"M240" redirects here. For the Israeli Jeep derivative, see AIL Storm. For the Leica M 240 camera, see Leica M (Typ 240). For the Russian mortar, see 240 mm mortar M240.
Machine Gun, 7.62 mm, M240
M240B equipped with a bipod
Type
General-purpose machine gun
Place of origin
Belgium (designed)[1]
United States (manufactured)[1]
Service history
In service
1977–present[2]
Used by
See Users
Wars
Operation Urgent Fury
Operation Just Cause
Gulf War
War in Afghanistan
Iraq War
Syrian Civil War[3]
War in Iraq (2014–2017)
Russo-Ukrainian War
Production history
Designer
Ernest Vervier
Designed
1950s
Manufacturer
FN America[1]
U.S. Ordnance
Barrett Firearms Manufacturing
Unit cost
US$6,600
Produced
1977–present[2]
Variants
See Variants
Specifications
Mass
27.6 lb (12.5 kg) (M240B)
Length
49.7 in (1,260 mm)
Barrel length
24.8 in (630 mm)
Width
4.7 in (120 mm)
Height
10.4 in (260 mm)
Cartridge
7.62×51mm NATO[4]
Action
Gas-operated long-stroke piston, open bolt
Rate of fire
Cyclic:
650–750 rounds/min: Gas setting 1
750–850 rounds/min: Gas setting 2
850–950 rounds/min: Gas setting 3[5]
Muzzle velocity
2,800 ft/s (853 m/s)[1]
Effective firing range
800–1,800 m (875–1,969 yd) depending on mount
Maximum firing range
3,725 m (4,074 yd)[1]
Feed system
Belt-fed using M13 disintegrating links, 50-round ammo pouch, or non-disintegrating DM1 belt
Sights
Iron sights: front blade and folding rear leaf with aperture and notch
The M240 machine gun, officially the Machine Gun, 7.62 mm, M240, is the U.S. military designation for the FN MAG,[6] a family of belt-fed, gas-operated medium machine guns that chamber the 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge.[1]
The M240 has been used by the United States Armed Forces since the late 1970s. It is used extensively by infantry, most often in rifle companies, as well as on ground vehicles, watercraft and aircraft. Though it is heavier than some comparable weapons, it is highly regarded for reliability and its standardization among NATO members is a major advantage.
All variants are fed from disintegrating belts and are capable of firing most types of 7.62 NATO ammunition. M240 variants can be converted to use non-disintegrating belts. There are significant differences in weight and some features among some versions which restrict the interchangeability of parts. The M240s used by the U.S. military are currently manufactured by FN America, the American subsidiary of the Belgian company FN Herstal.[7]
The M240B and M240G are usually fired from integrated bipods, tripods, or vehicular mounts; regarding tripod use, the U.S. Army primarily uses the M192 lightweight ground mount, while the U.S. Marine Corps uses the M122A1 tripod, a slightly updated M2 tripod.
^ abcdef"M240 Family of Medium Machine Guns". FN Manufacturing, LLC. October 12, 2006. Archived from the original on December 23, 2010. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
^ ab"FN Machine Guns: M240 Series". FNH USA. 2011. Archived from the original on April 29, 2009. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
^Smallwood, Michael (19 October 2015). "US M240 GPMG seen with Jabhat al-Nusra fighter in Syria". Armament Research Services. Archived from the original on 2016-05-05. Retrieved 2016-10-17.
^"M240B". FNHUSA.com. Archived from the original on 15 February 2012.
^McNab 2018, p. 26.
^Popenker, Maxim. "FN MAG". Modern Firearms. Archived from the original on January 2, 2017. Retrieved November 21, 2008.
^"Military Machine Guns". FN America. Archived from the original on 6 June 2017. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
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