Combloc1
Member
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2017
- Messages
- 187
With most firearms I buy, I know at least a little bit about it before the purchase but then I usually obsessively research the hecks out of it afterwards. I can't help it. It's a combination of OCD and my History degree. It's just going to happen. Then, because it's useless to learn all this worthless knowledge without sharing it, I end up typing up a long and boring essay and posting it online. It's just the way of things. Once it's dumped out of my memory banks, I can move on. Sometimes, there are variations over time concerning the firearm you are looking at so you get to go track down a bunch of pointless obsolete bits in order to compare them to the latest and greatest bits. Why? I don't know. I mean, they upgraded for a reason didn't they? Yes, yes they did......but that doesn't matter. Ya' just gotta go find the stuff and play with it. It's an obsession thing. I mean half the fun of owning this stuff is the toy value right?? Don't get me wrong, shooting is a blast (literally) but, for me, the simple joy of having toys you could only dream about as a kid is probably THE BEST aspect of owning all these military firearms.
So it is with the M249. When I got it, I knew what it was and knew some general knowledge about it. I bought it for many reasons, one of which is the fact that it's currently in use around the globe with scores of countries. When I got it home and started shooting it, I did a pretty detailed write up about it, showing various details and giving my impressions. I loved it then and I love it now. It has never failed to please and it's been rock solid reliable just as I would expect of an FN product. The addition of a scope has really brought out it's potential accuracy making it all that much more enjoyable at the range. The pissing off of the Fudd and liberal factor is high too, another bonus.
As to the research, I quickly discovered that, like all US firearms in use for any length of time, the M249 evolved. At it's core, it has remained the same machine gun but lots of little things changed over time literally from the end of the butt to the tip of the barrel. Well, that got me wanting to get my hands on some of these bits so that I could compare them. I mean how hard could it be to get my hands on the older parts seeing as how it's only been in service since the 80's? As it turns out, it can be very hard!
In the late 80's-early 90's, the 249 underwent a Product Improvement Program (PIP). At that time, most (but not all) of the changes that have taken place to date were implemented. A 1991 manual I have still shows both the older parts and the newer replacements. It says that armorers can submit orders for the upgraded replacement parts as the guns came in for service. I can only assume that the old parts were destroyed after being switched out because they are pretty much impossible to find today. I mean, I have an easier time finding 73 year old parts for a long dead MP44 design than I do finding 30 year old parts for a still in production 249! How crazy is that? Fortunately, I found a guy who is both a Paratrooper and has collected Belgian military rifles for a lot of years. That's what some of the parts we will be looking at in this thread are, Belgian surplus parts. Still, to my knowledge, they are identical to 1980's US parts other than the markings so they'll work. I'm nowhere NEAR where I want to be collecting parts and accessories for the M249 but at least I'm not on the starting line anymore.
Alright, that was way more lead in than I intended but, if you're still with me let's take a look at some stuff. As usual, this will be a multi-post thread so check back if you are interested. Let's get started.
M249 Retro:
Get rid of the scope and switch out the feed cover with one minus a rail, and it's 1990. I was much younger then. I haven't been able to source an early feed cover yet and I'm not sure it would be smart to switch it out if I did because I wouldn't want to risk screwing up the sighting zero or feed cover. I'd still like to find one though. One of the pictures shows a Belgian 100 round pouch mounted. We'll look at that closer later. For this picture, I replaced the butt stock, buffer (internal part), hand guard barrel and installed a Belgian Minimi sling. I also omitted the upper hand guard did not exist prior to the PIP. These things make it immediately look older IMO. Lets look at and compare the parts in a little more detail.
First up are the stocks:
On the bottom is the older stock and buffer/recoil rod. The stock is made entirely of aluminum except for the shoulder rest which is steel. Originally, this would have has a plastic or hard rubber (I'm not sure which as I've heard both) web fitted between the tubes. It's long gone and I don't really know what the purpose was to begin with. This stock is clearly derived from the FAL Para stock. The buffer is a heavy spring mounded on the recoil rod. Its painted yellow. If you find one of these stocks, you MUST use the early buffer as pictured or you will destroy things. The upper stock is the newer version and has a hydraulic buffer built into the stock. You can see the piston sticking out the front. It plugs into the new style recoil rod. The mounting block is made of aluminum, the stock is plastic while the butt plate and shoulder rest are steel.
Here's a front view of the stocks:
The only markings on the Belgian stock are shown here. I assume it was made in 1995:
Close up showing the rear of the recoil assemblies:
The new style assembly is shown as it would be if the stock piston were plugged into it. As the bolt/carrier group reaches the end of reward movement, it presses on the front of the steel block (marked with FN's manufacturer number). This block then presses on the stock piston and is buffered as it moves reward until it bottoms out on the fixed metal plate at the extreme rear of the recoil assembly. By this point, there is no reward inertia left and the bolt/carrier begins its' forward movement. This system significantly reduces felt recoil. Although I haven't found it in print, I'm sure it's also easier on the little pin shown sticking out the side of the fixed metal plate. That pin is essentially a roll pin that sticks out both sides of the fixed plate and it fits into cutouts in the rear of the receiver holding all the guts in the rifle. If that pin were to break, you're out of action. The old style buffer is a much simpler affair using only a strong spring to take the beating.
Old style buffer shown installed in receiver:
One last thing about the stock before we move on. Because the attachment point is aluminum and the snap hook on the sling is steel, they don't play well together. In other words, the snap hook will tear up the attachment point over time. This is all well and good when you are only using the rifle and can turn it into an armorer for replacement once it's trashed but, for us armchair Rambutts, it's a good idea to use a piece of paracord to save the stock:
While we're at it, we might as well do the same at the front of the receiver to keep it from getting all marred up. Put the knot on the outside so that it doesn't get scorched on a hot barrel. A detachable swivel will fit on this fron mounting point too if you want.
Okiedokie, I'll continue this in the next post.
So it is with the M249. When I got it, I knew what it was and knew some general knowledge about it. I bought it for many reasons, one of which is the fact that it's currently in use around the globe with scores of countries. When I got it home and started shooting it, I did a pretty detailed write up about it, showing various details and giving my impressions. I loved it then and I love it now. It has never failed to please and it's been rock solid reliable just as I would expect of an FN product. The addition of a scope has really brought out it's potential accuracy making it all that much more enjoyable at the range. The pissing off of the Fudd and liberal factor is high too, another bonus.
As to the research, I quickly discovered that, like all US firearms in use for any length of time, the M249 evolved. At it's core, it has remained the same machine gun but lots of little things changed over time literally from the end of the butt to the tip of the barrel. Well, that got me wanting to get my hands on some of these bits so that I could compare them. I mean how hard could it be to get my hands on the older parts seeing as how it's only been in service since the 80's? As it turns out, it can be very hard!
In the late 80's-early 90's, the 249 underwent a Product Improvement Program (PIP). At that time, most (but not all) of the changes that have taken place to date were implemented. A 1991 manual I have still shows both the older parts and the newer replacements. It says that armorers can submit orders for the upgraded replacement parts as the guns came in for service. I can only assume that the old parts were destroyed after being switched out because they are pretty much impossible to find today. I mean, I have an easier time finding 73 year old parts for a long dead MP44 design than I do finding 30 year old parts for a still in production 249! How crazy is that? Fortunately, I found a guy who is both a Paratrooper and has collected Belgian military rifles for a lot of years. That's what some of the parts we will be looking at in this thread are, Belgian surplus parts. Still, to my knowledge, they are identical to 1980's US parts other than the markings so they'll work. I'm nowhere NEAR where I want to be collecting parts and accessories for the M249 but at least I'm not on the starting line anymore.
Alright, that was way more lead in than I intended but, if you're still with me let's take a look at some stuff. As usual, this will be a multi-post thread so check back if you are interested. Let's get started.
M249 Retro:
Get rid of the scope and switch out the feed cover with one minus a rail, and it's 1990. I was much younger then. I haven't been able to source an early feed cover yet and I'm not sure it would be smart to switch it out if I did because I wouldn't want to risk screwing up the sighting zero or feed cover. I'd still like to find one though. One of the pictures shows a Belgian 100 round pouch mounted. We'll look at that closer later. For this picture, I replaced the butt stock, buffer (internal part), hand guard barrel and installed a Belgian Minimi sling. I also omitted the upper hand guard did not exist prior to the PIP. These things make it immediately look older IMO. Lets look at and compare the parts in a little more detail.
First up are the stocks:
On the bottom is the older stock and buffer/recoil rod. The stock is made entirely of aluminum except for the shoulder rest which is steel. Originally, this would have has a plastic or hard rubber (I'm not sure which as I've heard both) web fitted between the tubes. It's long gone and I don't really know what the purpose was to begin with. This stock is clearly derived from the FAL Para stock. The buffer is a heavy spring mounded on the recoil rod. Its painted yellow. If you find one of these stocks, you MUST use the early buffer as pictured or you will destroy things. The upper stock is the newer version and has a hydraulic buffer built into the stock. You can see the piston sticking out the front. It plugs into the new style recoil rod. The mounting block is made of aluminum, the stock is plastic while the butt plate and shoulder rest are steel.
Here's a front view of the stocks:
The only markings on the Belgian stock are shown here. I assume it was made in 1995:
Close up showing the rear of the recoil assemblies:
The new style assembly is shown as it would be if the stock piston were plugged into it. As the bolt/carrier group reaches the end of reward movement, it presses on the front of the steel block (marked with FN's manufacturer number). This block then presses on the stock piston and is buffered as it moves reward until it bottoms out on the fixed metal plate at the extreme rear of the recoil assembly. By this point, there is no reward inertia left and the bolt/carrier begins its' forward movement. This system significantly reduces felt recoil. Although I haven't found it in print, I'm sure it's also easier on the little pin shown sticking out the side of the fixed metal plate. That pin is essentially a roll pin that sticks out both sides of the fixed plate and it fits into cutouts in the rear of the receiver holding all the guts in the rifle. If that pin were to break, you're out of action. The old style buffer is a much simpler affair using only a strong spring to take the beating.
Old style buffer shown installed in receiver:
One last thing about the stock before we move on. Because the attachment point is aluminum and the snap hook on the sling is steel, they don't play well together. In other words, the snap hook will tear up the attachment point over time. This is all well and good when you are only using the rifle and can turn it into an armorer for replacement once it's trashed but, for us armchair Rambutts, it's a good idea to use a piece of paracord to save the stock:
While we're at it, we might as well do the same at the front of the receiver to keep it from getting all marred up. Put the knot on the outside so that it doesn't get scorched on a hot barrel. A detachable swivel will fit on this fron mounting point too if you want.
Okiedokie, I'll continue this in the next post.
