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Squad Automatic Weapon, 5.56 mm, M249
File:AF M249.jpgThe M249 SAW
Type	Squad automatic weapon/Light machine gun
Place of origin	Belgium
Service history
Used by	United States Armed Forces
Production history
Manufacturer	Fabrique Nationale de Herstal
Unit cost	US$4,087
Variants	See Variants
Specifications
Mass	7.5 kg (17 lb) empty, 10 kg (22 lb) loaded
Length	1,041 mm (41 in)
Barrel length	521 mm (21 in)
Cartridge	5.56x45mm NATO
Action	Gas-operated, open bolt
Rate of fire	750–1000 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity	915 m/s (3,002 ft/s)
Effective firing range	1,000 m (1,094 yd)
Feed system	M27 linked belt, STANAG magazine

The M249 squad automatic weapon (SAW), formally Squad Automatic Weapon, 5.56 mm, M249 is an American version of the Belgian FN Minimi. The M249 is manufactured in the United States and is used by all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. The gun was introduced in 1984 and judged the most effective weapon to address the lack of automatic firepower in small units. It was the only one of a number of candidate designs to successfully pass tests set by the U.S. government. Tactically, it is employed at squad level and is operated by a designated automatic rifleman. The gun provides the heavy volume of fire of a machine gun with accuracy approaching that of a rifle.

The M249 is gas-operated and air-cooled. It has a quick-change barrel so an overheated or jammed barrel may be rapidly replaced by the gunner. A folding bipod is attached near the front of the gun, though a heavy fixed tripod is also issued. It can fire both linked ammunition and ammunition kept in magazines.

M249 SAWs have been issued during every major United States conflict since the 1991 Gulf War. Soldiers generally approve of the weapon's performance, though there have been many reports of clogging with dirt and sand. Due to the weight and age of the weapon, the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) is considering designs for an infantry automatic rifle (IAR) which is planned to complement and partially replace the M249 in their service.

Development

In 1965, the U.S. Army's primary machine guns were the M2 Browning and M60. The M2 was a large calibre heavy machine gun usually mounted on vehicles or in prepared emplacements. The M60 was a more mobile medium machine gun intended to be carried with the troops to provide heavy automatic fire. Both were very heavy weapons and usually required a crew of at least two men to operate efficiently, meaning they were best employed by platoon or larger sized units. The Browning automatic rifle, which had been the army's main individual machine gun since its introduction in World War I, was phased out in the 1950s, as the M14 was scheduled to replace it. Until the introduction of the M249, "designated riflemen" in every squad had been ordered to use their weapons on the fully automatic setting. Because army doctrine usually required troops to use a rifle's semi-automatic mode on most occasions to increase accuracy and conserve ammunition, the M14 and M16 rifles used by the U.S. Army had not been designed with sustained automatic fire in mind and overheated or jammed regularly. The 30-round magazines of these weapons also limited their sustained automatic effectiveness when compared with belt-fed weapons.

The Army decided that an individual machine gun, lighter than the M60 but with more firepower than the M16, would be advantageous; troops no longer would have to rely on rifles for automatic fire. Through the 1960s, the introduction of a machine gun into the infantry squad was examined in various studies. While there was a brief flirtation with the concept of a flechette, or dart, firing Universal Machine Gun during one study, most light machine gun experiments concentrated on the Stoner 63 light machine gun (LMG), a modular weapon which could be easily modified for different pusposes. The Stoner 63 LMG saw combat for a brief period in Vietnam with the USMC, and later on a wider scale with the United States Navy SEALs.

In 1968 the "Army Small Arms Program (ARSAP)" developed plans for a new 5.56mm LMG, though no funds were allocated. Studies of improved 5.56mm ammunition, with better performance characteristics, began. The earliest reference to theoretical studies of alternative calibers did not appear until 1969. In July 1970, the U.S. Army finally approved development of the LMG. At this time, the nomenclature "Squad Automatic Weapon" was introduced. Actual design of alternative cartridges did not begin until July 1971. A month later, Frankford Arsenal decided upon two designs: a 6mm cartridge and a new 5.56mm cartridge with a much larger case. None of these were finalized by the time the Army published the specifications document for the planned SAW in March 1972. The 6mm cartridge design was eventaully approved in May that year. Sometime before the end of Fiscal Year 1972 (ending June 30, 1972), development contracts for the SAW were let to Maremont, who developed a design designated XM233, and Philco Ford, with the XM234 design. Rodman Laboratory at Rock Island Arsenal also began work on its own design, designated the XM235. Designs were required to have a weight of less than 9.07 kg (20 lb) including 200 rounds of ammunition and have a range of at least 800 meters.

When the time came for developmental and operational testing of the SAW candidates, three 5.56mm candidate weapons were included with the 6mm candidates: the M16 HBAR, a heavy barrel variant of the M16, the FN Minimi and the HK 23A1. The initial round of tests ended in December 1974. In February 1976, the Minimi and Rodman XM235 SAW were selected for further development. At this time, opinions of the 6mm cartidge were beginning to sour due to the logistical implications of providing yet another ammunition type to the infantry. By June, it was requested that the SAW specifications document be revised to emphasize standard 5.56mm ammunition. In October, the requested revisions were approved, and bids were solicited for the conversion of the Rodman XM235 to 5.56mm. Production of the converted XM235 was awarded to Ford Aerospace, and its designation was changed to XM248. A new M16 HBAR variant, the XM106, was developed in 1978, and soon after, HK lobbied to include their HK 21A1 converted to 5.56mm (instead of the standard 7.62mm NATO ammunition it was built for) in future SAW testing. The latter was designated the XM262. At this time, the Minimi received the designation XM249. Testing of the four candidates resumed in April 1979.

In May 1980, the FN XM249 was selected as the best choice for future development on the grounds of performance and cost. The HK XM262 reportedly placed a close second. In September, FN was awarded a "maturity phase" contract for further development of the XM249. Testing of the new XM249E1 variant began in June 1981. The official adoption and standardization took place on February 1, 1982.

The new gun entered U.S. Army service as the M249 squad automatic weapon in 1984 and was adopted by the U.S. Marine Corps a year later. The M249 model is built in the U.S. and is slightly different from the regular Minimi; the butt and hand grips are a different shape, along with some minor internal modifications.

Although found to be reliable and accurate, the new M249 was considered to present unacceptable hazards in the form of an exposed hot barrel and sharp edges. In addition, there were complaints that the front sight required special adjustment tools. On August 23, 1985, Undersecretary of the U.S. Army James R. Ambrose suspended M249 production pending the development of the Product Improvement Package (PIP). Congress deleted funds for the M249 from the Fiscal Year 1986 defense budget. Adding insult to injury, Congress retroactively set aside Fiscal Year 1985 funds for the M249 program for other purposes, including retirement and pay raises. The 1,100+ M249 already issued were to remain in use, but be retrofitted with the PIP kit when it became available. The remaining 7,000+ M249 were to stay in storage at depots until corrective changes could be made.

Design details

At 1,041 mm (41 in) long and 7.5 kg (17 lb) in weight (10 kg (22 lb) including a 200 round belt and plastic ammo drum), the M249 is a large and relatively heavy weapon. It is fired from the open bolt position and is gas operated—that is, expanding gases from the burning of bullet propellant move a piston which ejects the spent casing and chambers another round. The gun has a rifling twist rate of 1/7. It has no artificial cooling system so the barrel is simply exposed to the air to cool. In case of jams or if there is insufficient time for the barrel to cool, the gun has a quick-change barrel and each gunner is issued with a spare. A folding bipod with adjustable legs is attached near the front of the weapon, though a fixed tripod is also available to gunners. The gun provides accurate fire approaching that of a rifle, yet gives the heavy volume of fire common to a machine gun. Its original gas regulator could be switched between two different gas port sizes, allowing two rates of fire: 750 rounds per minute (r/min) and 1,000 r/min. The higher cyclic speed was achieved through the use of the larger of the two gas port settings. The latter setting was only to used under adverse conditions such as when the gun was excessively dirty or in cold weather. The use of the larger gas port under normal conditions could lead to excessive wear on the weapon. As part of the Product Improvement Program revisions, the gas regulator settings were reduced to only one. The sustained rate of fire, the rate of fire at which the gunner can fire continuously without overheating, is about 85 r/min.

The M249 fires 5.56x45mm NATO cartridges, usually a combination of four M855 regular ball rounds and one M856 tracer round from M27 linked belts or STANAG magazines. These magazines are common to the M16 rifle and M4 carbine, in addition to most 5.56 mm NATO service rifles, allowing the SAW gunner to use riflemen's magazines in the event that he runs out of belted ammunition. However, feed problems often occur as the magazine spring has difficulty feeding rounds quickly enough to match the weapon's high rate of fire. When belts are used, they are usually held in a plastic box attached to the underside of the weapon, though these are known to rattle and fall off during prolonged firing. One man in every 4-man fireteam—the automatic rifleman—is issued with the weapon to provide automatic fire for his unit.

Compared to other similar weapons, the M249 is cumbersome but effective. The RPK, a Soviet light machine gun adaptation of the AKM, weighs just 5 kg (11 lb) unloaded, half the weight of a loaded M249. The RPK has a much lower rate of fire, and it is not possible to change the barrel in the field, making overheating a much larger problem. These drawbacks are somewhat compensated for by its longer range and larger cartridge. The CETME Ameli, a Spanish weapon, also weighs about 5 kg (11 lb) unloaded due to its extensive use of plastic rather than steel in the stock and grips. It fires the same cartridge as the M249, though its rate of fire is much higher. The Ultimax 100, a gun used by the armed forces of Singapore, is considered by many to be superior to the M249, and was considered by the U.S. Marine Corps as a replacement. It fires 5.56x45mm NATO rounds from a 100-round drum and has a mechanism for reducing recoil.

Variants

M249

Early in the M249's fielding, the Army identified the need for a product improvement program (PIP) kit to make the weapon more effective; when fitted, this variant is also known as the M249E2. The PIP kit replaced the original steel tubular stock with a plastic stock based upon the shape of the FN MAG. The change in stocks allowed for the addition of a hydraulic buffer system to reduce recoil. In addition, the dual gas port settings were reduced to only one; variants with the product improvement kit could no longer fire at a higher cyclic speed. A handguard was added above the barrel to prevent burns, and the formerly fixed carrying handle was swapped for a folding unit. Certain parts were beveled or chamfered to prevent cutting soldiers hands and arms. Other changes involved the bipod, pistol grip, flash suppressor, and sights. Over the years, additional modifications have been introduced as part of the Soldier Enhancement Program. These include an improved bipod and rails for the feed cover and forearm for optics and other accessories.

M249 Para

The M249 Para is a compact version of the gun with a shorter barrel and sliding aluminum buttstock, so called because of its intended use with airborne troops. It is much shorter and considerably lighter than the regular M249 at 893 mm (35 in) long 7.1 kg (16 lb) in weight.

M249 Special purpose weapon

A lightweight and shorter version of the M249 designed to meet USSOCOM special forces requirements. The carrying handle, magazine insertion well, and vehicle mounting lug were all removed to reduce weight. As a result, the SPW cannot be mounted in vehicles or use M16 magazines. Picatinny rails were added to the feed cover and forearm for the mounting of optics, lasers, vertical foregrips, and other M4 SOPMOD kit accessories. The SPW also had a detachable bipod. The SPW's lightweight barrel was longer than that of the Para model, giving it a total length of 908 mm (36 in) and a weight of 5.7 kg (13 lb).

Mk 46 Mod 0

A variant of the SPW adopted by USSOCOM. Like the SPW, the carrying handle, magazine insertion well, and vehicle mounting lugs are removed to save weight. However, the Mk 46 retains the standard M249 plastic buttstock instead of the collaspible buttstock used on the SPW. The Picatinny rail forearm also differs slightly from the SPW. The Mk 46 has the option of using the lighter SPW barrel or a thicker, fluted barrel of the same length.

Mk 48 Mod 0

A 7.62x51mm NATO version of the Mk 46, used by USSOCOM when a heavier cartridge is required.

Operational history

When the gun entered service in 1984, initial reactions were mixed. It fulfilled the light machine gun role well when fired from the ground but was not as effective when fired from the shoulder. It was praised for its extreme durability and massive firepower, though a number of areas for improvement were highlighted. Its attachment for firing blank ammunition did not fit properly, the bipod was very weak and broke easily, its sling attachment was awkward and its design incorporated many slots and gaps which tended to accumulate dirt and were hard to clean out. Some stated that the heavy-barrel version of the M16 rifle was a more effective light machine gun. There were complaints about jams when using magazines instead of belt-fed ammunition (many magazine springs could not keep up with the gun's rate of fire) and the need to change the barrel regularly.

While not used heavily before the 1991 Gulf War, the M249 has been used in every major conflict since. American personnel in Somalia in 1993, Bosnia in 1994, Kosovo in 1999, Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraq have been issued with M249s; surplus weapons were even donated to Bolivia, Colombia and Tunisia.

Tactically, SAWs are either carried with a maneuvering unit and fired while handheld or positioned to remain stationary and provide covering fire for other units. The usual load of ammunition caried by gunners is five 200-round belts – 1000 rounds.

Gulf War

929 SAWs were issued to personnel from the US Army and USMC during the 1991 Gulf War, though the M60 machine gun was still more common at squad level. Although exposure to combat was scarce, M249 gunners who were involved in fighting mainly used their weapons to provide cover fire for friendly maneuvering troops from fixed positions, rather than maneuvering with them. There were many complaints about the weapons clogging up with sand after prolonged use in the desert environment.

Afghanistan

The standard squad automatic weapon during the War in Afghanistan was the improved version of the original M249, which served alongside its heavier counterpart, the M240. Almost every eight-man squad deployed had two M249s issued to it. By now most M249s had been given a collapsible buttstock to reduce length, and make it more practical for parachuting and close quarters combat. Special forces soldiers typically favored the shorter 'Para' version of the weapon, which weighed much less. There were reports of M249s being taken by Taliban fighters from dead U.S. special forces troops and reused against U.S. soldiers. Again, there were complaints of weapons clogging up with sand in the desert.

In April 2002, a report was released by Lieutenant Colonel Charlie Dean and Sergeant Sam Newland of the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Center. They found that 54% of SAW gunners had problems maintaining their weapons, and 30% reported the gun rusting easily. Soldiers reported ammunition boxes falling off and rattling. Eighty percent of soldiers surveyed were pleased with the weapon’s accuracy and lethality, and most were confident in their weapon.

Iraq War

The 'E2' and 'Para' versions of the M249 were used in the Iraq War of 2003. By the time of Operation Iraqi Freedom, most M249s had been in service for a long time and were becoming increasingly unreliable. Soldiers were requesting replacements and new features, and there were even reports of soldiers holding their weapons together with duct tape. The lethality of the 5.56 mm was also questioned, with numerous reports of enemy soldiers still firing after having been hit multiple times. As in previous conflicts, the sandy environment caused the M249s and other weapons to clog up and jam if they were not cleaned very regularly.

On 15 May 2003, a report was published by Lieutenant Colonel Jim Smith, U.S. Army. Smith generally spoke positively of the M249, claiming that it "provided the requisite firepower at the squad level as intended". He also praised the 'SPW' variant, noting that its "short barrel and forward pistol grip allowed for very effective use of the SAW in urban terrain". At the National Defense Industrial Association in 2007, Colonel Al Kelly of the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry described the M249 as having "good range, excellent reliability" and an "excellent tracer". He also said that a cloth pouch was preferred over the plastic box for holding linked ammunition, and that "knock down power is poor but is compensated by rate of fire".

Future

Many of the SAWs in U.S. Army and Marine Corps service are more than 10 years old and are becoming increasingly unreliable. A refurbishment program intended to extend the service lives of these SAWs was carried out, though the weapons still are deteriorating from heavy use. In particular, warping of the receiver rails is a nearly ubiquitous defect in heavily used first-generation M249s. This defect is no longer present on the current issue M249, which has reinforced rails and full-length welding rather than spot welding. The Marine Corps is looking for a lighter rifle to supplement and partially replace the M249 and has accepted test submissions for this infantry automatic rifle (IAR) concept. The Marines Corps plans to buy up to 4,100 IARs to complement and partially replace its 10,000 M249s, of which 8,000 will remain in service for when more firepower is required.

The U.S. Army does not plan to introduce the IAR. Colonel Robert Radcliffe of the U.S. Army Infantry Research and Development Center stated that an automatic rifle with a magazine would lower the effectiveness and firepower of a squad. While the Marine Corps has 13-person squads, the Army organizes its soldiers into squads of nine and needs considerably more firepower from the squad machine gunners to make up the difference. The U.S. Army does, however, want to replace aging M249s with new SAWs.

Notes

1. ^ "Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW), M249 Light Machine Gun". Federation of American scientists. 1999. Retrieved 2008-12-07.
2. Willbanks – Machine Guns: An Illustrated History of Their Impact, p 179
3. Willbanks – Machine Guns: An Illustrated History of Their Impact, p 131
4. ^ U.S. Army – FM 7-8: Infantry Rifle Platoon and Squad
5. Jones, 12 December 2005
6. U.S. Army – FM 3-22.9: Rifle Marksmanship
7. Willbanks – Machine Guns: An Illustrated History of Their Impact, p 179
8. ^ Bonds – The Illustrated Directory of Modern American Weapons, p. 451
9. Ezell - Small Arms of the World, 12th Ed., p 91
10. U.S. Army - Report of the M16 Rifle Review Panel — Volume 11, Appendix 10 - The Army Small Arms Program, pp 18, 20, 22
11. ^ Ezell - Small Arms of the World, 12th Ed., p 89
12. U.S. Army - Report of the M16 Rifle Review Panel — Volume 11, Appendix 10 - The Army Small Arms Program, pp 36, 41–42
13. U.S. Army Weapons Command Future Weapons Systems Division - A Methodology for Choosing the Best Caliber for a Light Infantry Machinegun
14. Ezell, Edward C. - Small Arms of the World, 12th Ed., p 91
15. Woodin Laboratory - Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW) Cartridge Development at Frankford Arsenal (1971–1972), The International Cartridge Collector, p 1
16. Ezell, Edward C. - Small Arms of the World, 12th Ed., p 92, 95
17. Woodin Laboratory - Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW) Cartridge Development at Frankford Arsenal (1971–1972), The International Cartridge Collector, pp 5–6
18. ^ Ezell, Edward C. - Small Arms of the World, 12th Ed., p 95
19. U.S. Army Center of Military History - Department of the Army Historical Summary: FY 1972, p 176
20. Ezell, Edward C. - Small Arms of the World, 12th Ed., pp 96–97, 100
21. Ezell, Edward C. - Small Arms of the World, 12th Ed., p 98
22. Ezell, Edward C. - Small Arms of the World, 12th Ed., pp 96, 102
23. ^ U.S. Army Center of Military History - Department of the Army Historical Summary: FY 1980, p 240
24. Ezell, Edward C. - Small Arms of the World, 12th Ed., pp 103–104
25. U.S. Army Center of Military History - Department of the Army Historical Summary: FY 1981, p 253
26. ^ Crawford – Twenty-first Century Small Arms: The World's Great Infantry Weapons, p 17
27. ^ U.S. Army Center of Military History - Department of the Army Historical Summary: FY 1986, p 43
28. Ezell, Edward C. - Small Arms Today, 2nd Ed., p 415
29. ^ LTC Dean, Charlie; SFC Newland, Sam (2002) Lessons Learned in Afghanistan. U.S. Army, slides mirror
30. Crawford – Twenty-first Century Small Arms: The World's Great Infantry Weapons, p 70
31. Crawford – Twenty-first Century Small Arms: The World's Great Infantry Weapons, p 76
32. Chiang – Fighting Fit: The Singapore Armed Forces, p 163
33. Crane, 27 March 2008
34. Miller – The Illustrated Directory of 20th Century Guns, p 413
35. "FNH USA, M249 Series, "A hydraulic buffer greatly reduces recoil, helping the operator keep more rounds on target."". Fabrique Nationale Herstal USA. 2009. Retrieved 2009-15-02. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
36. "PIP M249 machinegun completes acceptance". Jane's international defence review. Feb 01, 1994. Retrieved 2009-02-10. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
37. "MK46 5.56mm Lightweight Machine Gun". Military Analysis Network. Retrieved 2008-12-26.
38. fnmfg.com – MK48 MOD 1
39. Eby, Jeffrey L. – M249 employment concepts, Marine Corps Gazette, pp 23–26
40. "The M249 squad automatic weapon". Small Arms in the Marine Corps. David Savage. Retrieved 2008-12-07.
41. Cargile, Cannon C. – M249 SAW?, Marine Corps Gazette, pp 26–28
42. Grundy, Ray – The M249 light machinegun in the automatic rifle role, Marine Corps Gazette, pp 29–32
43. DIANE – Defense Science Board Task Force on Military Operations in Built-Up Areas (MOBA), p. 20
44. Boutwell et al – Light Weapons and Civil Conflict: Controlling the Tools of Violence, p. 70
45. Ryan Kohles – U. S. Army Board Study Guide p. 49
46. DIANE Publishing – Legacy in the Sand
47. ^ Bruning – The Devil's Sandbox, p. 61
48. "Stiffening infantry support". Jane's international defence review. Jan 01, 1996. Retrieved 2009-02-10. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
49. Andrew Exum – This Man's Army: A Soldier's Story from the Front Lines of the War on Terrorism, p. 170
50. Cordesman – The Iraq War: Strategy, Tactics, and Military Lessons, p. 383
51. LTC Smith, Jim (2003), Operation Iraqi Freedom PEO Soldier Lessons Learned. U.S. Army
52. Kelly, Al, M249 Squad automatic weapon. U.S. Army
53. Marines to test, evaluate 4 auto-rifle models
54. So long, SAW?
55. Cox, 15 September 2008

References

• Bonds, Ray (2002). The Illustrated Directory of Modern American Weapons. Zenith Imprint. ISBN 0760313466. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
• Bruning, John R (2006). The Devil's Sandbox: With the 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry at War in Iraq. Zenith Imprint. ISBN 0760323941.
• Chiang, Mickey (1990). Fighting Fit: The Singapore Armed Forces. Timed Eds. ISBN 9812041761.
• Boutwell, Jeffrey (1999). Light Weapons and Civil Conflict: Controlling the Tools of Violence. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 0847694852. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
• Defense Science Board Task Force on Military Operations in Built-Up Areas (MOBA). DIANE puclishing. ISBN 1428982957.
• Cordesman, Anthony H (2003). The Iraq War: Strategy, Tactics, and Military Lessons. Greenwood publishing group. ISBN 0275982270.
• Crawford, Steve (2003). Twenty-first Century Small Arms: The World's Great Infantry Weapons. Zenith Imprint. ISBN 0760315035.
• Exum, Andrew (2004). This Man's Army: A Soldier's Story from the Front Lines of the War on Terrorism. Gotham. ISBN 1592400639.
• Ezell, Edward C. (1983). Small Arms of the World, 12th Ed. Harrisburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 0880296011.
• Ezell, Edward C. (1988). Small Arms Today, 2nd Ed. Harrisburg, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 0811722805.
• Green, Michael (2004). Weapons of the Modern Marines. Zenith Imprint. ISBN 076031697X. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
• Legacy in the Sand: The U. S. Army Armament, Munitions and Chemical Command in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. DIANE Publishing. 1993. ISBN 0788104756.
• Miller, David (2003). The Illustrated Directory of 20th Century Guns. Zenith Imprint. p. 413. ISBN 0760315604.
• Kohles, Ryan (2006). U. S. Army Board Study Guide. ArmyStudyGuide.com. ISBN 0977675009.
• Willbanks, James H (2004). Machine Guns: An Illustrated History of Their Impact. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 1851094806.
• Woodin Laboratory (January-February, 1980). "Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW) Cartridge Development at Frankford Arsenal (1971–1972)". The International Cartridge Collector (289–290): 1–7. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
• A Methodology for Choosing the Best Caliber for a Light Infantry Machinegun, U.S. Army Weapons Command Future Weapons Systems Division, 1969
• Department of the Army Historical Summary: Fiscal Year 1972. U.S. Army Center of Military History. 1974.
• Department of the Army Historical Summary: Fiscal Year 1980. U.S. Army Center of Military History. 1983.
• Department of the Army Historical Summary: Fiscal Year 1981. U.S. Army Center of Military History. 1988.
• Department of the Army Historical Summary: Fiscal Year 1986. U.S. Army Center of Military History. 1995.
• FM 7-8: Infantry Rifle Platoon and Squad (PDF). Army Field Manual. U.S. Army.
• FM 3-22.9: Rifle Marksmanship. Army Field Manual. U.S. Army.
• Marine Corps Gazette, April 2001. Marine Corps Association ISSN 0025-3170
• Jones, Colonel Charles A. (December 12, 2005). "Phased out in 1960s, M14 was 'very reliable'". The Lore of the Corps. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
• Crane, David (March 27, 2008). "Ultimax 100 MK4: Best Choice for USMC Infantry Automatic Rifle?". Defence Review. Retrieved 2009-01-05.
• Cox, Matthew (September 15, 2008). "So Long, SAW?". Marine Corps Times. Retrieved 2008-12-26.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: year (link)

External links

• Official FNH USA, M249 series page
• U.S. Army M249 Fact File
• FAS Military Analysis Network — M249 SAW
• Modern Firearms — FN Minimi/M249
• Nazarian`s Gun`s Recognition Guide (FILM) FN M249 SAW Presentation (mpeg)

• 5.56 mm firearms
• Cold War firearms of the United States
• Fabrique Nationale de Herstal
• Light machine guns
• Modern firearms of the United States