FN M249 Para

Fabriqué National M249 Para. Fires a 5.56 mm round from either a 200 round drum or from the standard M16 magazine. Designed to be an effective squad-based fully automatic weapon with a short-to-medium cone of fire and extended survivability. Notably smaller in profile, weight and caliber than the 7.62 M60, a favorite of US Armed forces. The 5.56 round has been both cursed and praised in combat situations for its high-penetration, but low damage characteristics. In Somalia, American special forces troops shouldering 5.56 mm weapons like the M16A2 and the M249 complained that the round would hit a target, but was too weak to put him or her down unless it was a hit to the kill zone.

The M249 Squad Automatic Weapon is a belt or magazine-fed fully automatic air-cooled gas operated shoulder-fired weapon. It fires 5.56mm NATO rounds from either a 200 round belt (TWO, not ONE hundred) or from a thirty round M-16 magazine. It fires from the open-bolt position, so never ever use it to start an ambush. (in the event of a misfire, the sound of the bolt going home will give away your position while you try to clear the round.) a Maximum range of 3600 metres, but a maximum effective range against an area target of 1100 metres with the new barrel system, or 1000 metres with the old barrel system, and a maximum effective range against a point target of 550 metres. Cyclic rate of 725 RPM (normal) or 1000 RPM (max). Sustained rate of 85 RPM, and rapid rate of 100 RPM.

It's a pain in the ass to lug one around.