M249 Saw

Squad Automatic Weapon 5.56mm

TM9-1005-201-10

TM9-1005-201-23&P

FM 23-14

M249 SAW, 5.56 mm

Purpose of Equipment: M249 machine gun is designed as a fireteam automatic weapon, to make contact with and destroy enemy.

The M249 machine gun can be used as a Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW) or, as a Light Machine Gun (LMG).

It can be fired from the shoulder, or hand-held position, bipod steadied position, tripod mounted position, or from pedestal ringmount position.

M249 SAW, 5.56 mm

The M249 SAW is: Belt-fed, Gas operated, Air-cooled, and Fires from the open bolt position.

Rifling is: Right hand twist, 1 turn in 7 inches.

Sights: Front………….Semi-fixed hooded post type. Rear……Fully adjustable peep type for elevation & windage

M249 SAW, 5.56 mmRange Maximum…………...3600 meters Maximum effective…1000 meters

Rate of Fire: (new style barrel) Cyclic……………...……850 rd./min. Sustain (3-5 round burst)…50 rd./min Rapid (8-10 round burst…100 rd./min..

Note: Rate of Fire for old style barrel was controlled by gas regulator setting.

M249 SAW, 5.56 mmComponents

Heatshield Assy

Buttstock & Buffer Assy

Cocking Handle Assy

Receiver Assy

Trigger Assy100 or 200 rds Magazinecontainer

M249 SAW, 5.56 mmComponents

Barrel Assy

Front Sight

Cover & Feed Mech. Assy

Rear Sight Assy

Bipod Assy

Hand Guard AssyFeed Tray Assy

Sling Assy (not shown) is also a component to the weapon.

Gas cylinder Assembly:-locks bipod in place & provides passage-way for operating gases.

Cover and feed Mechanism assembly.

Old style

New style

Hand guard assembly

-Provides support for sightand feeds linked belt ammoand holds cartridges in position for stripping.

Bolt assembly:-provides feeding, stripping, chambering, firing, & extraction, using projectile gases for power.

Slide assembly

-houses firing pin & roller assembly

Piston assy:

-holds bolt & slide assy & houses the return spring.

-power from propelling gases to bolt & slide assy moves recoiling parts rearward.

Drive spring:

-provides power to piston assy for moving slide & bolt assy forward.

Return rod & transfer Mech assy (new style)

-absorbs recoil for bolt, slide & piston

-transfer recoil pressure to buffer in buttstock-non-repairable

Operating rod assembly (0ld style):

-assembly is repairable & may be disassembled at organizational maintenance.

Bolt Assembly

Bolt

Pin Guide

Spring

Extractor

Extractor PinNote: Mandatory replacement of all 4 parts,if extractor is taken apart for any reason.

All Bolt Assembly should be replaced with the new style that has the face ofthe bolt modified with a cut-out that aids in extracting the cartridge case.

Cartridge Ejector

EjectorSpring

Left side of Receiver

Note: Tip of ejector must be well defined to ensure proper ejection.Cleaning rods can easily damage ejector tip when they are used toassure weapons are cleared on ranges.

Trigger mechanism assy.-houses the trigger,sear, safety & controls the firing of the machine gun.

Red ring visible Ready to fire

Red ring not visible on safe.

Safety:

Old Style Barrel

New Style Barrel

Carrying Handle -fixed(non-folding)

Gas Regular -is a two-position control to change the cyclic . Rate setting.

Flash Suppressor - minimizes muzzle flash

Compensator - minimizes flash, reduces & lessens muzzle climb.

Gas Regulator - has no effect on cyclic rate.

Carrying Handle - is adjustable.

Buttstock and Buffer Assembly

New style Buttstock

Stock Gun, Shoulder: M5

- Solid molder design containing a hydraulic buffer.

- Collapsible buttstock with buffer, which can change the overall length of the machine gun.

Old style Buttstock - Light weight tubular design with plastic web. Contains no hydraulic buffer.