FN Minimi
«M249 SAW»
Light machine gunBelgium1974In service
5.56×45 mm NATO squad automatic weapon, belt- or magazine-fed, the de facto NATO standard for over four decades.
Light machine gun//Belgium
ID — FN-MINIMI
Designation
FN Minimi
FN Herstal
Caliber
5.56×45 mm NATO
Community
Loading…
Data trust
- Reliability
- Unverified
- Sources
- Sources pending review
Identity
- Designation
- FN Minimi
- Alias
- M249 SAW
- Manufacturer
- FN Herstal
- Country
- Belgium
- Year
- 1974
- Category
- Light machine gun
- Status
- In service
Ballistics
- Caliber
- 5.56×45 mm NATO
- Muzzle velocity
- 915 m/s
- Rate of fire
- ~800 rpm
- Effective range
- 800 m
- Maximum range
- 3600 m
Dimensions
- Barrel length
- 465 mm
- Overall length
- 766 / 1040 mm
- Empty weight
- 7.1 kg
Mechanics
- Operating system
- Gas-operated, long-stroke piston
- Bolt / action
- Rotating bolt
Feed
- System
- Nastro M27 o caricatore STANAG
- Standard capacity
- 200 rounds
Fire modes
SafeAuto
Historical profile
Developed by Ernest Vervier in the 1970s in response to NATO's call for a lightweight 5.56 mm squad weapon.
Adopted by the United States as the M249 SAW in 1984 and later by more than 75 nations worldwide.
Para (short-barrel) and Mk 46/48 (Special Operations) variants have extended its use from conventional units to special forces.
Variants
Minimi StandardMinimi ParaM249 SAWMk 46Mk 48Minimi Mk3
Main users
United States · Belgium · United Kingdom · France · Italia · Australia · Canada
Key components
- ●Stock — Shoulder rest.
- ●Receiver — Weapon body with internal mechanisms.
- ●Grip — Primary grip.
- ●Magazine — Cartridge feed.
- ●Barrel — Guides the projectile.
Community
Loading…
Recent reviews
Related
Similar systems
M249 SAW
19845.56×45 mm NATO
Light machine gunBelgium
FN Evolys
20215.56×45 mm NATO
Light machine gunBelgium
K3
19895.56×45 mm NATO
Light machine gunSouth Korea
Ultimax 100
19825.56×45 mm NATO
Light machine gunSingapore
C9
19855.56×45 mm NATO
Light machine gunCanada
IWI Negev
19975.56×45 mm NATO
Light machine gunIsrael