M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW)

Model: M249 Squad Automatic Weapon
The M249 SAW is a light machine gun based on the FN Minimi. It has been used by the United States military since 1984 to provide the firepower of a light machine gun at a squad level.

The M249 is a gas-operated air cooled light machine gun with a quick-change barrel and fixed carrying handle. It fires the same 5.56x45mm NATO rounds as all NATO assault rifles and light machine guns and can accept STANAG magazines in an emergency. The ammo belts are M27 disintegrating linked belts with a usual mix of one tracer round after every four ball rounds. It has a cyclic rate of fire of 800 rounds per minute.

As to be expected, there are several different variations. The M249 Para has a shorter barrel and a sliding aluminum stock for use by paratroopers. The M249 PIP (Product Improvement Kit) has a heavier plastic stock, a hydraulic buffer system for reduced recoil, only one gas port setting (making it impossible to change the rate of fire), a handguard above the barrel to prevent burns, a folding carrying handle, and beveled and chamfered parts to decrease the chance of being cut by a sharp edge. The M249 Special Purpose Weapon (SPW) has no magazine insertion well, carrying handle, or vehicle mounting lug, picatinny rails, a detachable bipod, a lightweight barrel, and a collapsible stock. The MK 46 Mod 0 is similar to the SPW but has the standard fixed buttstock and can either take the lightweight barrel of the SPW or a thicker, fluted barrel of the same length.

Where to find:
The M249 version of the FN Minimi is only in use with the United States, though the Minimi is in use with 26 countries and the South Korean Daewoo K3 is very similar. Being a fully-automatic weapon the SAW falls under the Hughes Amendment (AKA the '86 machine-gun ban) and have artificially inflated prices because very few were registered before the ban. Registered guns can cost in excess of $100,000 and require a $200 dollar transfer tax paid to the BATFE. The transfer often takes up to 9 months and includes a background check.

Complexity:
As a light machine gun, the M249 has several extra parts compared to an M16 that have to be accounted for and taken care of, and the loading procedure is somewhat complicated to an untrained user. There have been reports of the gun clogging with dirt and sand, but soldiers are generally satisfied with its performance. While it can usually take STANAG magazines in an emergency, this risks jamming due to the high rate of fire being too high for the magazine spring to push rounds in.

Size and weight:
Weight 7.5-10 kg (17-22 lbs). Barrel length 521 mm (21 in.). Total length 1041 mm (41 in.)

Action:
Gas-operated, open bolt, fully automatic.

Caliber(s):
5.56x45mm NATO.

Magazine:
M27 disintegrating linked belts in a hard plastic box or soft canvas bag, STANAG magazines (on certain models, including the standard).

Trigger:
Single action

Controls:
The safety is a cross-push button above and behind the trigger. Push it to the right for safe, 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 Firing the SAW

receiver is lifted to expose the feed tray for loading. The magazine insertion well is located below the feeder tray and can take a STANAG magazine.

Loading: How to load the firearm and make ready to fire.
Condition One, or "Locked and Cocked." Chamber loaded, magazine full, hammer cocked and safety applied.
1) Point the gun in a safe direction. Critical step in case the gun accidentally discharges.
2) Pull the charging handle back until the bolt clicks into place, then slide the charging handle back to the front. Push the safety from left to right to put it on.
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) Line up the magazine with the dovetails on the gun and push it until it clicks into place. Pull on it to ensure that it holds.
5) Take about three or four inches of ammo from the belt and place it in the feed tray with the first round against the cartridge stop.
6) Close the feed tray cover firmly. If necessary, firmly hit the top of the cover to make sure that it locks into place.

Condition Two. Chamber loaded, magazine full, hammer down, safety off.
This cannot be done, as there is no external hammer.

Condition Three. Chamber empty, magazine full, hammer down, safety off.
Cannot be done with a belt-fed weapon.

Unloading:
1) Point the gun in a safe direction. Critical step in case the gun accidentally discharges.
2) Take the safety off.
3) 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 cocking handle back, then press the trigger while pushing the cocking handle back to the front.
8) Put the weapon on safe.

Field Stripping:
1) Clear the weapon (described in the unloading procedures).
2) Take the safety off.
3) Pull the two pins that hold the buttstock in place to remove the buttstock assembly. The hand grip and trigger will come off as the bottom buttstock pin holds them in place.
4) Push in on the spring drive assembly to release it from its catch and remove it. Push the bolt and piston assembly out of the back of the weapon and catch it as it comes out.
5) Depress the barrel release latch and pull up on the carrying handle to remove the barrel.
Reverse to assemble.
Design Quirks:
Unique aspects of this gun.

theman838	Latest page update: made by theman838 , Mar 31 2012, 11:27 PM EDT (about this update About This Update corrected language about class3 - theman838 53 words added 15 words deleted view changes - complete history)
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