M240 machine gun

The M240 machine gun is a type of machine gun. It fires the 7.62mm NATO cartridge. It is gas-operated and the bullets are fed into the chamber by a belt. The M240 has been used by the United States Armed Forces since the late-1970s. It is used a lot by infantry. The M240 is also mounted onto ground vehicles, boats, and helicopters.

Machine Gun, 7.62 mm, M240
M240B
Type	General-purpose machine gun
Place of origin	Belgium United States (manufacture)
Service history
In service	1977–present[1]
Used by	United States Armed Forces[1]
Wars	Gulf War Iraq conflict Afghanistan conflict
Production history
Designer	Ernest Vervier
Designed	1950s
Manufacturer	FN Manufacturing, LLC
Produced	1977–present[1]
Variants	See Variants
Specifications
Mass	M240B: 27.1 pounds (12.3 kg) M240G: 25.6 pounds (11.6 kg) M240L: 22.3 pounds (10.1 kg)
Length	49.7 in (1,263 mm)
Barrel length	24.8 in (630 mm)
Width	4.7 in (118.7 mm)
Height	10.4 in (263 mm)
Cartridge	7.62×51mm NATO[2]
Action	Gas-operated, open bolt[2]
Rate of fire	750–950 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity	2,800 ft/s (853 m/s)
Effective firing range	Bipod: 800 m (880 yd) Tripod: 1,800 m (1,980 yd)
Maximum firing range	4,074 yd (3,725 m)
Feed system	Non-disintegrating DM1 or disintegrating M13 linked belt
Sights	Folding leaf sight with aperture and notch, front blade