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The use of heavy weaponry has come and gone in the American military. However, some appear to endure. One of those weapons that has withstood the test of time is the M240 machine gun.

The M240, which weighs around 30 pounds and fires at a pace of between 650 and 950 rounds per minute, can definitely cause great damage to anyone in its path.

In 1977, the M240 entered service with the US military. Since then, a number of versions have been created. The M240 fires a 7.62 mm x 51 mm NATO round from an open bolt, gas-powered rifle.

Navy aircraft carrier Nimitz M240
Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Alexander Tamarak fires an M240 machine gun during a live-fire training exercise aboard aircraft carrier USS Nimitz in the Pacific Ocean, June 24, 2017. 
US Navy/MCS 2nd Class Elesia K. Patten

It often serves as a crew-served weapon. It is commonly being mounted on boats, trucks, and aircraft, but can also be carried in the field and mounted on a bipod or tripod. The M240 is built by FN America, a subsidiary of FN Herstal.

 

The use of heavy weaponry has come and gone in the American military. However, some appear to endure. One of those weapons that has withstood the test of time is the M240 machine gun.

The M240, which weighs around 30 pounds and fires at a pace of between 650 and 950 rounds per minute, can definitely cause great damage to anyone in its path.

In 1977, the M240 entered service with the US military. Since then, a number of versions have been created. The M240 fires a 7.62 mm x 51 mm NATO round from an open bolt, gas-powered rifle.

There is simply no other way to put it: swapping out a hot barrel in the dark is awful due to the size of the weapon system. Although more recent versions have fixed this problem, it used to be necessary to head space and time the guns after attaching a new barrel, which is a major nuisance. And last, these firearms jam more frequently than I feel comfortable with.

The Gau-17 Minigun is about as badass as it gets, but it has its limitations. For one, it requires electrical power, which creates obvious barriers. Additionally, when it jams, it typically jams hard and cannot be easily cleared. It is a very high-maintenance weapon that is no fun to clean.

In my opinion, the M240 meets all the requirements that you would expect of a high performance, heavy weapon.

Army paratroopers M240B Humvee

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