Hey guys, you may or may not have noticed something buzzing through the internet about the Us Marine Corps switching their Squad Automatic Rifle (SAW) for a newer weapon. I've decided through boredom to create a thread here discussion each other's opinions on the switch.

The M249 SAW was the Marine's choice of a support firearm for squadrons of infantrymen. The firearm is manufactured by Belgian company FN Herstal and has been serving the USMC ever since it was produced in 1976 until present times in Afghanistan. The firearm was considered a "light machine gun" as it was mean't to fire large quantities of ammunition before a reload. It is accurate as it fires the NATO standard

5.56x45 mm casing. It is gas operated and is usually carried in a squad by a Marine who specializes in lmgs. It is a fairly reliable firearm and has been a crucial element to the USMC's arsenal for years. Even though it's history is prestigious, it is time for it's retirement and a fresh change.

The M27 IAR has been drafted ever since December 2010 by Heckler and Koch. The weapon is nearly half the weight of the M249 and allows less ammunition needed due to drastically improved accuracy. This enables a more mobile Marine to keep up with the rest of his squadmates. The Corps plans to purchase over four thousand of these weapon systems, replacing all the M249's in service and a little more to go around. By 2013, the transition from the SAW to the M27 will be complete and will be supplied to every Marine unit across the globe. The weapon is about 8 pounds in weight and has a 16.5 inch barrel and a length of 37.44 inches. The ammunition is the exact caliber from the SAW and it uses a 30-40 round magazine.

My thoughts:

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As a Us Marine Captain with almost 8 years of combat experience, I have lived with the M249 SAW all of my career. Even though I've never used one in direct combat, I know how reliable it can be. The one problem that always bugged me and my men was the amount of ammunition the Support Riflemen had to carry. That problem has seemed to be fixed with the new HK M27 IAR weapon system, which is a relief, trust me. Now with a smaller load of ammo on him, my support gunner can keep up with the rest of my men allowing us to advance forward even faster than before. Do I think the change was necessary? My answer is yes absolutely! Now, I want to hear what you have to say, do you think the change was a good idea?

~Captain Will Mai [3rd Battalion, 8th Marines Infantry Unit of Afghanistan]

My thoughts:

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As a Us Marine Captain with almost 8 years of combat experience, I have lived with the M249 SAW all of my career. Even though I've never used one in direct combat, I know how reliable it can be. The one problem that always bugged me and my men was the amount of ammunition the Support Riflemen had to carry.

I've heard about the change, and I can't say that I agree with the switch. I've heard that it will augment the M249 so that a rifle section will have one M27 and one M249? Correct me if I'm mistaken.

I agree the problem with the Current M249 SAW is that the weight of the weapon and the weight of the ammunition one has to carry, I know I was a C-9 (Canadian M249) gunner for more than two weeks. However when rounds were put down range, I was glad that I knew I had 200 rounds to blow through instead of 30, and a well-trained gunner can make that 200 rounds last quite some time while keeping heads down. Having said that why didn't you guys adopt the paratrooper variant or cut the M249 down like we did?

That problem has seemed to be fixed with the new HK M27 IAR weapon system, which is a relief, trust me. Now with a smaller load of ammo on him, my support gunner can keep up with the rest of my men allowing us to advance forward even faster than before. Do I think the change was necessary? My answer is yes absolutely! Now, I want to hear what you have to say, do you think the change was a good idea?

I'm very skeptical about having a modified assault rifle turned into a squad automatic weapon; with a heavy barrel and 30 round magazine? I mean the British tried it with their L85 LSW and that didn't last too long. Really how much sustained fire can you actually get from the M27 IAW? I've tried inserting 30 round mags into a C-9 and believe me it was annoying having to swap out mags every five to ten seconds.

I've heard that it will augment the M249 so that a rifle section will have one M27 and one M249? Correct me if I'm mistaken.

I haven't heard about that as of this moment because I have just been recently informed about it as well.

I'm very skeptical about having a modified assault rifle turned into a squad automatic weapon; with a heavy barrel and 30 round magazine? I mean the British tried it with their L85 LSW and that didn't last too long. Really how much sustained fire can you actually get from the M27 IAW? I've tried inserting 30 round mags into a C-9 and believe me it was annoying having to swap out mags every five to ten seconds.

From the reports I have been given, the incredibly accurate firearm is meant for mobility not for sustainable fire. There is an option for a 100 round magazine drum if it is requested I believe. That could solve the issue of reloading every 30 seconds.

Edited May 21, 201213 yr by wmai20

Here's the replacement for the javelin!

I'd be shocked if it was a full replacement for the SAW. We need machine guns in the infantry. This seems to be a faster firing M16 clone. Suppressing fire is going to be a lot less effective going from 100-200 rounds down to 30-60 with an extended clip. Everything our military is using seems to be drifting towards that particular shape. You can say the same thing about Russian weapons, though. All of their most frequently used machine guns, sniper rifles and sub machine guns are all based off of the AK-47 body shape.

It's actually based on the HK/M416 (which is itself an improved derivative from the M16), which I think will replace the M16 as an assault rifle.

It's also one of my favorite weapons in Battlefield 3, since it has a 45-round magazine, is much more accurate than the M240B/M249 SAW, and has a faster reload time. But that's just a game, and I'm not a Marine, so I can't tell you what's best for the support gunners.

@unr3al: The ACR doesn't really look like an M16, although it's got a similar shape, since it was based on it and was heavily modified by Masada. Neither does the SCAR BTW.

Edited May 23, 201213 yr by Sgt. Jackson

Don't trust BF3 about accuracy and weapons power. Personally I use M240b in BF3 (it's my best weapon), and its a very bad balanced weapon, in the real life I think it has a range of about 3500 meters, in BF3 you can't kill with it at 50 meters, and if you shoot a guy with a pistol at 3-5 meters, the pistol guy will probably kill you before. I shot an enemy who was at 4 meters of me and I didn't hit him, after spending more than 50 bullets and shoting crouched. By other hand pistols are probably the best weapons of the game, the best, try crossing the enemy line with a pistol in real life, and see how long you stand alive... So, like I've said, don't trust BF3, and less with the last patch...

Backing to topic, I don't think replacing the actuals 200 round magazine machine guns with a 40 round magazine weapon is a good idea, I think the supressing fire would be less efective. Anyway, here you are in the army, not me ;)

I've operated weapons just in games,and frankly speaking,I enjoy LMGs the most.M249 is one of my favorite firearms and I feel sad everytime US Army gets rid of a classic masterpiece.I was swearing upon them when they fired my all-time favorite MH-60 Pavelows.

Anyhow,that M27 doesn't look like a "replacement" for LMG,rather a replacement for M4A1 Colt Carbines.If they had to replace,at least consider something like PKP Pechneg.

The M249 isn't being replaced, but instead augmented with the M27. I personally like it, it is lighter weight, more accurate and more reliable than the M249. I just wish it would be used outside of the USMC and special forces.

Yeah, on Battlelog it says the M27s "entered service alongside the M249 in the Marine Corps in 2011," so that means they're just an addition, not a replacement.

And no, they're not meant to replace the M4A1s. ACRs or SCARs will most likely replace them.

Edited May 23, 201213 yr by Sgt. Jackson

And no, they're not meant to replace the M4A1s. ACRs or SCARs will most likely replace them.

ACRs have been proven to be crap guns, and SCARs were too expensive. The lowest tier they got to was the 3/75th rangers, but it was ruled too expensive to replace all the M4s for only marginal improvements. By now, only the Mk17 is serving, and only in elite units as a Designated Marksman Rifle. The HK416 has been used by Delta and SEALs for several years, but it is unlikely to make its way down to the basic infantry as an assault rifle.

From what I hear from my mates in the United States Marine Corps Administration in Alexandria Va, the plan is to introduce the M27 IAR to the support gunners and gradually (over several years) they will officially retire the M249 SAW from service. That's probably what's going to happen as the Administration has said it themselves.

Any of the USMC's assault rifles should've been replaced with the M27 IAR instead of the M249, which mainly provides suppresive fire. I don't think 40 rounds of suppresive fire would be enough time to execute a job.

Any of the USMC's assault rifles should've been replaced with the M27 IAR instead of the M249, which mainly provides suppresive fire. I don't think 40 rounds of suppresive fire would be enough time to execute a job.

There's an option for 100 round drums for these support gunners.

I heard this is going to be the new verson. Both Army and Marine have been trying to make it. http://www.weaponscache.com/forum/nfa-class-3-title-ii/4753-ares-defense-systems-shrike-lmg-conversion.html

Edited May 23, 201213 yr by Darkangel