10 - 1 Chapter 10 MACHINE GUN EMPLOYMENT Machine guns are a Ranger platoon’s most effective weapons against a dismounted enemy force. Machine guns allow the Ranger unit to engage enemy forces from a greater range and with greater accuracy than individual weapons. A leader’s ability to properly employ available machine guns and achieve fire superiority is often the deciding factor on the battlefield. 10-1. SPECIFICATIONS. Table 10-1 shows references and specifications for various machine guns. Table 10-1. SPECIFICATIONS WEAPON M249 M240B M2 MK 19 Field Manual 3-22.68 3-22.68 3-22.65 3-22.27 TM 9-1005-201-10 9-1005-313-10 9-1005-213-10 9-1010-230-10 Description 5.56-mm gas-operated automatic 7.62-mm gas-operated medium .50-caliber recoil- operated heavy 40-mm air- cooled, blowback- operated automatic GL Weight 16.41 lbs (gun w/barrel) 16 lbs (tripod) 27.6 lbs (gun w/ barrel) 20 lbs (tripod) 128 lbs (gun w/ barrel and tripod) 140.6 lbs (gun w/ barrel and tripod) Length 104 cm 110.5 cm 156 cm 109.5 cm Maximum Range 3,600 m 3,725 m 6,764 m 2,212 m Maximum Effective Range Bipod/ point: 600 m Bipod/ area: 800 m Tripod/ area: 1,000 m Grazing: 600 m Bipod/point: 600m Tripod/point: 800m Bipod/area: 800m Tripod/area:1,100m Suppression: 1,800 m Grazing: 600 m Point: 1,500 m (single shot) Area: 1,830 m Grazing: 700 m Point: 1,500 m Area: 2,212 m Tracer Burnout 900 m 900 m 1,800 m - Sustained Rate of Fire Rounds/ burst Interval Barrel change 50 RPM 6 to 9 rounds 4 to 5 sec Every 10 min 100 RPM 6 to 9 rounds 4 to 5 sec Every 10 min 40 RPM 6 to 9 rounds 10 to 15 sec End of day or if damaged 40 RPM Rapid Rate of Fire Rounds/ burst Interval Minutes to barrel change 100 RPM 6 - 9 rounds 2 - 3 sec 2 minutes 200 RPM 10 - 13 rounds 2 - 3 sec 2 minutes 40 RPM 6 - 9 rounds 5 - 10 sec Change barrel end of day or if damaged 60 RPM Cyclic Rate of Fire/ Minutes to barrel change 850 RPM, continuous burst/ min 650 - 950 RPM, continuous burst/ min 450 - 550 RPM, continuous burst 325 – 375 RPM, continuous burst