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Modern Firearms |
Machine gun - the book
Machine guns introduction
Austria
Schwarzlose M07 M07/12
Steyr-Solothurn MG 30
Steyr AUG /Hbar
Belgium
FN Model D
FN Minimi
FN MAG
FN BRG-15
China, People's Republic
Type 67 GPMG
Type 88 GPMG
Type 95 LMG
Type 77 HMG
Type 85 HMG
W-85 HMG
Type 89 HMG
Type 02 / QJG 02 HMG
Czech Republic
ZB 26
ZB 53 / Vz.37
ZB 60 new
Vz.52, Vz.52/57 upd
UK Vz.59 upd
Denmark
Madsen LMG
Madsen-Saetter
Finland
L/S-26
Valmet KvKK 62
France
Chauchat CSRG M1915
Hotchkiss Portative
Hotchkiss M1914
Hotchkiss M1922 LMG
Hotchkiss M1930 HMG
MAC M1924/29
AAT Mod.52
Germany
MG 08, MG 08/15, MG 08/18
MG 13
MG 34
MG 35/36 Knorr-Bremse
MG 42 and MG 3
HK 21 and 23
HK MG 4
Great Britain
Vickers Mk.I
Hotchkiss Portable Mk.I
Lewis
Vickers-Berthier
Bren
L86A1 SA-80 LSW
Israel
Dror
Negev
Italy
Fiat-Revelli M1914 M1935
Breda M1930
Breda M1937
Japan
Type 03 & Type 92
Type 11
Type 96 & Type 99
Type 62
Mexico
Mendoza
Russia / USSR
Maxim M1910/30
Degtyarov DP DPM RP-46
Degtyarov DS-39
Degtyarov RPD
Kalashnikov RPK
Kalashnikov RPK-74
Gorjunov SG-43 SGM
Kalashnikov PK / PKM
Pecheneg
DShK DShKM 12.7
NSV 12.7 'Utes'
Kord 12.7
KPV 14.5
Singapore
STK Ultimax 100
CIS .50 MG
South Africa
Vector SS-77 / Mini-SS
South Korea
Daewoo K3
Spain
CETME Ameli
Sweden
Knorr-Bremse m/40
Switzerland
W+F Lmg 25
SIG KE-7
Steyr-Solothurn MG 30
SIG MG 50
W+F MG 51
SIG MG 710
USA
Benet-Mercie M1909
Lewis
Browning M1917 M1919
Browning M1918 BAR
Johnson M1941 M1944
M60
M16 LSW / LMG
M134 Minigun
XM214 Microgun
Stoner 63
M249 SAW
M240
Mk.48 mod.0
Browning M2HB .50 cal
XM312 .50 cal
LW50MG
all texts and some pictures
Contact E-Mail
copyright © 1999-2009
by Max R. Popenker
and can not be used without author permission
ICQ:
FN MAG (Belgium) / M240 (USA)
FN MAG in American M240B
configuration of late manufacture (with Picatinny rail on the top of the
receiver and plastic butt)
FN MAG / M240D pintle-mounted machine gun of late manufacture (with Picatinny rail on
the top of the receiver)
FN MAG / M240G, lightened USMC modification, with no heat shield on the barrel
Caliber: 7,62x51mm NATO
Weight: 11 - 13 kg on bipod (depending on version), ~21 kg on tripod
Length: 1260 mm
Barrel length: 545 mm
Feed: belt
Rate of fire: selectable, 650-750 and 950-1000 rounds per minute
The MAG (Mitrailleuse d'Appui General = General Purpose Machinegun), had been developed by the famous Belgian company FN Herstal in the 1950s, as a true universal machine gun, that could be used as a light MG on bipod, as a medium MG on tripod or as a vehicle-mounted and coaxial MG on helicopters, armored cars and tanks. The basic design of the MAG is no more than a time-proven Browning action, taken from the M1918 BAR automatic rifle, turned upside down and adopted for belt feed. The basic design used as much steel stampings and pressings as possible to save the labor and costs, and the final gun had the angular, but very business-like appearance. By no way a beauty, it is extremely reliable and proven design, that seen widespread service, being adopted by several tens of armies around the world, including Belgian, British, Australian, Canadian, USA and many other armies. It was fitted to various vehicles, helicopters, tanks etc. So far it is one of the most popular GPMG's in the world.
Technical description.
The FN MAG is a gas operated, belt fed, air cooled automatic weapon. It uses the
long piston stroke gas system with the gas regulator, located below the barrel.
The bolt is locked using a swinging shoulder that engages the cut in the floor
of the receiver. The air-cooled barrel is quick-detachable, with the carrying
handle attached to it to help handling of the hot barrel. The receiver is made
from steel stampings.
The M240 is fed using the disintegrating steel belts of various lengths. The rate of fire can be selected between "low" (~650 rpm) and "high" (~950 rpm), depending on the tactical situation, and the gun can be fired in full auto only. The charging handle is located on the right side of the receiver.
The simple folding bipod is attached to the gas block, and there's a mounting points on the bottom of the receiver to fit into the various mountings, including infantry tripods. The open sights are fitted by standard, and some of the latest production MAG versions have Picatinny-style scope mounts on the top of the receiver. Standard guns are fitted with the pistol grip and trigger, and the wooden (early models) or plastic (present manufacture) butt, coaxial guns (like M240C) have the trigger replaced by the electric solenoid, and the pintle-mounted versions, like the M240D, have the spade grips instead of the pistol grip and the butt.
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