Machine gun M240: Overview

The single machine gun M240g (USA) was developed in 1950The Belgian company Fabrique Nationale and quickly gained wide acceptance all over the world. The reason for the popularity of weapons lies in the special simplicity and reliability of the design, the possibility of effective combat in a variety of conditions.

Design features

The M240 machine gun was developed on the basis of a gas outletautomation, which was commissioned by the famous inventor John Browning in the middle of the last century and was originally used in rifles of the brand FN MAG. The only difference between these systems is the use of an inverted "upside down" locking assembly, replacing magazine supply of ammunition with cartridges on a tape.

Receiver

The M240 machine gun contains a barrel box,identical to quick-fire weapons of the brand "Browning". The steel sidewalls are seated on the lower plate and fixed with rivets. The front part of the mechanism is reinforced, which facilitates the placement of the front lock and the installation of the gas chamber. In this case, these elements can not be disassembled in the field after the factory equipment.

M240g - machine guns, in which the gate guidesare connected by rivets with side walls and are bent downwards. This design helps to effectively engage the support arm and the locking lever of the receiver.

The M240 machine gun has a quick-detachable barrel,which is a handle designed to transport weapons, quickly replace an overheated muzzle system. Here, too, is a fly on a high base and a flame arrester.

The barrel is fed from cartridges, usually of loose character. The way of supply of ammunition to the chamber is direct.

Shock mechanism

The M240 machine gun is equipped with a gas outlet thatis located under the barrel and has a regulator with which to control the rate of fire. Locking is due to the operation of a special rocker arm. The latter is mounted on the bolt and is connected to the piston rod. During the locking of the shock system, the lever engages with the saddle, turns down in the bottom of the receiver and propels the bolt.

Cartridge feeding system

At the top of the case the M240 machine gun containsspring-loaded roller, thanks to which the activation of the ammunition supply system takes place. If the roller does not fall into the feed channel when the gate mechanism is moved to the rear position, the subsequent stage of the cartridge supply does not take place. The implementation of this principle completely excludes the occurrence of any violations in the progress and supply of ammunition.

Equipment

In the basic assembly, the M240 machine gun is equipped with a pistol-type handle with a trigger mechanism, a foldable lightweight bipod based on a gas outlet, a plastic or wooden butt.

The bottom of the receiver contains fasteners in the formsteel stamped parts, which serve as a mount for the installation of a machine gun on self-propelled machinery. In the upper part there is an open sighting system. The latest modifications are equipped with a specific guide, which allows you to install on the weapon almost any optical sights.

Eventually

Due to ease of use and maintenanceThe American M240 machine gun has the status of one of the most common rapid-fire weapons in the world. In fact, the design of the model is only slightly different from its prototype FN MAG, developed back in the 50s. However, this does not prevent the M240 machine gun from remaining highly reliable, safe in operation and in demand weapons.