Animation: How a M240 Machine Gun works

The M240 machine gun, officially the "Machine Gun, 7.62 mm, M240", is the U.S. military designation for the FN MAG, a family of belt-fed, gas-operated medium machine guns that chamber the 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge.

The M240 has been used by the United States Armed Forces since the late 1970s. It is used extensively by infantry, most often in rifle companies, as well as on ground vehicles, watercraft and aircraft.

Though it is heavier than some comparable weapons, it is highly regarded for reliability and its standardization among NATO members is a major advantage.

The M240s used by the U.S. military are currently manufactured by FN America, the American subsidiary of the Belgian company FN Herstal.

The MAG is a belt-fed, gas-operated, air-cooled, crew-served, general-purpose machine gun.

Its versatility is demonstrated by its ability to be fired effectively from its integral bipod, mounted on a tripod, on ground vehicles, watercraft and aircraft.

It was first adopted by the U.S. Army in 1977, as a coaxial tank gun, and slowly adopted for more applications in the 1980s and 1990s.

Compared to other machine guns, its rating of 26,000 mean rounds between failure (MRBF) is quite high for its weight.

The U.S. adoption of the MAG has its origins in the late 1960s and early 1970s as a project to procure a new coaxially mounted 7.62 mm machine gun for tanks to replace the M73 and M219 machine guns then being used.

The weapon fires from the open bolt position, meaning that the bolt is held to the rear and only moves forward as it is firing a round.

The firing pin is static and the bolt moves around the firing pin, circumventing any need for a hammer.

A sear is used to time the internal mechanisms of the weapon to provide a consistent rate of fire, ensuring proper function and accuracy.

The rate of fire may be controlled by three different gas regulator settings.

The first setting allows the weapon to cycle at 650–750 rounds per minute, the second setting being 750–850 rounds per minute, and the third setting being 850–950 rounds per minute.

The barrels can be exchanged rapidly, via a barrel release button located on the left side of the weapon.

During prolonged firing, the barrels can become hot enough to inflict second-degree burns instantly without becoming visibly different.

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