The FN® M240 family of medium machine guns (7.62x51mm NATO) has long been employed by all services of the U.S. Armed Forces. The FN M240B is the “go to/can do” medium machine gun for all branches of the U.S. military, offering absolute reliability, extended range, and an exceptional service life. This weapon’s high volume of fire makes it the principal suppressive fire instrument for the infantry platoon and company. The M240 is one of the most essential and widely used small arms in Iraq and Afghanistan. The M240 B’s cold hammer-forged MIL-SPEC barrel has a hard-chromed bore for longer life and improved accuracy. The receiver is machined steel and is equipped with a top-mounted MIL-STD1913 optical rail. The cross-bolt safety and curved trigger help enhance operator control.
Probably the most popular series of submachine guns in the world, it functions according to the proven roller-delayed blowback principle. Tremendously reliable, with maximum safety for the user, easy to handle, modular, extremely accurate and extraordinarily easy to control when firing – HK features that are particularly appreciated by security forces and military users worldwide. In developing the silenced MP5SD, Heckler & Koch responded to the special requirements of special forces units. Despite its integrated silencer element, it has the same length and shape as an unsilenced submachine gun. Unlike most conventional silenced submachine guns, it fires standard ammunition
types with the same effect. The use of special subsonic ammunition is not necessary. The integrated silencer element suppresses the muzzle flash extremely effectively, as a result of which the weapon is also excellent for night operations using low-light amplifiers. No wonder the MP5SD is one of the most accurate silenced submachine guns of its type.
The Heckler & Koch HK416 is a rifle designed and manufactured by Heckler & Koch. Although its design
is based on the AR-15 class of weapons, specifically the Colt M4 carbine family issued to the U.S. military, it uses a proprietary short-stroke gas piston system derived from the ArmaLite AR-18 (the same system was also used in Heckler & Koch’s earlier G36 family of rifles). It is the standard assault rifle of the Norwegian Armed Forces, selected by the French Armed Forces to replace the FAMAS, and was the weapon used by SEAL Team Six to kill Osama Bin Laden in 2011.
Developed by Heckler & Koch in the mid-1990s, the G36 is a true modular weapon system in caliber 5.56 x 45mm NATO (.223 Remington). Constructed almost entirely of a tough, carbon fiber reinforced polymer material and using a simple, clean shooting, self-regulating, operating rod gas system; the G36 provides the user with a lightweight weapon that delivers high performance with extremely low maintenance. The G36 uses an HK-proprietary operating system found on several current Heckler & Koch arms, including the HK416. The G36 gas system uses a piston to drive an operating rod to control the function of the bolt, preventing propellant gases and the associated carbon fouling from entering the weapon’s interior. This increases the reliability of the weapon and extends the interval between stoppages. It also reduces operator cleaning time, heat transfer to the bolt and bolt carrier, and wear and tear on critical components. Exhaustively tested and currently fielded with the German and Spanish Armed Forces the G36 is also used by military, law enforcement, and government customers of more than 40 countries.
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.
