Uhm, the SOCOM units that are out there all alone need all the firepower they can bring. I'm a Marine recon man and I'll probably never even see this thing. Now, I'm not saying our SAW's are perfect, but the amount of firepower they bring is a tremendous asset.
There is no clear answer to me. On one hand a belt fed can open up a big can of whoopass and ammo can be carried very easily. However, they are heavier and prone to their own kinds of stoppages (operator error plays a bigger part with these too).
Barrel changes are good too, although in my unit we are told not to worry about changing them in a firefight.
A mag fed would be light, and handy, and perhaps more reliable. However sustained fire is greatly reduced, pehaps fielding more of them would help it compete a little more since the operator wouldn't need an A-gunner (hell, the SAW doesn't need an A-gunner).
Honestly I think we need to be looking towards lighter, more reliable belt feds.
Oh, and the logic behind the SAW using mags isn't entirely crazy. Sure, if you're using a mag in a SAW then you're not effectively using the ammo that you must be low on at that point. However, do you really want the SAW gunner to just sit there if he's out of ammo?
Sure it's not something we really NEED and it's usefulness is limited (maybe the logic of FN because they couldn't seem to make it work quite right) but it doesn't hurt to have the option.
There is no clear answer to me. On one hand a belt fed can open up a big can of whoopass and ammo can be carried very easily. However, they are heavier and prone to their own kinds of stoppages (operator error plays a bigger part with these too).
Barrel changes are good too, although in my unit we are told not to worry about changing them in a firefight.
A mag fed would be light, and handy, and perhaps more reliable. However sustained fire is greatly reduced, pehaps fielding more of them would help it compete a little more since the operator wouldn't need an A-gunner (hell, the SAW doesn't need an A-gunner).
Honestly I think we need to be looking towards lighter, more reliable belt feds.
Oh, and the logic behind the SAW using mags isn't entirely crazy. Sure, if you're using a mag in a SAW then you're not effectively using the ammo that you must be low on at that point. However, do you really want the SAW gunner to just sit there if he's out of ammo?
Sure it's not something we really NEED and it's usefulness is limited (maybe the logic of FN because they couldn't seem to make it work quite right) but it doesn't hurt to have the option.