The M240 machine gun is a type of machine gun. It fires the 7.62mm NATO cartridge. It is gas-operated and the bullets are fed into the chamber by a belt. The M240 has been used by the United States Armed Forces since the late-1970s. It is used a lot by infantry. The M240 is also mounted onto ground vehicles, boats, and helicopters.
Quick facts Machine Gun, 7.62 mm, M240, Type ...
| Machine Gun, 7.62 mm, M240 |
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 M240B |
| Type | General-purpose machine gun |
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| Place of origin |
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| In service | 1977–present[1] |
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| Used by | United States Armed Forces[1] |
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| Wars |
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| Designer | Ernest Vervier |
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| Designed | 1950s |
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| Manufacturer | FN Manufacturing, LLC |
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| Produced | 1977–present[1] |
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| Variants | See Variants |
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| Mass | M240B: 27.1 pounds (12.3 kg)
M240G: 25.6 pounds (11.6 kg)
M240L: 22.3 pounds (10.1 kg) |
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| Length | 49.7 in (1,263 mm) |
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| Barrel length | 24.8 in (630 mm) |
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| Width | 4.7 in (118.7 mm) |
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| Height | 10.4 in (263 mm) |
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| Cartridge | 7.62×51mm NATO[2] |
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| Action | Gas-operated, open bolt[2] |
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| Rate of fire | 750–950 rounds/min |
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| Muzzle velocity | 2,800 ft/s (853 m/s) |
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| Effective firing range |
- Bipod: 800 m (880 yd)
- Tripod: 1,800 m (1,980 yd)
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| Maximum firing range | 4,074 yd (3,725 m) |
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| Feed system | Non-disintegrating DM1 or disintegrating M13 linked belt |
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| Sights | Folding leaf sight with aperture and notch, front blade |
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