PKM- pros-Lighter than the M-240. Slower cyclic rate. Slightly more powerful cartridge. Many have a fluted barrel (more surface area= faster cooling). Kalashnikov reliability. Right hand feed.

Cons-no good way to fire offhand (could be pro or con). Rimmed cartridge, non disintegrating links.

M-240-Pros- Higher cyclic rate ( I think this is a con, but there is debate). Disintegrating link ammo. Ammo carrier is smaller, lighter, more manageable. Rail mounts for optics, etc.

Cons- Heavier, higher cyclic rate, not as reliable. Left hand feed.

Both have the bipod mounted right where it belongs. Neither bipod is adjustable for hieght (con, tie). Both have lots of different ammo available-ball, tracer, AP, blank.

I have a friend who carried a PKM n Iraq as a contractor, we've had some long talks about them.

IMO, a 7.62 PKM that uses disintegrating links may be close to the perfect GPMG. South African SS-77 comes to mind.

My CV in this area-M-60 machinegunner, 101st Abn (AASLT) and 2nd ID (called the best MG'er in the Division by officers from another Bn); weapons instructor, 76th Infantry Division (Tng), Infantry Drilll Sergeant, and all around student of the employment of machineguns.

Flutes-even if the added cooling is negligible, it makes a lighter barrel with the solidity of a heavier barrel.

Cyclic rate- I am of the school that believes that you can have too much of a good thing, and that the cyclic rate of the M-60 (550 rpm)was about perfect.  Unless you have unlimited access to ammo, are pounding waves of Chinese at 25 yards or shooting at aircraft I believe a higher cyclic rate is simply unnecessary. Also, since it eats up ammo at an obscene rate, the poor dudes humping it either have twice as much firepower or half as much weight with a lower rate weapon. Also, faster rates are usually harder to control when the MG is employed from the bipod, as has been the case during most of the the GWOT. So the first shot may be match accurate, but the 25 pound MG will be bouncing around twice as much, making it four times harder to control. Now from a Lafayette mount........but still, do you need to hit a guy seven times with a 7.62 round? Again, I maintain that a higher cyclic rate is appropriate only for specialized scenarios-or tracers at night!

Left hand vs. right hand feed- Couple of points. Carrying the weapon, most folks are right handed, and the belt, fed tray hanger, etc grind your guts. If you have an assistant gunner to feed you, him being on the left blocks your peripheral vision, which is tactically unsound. Most MG's eject downward these days anyway, so hot brass on the AG is no big deal. Also AG's are usually E-1's or -2's, so their opinion doesn't count yet .

And I agree with the sentiment that the M-240 is the best addition to the US small arms arsenal since the M-2 .50. We could have avoided years of trouble with the 60 by adopting a weapon that third world nations have had since the late 1960's - early 1970's. I t appears as thoguh the Army is finally issuing a belt carrier for the weapon, too. The South Africans had a rubberized pouch 30 frigging years ago and our guys are dragging free hanging belts through the mud? C'mon, people.....


Again, IMO, your mileage may vary, not FDIC insured, no warranty real or implied.