Video—I Have This Old Gun: M249 SAW Machine Gun

by
posted on May 26, 2017
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
Earlier this year, FN announced the M249S Para, a semi-automatic-only, closed-bolt version of the gun used by elite operators within the U.S. military. But the military's M249 SAW—Squad Automatic Weapon—introduced in 1984, is the Light Machine Gun of U.S. forces and many U.S. allies. It has seen action in every major conflict involving the United States since 1989. Firing the standard 5.56 mm NATO round, the M249 has stood the test of time due to its versatility and adaptability to circumstances. Learn more about the history and evolution of the FN M249 SAW in this "I Have This Old Gun" segment from a recent episode of American Rifleman TV








Latest

HK VP9CC 01
HK VP9CC 01

Heckler & Koch VP9CC: The VP9 Goes Micro-Compact

Based on the company's popular striker-fired VP9 platform, the new Heckler & Koch VP9CC takes the features of the full-size original and shrinks them into a micro-compact package for concealed-carry use.

The "Frenchified" BAR: France's FM 24/29 LMG

Following World War I, the French military considered adopting the Browning Automatic Rifle, but cost considerations and national pride forced the development of a domestic design: the FM 24/29 LMG.

How Money Turned the Mainstream Media Against Our Freedom

Major changes in the American media landscape have thus far, and in general, contributed to a more partisan treatment of the Second Amendment.

I Carry: Springfield Armory SA-35 in a Galco Combat Master Holster

See the Springfield Armory SA-35 4" High Power pistol paired with a classically styled Galco leather OWB holster and a Buck 110 Auto knife our latest "I Carry" EDC kit.

How the Mainstream Media Turned Against Armed Citizens

Why is so much of the mainstream, legacy or corporate media opposed to our right to keep and bear arms? There are real answers to this question.

The Armed Citizen® April 10, 2026

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.