SOCOM MACHINE GUN Experience
Special Forces, or Special Operations has been around in varying forms for centuries, but did not move into what we know it for today until the Second World War. Today Special Forces are utilized by many nations and their operators are tasked with everything from combat and counterterrorism to hostage rescue and humanitarian aid. Today, US SOCOM oversees all of the various elements from all branches of the US Armed Forces. US Special Forces Operators within these elements employ weapons on the cutting edge and with remarkable skill and deadly precision. While we do not know much about their clandestine activity and secret methods, we do have a selection of their weapon’s inventory available for you to experience.
The SOCOM Machine Gun Experience Includes:
m249 SAW/mk46 Mod 1
The M249 SAW, developed in the 80s by FN Herstal, is a gas operated, air-cool light machine gun, designed to provide infantry squads with the high rate of fire of a machine gun, the accuracy and portability of a rifle and has seen service with the United States Armed forces and other NATO allies.
The MK46 Mod 1 is a further development of the M249 weapon system which was adopted by SOCOM and features weight saving changes to make the platform more adaptable to the needs of special forces operators.
- Manufacturer: FN Herstal
- Caliber: 5.56 NATO
- Operation: Open Bolt
- Capacity: 20 or 30 round magazines, 50 – 200 round drums
- Weight: 15.44 lbs
- Barrel Length: 16.3′′
- Rate of fire: 730 RPM
The M249 SAW, developed in the 80s by FN Herstal, is a gas operated, air-cool light machine gun, designed to provide infantry squads with the high rate of fire of a machine gun, the accuracy and portability of a rifle and has seen service with the United States Armed forces and other NATO allies.
The MK46 Mod 1 is a further development of the M249 weapon system which was adopted by SOCOM and features weight saving changes to make the platform more adaptable to the needs of special forces operators.
- Manufacturer: FN Herstal
- Caliber: 5.56 NATO
- Operation: Open Bolt
- Capacity: 20 or 30 round magazines, 50 – 200 round drums
- Weight: 15.44 lbs
- Barrel Length: 16.3′′
- Rate of fire: 730 RPM
SCAR 17
IN 2004 US SOCOM issued a request for a family of rifles for their Special Operations Force Combat Assault Rifle program, or SCAR for short. FN Herstal’s entry into this program would inherit this name, it was officially designated the Mk 17 by the military.
Chambered in 7.62 NATO, the rifle was used for many different roles, from assaulters to designated marksmen. US Special Forces put the rifle to great use, specifically in Afghanistan where its accuracy, effective range and stopping power, compared to its 5.56 chambered counterparts, proved exceedingly useful in the mountainous terrain.
Specifications:
- Manufacturer: FN Herstal
- Caliber: 7.62 NATO
- Operation: Short Stroke Gas Piston
- Capacity: 20 Round Magazine
- Weight: 7.9 lbs
- Barrel Length: 1′′
- Rate of fire: 625 RPM
IN 2004 US SOCOM issued a request for a family of rifles for their Special Operations Force Combat Assault Rifle program, or SCAR for short. FN Herstal’s entry into this program would inherit this name, it was officially designated the Mk 17 by the military.
Chambered in 7.62 NATO, the rifle was used for many different roles, from assaulters to designated marksmen. US Special Forces put the rifle to great use, specifically in Afghanistan where its accuracy, effective range and stopping power, compared to its 5.56 chambered counterparts, proved exceedingly useful in the mountainous terrain.
Specifications:
- Manufacturer: FN Herstal
- Caliber: 7.62 NATO
- Operation: Short Stroke Gas Piston
- Capacity: 20 Round Magazine
- Weight: 7.9 lbs
- Barrel Length: 1′′
- Rate of fire: 625 RPM
Heckler & Koch 416
Heckler and Koch designed the 416 in 2004 at the request of US Delta Force to supplement or replace the unit’s fleet of Mp5’s and M4’s. The HK416 uses a short-stroke gas piston derived from their previous experience developing the G36 family of rifles, but keeps the traditional M4 rifle control to be easy for any solider to pick up and learn.
The HK416 is now ubiquitous across all of the western world and is extremely popular with NATO, being fielded by the Norwegian, French and German Armed Forces and was even used in the raid on Bin Laden’s compound in 2011.
- Manufacturer: Heckler & Koch
- Caliber: 5.56 NATO
- Operation: Short Stroke Gas Piston
- Capacity: 30 Round Magazine
- Weight: 7 lbs
- Barrel Length: 10.3′′
- Rate of fire: 850 RPM
Heckler and Koch designed the 416 in 2004 at the request of US Delta Force to supplement or replace the unit’s fleet of Mp5’s and M4’s. The HK416 uses a short-stroke gas piston derived from their previous experience developing the G36 family of rifles, but keeps the traditional M4 rifle control to be easy for any solider to pick up and learn.
The HK416 is now ubiquitous across all of the western world and is extremely popular with NATO, being fielded by the Norwegian, French and German Armed Forces and was even used in the raid on Bin Laden’s compound in 2011.
- Manufacturer: Heckler & Koch
- Caliber: 5.56 NATO
- Operation: Short Stroke Gas Piston
- Capacity: 30 Round Magazine
- Weight: 7 lbs
- Barrel Length: 10.3′′
- Rate of fire: 850 RPM
M4A1/MK18
The M4 Carbine was brought into service in the 1980’s as a shortened derivative of the M16 rifle which the US Armed Forces which had already been in service for many years. The fully automated version, designated the M4A1, was introduced in 1991 and inteded specifically for special operations use and now is being used by nearly all US Special Forces.
Further development of the rifle would continue through the SOPMOD program and the Close Quarters Battle Receiver was issued to units to further increasing maneuverability in tighter spaces an especially indoors. The receiver would be installed to the standard M4A1 lower receiver and referred to as the MK18 CQBR although eventually the system would be issued as a complete rifle.
The M4 rifle has become well liked for its reliability, modularity and effectiveness and continues to see service today.
Specifications:
- Manufacturer: Colt, FN, Daniel Defense
- Caliber: 5.56 NATO
- Operation: Direct Impingement
- Capacity: 30 Rounds
- Weight: 6 lb to 7.75 lb
- Barrel Length: 10.3″ to 14.5″
- Rate of fire: 700 – 900 RPM
The M4 Carbine was brought into service in the 1980’s as a shortened derivative of the M16 rifle which the US Armed Forces which had already been in service for many years. The fully automated version, designated the M4A1, was introduced in 1991 and inteded specifically for special operations use and now is being used by nearly all US Special Forces.
Further development of the rifle would continue through the SOPMOD program and the Close Quarters Battle Receiver was issued to units to further increasing maneuverability in tighter spaces an especially indoors. The receiver would be installed to the standard M4A1 lower receiver and referred to as the MK18 CQBR although eventually the system would be issued as a complete rifle.
The M4 rifle has become well liked for its reliability, modularity and effectiveness and continues to see service today.
Specifications:
- Manufacturer: Colt, FN, Daniel Defense
- Caliber: 5.56 NATO
- Operation: Direct Impingement
- Capacity: 30 Rounds
- Weight: 6 lb to 7.75 lb
- Barrel Length: 10.3″ to 14.5″
- Rate of fire: 700 – 900 RPM
Heckler & Koch MP7
The Heckler and Koch MP7 was the answer to a call put out by NATO to develop a lightweight, compact, personal defense weapon to be issued to rear echelon troops and other soldiers filling roles where issuing a full-size rifle would be cumbersome.
The HK MP7 features the 4.6x30mm cartridge, which offers further effective ranges and better ballistic performance over the NATO standard 9mm round, and runs off similar short stroke gas piston system seen on the G36 and 416 rifles.
The firearm was never adopted by the US Military due to a lack of involvement in the NATO PDW trials but it has gone on to see service with numerous militaries, special operations groups, and paramilitary units around the world.
- Manufacturer: Heckler & Koch
- Caliber: 4.6x30mm
- Operation: Short Stroke Gas Piston
- Capacity: 20-, 30- or 40- Round Magazine
- Weight: 4.4 lbs
- Barrel Length: 7.09′′
- Rate of fire: 950 RPM
The Heckler and Koch MP7 was the answer to a call put out by NATO to develop a lightweight, compact, personal defense weapon to be issued to rear echelon troops and other soldiers filling roles where issuing a full-size rifle would be cumbersome.
The HK MP7 features the 4.6x30mm cartridge, which offers further effective ranges and better ballistic performance over the NATO standard 9mm round, and runs off similar short stroke gas piston system seen on the G36 and 416 rifles.
The firearm was never adopted by the US Military due to a lack of involvement in the NATO PDW trials but it has gone on to see service with numerous militaries, special operations groups, and paramilitary units around the world.
- Manufacturer: Heckler & Koch
- Caliber: 4.6x30mm
- Operation: Short Stroke Gas Piston
- Capacity: 20-, 30- or 40- Round Magazine
- Weight: 4.4 lbs
- Barrel Length: 7.09′′
- Rate of fire: 950 RPM
