The combat efficiency report on the SLR-fn derivitive was even better than the M1 M16(beast had some problems early with jams) at the Battle of Long Tan- 108 vs 5000 in mud pelting rain 24 hrs constant combat-of course the Aussie Govt scrapped these and bought those plastic 5.56mm,at the recent local show the army had its recruitment stand and requisite toys, my Uncle a Buna,Finchafen WW2 and Korean veteren told the nice young soldier you'd split the damn thing if you ever hit anyone over the head with it,he got a look of derision from the soldier and the response,'you never get that close',all my Uncle said was,'Jesus we're in for trouble in the next big one'. Stories of early production examples of the F88 melting if more than three magazines were fired within a given period were reported, and addressed by a warning letter advising the troops not to use full-chat quite so much. The stories of some of them catching fire or melting to the point of distortion or unservicability are probably exaggerations.
But the F89 LMG is a much better proposition.
I am reading all your replies with great interest. I think you have quite a bit of expierienc on the subject. I am curious if you have seen the Metalstorm technology ( metalstorm.com) and what you think of it?