What's yall's opinion on the best belt fed, machine gun for infantry use?
The M240 is the current USA MG, along with the SAW, but after humping the 22 lbs ish M60 around during my Army days, I feel for the guys that have to lug a 28 ish pound 240 around. It was a great coax MG for M1 and M2's, which is probably what it was originally designed for, then retro fitted for infantry use, and so the military wouldn't have to buy another MG when they retired the M60. Now there's a lightweight version that's more the M60 weight, so maybe that's the optimal set up.
I loved the M60's I fired, though like most things in the Army, they were kept way too long with way too little maintenance. If you got a 60 that was in good shape, it would run fine with just a little amount of TLC, and correct assembly (there's one part that you can install backwards, been too long to renumber what it was, but that was a poor design). The weight for a MG was tolerable if you were young and strong, and you could use it in a dynamic role - would have been better with a drum to hold rounds in to avoid having to duck tape the cardboard boxes to the side of the feed tray, but you do what you have to to Charlie Mike. I've read some people didn't like the feed strength of the belts and needed more grab there. I'd have loved to have had the lighter weigh A3 version I believe with the front grip, ala Rambo style.
The SAW seems to be a love it or hate it MG. Certainly lightweight and handy enough to use in a full dynamic assault role, and the magazine aspect is a great idea though it often didn't work with crappy USGI mags that barely worked in M16's. But 5.56mm is light for a MG, and doesn't give you the ability to own the battlefield like a full 30 cal MG does, turning cover into mere concealment.
What else is out there? The RPK is similar to the SAW's role, maybe even worse as you can't change the barrel and are limited to using drums. Not familiar with full 30 cal Russian MG's - any good or not?
What about German MG's? They more or less invented that weapon and it's role, and used it very well in both World Wars. What's their current MG for the 328 men that they have as actual soldiers in their military?