my vote goes to the mg42. 1200 rpm. simple and reliable. just a slight problem supplying it with ammo, but---
willy

.223  SAW  light, outstanding reliability, belt or mag feed

FN MAG

I like the SAW, I saw the navy seals with it on the discovery channel a few times it looked cool as shit.

The M249 SAW, would be a very good choice, the only problem I had with it was it needed a better box to hold the 200rd. belt.  That little green plastic box is a piece of $hit!  First time you get up and run with it your dragging your ammo through the dirt.  Had a nasty tendancy to double feed with the M16 magazine too.

My vote is cast for the chautchaut, because it has that great see-thru U mag.  

If that were not available, anything made by the Breda conglomeration is excellent.  

General Electric "micro"mini-gun in 5.56mm with back pack ammo feed ala the first predator. :D
All I've heard bad about them is that the delinker is finicky.

[rail]

Would a BAR qualify as an early SAW?

And, I think the MG42 qualifies as a LMG.

by the way, what happened to the stoner?
willy

So are there any manportable, ie personal, mini guns? Thanx

[rail]

Troy, just needling you a bit, but I am changing my vote to the GE sixpack.  I think that Armed Scientist was being consciously extravagant.  

On a more serious note, would you tell me if the key criteria for SAW status is sub-rifle caliber?  Belt Feed?  Swappable barrel?  Open Bolt?  

Are the RPD and the Diemaco LMG version of the C7 barred due to magazine feed?  

I dont know that the best one has been made yet.  SAW's were a difficult proposition to engineer until the general adoption of 5.56 due to the weight of carrying large quantites of .30 cal class ammo.

The BAR was the first SAW. It was short a quick change barrel, but that was really the only problem. The small mag was inevetable due to the size of the .30/06 cartridge, it was more than adaquate untill the end of WWII.

All the GPMG's were too big to really be a SAW, even though they were used as such.

It is interesting to note that the BAR and the M249 are within ounces of one another in weight.

The IMI Negev 5.56 LMG might be the best SAW yet, although it is simply a improved M249.
[url]http://www.isayeret.com/weapons/negev.htm[/url]

They fixed the magazine feed option, in part by moving it from the 45deg angle to the side to a regular vertical arangement. It seems that this made a world of difference in the reliabliity in this mode. And the commandos that use the short barrel ParaNegev actually choose to use the M16 mag for house cleaning.

M-60 hands down.

Have any of you guys have ever been in a firefight and felt overwhelmed and started to lose faith then suddenly hear the M-60s go off all around you and had your spirit pick up like Audy Murphy was fighting by your side?

I have and my vote is undeniably the M-60!!!

Nothing like the concussion and sound of a .308 NATO round going off in full auto :)

Best for it’s time – BAR.
The BAR started the concept.   I think really well of the Belgian D variant w/ the quick-change barrel.

Modern – Minimi (M249)

Honorable mention – BREN gun.

MG42!!!

Bren MK1 - bipod mounted on the gun, not on the barrel.  Barrel changes without asbestos mittens.  Hard hitting caliber.  Enough weight but not too much.  Gravity assisted feed for fewer jams... well, as long as you load it right.  And you'll be the envy of all and sundry while sporting the best finished weapon on the battlefield.

The Minimi and it´s various versions have certainly proved they are excellent weapons in the SAW role, but one other weapon i´d like to point out is the Ultimax 100. The current Mk3 version has a quick change barrel and it feeds from a unique 100 round drum. Because of the operating system where the bolt does not hit the back of the receiver, it has almost no recoil. And loaded with 100 rounds it weighs 6.5Kg.

First in the row(Mk2 version though)
[img]http://wsphotofews.excite.com/010/sS/QJ/5t/nG53096.jpg[/img]

Light Machine Guns/Automatic Rifles. The light machine gun (LMG) classification generally includes.22 to .250 caliber (5.45mm to 6mm) automatic weapons. An LMG typically weighs between 15 and 30 pounds, complete. An LMG is normally manned by a crew of one or two individuals depending on the accessories being used. Neither a tripod nor a spare barrel is normally used with an LMG when it is manned by a single individual. Bullet weights for LMGs normally range from 45 to 72 grains. They are optimally employed against exposed and lightly protected personnel at ranges less than 1,000 meters. In this category,

Medium Machine Guns. This medium machine gun (MMG) classification generally includes.264 to .33 caliber (6.5mm to 8mm) automatic weapons. Typical MMG weights are 25 rounds or more when loaded with 50 rounds of ammunition. Remaining ammunition, ground tripod, spare barrel, and other accessories can add another 25 pounds or more to the overall weight of MMG systems. The MMG is generally employed by a crew of three. A MMG generally uses bullets that weigh between 140 and 220 grains. Optimally, they are employed against personnel and light materials ( e.g., motor vehicles) at ranges of 1500 meters or less.


Heavy Machine Guns. The heavy machine gun (HMG) classification generally includes .50 caliber or larger (12.7mm to 15mm) automatic weapons. The system weight of a heavy machine gun is substantial. In a ready to fire configuration using a ground tripod, an HMG without ammunition can weigh more than 125 pounds. An HMG is normally manned by a crew of four or more personnel (although a crew of three may be sufficient if motor vehicles or draft animals are employed for transportation over distance). The common bullet weight of an HMG is 700 grains or larger. HMGs are primarily employed against field fortifications, vehicles, and aircraft. They are generally effective against these types of targets at ranges of 1,000 meters or greater.

My vote also goes to the M249 (saw). I carried one for several years and never had a problem with the drum coming off (guess I was lucky), however it did seem to jam frequently using USGI magazines.

Kiwi

Interesting. Only one vote for the M-60.

Minimi

I say the German MG3 is the best.

2 votes, the M249 is a POS, but I carried a M60 for two years and turned down a promation when I learned they planed to take my 60 away. I suppose if I had spent as much time with the M249 I could have made it work too, but by that time I was a plt Sgt and just did not have the time.

The biggest problem with the U.S. Army's M249s besides that plastic POS drum, was that the cartridge guides and feeder pawls along with their springs were'nt replaced as they wore out.  Which of course led to failures to feed, and then you kept having to drag the damned bolt back and try again.

You know, I thought of it in passing, but passed it up still for the Negev. The belt feed is highly useful. Love to see a shoot off between the two.