K12 – Small Arms Defense Journal

EDITORIAL SPECIAL: MACHINE GUNS

SADJ Staff — Thu, 17 Sep 2020 20:42:55 +0000

ARSENAL® JSCO, BULGARIA

MG-1M

The 7.62x54mm ARSENAL MG-1M machine guns are powerful automatic weapons, used as armament against enemy troops and firing points. The MG-1M design is specially intended and allows operation of the weapon in heavy climatic conditions, which are typical for the regions of the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Africa.

arsenal-bg.com

Caliber/Bore: 7.62x54mm
Barrel Length: 605mm
FFL Status: For American manufacturer
Type of Links: Integrated via joint springs
Rate of Fire: 650 RPM

ARSENAL® JSCO, BULGARIA

MG-M2

The 7.62x51mm ARSENAL MG-M2 machine gun is a powerful individual automatic weapon designed to be used against enemy troops, light armoured targets and aerial targets by firing in single and automatic fire mode.

arsenal-bg.com

Caliber/Bore: 7.62x51mm
Barrel Length: 545mm
FFL Status: For American manufacturer
Type of Links: Disintegrating metal belt, M13 type
Rate of Fire: 650 RPM

DILLON AERO

M134D 7.62×51 Minigun

The Dillon Aero M134D 7.62×51 Minigun is renowned worldwide for its reliability, speed and accuracy. With low recoil forces, a firing rate of 3,000 rounds per minute (RPM) and an effective range of 1,200m, the M134D’s offensive and defensive capabilities are unmatched in air, land and sea applications.

dillonaero.com

Caliber/Bore: 7.62x51mm
Barrel Length: 18in to 22in
FFL Status: Importer/Exporter
Type of Links: M13
Rate of Fire: Up to 4,000 RPM

DILLON AERO

503D

Dillon Aero introduced the 503D, our new .50-caliber Gatling gun. Weighing 84 pounds, firing 1,500 rounds per minute (RPM) with increased resistance to internal component damage, the 503D has applications on air, sea and land platforms. The 503D is lighter, faster and smarter than other .50-caliber Gatling guns.

dillonaero.com

Caliber/Bore: .50 BMG
Barrel Length:
FFL Status: Importer/Exporter
Type of Links: M9
Rate of Fire: Up to 1,500 RPM

FIGHTLITE INDUSTRIES

MCR® Dual Feed Upper M-LOK® (MCR-060)

The MCR® (Mission Configurable Rifle) belt-fed, upper receiver assembly is designed to interchange with standard AR/M4-type uppers and readily fits any MIL-SPEC lower receiver without permanent modification to the host lower and is rearward-compatible to AR-15/M16 models produced as early as 1963. Once installed, the patented MCR® upper receiver system can be user-configured in seconds without tools to adapt to virtually any mission profile. Standard features include: gas-piston operation for extreme reliability in adverse conditions; a 16.25-inch quick-change (3 seconds) barrel system; and a MIL-STD-1913 co-planar handguard with a rail-interface system for the mounting of optics and modern accessories. Spanning the capability range from the optic-ready carbine to a lightweight support rifle, the MCR® accepts standard box-type AR-15/M16 magazines or M27 linked ammunition.

fightlite.com

Caliber/Bore: 5.56x45mm NATO
Barrel Length: 16.25in quick-change barrel
FFL Status: N/A
Type of Links: M27 linked ammunition
Rate of Fire: N/A

FN AMERICA

FN® MK 48 MOD 1

The FN® MK 48 MOD 1 brings the extended range and greater penetration of the hard-hitting 7.62x51mm round in a lighter, more compact platform. The light and compact MK 48 MOD 1 incorporates improved receiver pins, a new gas block and a vented handguard with improved heat shield and three MIL-STD-1913 rails. The MK 48 MOD 1’s cold hammer-forged MIL-SPEC barrel has a hard-chromed bore for longer life and improved accuracy and serves as the mounting point for the carry handle. The receiver is formed steel and is equipped with a top-mounted MIL-STD-1913 optical rail. A hydraulic buffer greatly reduces recoil, helping the operator keep more rounds on target. The crossbolt safety and curved trigger help enhance operator control. Includes one spare barrel.

fnamerica.com

Caliber/Bore: 7.62×51 NATO
Barrel Length: 19.75in
FFL Status: N/A
Type of Links: NATO standard disintegrating link belt-fed
Rate of Fire: 730 RPM

FN HERSTAL

FN MINIMI® 7.62 MK3

The FN MINIMI® 7.62 Light Machine Gun is now of 3rd generation and ensures improved ergonomics and improved mobility.

fnherstal.com

Caliber/Bore: 7.62
Barrel Length: 16.61in
FFL Status: N/A
Type of Links: N/A
Rate of Fire: 800 RPM

GENERAL DYNAMICS

Lightweight Medium Machine Gun (LWMMG)

The next generation Lightweight Medium Machine Gun (LWMMG) gives warfighters a distinct advantage in both extended and close-in fighting. Eliminating the gap between 7.62mm and .50 caliber weapons, the LWMMG utilizes the highly efficient .338 Norma Magnum cartridge to offer increased accuracy and lethality while extending the battlespace out to an impressive 1,700m. At 1,000m, the LWMMG is capable of defeating Level III body armor and incapacitating soft-skinned vehicles by delivering over 1,900 foot pounds of energy to the target—more than four times the terminal effect of the 7.62mm NATO cartridge.

gd-ots.com

Caliber/Bore: .338
Barrel Length: 24in
FFL Status: N/A
Type of Links: N/A
Rate of Fire: 500 RPM

HECKLER & KOCH

MG4

The MG4 is a lightweight, compact machine gun of high firepower, with a goal of being carried by one soldier and guarantee full mobility in difficult terrain and also in the urban environment. The MG4 offers the latest technological advances and provides unmatched performance characteristics: Due to its low recoil, the shot is readily controllable, giving high-target precision. Its great combat effectiveness and range, optimal rate of fire and simple handling makes it a weapon unlike any other.

heckler-koch.com

Caliber/Bore: 5.56mmx45
Barrel Length: 450mm
FFL Status: N/A
Type of Links: N/A
Rate of Fire: 830+120 RPM

HECKLER & KOCH

MG5

As the successor of the MG3, the MG5 opens a new era of universal belt-fed 7.62mmx51 machine guns. The gas-operated MG5 offers an intelligent and contemporary build standard, with numerous technical and ergonomic innovations. The mounting interface of the MG5 is compatible with MG3 mounts and tripods already in service. The universal MG5 can be used by dismounted infantry in the ground role, as well as for air defence or as a vehicle mounted/co axial machine gun.

heckler-koch.com

Caliber/Bore: 7.62mmx51 NATO
Barrel Length: 550mm
FFL Status: N/A
Type of Links: N/A
Rate of Fire: 680 / 740 / 800 RPM

IWI–ISRAEL WEAPON INDUSTRIES

NEGEV 5.56 LMG

The 5.56x45mm NEGEV is a robust and reliable Light Machine Gun (LMG), deployed by the IDF in Israel and by military entities worldwide. The NEGEV has a powerful target acquisition and accurate performance for the modern battlefield. It is exceptionally lightweight (less than 8kg) and can be operated safely under adverse and extreme environmental conditions.

iwi.net

Caliber/Bore: 5.56x45mm
Barrel Length: 460mm (18in) or 330mm (13in)
FFL Status: N/A
Type of Links: Fed by belt, assault drum or by NATO magazine
Rate of Fire: 850–1,050 RPM (magazine/belt) / 950–1,050 RPM (belt)–extreme conditions

IWI–ISRAEL WEAPON INDUSTRIES

NEGEV NG-7 LMG

The NEGEV NG-7 is the only 7.62x51mm LMG weighing less than 8kg with a semiautomatic mode enabling its safe use in Close Quarter Battle (CQB). The NG-7 is a powerful LMG with superior features such as precision, accuracy, reliability and enhanced human ergonomics and is battle-proven under adverse and extreme environmental conditions.

iwi.net

Caliber/Bore: 7.62x51mm
Barrel Length: 508mm (20in) or 420mm (16.5in)
FFL Status: N/A
Type of Links: Fed by belt, assault drum or by NATO magazine
Rate of Fire: 600–750 RPM (position 1 & 2)

OHIO ORDNANCE WORKS, INC. (OOW)

OOW240P (Patrol)

OOW manufactures light (249), medium (240) and heavy (M2) machine guns for customers in 43 countries worldwide. Our newest “Patrol” models of our “240” product line feature reduced weight while allowing more operator customization and greatly increasing the ability to accurately fire these weapons from the shoulder.

oowinc.com

Caliber/Bore: 7.62mm
Barrel Length: 19.5in
FFL Status: Type 10/11 Manufacturer/Importer/Exporter
Type of Links: M13
Rate of Fire: 650–750 RPM

OHIO ORDNANCE WORKS, INC. (OOW)

OOW249P (Patrol)

OOW manufactures light (249), medium (240) and heavy (M2) machine guns and has customers in 43 countries worldwide. Our newest “Patrol” models of our “249” product line feature reduced weight while allowing more operator customization and greatly increasing the ability to accurately fire these weapons from the shoulder.

oowinc.com

Caliber/Bore: 5.56mm
Barrel Length: 13in
FFL Status: Type 10/11 Manufacturer/Importer/Exporter
Type of Links: M27
Rate of Fire: 750–1,000 RPM

SIG SAUER, INC.

MG 338

The SIG SAUER MG 338 machine gun is a belt-fed, lightweight medium machine gun weighing under 20 pounds, chambered in .338 Norma Mag. The MG 338 features a short-stroke, gas-piston system and a proprietary recoil mitigation system, with a free-floating, quick-change barrel; ambidextrous controls; switchable feed tray; charging handle that can be alternated to either side depending on operator preference; and as a modern, multi-caliber, modular system, the new SIG MG 338 is easily convertible to 7.62×51 caliber.

sigsauer.com

Caliber/Bore: .338 Norma Magnum
Barrel Length: 20in
FFL Status: N/A
Type of Links: Disintegrating metal links
Rate of Fire: N/A

SIG SAUER, INC.

NGSW-AR MG 6.8

The primary objectives set forth by the U.S. Army for the NGSW-AR was a weapon with the firepower and range of a machine gun, coupled with the precision and ergonomics of a rifle. The SIG SAUER NGSW-AR 6.8mm submission is an ultra-light, medium-caliber machine gun with AR ergonomics and is chambered in 6.8mm hybrid ammunition. Features include quick-detach magazines, side opening feed tray, increased available 1913 rail space for night vision and enablers, folding buttstock and a suppressor.

sigsauer.com

Caliber/Bore: 6.8x51mm Hybrid, 7.62×51 NATO
Barrel Length: 16in
FFL Status: N/A
Type of Links: M13 disintegrating link
Rate of Fire: N/A

ST KINETICS

STK 50

The STK 50 machine gun fires from an open bolt, eliminating “cook-off” of ammunition. It has semi- and fully automatic firing modes, selectable from a push-type selector at the trigger module. Left or right feeding allows quick change-over of ammunition type, and the quick-change barrel with fixed headspace allows the barrel to be changed within seconds without adjustment of headspace. The STK 50 is designed for easy maintenance without the need for special tools.

stengg.com

Caliber/Bore: 12.7mm
Barrel Length: 1,141mm
FFL Status: N/A
Type of Links: Disintegrating M15A2 link belt
Rate of Fire: 400–600 RPM

S&T MOTIV

K12

S&T Motiv’s K12 7.62mm machine gun is easily converted from aircraft mode to infantry mode. It uses an open-bolt operation, is belt-fed with a quick change barrel and has a gas-operated and rotating bolt locking system for greater reliability. The K12 can be mounted to a bipod, tripod or aircraft. The machine gun has multiple integrated MIL-STD-1913 mounting rails for optics, lights and laser devices and is fully automatic only.

sntmotiv.com/eng

Caliber/Bore: 7.62mmx51 NATO
Barrel Length: 22in
FFL Status: N/A
Type of Links: N/A
Rate of Fire: 650–950 RPM

U.S. ORDNANCE

M2A2

The U.S. Ordnance M2A2 machine gun is an air-cooled, belt-fed machine gun that fires from a closed bolt and operates on the short recoil principle with fixed headspace and timing. It is capable of both sustained automatic and accurate single-shot fire. It can be mounted on a vehicle, boat, helicopter or other aircraft. Ammunition may be fed from either the left or right side of the gun, making it suitable for use by both infantry and in armored vehicles. The M2A2 weapon system has been tested to well over 50,000 rounds. Its single-breech lock system allows for field rebuild, eliminating the need for depot-level maintenance during its lifetime and thereby greatly reducing logistical support.

usord.com

Caliber/Bore: 12.7mm
Barrel Length: N/A
FFL Status: N/A
Type of Links: N/A
Rate of Fire: N/A

ZID (OPEN JOINT STOCK COMPANY “V.A.DEGTYAREV PLANT”)

Pecheneg 6P41

The 7.62mm 6P41 Pecheneg machine gun is intended to engage hostile manpower, fire means and aerial targets. The whole range of rifle cartridges is used to fire from the machine gun. The gas regulator ensures the reliable operation of machine gun automatics in various operating conditions. The high degree of commonality with the PKM machine gun and similar layout of its automatics action ensure the reliability of the Pecheneg machine gun in any operating conditions. The 6P41 Pecheneg incorporates some design novelties aimed to increase the effectiveness of barrel cooling, which has allowed a spare barrel to be eliminated from the machine gun set.

zid.ru/eng

Caliber/Bore: 7.62mm
Barrel Length: N/A
FFL Status: N/A
Type of Links: N/A
Rate of Fire: 600–800 RPM

K12 South Korean Light Machine Gun

SADJ Staff — Fri, 12 Sep 2014 07:15:26 +0000

ABOVE: Shooting with spade grip only. Even with this configuration control was not that difficult.

From 1990 to very recently, the ROK (Republic of Korea; or South Korea) army had a tendency to reduce the presence of 7.62mm NATO light or medium machine guns. From the 1970s to 1990, the South Korea military used M60 GPMGs as their ‘almost universal’ machine gun; first supplied from the U.S. as military support when the ROK military dispatched a considerable number of troops to Vietnam and then manufactured under license by Daewoo Precision Industry, Co. (today’s S&T Motive). It was used everywhere machine guns were used: infantry, vehicle mounted, helicopter mounted, etc. Since the ROK military was heavily influenced under U.S. doctrine, it was quite natural and that influence led to the development of the K3 SAW (Squad Automatic Weapon), since the U.S. Army used the M249 SAW from the 1980s. The K3 is the ‘Koreanized’ version of the famous Minimi, and the role of K3 in ROK Army/Marine Corps was initially quite similar to that of the M249 in U.S. military. However, during the 2000s, things began to change. While M60s became old and gradually needed to be replaced, ROK military changed many of them with K3s. Unlike the U.S. military who uses medium machine guns for platoon level fire support, the South Korean army replaced many old M60s in infantry outfits with K3s – thus removing medium machine guns for infantry. Vehicle-mounted and helicopter-mounted MGs mostly remained to be M60 variants, but even for that role some K3s were employed; for example, a few Korean made armored vehicles were armed only with K3s.

The barrel change is accomplished the same as the Minimi. No special tools of gloves are required.

Since the K3 is still in production (unlike the M60, whose assembly line was closed long ago), replacing M60s with K3s may have seemed reasonable to ROK military bureaucrats. However, as vehicle and aircraft mounted weapons, 5.56mm machine guns have short range and limited power. So most Korean tanks, armored cars and virtually all helicopters are still armed with 7.62mm MGs, – almost all of them M60 variants. Yet, replacements for those M60s were not easy to come by. Simply put, the ROK military didn’t want to spend money on that. While they have money for buying Aegis destroyers or F-15 fighter jets, they thought buying new MGs to replace the venerable M60 was a waste of money. They saw no reason for replacing M60s that were still working relatively well.

The safety for the spade grip is on top and in front of the butterfly trigger. It is shown here in the safe position.

New Helicopter Arrives But things changed quite rapidly during last few years because of the introduction of new helicopters. From 2006 to 2012, Korea developed the Korean Utility Helicopter, or KUH. This is a mid-sized utility helicopter, and from 2012 the Korean army is committed to buying 300 of them. Thus then came the requirement for new machine guns for these helos: M60s mounted on the previous helicopters were now quite old – especially the ones mounted on UH-1H Hueys, which considerable numbers of them remained from the Vietnam war, so the army hoped to buy new 7.62NATO machine guns for the new helos. Initially, the army wanted to buy from foreign vendors (especially FNH, who suggested the M240H), but both the army and a Korean company, S&T Motive, the only military small arms manufacturer in Korea, saw a new chance to develop an indigenous 7.62mm machine gun.

Removing the spade grip is very simple. Just open the trigger bar, remove two pins (release pin stopper with thumb), then remove the spade grip.

While a few hundred machine guns for helicopters were not enough reason to develop a new machine gun, there was enough chance to replace the other old M60s as well. The Korean army has to maintain a considerable number of them for their tanks and armored cars. The army has more than 2,300 tanks, which usually has two M60s each, and a similar number of armoured cars that were armed with one M60 each. Additionally, because of U.S. experience in Iraq and Afghan, many in the ROK army now demand 7.62 MGs back to infantry outfits. Once the South Korean army buys considerable numbers of them, the export market will open up. Consequently, S&T Motive began developing a new machine gun under the name of XK-12 in July 2010. XK-12 prototypes began to be mounted and tested on KUH helicopter prototypes, but by that time, the XK-12 had already fired 300,000 rounds without any serious problems. From 2012, XK-12 was then adopted as the K-12 light machine gun to ROK army and as standard armament on the KUH. Full production is now under way.

The rear sight is a ladder type, which can be use out to 1,800m. This can be removed via rail.

Basic Design and Characteristic K-12 is gas operated, with gas piston and rotating bolt, and feeding is done by typical STANAG M13 disintegrating belt link. This gun is based upon the K3 machine gun in terms of basic design, layout and function and is quite similar to the K3. Even the safety is the same as K3/Minimi (very typical cross-bolt type). But unlike the K3, it can’t be fed by magazine. The receiver is made from steel press, but the feed cover is machined from aluminum alloy. This doesn’t pose any problem as the original FN Minimi, the basis of the K3 machine gun, had already been converted into the “Maximi,” or Mk.48 and serves quite well in the U.S. and other armed forces. The K-12 is not just a 7.62 conversion of the K3. While the basic design is quite similar, the K-12’s receiver size is larger than the K3, and many important parts were enlarged to accommodate the larger ammunition.

K-12 with feed cover open. Internally, it is very similar to the K3, but mostly enlarged to accommodate the 7.62NATO cartridge.

That’s one reason this weapon weighs 12kg, which is somewhat heavy for this class of machine gun. But there’s another reason; unlike other helicopter mounted machine guns, it has pistol grip, spade grip and metal sliding stock. Most other machine guns have to choose either one of them, not all; but since the K-12 has all of them on one gun, once this gun is dismounted the operator can convert this into a ground-fire machine gun within seconds. All he needs to do is remove two pins, remove the spade grip, unfold the stock and fire it. The folding stock design is very similar to FN Minimi’s Para version. Other than that, the K-12 is not that different from other gas-operated machine guns. It has a folding bipod (again similar to the K3), quick change barrel and gas regulator. If one is familiar with Minimi or Maximi, you almost don’t need to learn how to assemble or disassemble this gun; except spade grip. The flash hider is a four-prong design, which also can be seen on the M240H. It also has a folding ring sight for firing on fast-moving helicopters, but it also has a folding ladder type sight for more accurate aiming. This sight is attached on a Mil-Std 1913 rail so it can easily be removed and replaced. Within 500 meters the sight can be used in its down position; over 500 meters and the sight has to be raised. The sight has a range of 1,800 meters. The Mil-Std 1913 rail is on the feed cover and also on both sides of the handguard. While no configuration of laser sight or optical sight has been decided on yet, the ROK army thinks they would use some kind of electro-optical accessories on the K-12 within the near future. It also can adopt night vision sights with those rails, especially the one on the feed cover.

The K12 has a telescopic stock, pistol grip and spade grip, so you can use the same gun for both mounted and dismounted operations. Even when used with the spade grip, the original trigger is used via a trigger bar.

Fire and Operation This author had a chance to visit S&T Motive’s factory last year and fire the K-12 machine gun. This was a rare opportunity as the ROK is quite strict on details of military weapons. But this also shows S&T Motive’s confidence in K-12’s quality. The weapon we tested was one fresh from the assembly line, which was scheduled to be shipped to end users very soon. Firing was done from pistol grip/folding stock and also from the spade grip – while only supported by the bipods. Recoil was not that strong in either firing position and caused no problem when fired. Since I had some experience with the M249 SAW, using the K-12 was very easy and instinctive.

The bipod is also very similar to the Minimi and K3. Length can be adjusted to three positions. It is also strengthened to accommodate the weight of the K-12.

Operation was flawless. About 250 rounds were fired within a few minutes without any malfunction, jam, overheating or failure of any kind. A few long bursts of 10-20 rounds were also fired, again without any problems. The flash hider on the muzzle also worked quite well. While the day we fired was considerably cloudy, we could see almost no muzzle flash. One thing worthy of mention and quite impressive was the ejection. The ejection port is located very similar to the Minimi, and spent cases were virtually thrown away very hard. Feeding was also quite positive and flawless as during the firing sequences no one supported the belt.

The folding telescopic stock is very similar to that of Minimi Para and is used in just the same way.

Overall Impression The K-12 is not that special of a gun with a relatively conventional design. But put three things (spade grip, pistol grip and stock) on a single gun is unique and an interesting feature, which probably makes dismounted operation much easier. Weight is somewhat heavy, but the 12kg weight is not that different from the M240 or MG3. And since it’s used on helicopters, not by foot soldiers, the weight would not be a problem. If the infantry requires the K-12, making a lighter version would not be a problem since you simply replace both pistol grip and folding stock with single polymer stock, which probably can save considerable weight. It is, in all aspects, better than the M60 it replaces, and already ROK helicopter crews appreciate its ease of operation compared to the M60. Field reliability and rigidity is another matter, but as it’s a new weapon, it should have good potential once it proves itself in ROK service. The chance of good sales in export markets is promising and as the K3 machine guns are sold to some countries with good reputation, the K-12 also can appeal to existing K3 users and potential MG users as well. Right now, only the helicopter-mounted version is adopted and purchased by the ROK military. But the infantry version is also suggested by S&T Motive, and other versions would follow as soon as requirements appear. Specifications Weight: 12kg Caliber: 7.62mm NATO Length: 1.234m w/ stock fully extended Barrel length: 559mm Rifling: four, right hand twist Cyclic Rate: 650~950 rpm