Corps Seeks Replacement for M249 SAW

[M1126 Stryker]

Too much bashing due to the fact that Future Weapons did a show on it.

I believe this is the winner of the USMC IAR program looking for a weapon to replace the M249 on a limited basis. The Marines want a lighter weapon hence the use of magazines instead of belt feeding. The M249 will still be around but it is likely only certain squads in a platoon will have them.

LWRC IAR



The 100 round Beta C magazine (do they finally work?) is probably going to be used but there are some alternatives.

Are the Marines going to end up using it? Probably.

[TexLax]

Originally Posted by Maxfragg

well if i did not miss something 0.8 should be the last release bevor 1.0 since then the brits will be complete, which will mark version 1.0
so it would not come ever

this mod isn't only about the brits you know, and there will still be releases after 1.0 (most likely)

[Expendable Grunt]

Hey, it still mounts a bayonet. I like

[Teek]

The LWRC SABR is a more interesting idea IMHO. It is a AR-10 with a CQB 10"-12" barrel with red dot (perhaps), but when the sniper gets to the location, he can swap out the upper reciver with a 20" barrel with pre-zeroed scope. not much use though, but inovative.

[[R-DEV]Masaq]

This thread wins the "Most Warns for "Unhelpful/Useless Posts" In Any One Thread" Award 2008, and we're not even a month into the year yet.

Grief guys, it's pretty easy to remember:

1) Don't post one-word replies
2) Don't post three-word replies that agree with the guy above

And as the nice DEV said - ease up on the new guy, how's he to know that you lot start foaming at the mouth when That TV Show is mentioned?

Seriously, you lot still all hungover from NYE or did someone piss in your collective cornflakes this week?

[[R-MOD]Bob_Marley]

I can see the reasoning behind it, and if it is only intended to be used on a limited basis it should be fairly effective in its intended role. Its no where near a true LMG/SAW in the squad support role, but equally its easier to swing about and whatnot.

It does carry over the advantages of the M4 reguarding low felt recoil, which is useful in a weapon designed primarily for full automatic fire. But, also, it carries over the problems of chamber fouling and the short barrel combined with the M855 round.

It should also be noted that LSW type weapons have, historically, been abandoned (offically or otherwise) by troops in the field in favor of belt fed LMGs/MMGs (for example during the Kosovo intervention certain British units nabbed as many GPMGs as they could lay their hands on rather than make use of the L86Source). So I wouldn't be surprised to see this be in use for all for 5 minutes, followed by all the users complaining about magazine capacity and whatnot before dumping the lot and grabbing as many M249s and M240s as they can lay their hands on.

[Expendable Grunt]

Do there exist those dual drum mags with the magazine adapter in M855 form?

[[R-MOD]Bob_Marley]

Originally Posted by Expendable Grunt

Do there exist those dual drum mags with the magazine adapter in M855 form?

Yes, there are 100 round drum mags that are compatible with the M16 type magazine well, but they have feed problems and heavily stress the magazine catch due to the excessive weight in comparison to a 30 round magazine (Source) and also drop what was stated to be one of the weapons advantages, that it doesn't look too different from a standard issue M4 or M16. Slap a dirty great drum mag on there and you mark out the soldier as an automatic rifleman, not as obvious as an M249 perhaps, but its a big enough difference to be rapidly picked up on.

[Expendable Grunt]

Originally Posted by [R-MOD]Bob_Marley

Yes, there are 100 round drum mags that are compatible with the M16 type magazine well, but they have feed problems and heavily stress the magazine catch due to the excessive weight in comparison to a 30 round magazine (Source) and also drop what was stated to be one of the weapons advantages, that it doesn't look too different from a standard issue M4 or M16. Slap a dirty great drum mag on there and you mark out the soldier as an automatic rifleman, not as obvious as an M249 perhaps, but its a big enough difference to be rapidly picked up on.

So...no then.

Damn those mags must be hefty.

[[R-DEV]Ninja2dan]

Originally Posted by Expendable Grunt

So...no then.

Damn those mags must be hefty.

I didn't quite understand the question you had about if the C-Mag is available for M855 rounds? Regarding the M855, it is the designation for the current issue 5.56mm round used in the M249 and M16/M4 weapons. It was made to replace the old M193 rounds which were used in the M16A1 (VN). This means that the dual-drum style mags mentioned will accept any 5.56mm ammunition, even blank rounds.

As for the weight, they are pretty bulky. I have seen several weapons need repairs or replaced parts due to that problem. Plus I find them much more annoying to change out while in the prone than the M249's box. I still use a C-mag with my M4 at the range, but only for target practice/plinking. More ammo = less reloading = more time shooting = more fun = less stress = I don't have to go postal in a Wal-mart parking lot tomorrow.