Posted on 01/17/2020 7:47:02 PM PST by dynachrome
SIG SAUER, Inc. is pleased to announce the United States Special Operation Command (USSOCOM), working closely with SIG SAUER, has completed a safety certification of the new SIG SAUER MG 338 Machine Gun, SIG SAUER 338 Norma Mag Ammunition, and Next Generation Suppressors. Following this historic official safety certification, SIG SAUER has completed deliveries of multiple systems, comprised of the MG 338 Machine Guns, 338 Norma Mag Ammunition, and Next Generation Suppressors – all researched, designed, engineered, and manufactured by SIG SAUER in the U.S.A. The SIG MG 338 bridges the gap between the current machine guns currently in use with the U.S. Military. In comparison to the current M240 (7.62x51cal) machine gun, which has been in service with the U.S. Military for 60 years, the SIG MG 338, is noticeably lighter, weighing only 20 pounds, and provides significantly more range and lethality. In comparison to the M2 (.50cal), which has been in service with the U.S. Military for 110 years, the MG 338 is approximately one-quarter the weight, and in a historic first, offers a man-portable solution with similar effective-range. Making this system even more desirable is the new SIG SAUER Next Generation Suppressors which drastically reduces the impact of harmful toxic fumes and signature, making the operator less vulnerab
(Excerpt) Read more at sigsauer.com ...
Awesome. Being a SIG it should be fantastic. What’s it weigh? 45 pounds empty?
A SIG keychain beer bottle opener would weigh 1.8 pounds.
20lbs. empty
Belt feed? I gotta look this up. Bet they got one at the Shot Show. Lot of military guys and cops hit that event. What’s the cycle rate? Interesting to say the least.
Wow, I’d have never imagined that anyone would use a cartridge like this in a machine gun. Sniper rifle, yeah.
Glad to hear they are making them here.
Surplus ammo for a magnum elk cartridge, who would have thought.
600 rounds a minute.
600 rpm, until the barrel glows. I wonder if they are able the field change a barrel? A 338 mag is pretty hot compared to a 308.
Surprised they would go with a new caliber rather than something already in inventory. Who gets the contract to churn out all the new .338 Norma Mag?
This looks awesome. Belt fed .338 mag has to get their attention.
Want
per Wikipedia: “ The LWMMG is equipped with a quick-change barrel”
M 240 has been in service since 1977. That’s not 60 years. Anyone remember the M60? It was in service from ‘57 to ‘77.
My bad...they specified the 7.62x51 cartridge. Wonder what this might mean for the surplus ammo market.
Not slow/not fast. Best of all not half-ast. I’m guessing select fire and able to handle the weather. Wonder what a full weapon and ammo load weighs. Got be a two man serviced weapon. 338 is bad to the bone. Ammo would be hard on elk if a shoulder or hip is hit. Very interesting machine.
It’s modular to replace .50 with.338 and .308 in one weapon. Watching the video,it’s got a serious recoil buffer.
Shoot, I remember giving up my M60 for a SAW years ago, and that felt so modern then....
That actually makes sense...a rare enough occurance in munitions procurement. My main concern was the weight of the ammo, taxing troops accustomed to 7.62x 51. They can keep it, but the .50 BMG boys get a break.
Nothing, I expect. I think this is just SOCOM, not the entire Army and Marines.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.