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Why is the M4 called the M4?
The M4 name is essentially a sequential continuation of the designations of military carbines which started with the M1 carbine. Colloquially, M4 has come to mean “shortened AR-15”, with many non-Colt manufactured M4 rifles (Such as the Bushmaster M4) becoming known as “M4-geries”.
What is the nickname of the M249 light machine gun?
The M249 is often referred to as a “Squad Automatic Weapon” (SAW).
How did guns get their names?
Usually it’s the manufacturer that names the model, and then the force wielding it gives it a designation beyond that if it’s bought. For example, the M16 is the military designation for the AR-15, which was named the AR-15 because AR stands for Armalite, the name of the company that produced the gun.
Are the days of the M4 carbine and M249 SAW numbered?
With the Army’s Next Generation Squad Weapon Project, the days of the M4 Carbine and M249 SAW may be numbered. The prototypes from General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems Inc., Textron Systems, and Sig Sauer are vying to replace both 5.56mm weapon systems in infantry and close-combat units.
What kind of gun is a M249?
The M249 is a belt-fed light machine gun. It fires the 5.56x45mm NATO cartridge, usually a combination of one M856 tracer and four M855 ball cartridges fed from M27 linked belts. Belts are typically held in a hard plastic or soft canvas box attached to the underside of the weapon.
When was the M249 squad automatic weapon invented?
An early model of the M249 The new gun entered U.S. Army service as the M249 squad automatic weapon in 1984, and was adopted by the U.S. Marine Corps a year later. The U.S. production model has a different butt from that of the regular Minimi. It is manufactured in the FN factory in Columbia, South Carolina.
Will SIG Sauer’s Next Generation squad weapons replace the M4 carbine?
New Hampshire-based Sig Sauer on Tuesday showed off their Next Generation Squad Weapons down-selected by the U.S. Army to replace the M4 Carbine and M249 light machine gun.