[M1928A1 Thompson]

The M240 is a belt-fed, quick change barrel version of the BAR. FN first updated the design as the MAG-D by adding a quick change barrel to keep up with guns like the ZB 26 and the Bren. Next, they essentially turned the action upside down and put an MG42 belt feed mechanism on it and call it the MAG-58.

Springfield passed on the MAG as unsuitable for US troops while virtually every other non-Warsaw Pact country found them highly effective. The M240 was reintroduced to the US Army in the late 70’s as a replacement for the M73/M219 series coaxial machine gun found on tanks. For those unfamiliar with the M73 it is easily the most abominable excuse for an automatic weapon ever issued to US troops. It proved beyond all doubt the given enough time and money that Springfield was capable of producing a machine gun more unreliable than the French Chauchat!

The M60 is largely considered adequate only because most folks had no experience with better.

[ex 98C MI Dude]

True statement. My 60 had alot of problems once you got beyond a hundred rounds or so downrange.