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Key Points: The M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW) has been a cornerstone of US military firepower since its adoption in 1986, providing a reliable base of fire for squads.

-Chambering the 5.56mm NATO round, it boasts an effective range of 800-1,000 meters and supports belt-fed or magazine-fed operation.

-However, issues like dirt collection, jamming, and reduced effectiveness against advanced body armor have led the Army to seek replacements.

-Enter the Sig Sauer M250, chambered in 6.8mm for greater penetration and range, set to replace the M249 in frontline units.

-While the M249’s legacy is secure, its time in service is nearing its end.

The M249 SAW: Iconic Firepower Faces Retirement in the US Military

The M249 light machine gun has been in active service in the US military since the mid-1980s. Since the Army retired the Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) in the early 1960s, the squad needed more firepower than a designated automatic rifleman. 

The Army tried to designate one squad member as an automatic rifleman using a M16A1. This attempt was not viable to produce a “base of fire” with that weapon. The military then used the M60 machine gun. However, a new weapon was needed in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW) development was based on the FN Herstal Minimi light machine gun, adopted by the US military in 1986 and is now in use by more than 30 countries. 

The M249 SAW is an individually carried, gas-operated, magazine or disintegrating metallic link-belt fed, light machine gun with fixed headspace and quick change barrel feature. The M249 can engage point targets out to 800 meters, firing the improved NATO standard 5.56mm cartridge. 

Lance Cpl. Luther Sackett, a rifleman from Rockyford, Co., engages targets during a live-fire and maneuver exercise here Jan. 29. Sackett, and other Marines with Light Armored Reconnaissance Platoon, Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team 2/4, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, conducted live-fire weapons shoots and trained with the French Army Jan. 28-Feb. 5.

The SAW forms the basis of firepower for the standard fire team. The gunner can use 30-round M16 magazines in an emergency or the gunner running out of ammunition or linked ammunition from pre-loaded 200-round plastic magazines. The use of magazines is discouraged, however, as there is a high incidence of malfunctions using those. The gunner’s basic load is 600 rounds of linked ammunition.

M249 LMG Specs:

Caliber 5.56×45 mm NATO.

Weight (with bipod and tools) 16.98 lbs

200 Round Box Filled 6.92 lbs

100 Round Magazine 3.00 lbs

Spare Heat Shield, Spare Barrel.

Assembly and Barrel Bag 7.00 lbs

Length (Complete Gun) 39.96 in

Barrel Assembly (Spare) 20.50 in

Rifling Twist (RH) 1 turn in 7 inches

Rate of Fire 700-1,000 rpm.

Max. Effective Range 800-1000 m (875-1,094 yd).

Stock Fixed

Problems With the M249:

Many soldiers who have carried the M249 into combat report issues with it. Some of those include design flaws, such as many gaps that collect dirt, making the weapon unreliable in dirty environments.

Other issues include issues with feeding rounds smoothly when using standard rifle magazines and a tendency to jam when firing sustained bursts. Some troops have also criticized the difficulty of maintaining proper lubrication in harsh conditions. 

M249 SAW Light Machine Gun

M249 SAW Light Machine Gun.

Combat in the dusty environments of Iraq and Afghanistan contributed to all of these issues, but the most significant development was the improvement of enemy body armor. The military is concerned that the 5.56mm round fired from the M249 isn’t strong enough to penetrate the improvements of body armor, especially the Chinese and Russian types, our potential adversaries in the near future. 

Is The Retirement of the M249 Coming?

With those issues listed above needing to be addressed, the Army set about finding replacements for the M4 Carbine, the M16A4 rifle, and the M249 machine gun. Sig Sauer won the Next Generation Squad Weapons competition; after testing is complete, the Army will field the M7 rifle and M250 machine gun. 

Both weapons will chamber the 6.8mm/.277 caliber round offers better accuracy, range, and penetration power and can defeat advanced body armor. However, these new weapons will only be issued to front-line combat and special operations units. 

Army support and non-combat units will continue to use the M4/M16A4 and the M249. However, it is only a matter of time before those weapons are fully retired, as using legacy weapons creates logistical issues, especially in combat. 

The M249 fulfilled a need for decades and did it well. I carried one at times and found it to be a good weapon.

There were issues, but overall, it was reliable and provided good firepower. But its time has come. I hope to one day get some range time with the M250—the new kid on the block.

About the Author: 

Steve Balestrieri is a 19FortyFive National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing for 19FortyFive, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work was regularly featured in other military publications. This first appeared in Sandboxx.