On Sale Now — A Civilian Squad Machine Gun (M249 SAW)

War is Boring ^ | December 20, 2015 | Darien Cavanaugh

[C19fan]

For almost 30 years the M-249 Squad Automatic Weapon has been the go-to light machine gun for U.S. Army infantry squads — and Marine Corps squads, too, until recently.

And now you can walk into your local gun shop and purchase a semi-automatic M-249S SAW, a replica of the fully-automatic M-249.

FNH USA, the U.S. subsidiary of Belgian weapons manufacturer FN Herstal, began selling the semi-automatic version of the weapon on the civilian market in November as part of their new Military Collector Series, which also includes replicas of their M-4 carbine and M-16 assault rifle. Fans of black guns are celebrating the release of the “street-legal” version of the SAW, and FNH is proudly marketing it as “civilian-ready.”

[C19fan]

Perhaps buy one now before the anti-gun forces throw a hissy fit.

[Hot Tabasco]

Perhaps buy one now before the anti-gun forces throw a hissy fit.

I'm gonna have to rely on Santa this year......

The M-249S sells for $7,999.

[Red Steel]

How much?

[BipolarBob]

No list price? And why did they opt for the closed rather than open bolt design?

[Red Steel]

The M-249S sells for $7,999.

Oh $7,999.

[RandallFlagg]

I’d heard about this on my gun podcasts.

Belt fed semi-auto?
Better start exercising that trigger finger.

[C19fan]

My guess is this version is only semi-automatic so one does not need the open bolt for cooling.

[CrazyIvan]

Open bolt is illegal because of the ease of conversion.

[smokingfrog]

[Lurker]

That’s awesome.

L

[cowboyway]

And why did they opt for the closed rather than open bolt design?

In 1982 the ATF made a ruling that semi-auto open bolt weapons are "readily convertible to fully automatic fire".

[MeganC]

“The M-249S sells for $7,999.”

A quick check on the net and I found you can buy the real thing outside of the USA brand-new for $1,495.95 - why would anyone pay eight thousand dollars for the nerfed version when you can save $5,500 by just getting the real thing?

[smokingfrog]

The open bolt prevents a “cook off” when the barrel gets hot (no round in the chamber). That’s less likely to happen with a semi auto.

[smokingfrog]

Glad you liked it.

[Lazamataz]

$7,999???!? What’s the bolt made of, platinum???

[Lazamataz]

$7,999???!? What’s the bolt made of, platinum???

[OKSooner]

Thank you.

[Starstruck]

Perhaps buy one now before the anti-gun forces throw a hissy fit.

The anti-gun group doesn't even know the difference between a semi and an automatic. If you were to put together a single shot replica of this "scary" gun, the anti's would throw a hissy fit.

[exnavy]

These days as my eyes fade and my hand shakes a little, give me a short double gun.

[PAR35]

Wonder if it is on the list in states that ban guns by brand and model.