Stickman just saw this at the NDIA Joint Armaments Conference, happening in Seattle now. From the outside, General Dynamics' new lightweight medium machine gun looks similar to an M240/FN MAG, but the internals are based the .50 cal XM806. The machine gun is chambered in .338 Norma Magnum. This cartridge fills a ballistic gap in the US arsenal, providing heavy, long-range firepower similar to an M2 in a package that looks and feels like an M240 with a cartridge that is far more effective than 7.62mm and lighter than the .50 BMG. The .338NM was chosen over the longer .338 Lapua Magnum because the shape of the brass and the shorter overall length of the loaded round works better in the belted ammunition role.
Based on the specs, the .338 LWMMG's 1700 meter effective range gives it about 1/3 more range than the M240s 1100 meters. It's only giving up 5-10% in effective range to the M2. This turns an overwatch position into a massively effective support by fire position. While the LWMMG is little heavier than the 22.5lb M240L, it's lighter than the 28lb M240B, and much lighter than the 80lb+ M2 .
Specs:
- .338 Norma Magnum
- 24 Pounds
- 49 inches
- 500 rounds per minute
- .338 Norma Magnum
- 300gr Sierra HPBT, FMJ, AP
- Muzzle Velocity 2650 FPS
- 24 inch barrel
- 1700 meters effective range
- 5642 meters maximum range
- uses M192 tripod
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