M249 'Squad Automatic Weapon'

Description

The M249 or ‘SAW’ is the US military’s light belt-fed machinegun. It fires the same 5.56mm rounds as the M4/M-16 family of weapons but can sustain a much higher rate of fire due to the fact it is belt-fed and has a heavy detachable barrel. US Special Operations Forces use variants of the M249 that include the ‘Special Purpose Weapon’ and the MK46.

PRIMAL Assessment

The M249 is a capable weapon system, particularly in its shortened para configuration. However the MK48, a heavy-hitting 7.62mm variant of the M249, is recommended when additional firepower and range are required. The M249 (para) is highly suitable for short range ambushing in close terrain.