M240 machine gun

Machine Gun, 7.62 mm, M240
M240B equipped with a bipod
Type	General-purpose machine gun
Place of origin	Belgium (designed)[1] United States (manufactured)[1]
Service history
In service	1977–present[2]
Used by	See Users
Wars	Operation Urgent Fury Operation Just Cause Gulf War War in Afghanistan Iraq War Syrian Civil War[3] War in Iraq (2014–2017) Russo-Ukrainian War
Production history
Designer	Ernest Vervier
Designed	1950s
Manufacturer	FN America[1] U.S. Ordnance Barrett Firearms Manufacturing
Unit cost	US$6,600
Produced	1977–present[2]
Variants	See Variants
Specifications
Mass	27.6 lb (12.5 kg) (M240B)
Length	49.7 in (1,260 mm)
Barrel length	24.8 in (630 mm)
Width	4.7 in (120 mm)
Height	10.4 in (260 mm)
Cartridge	7.62×51mm NATO[4]
Action	Gas-operated long-stroke piston, open bolt
Rate of fire	Cyclic: 650–750 rounds/min: Gas setting 1 750–850 rounds/min: Gas setting 2 850–950 rounds/min: Gas setting 3[5]
Muzzle velocity	2,800 ft/s (853 m/s)[1]
Effective firing range	800–1,800 m (875–1,969 yd) depending on mount
Maximum firing range	3,725 m (4,074 yd)[1]
Feed system	Belt-fed using M13 disintegrating links, 50-round ammo pouch, or non-disintegrating DM1 belt
Sights	Iron sights: front blade and folding rear leaf with aperture and notch

The M240 machine gun, officially the Machine Gun, 7.62 mm, M240, is the U.S. military designation for the FN MAG,^[6] a family of belt-fed, gas-operated medium machine guns that chamber the 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge.^[1]

The M240 has been used by the United States Armed Forces since the late 1970s. It is used extensively by infantry, most often in rifle companies, as well as on ground vehicles, watercraft and aircraft. Though it is heavier than some comparable weapons, it is highly regarded for reliability and its standardization among NATO members is a major advantage.

All variants are fed from disintegrating belts and are capable of firing most types of 7.62 NATO ammunition. M240 variants can be converted to use non-disintegrating belts. There are significant differences in weight and some features among some versions which restrict the interchangeability of parts. The M240s used by the U.S. military are currently manufactured by FN America, the American subsidiary of the Belgian company FN Herstal.^[7]

The M240B and M240G are usually fired from integrated bipods, tripods, or vehicular mounts; regarding tripod use, the U.S. Army primarily uses the M192 lightweight ground mount, while the U.S. Marine Corps uses the M122A1 tripod, a slightly updated M2 tripod.