Post ban: AR-15 with SAW mag

[SUE ROVR]

Does anyone have any info on the availablity of SAW type mags compatible with an AR-15?

I am really interested in getting the set up I want.

Also what do you anticipate the cost of an AR-15 to be post ban?

 

[deej]

Define "SAW type mag." You mean the box? It's just a fancy carrying case for the belt, so it won't help too much without a belt-fed upper.

http://remtek.com/arms/fn/minimi/

 

[SUE ROVR]

I was under the impression that the saw could use M16 mags, but you are telling me SAW mags will not work on an M16?

I really want something that has serious capasity in a lightweight package so an Ar-15 with a few 200 round mags would be ideal. Any suggestions?

I like the 5.56 over the 7.62

 

[deej]

The M16 magazine port is a backup. The M249 is primarily a belt-fed weapon.

http://world.guns.ru/machine/mg17-e.htm

...

The M249 has an alternative feed system, which allows to use disintegrating metallic belts as a primary feed option, or M16-type box magazines as a back-up feed option. The belt is feed using the top feed unit, the magazines are inserted through the magazine port, located at the left side of the receiver and angled down. The Flip-up dust cover closes the magazine port when it is not in use, serving also as a belt guide. When magazine is in place, this cover raises up and closes the belt-way to avoid dual feeds and jams.

I think you want this, instead. Hell, I want it.

 

[MrMurphy]

Correct. The M249 SAW is primarily belt fed, off a 100 or 200 round belt. The box is 200 rounds, the 100 is a soft pouch.

The 30-round backup mag well for M16 mags from what I've heard (according to multiple SAW gunners, both Marine and Army with serious time behind the piece) tends to get off about ten to fifteen rounds then jam. It IS a backup after all.

I've only put one 200 round belt through one, but it was fun while it lasted.


Perhaps you're thinking about the Beta C-Mag (double drum, holds 100 rounds, also used in the German G36 series MG36 automatic rifle among others).

 

[Justin]

Man, I've thought the Shrike was pure sexy ever since I saw it at last year's SHOT Show.

 

[JShirley]

Some folks believe the SAW mag well should be done away with.

The SAW gunners in my company all claimed the same thing: malfs would happen if M16 mags were used.

John

 

[Citadel99]

Double springs in M249 backup magazines tend to help. But it's still a SHTF option.

Mark

 

[Nightcrawler]

I always said they should scrap the M16 mag well on the SAW. It would take more than a pound of weight off of the weapon, probably. Furthermore, in my (somewhat limited) experience, the SAW is so unreliable when feeding from magazines that the feature is more or less useless. M16 magazines simply were not designed to work with and open bolt, belt-fed weapon with a thousand-rounds-a-minute cyclic. And from what I've heard, putting heavy springs in M16 mags, to make them work with the SAW, makes them less reliable in the M16.

So, I think they should make an M249A1 without the mag well. While they're at it, they should replace the shotgun-style safety with a regular lever, give the buttstock a proper comb (the SAW often used as an automatic rifle and is fired from the shoulder, without the shooter placing his weak hand on the stock, as he would with a GPMG), and fix the sling so you don't have to tape the clips to keep them from popping off.

Oh, yeah, and get rid of those infernal 200 round plastic boxes.

Just my opinion, of course.

 

[greenmountaingear]

These will work w/ an AR-type platform

Head down to the "for sale/ accessories" area for details.

 

[Citadel99]

It's a neat idea, but I can't really imagine why anyone would want a belt fed semiauto for anything other than just firing lots of rounds at the range. Not really a useful weapon for fighting.

 

[MagnumCaliber357]

Mk. 46

i believe navy special forces have adopted the m249 without the mag well feed and shorter barrel and called it the Mk. 46, google it.

 

[jeff-10]

I was a SAW gunner for nearly 2 yrs straight at 2 different duty stations and had 4 different SAWs issued to be over that time. Probably put 100k of 5.56mm down range with the thing. I could never get any of the weapons to feed reliably from the M16 magazines. You had to put forward pressure on the magazine with the left hand to get them to feed at all and even that would rarely let you feed more than 10 rounds at a time. IMHO the magazine well was the worst idea the designer could have come up with. Made it far more bulky and complicated than it needed to be.

 

[Dionysusigma]

Must be developing some slight dyslexia... thought the site name was Arse Defense...

It's a neat idea, but I can't really imagine why anyone would want a belt fed semiauto for anything other than just firing lots of rounds at the range. Not really a useful weapon for fighting.

I agree. I want one.

If one was made in .308, it'd be the perfect thing to put on a FAL with all the M249 TAPCO furninture on it.

 

[deej]

To paraphrase something I once read on TFL...

If you need a belt-fed weapon for home defense, you should probably move.

Sigh...but the Shrike would be so much fun!

 

[Diggler]

A belt-fed weapon makes you look really cool while you're standing there all sweaty with no shirt on, ammo belts draped across both shoulders, and firing the rifle with your right hand while holding the belt with your left.

And from what I've seen in the movies, if you shoot back at BG's like that, and just stand there motionless while sweeping the landscape, you become bulletproof and NEVER get shot.

 

[Destructo6]

Well, since the lower is standard AR fare, you could install your registered DIAS or attach an M16 lower to it. The Shrike is probably the reason those items experienced a price spike. But since the Shrike will probably hit the market right after Duke Nukem Forever, prices may be coming down again.

If you want .308, the XMG allows the use of a modified MG34 setup with a M16 lower.

http://www.brpguns.com/xmg.htm