gun on December 1, 1995, replacing the M60 machine gun (it defeated the M60E4 during trials). It weighs 12.5kg (28 lb) and has a length of 1,245mm (49.0 in). The rate of fire is 650–950rounds/min

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