The M249 - End of a 27 year career in the Marine Corps

[the1kidd03]

Marine's are happy to have a new toy, but know they will miss the 200rd capability and not happy with the switch.

Just like any "weapon vs. weapon" debate; there are some niche that one gun will fill that the other will not, and visa versa.

Part of the Corps' reasoning (supposedly) was due to increased accuracy at further distance.

There are larger capacity magazines available for purchase for them, but you don't think they're gonna spend that kind of extra cash on the Marine's gear do you....lol

 

[BigMoose]

Got my video uploaded of the IAR. This was at PTA on Hawaii and we were just doing an ammo dump to get rid of extra rounds we had. As you can see, it is a closed bolt weapon, and the recoil is super smooth, but you can also see how its ability to provide suppressive fire is less than ideal.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWmuKtUc_yw

Forget the IAR. M203 speed feeding with a buddy! EPIC!

And in the distance, I swear I hear the distinctive crack of a 7.62 DMR weapon of some time, probably an M14EBR. There sounded like a 240 in the mix too.

 

[IndyDave1776]

Marine's are happy to have a new toy, but know they will miss the 200rd capability and not happy with the switch.

Just like any "weapon vs. weapon" debate; there are some niche that one gun will fill that the other will not, and visa versa.

Part of the Corps' reasoning (supposedly) was due to increased accuracy at further distance.

There are larger capacity magazines available for purchase for them, but you don't think they're gonna spend that kind of extra cash on the Marine's gear do you....lol

As cheap as the Pentagon is with the Corps, I am surprised they don't have a piece of bar stock that is passed from one Marine to the next to use as a form to beat old shovels into magazines.

 

[ctbreitwieser]

Forget the IAR. M203 speed feeding with a buddy! EPIC!

And in the distance, I swear I hear the distinctive crack of a 7.62 DMR weapon of some time, probably an M14EBR. There sounded like a 240 in the mix too.

No DMRs but there were snipers behind us shooting over head with Mk11's. And yes, there were 2 240s on the line with us.

As far as the speed feed 203 goes, ya it was pretty cool, but Im not sure about epic. HE or HEDP, now that would have been epic.

 

[hondatech2k2]

I have to say, nothing beats a 200rd belt dump. The weight could beat you down, the cleaning could be a pain, and the occasional "jam" would make you cuss, BUT it was accurate as hell and fun to shoot!

 

[Never A Victim]

The IAR is just a piston M16 that is fully auto. That's it.

It is replacing a weapon that could lay down long segments of fire, the IAR cannot. This is a step backwards. Period.

 

[rnmcguire]

Got my video uploaded of the IAR. This was at PTA on Hawaii and we were just doing an ammo dump to get rid of extra rounds we had. As you can see, it is a closed bolt weapon, and the recoil is super smooth, but you can also see how its ability to provide suppressive fire is less than ideal.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWmuKtUc_yw

What where you guys firing at wild pigs and goats? lol, good old PTA. Been there done that....

 

[ctbreitwieser]

What where you guys firing at wild pigs and goats? lol, good old PTA. Been there done that....

Oh ya, PTAs just full of good times! Haha

And we actually did a shoot a goat with an IAR while all the highers were on the range. We cooked it up over a fire and made sausage. It wasn't very good though.

 

[lumpagus1]

I misspoke on an earlier post, the IAR on FutureWeapons did have a open bolt system when on full auto, however, THAT IAR was made by LWRC and not H&K. It appears as though the H&K IAR is exactly like many have said...a piston driven M16. So either they give their support gunner magainzes with higher capacities (SureFire 60's, 100's, Beta Mags?) or they'll be carrying an outrageous number for 30 rounders. What's the point of a support weapon that only fires 30 rounds before it must be replenished with a full mag? Only thing I can say is that rifleman/gunner will undoubtedly become the most proficient at the speed reload in his entire Fire Team, Squad, Battalion, etc.

 

[ctbreitwieser]

I misspoke on an earlier post, the IAR on FutureWeapons did have a open bolt system when on full auto, however, THAT IAR was made by LWRC and not H&K. It appears as though the H&K IAR is exactly like many have said...a piston driven M16. So either they give their support gunner magainzes with higher capacities (SureFire 60's, 100's, Beta Mags?) or they'll be carrying an outrageous number for 30 rounders. What's the point of a support weapon that only fires 30 rounds before it must be replenished with a full mag? Only thing I can say is that rifleman/gunner will undoubtedly become the most proficient at the speed reload in his entire Fire Team, Squad, Battalion, etc.

Our IAR gunners were issued 22 30rd mags. I dont know a single person that carried even half of them. It was just stupid.

 

[BigMoose]

They need to get some drum mags at least. the BETA mags are too large though.

XS makes a great mid sized drum
High Capacity Magazines - XS Products

 

[FortWayneGunfighter]

/

 

[Sand-Dragon]

45 - The Marine Corps is phasing out the M249 SAW light machine gun. It is being replaced by the M27. The M27 is like the BAR. It's a squad automatic rifle instead of a squad machine gun. It has quicker target acquisition, feels the same as the M16A4/M4A1 (more weapons familiarity amongst users), and is lighter than the M249.

This is a very good point. They recently came out with the Mk. 48, a 7.62x51 version of the saw that's lighter than the 5.56NATO version. 5.56 is not a good machine gun round!