Credit
Photo Courtesy of PEO Soldier · Public domain · Resized · Public domain · Source ↗ · Modified
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At a glance
M249 Squad Automatic Weaponlarger figure on 2 of 3
Measured figures
Length
Single source40.75 in (1,035 mm)[source]
Length
Single sourceConfiguration
| Specification | M249 Squad Automatic Weapon | M60 machine gun |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Light machine gun Squad automatic weapon[source] | General-purpose machine gun Medium machine gun[source] |
| Place of origin | Belgium / United States[source] | United States[source] |
| In service | 1984–present[source] | 1960–present[source] |
| Used by | See Users[source] | See Users |
M60 machine gunlarger figure on 1 of 3
Counts only measures both sources give with the same scope. A larger figure is not a better system.
1,105 mm (43.5 in)[source]
Effective; maximum range
Single sourceEffective; point target, 465 mm barrel
Single sourceEffective; point target, 521 mm barrel
Single source700 m (2,300 ft) (point target, 465 mm barrel) 800 m (2,600 ft) (point target, 521 mm barrel) 3,600 m (11,800 ft) (maximum range)[source]
Effective; Effective firing range
Single sourceMaximum; Maximum firing range
Single sourceCaliber
Single source7.62 mm (0.308 in)[source]
Bars compare reported quantities only. A larger figure does not make a system better; configurations and test conditions differ.
| Wars | United States invasion of Panama Gulf War Somali Civil War Bosnian War Kosovo War War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) Iraq War Syrian Civil War Russo-Ukrainian War (2014–present) Yemeni Civil War (2014–present) Saudi-led intervention in Yemen Haitian gang war[source] | Vietnam War Laotian Civil War Dominican Civil War Cambodian Civil War Moro conflict The Troubles Lebanese Civil War Cambodian–Vietnamese War Sino-Vietnamese War Salvadoran Civil War Operation Urgent Fury Operation Just Cause Persian Gulf War Operation Gothic Serpent War in Afghanistan Iraq War Cambodian–Thai border stand-off Colombian armed conflict Insurgency in the Philippines Bougainville conflict Myanmar conflict various others[source] |
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| Designed | 1976[source] | 1952–1957[source] |
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| Manufacturer | FN America[source] | Saco Defense U.S. Ordnance[source] |
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| Unit cost | US$4,087[source] | US$6,000 (M60E3)[source] |
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| Produced | Late 1970s–present[source] | 1957–present[source] |
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| Variants | See Variants[source] | See Variants[source] |
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| Cartridge | 5.56×45mm NATO[source] | 7.62×51mm NATO[source] |
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| Action | Gas-operated long-stroke piston system , open bolt , rotating bolt[source] | Gas-operated , short-stroke gas piston, opened rotating bolt[source] |
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| Feed system | M27 linked disintegrating belt in a 100- or 200-round soft pouch STANAG magazine[source] | Disintegrating belt with M13 Links[source] |
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| Sights | Iron sights or Picatinny rail for various optical sights[source] | Iron sights[source] |
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| Reported operators |
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