M249 SAW (Squad Automatic Weapon) was constructed in the mid of seventies by FN Company from Belgium and was named FN Minimi. This weapon is well liked by many countries, especially by USA. American (but very similar) counterpart is called M249 Sqad Automatic Weapon (SAW). The biggest advantage is cartridge, which this machine gun is using. It's 5,56 NATO, which causes less recoil, better rate of fire and less weight than his predecessors (M60 and M240 [7.62 NATO cartridges]). Another advantage is, that M16 rifle and the Minimi are using the same ammunition, so in the absence of a belt of ammunition Minimi can even supply the standard magazines from M16 (prescribed Marines assault rifle is the M16 and light machine gun - M249). Moreover, the M249 is much more lighter than his predecessors (M60 weighs 10 kilos, M240 - 12,5 kilos), because it weighs only 6.85 kilos (it's really not much for a machine gun).
Bullet : 5,56x45 NATO
Magazine : 100/200 (drum mags)/30 (M16 mags)
Country : USA (M249) / Belgium (Minimi)
Inventor : Belgium Company Fabrique Nationale (FN)
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