09-05-2012, 03:23 AM
I recall reading about what an abortion the L86LSW was when I was a kid in the 1980's. I carried the M249E2, and Para-SAW quite a bit myself. I would say that M855 is effective out to 200-300m in the hands of most soldiers. With optics and experience, that can be extended to 500m, but a 62gr pill isn't ideal really past 300m.
The 77gr Mk262 in the hands of a well-trained shooter can be reasonably effective out to 650m from a free-floated gun with decent optics.
The SAW's biggest problem is that it is way too bulky & heavy for what it is, and it isn't reliable, being based on the AK piston, bolt carrier, and bolt in a short sheet steel receiver that beats itself apart like an AK. The SAW can become a liability really quick. They did a PIP (Product-Improved Program) on it, supposedly reenforcing the receiver, along with the external addition of a telestock. The US & UK could put pressure on each other to fix this problem, because FN really dropped the ball when they made the Minimi.
From my viewpoint, a Squad-Level LMG needs to push a 130gr high-SD projectile at a decent velocity, so that it is effective out to 800m on point targets with optics, and really shines from 300-600m. With such a weapon, I would never need an attached GPMG team with a 7.62 belt-fed pig.
The 77gr Mk262 in the hands of a well-trained shooter can be reasonably effective out to 650m from a free-floated gun with decent optics.
The SAW's biggest problem is that it is way too bulky & heavy for what it is, and it isn't reliable, being based on the AK piston, bolt carrier, and bolt in a short sheet steel receiver that beats itself apart like an AK. The SAW can become a liability really quick. They did a PIP (Product-Improved Program) on it, supposedly reenforcing the receiver, along with the external addition of a telestock. The US & UK could put pressure on each other to fix this problem, because FN really dropped the ball when they made the Minimi.
From my viewpoint, a Squad-Level LMG needs to push a 130gr high-SD projectile at a decent velocity, so that it is effective out to 800m on point targets with optics, and really shines from 300-600m. With such a weapon, I would never need an attached GPMG team with a 7.62 belt-fed pig.