FN MAG
Overview
M240B
A M240B machine gun in use on a HMMWV.
Source: US Navy (Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Eric Powell) -
© public domain
Argentina - FMAP
Egypt - Maadi
Indonesia - PT Pindad
Sweden - Carl Gustav
United Kingdom - Enfield
United Kingdom - Manroy
Ksp 58 (Swedish production)
Helwan 920 (Egyptian production)
United Kingdom
Description
Introduction
The MAG is a machine gun of Belgian origin. It was developed by Fabrique Nationale in the 1950's. The MAG became the most widely used machine gun ever developed and remains in active use today. The name MAG originally stood for "Mitrailleuse Au Gas" but the meaning was soon changed to "Mitrailleuse d'Appui General", which is French for "general purpose machine gun". For this reason the MAG is also known as the GPMG, especially in Commonwealth use.
Design
The MAG is a gas operated weapon that uses a long stroke gas piston. It is a belt fed weapon that feeds from left to right with the cases being ejected downwards. It has a quick change barrel with the carrying handle being used when replacing the barrel. A wide variety of models was developed ranging from infantry use to aviation applications and coaxial models. Early models used a wooden stock with later models using plastics. The very latest models are fitted with Picatinny rails for mounting various optics. While the MAG has been produced in so many nations various sub models with minor differences exist.
Firepower
The MAG fires the 7.62x51mm NATO round from belts of various types and length. The MAG fires fully automatic only and the 3 position gas selector allows for a rate of fire between 650 and 1.000 rounds per minute. The quick change barrel allows for continuous burst fire. The effective range is 600 meters from a bipod and 1 km when using a tripod. The slant range is even further. The MAG is known as a reliable and rugged design.
Users
The first adopters of the MAG were several European nations. Eventually the MAG became very common in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and all of America. Major users include the USA and the UK, resulting in widespread Commonwealth use. In most modern armies the use of the MAG as an infantry weapon has diminished with the introduction of smaller caliber light machine guns. The MAG remains a very common weapon that is often pintle mounted on a multitude of vehicles and helicopters.
Variants
MAG Infanterie
The MAG Infanterie is the standard infantry version of the MAG. It is also known as the MAG 60.20 or MAG 58. The Belgian manufacturer Fabrique Nationale alone produced over 20 versions of the MAG that mainly differ in various details. Early versions of the MAG had a wooden buttstock, later versions use a plastic buttstock, with the latest versions having Picatinny rails for mounting optics. The UK production versions are the L7A1 and L7A2, with the latter having an improved feed system and ability to mount a belt box. The very uncommon MAG 10.10 is a jungle model that features a shorter barrel and buttstock.
M240
In the United States the MAG is produced as the M240B and M240G, with the M240B having a heat shield around the barrel and the M240G looking similar to the standard late production MAG.
The M240E6 is an effort to reduce the weight of the MAG without reducing its effectiveness. The M240E6 uses a titanium alloy receiver and a shorter barrel.
MAG Aviation
The MAG Aviation is a model of the MAG for aircraft use and is also known as the MAG 60.30. The Aviation models are used in aircraft and gun pods. The Aviation models lack buttstock, carrying handle, bipod and pistol grip. It only comes as a solenoid fired weapon. Sometimes flexible mount MAG models with spade grips are also called Aviation models, but are variants of the MAG Infanterie. Spade grip models include the US M240D for mounting on vehicles and M240H for helicopter mounts.
Details
Related articles
FN MAG Coaxial
The FN MAG Coaxial is a vehicle machine gun derived from the MAG Infanterie. It is used on a wide range of Western vehicles from the 1960's to present day.