The FN M249 SAW (also known as the FN MINIMI) has been a mainstay throughout the U.S. military since 1986 and is currently in service in more than 30 countries. The M249 SAW is designed to be used on the front lines where it really matters, providing crucial support at the infantry squad/fire team level by providing highly accurate fire plus the maneuverability to take the objective. The ergonomically shaped polymer buttstock contains a hydraulic buffer that allows SAW gunners to maintain a high rate of fire with accuracy and effect.
The M4A1 is a fully automatic variant of the M4 carbine – a shorter and lighter variant of the M16. It went into service in 1994 to replace the M16 in certain roles. The M4A1 trigger group operates on either Safe, Semi-Automatic, or Fully Automatic settings. Cartridges are the 5.56x45mm (.223) NATO cartridge that is magazine fed. Firing is achieved via a direct impingement gas operating system. It is primarily used by special operations.
Firing the long-range, hard-hitting 7.62x51mm NATO/308 Winchester cartridge, the selective-fire FN SCAR 17’s innovative gas-operated, short-stroke piston system reduces fouling for greater reliability.
The FN SCAR 17 system features three user-interchangeable, free-floating cold hammer-forged MILSPEC barrels with chrome-lined bores. Fully ambidextrous operating controls instantly adapt the FN SCAR 17 to any user. The receiver-integrated MIL-STD-1913 optical rail plus three accessory rails enable mounting of a wide variety of tactical lights and lasers. The side-folding polymer stock is fully adjustable for comb height, length of pull, and is colored authentic Flat Dark Earth (FDE).
The APC series was designed in the 2000s, as a modern submachine gun that would be cheaper to produce than the intermediate cartridge assault carbines that were seeing an increase in military usage during this period. The APC uses a straight blowback gas system, however the addition of a proprietary hydraulic buffer system in the receiver back plate helps dampen recoil. In 2019 B&T was awarded a contract from the US Army which included an order for up to 1000 units.
When originally designed, the M1 carbine was intended to have only selective-fire capabilities. When actual production on the gun began, the decision was made to not include that feature. Full automatic fire capabilities were included in the design of the M2 carbine, an upgraded selective-fire version of the M1 released in 1944. The M2 included improvements to the rear sight, the addition of a bayonet lug and other improvements off of the M1 design. This is a late WWII M1 Carbine as manufactured by Winchester that was subsequently converted to the fully automatic M2 configuration. The upgrade was considered a success, however, there were tradeoffs. The M2 included a heavier 30-round magazine which put greater strain on the magazine catch. This necessitated the development of a studier catch. This further required a modification on the slide, sear and stock. When engaged in full automatic fire, the T4 model could shoot off 750 rounds a minute while generating a manageable recoil. While many carbines were manufactured as M2s the only real difference between the M1 and M2s was the fire control group they belonged to. The military issued soldiers field conversion kits (T17 and T18) to easily convert M1s into serviceable M2s. History looks back upon the M2 carbine as an anomaly of sorts. Historians to this day debate and struggle as to how best categorize the M2 carbine. More powerful than a submachine gun, it can be considered an assault rifle.
