Which is a better machine gun?
 

240. 249 is a Belgian ak and belongs in the trash can.

You do realize the 240 is Belgian as well don't you?



 

m240

M240B and it isn't even close.

The SAW is a toy in comparison.

They're both made by FN.

Not even a contest...240.

I was a gunner on both.  My answer.... it depends.

Since the OP is retarded, I'll explain.

The 240 and the 249 have different missions.   Each has advantages for certain roles.

The OP's question is like asking, "what's better, an F150 or a Corvette?"  It depends... are you hauling 2x4s or trying to bang middle-aged drunk chicks?

On? Details good sir details!



 

Lighten up sir. No need for name calling.



And the question was which is a better machine gun...............All around design etc which is better?





 

Well, what's better, a roasted turkey or a basketball?

Well, that depends....are we on a boat?

I vote Rum Ham!

Sarcasm.



 

What it is you want to do with it.

Both run all day long if they are properly maintained.

FightingHellfish has summed up what I was getting at.

Mag58

FN Minimi?    

Same and same.

Mk48?

Split the difference.

I am an Airwing guy and know that

We all know that the MG3 is the best machine gun ever made!  

That's basically a 249 in 7.62 right?  They came along after I got out.  Always thought they were probably the best all around choice.. but I have no experience with them.

Yeah...  a lighter 7.62 machine gun.  Almost as good as an M60E3.

The 249 is better because it is lighter.  It doesn't carry itself.

Same here but I loved everything about the M240B more.  Sure it is crew served and you can't run around with it like you can with the SAW but as a MACHINE GUN it does its job much better.

Apples and oranges.



I like the 240 bettar than 249 when someome else humps it

You're not clearing houses with a 240B...you CAN...it's just not suggested.



Different guns, different missions.



And both equally awesome.


 

The two, while both machine guns, fill different roles.

Yep, I agree.  Loved my 240.

But I would hate to have to use one in the SAW role

I'm with the Mk48.

I said Minimi

I've had the (dis)pleasure of using the M249 (standard and para) and M240G.

M249 is definitely a piece of garbage that belongs in trash can.

Loved the 240, ran like a top.

ETA: Odd sidenote, the 249 ran better with blanks than with live ammo, and the 240 ran better with live ammo, and turned into a single shot weapon with blanks. Yes, the BFA was on tight and the gasport adjusted every which way.

I also recently had the opportunity to qualify on the M60 platform on my last job. Sweet weapon, weighed less than a 240, and ran better than a 249.

Okay, role-wise aside, we will talk about the actual weapon. Im an 0331 but carried a 249 when I deployed to trashganistan so I had a good amount of time using one...The 249 is shit compared to the 240.

Mad love for 240B, cant wait to see how our new 240L handle..

The 249 is an often misunderstood creature in the military.    It gets a bad reputation because people do not maintain them and are not familiar enough with open bolt weapons.  There are many NDs with them because IMO people are not given sufficient training and understanding of the weapon.  It is perfectly safe to carry around with the bolt back and the safety on.  Contrary to fobbit lore, one should NEVER half charge the bolt and apply the safety for the sake of walking around the FOB with a weapon on safe (so the bolt is forward, but the safety is on.. this makes no fucking sense).  You can damage it if you do this if you forget what position it is in and need to charge it quick.   There really is nothing safer than an open bolt weapon with the bolt forward and the safety off.   Like the 240, one can visually inspect the sear for wear or damage easily.  There is also only 1 version of the 249, this matters for safety concerns vs. the 240 because there are several.  The only non-stupid related runaway guns I have witnessed were when we tried to convert 240Gs into 240Bs (they tended to run away a lot).

It is also misunderstood to be an only area affect firing weapon: total bullshit.   Even with a shorty barrel the 249 is perfectly capable of hitting targets with zero or minimal walk up at several hundred meters.

The 2 main drawbacks of the weapon are that you really cannot sling it other than on a mono-sling clip on because the ammo on the belt is very easy to dislodge (it will get snagged somewhere on your gear) and it is also a side tosser instead of a bottom dropper for case ejection.   While not really a drawback, but FFS NEVER use the 200 round plastic box that the ammo comes in.  These break very easy and you will end up walking around on patrol with your right hand supporting the weapon and around 180 rounds wrapped around your left arm. USE THE NUTSACKS!!  If you have one mounted on a humvee, still do not use the plastic box that the ammo came in.  Rig up an ammo can to the turret (bungee cords work fine) or if your truck hits a large bump in the road or hits and IED, your plastic box is going to fall off.  There is also not very much clearance between the trigger guard and the bottom of the trigger.  Cut your index finger off on your glove or wear  really form fitting gloves if you must wear gloves.   Loose fitting gloves run a risk of getting material wedged there when firing.

Cleaning and maintaining are also very important and contrary to arfcom logic, you actually do need to coat the  inside of the piston system (if you do not understand this: where the main spring is) with CLP unless you are somewhere that never ever rains.  You also NEED to have the 249 jag tool to clean out your gas system.  The 249 likes to shit where it sleeps in every way possible.  You will get profound amounts of normal fouling, case shavings, bullet shavings, and spiders after firing it.   It however does take a lot of neglect to get one to stop.

This is now a Rhodesian Mag 58 thread btw... You're welcome.

Both are excellent weapons.  The M240 seems to be more Soldier proof though, meaning it takes longer for Joe to fuck it up via neglect and what not.  The M249 for the weight and the amount of ammo you can carry is the cats ass.

Yup! I do love me some 7.62 love though. But I've cleared a room with a 240 a few times and would much prefer a 249.

Carried and used both, as well as the M60.

MAG58 (M240) has the reliability record to beat.

SAW is garbage, but the ones I carred ran well, as I babied them, PMCS'd them, and kept in good standing with new parts.

The SAW weighs twice what it should, and was adopted as a deal-breaker for the licensed manufacture contract for the NATO F-16A/B program between Netherlands, Norway, and Belgium.  Belgium hinged their critical participation on winning the SAW contract for DoD, and the better designs got pushed aside for an inverted AK operating mechanism within a stamped, too short receiver that does what AK's do:  beat themselves apart, especially on AUTO, and since the SAW is a machinegun with only the automatic mode of fire, guess what...

M60 was also a jam-o-matic, but more pleasant to carry than the M240.  Once rounds start going downrange, 240 is nice to be behind, but was never really ideal for humping.

We need a new LMG in a bad way, with a 12lb empty weight maximum, and performance similar to the 7.62 NATO, with lighter ammo that isn't 5.56 NATO.

We need a 6.5 Grendel LMG Ultimax, with belt-feed capability.

The dude is right though, they really are different animals. That said...
Mk48 is the right answer.




But the new 240Ls are pretty sweet. But a lot of people don't realize, a new M249 is a reliable weapon. The problem is ours are all old and out of spec, not to mention we lube them with CLP.

Motor Oil or something thicker and you're good to go. Also the mk46 with the collapsing stock and short barrel is a thing of beauty.

The Pig

240

So have I. The 240 is superior for many applications, but the 249 certainly has its place.   It is very maneuverable for clearing houses especially with the shorty barrel and a collapsible stock.  I was certainly not a gear queer, but set up right the 249 is ideal for clearing.

An open bolt belt fed is never ideal for clearing.

I thought it was pretty good, then again I have never gone into an building with anything else, so my experience is possibly limited (only a few hundred times).  I am also 6'4" so that may explain why I found it a nice fit :P

240 is the way to go Bravo, Golf, whatever.  240.

249s... Ive seen so many problems with these its not even funny.  I went on a range one day and had Ten 249s there. 7 out of the 10 broke their Spring Guide rods that day! like WTF!  
Jams were expected, we shot close to 10,000 rounds the one day.  

240 is very reliable, rarely breaks, the 762 51 round is very effective for all enviroments.

Non sense... 240 room clears work and are bad ass!

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Fudge it, i give up on the damn youtube post! any help out there?