Tactical Life Gun Magazine: Gun News and Gun Reviews
  • News
    • New Products & Industry News
    • Police News
    • Military News
  • Guns
    • Rifles
    • Handguns
    • Shotguns
    • Special Weapons
  • Gear
    • Accessories
    • Ammo
    • Holsters
    • Knives
    • Optics & Sights
    • Suppressors
  • Lifestyle
    • Pop Culture
    • Training
  • Videos
No Result
View All Result
Tactical Life Gun Magazine: Gun News and Gun Reviews
  • News
    • New Products & Industry News
    • Police News
    • Military News
  • Guns
    • Rifles
    • Handguns
    • Shotguns
    • Special Weapons
  • Gear
    • Accessories
    • Ammo
    • Holsters
    • Knives
    • Optics & Sights
    • Suppressors
  • Lifestyle
    • Pop Culture
    • Training
  • Videos
No Result
View All Result
Tactical Life Gun Magazine: Gun News and Gun Reviews
No Result
View All Result
 
Enter to WIN Christensen Arms Modern Hunting Rifle in FREE GUN FRIDAY!

The Civilian-Legal FN M249S Para Is as Close as It Gets to the Real Thing

Andy Massimilian by Andy Massimilian
May 13, 2019
in Guns, Rifles
0
FN M249S
0
SHARES
1.2k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
FN M249S
FN M249S
FN M249S

The M249S Para is its latest addition to FN’s Military Collector series, which includes two AR-15s as close as you can get to the M4 and M16, and three semi-auto versions of the M249 squad automatic weapon (SAW). Chambered in 5.56mm NATO, the M249S is made as closely as possible to FN’s military version, but without the automatic-fire capability. The “S” in its model name designates that it is semi-auto only. The Para version is distinguished by its collapsible stock and 16.1-inch barrel, instead of the standard 20-inch barrel.

FN SCAR 20S Review, FN SCAR, aim
RELATED STORY

VIDEO: First Range Test of the Civilian-Ready FN SCAR 20S Rifle

The M249S traces its lineage to the Minimi light machine gun developed by FN in Belgium and first unveiled in 1974. After testing by the U.S. Army, it was officially adopted in 1982 from a list of four candidates and fielded in 1984. The M249 first saw action in the 1989 invasion of Panama. It has been used in every significant American ground force deployment since.

Despite its age, the M249 has only undergone a few changes. The gas system went from being adjustable to fixed. A Picatinny-style rail was added to the top cover to accommodate optics. Several buttstocks have also been used. The two most recent martial variants include the M249 Para and MK 46 MOD 1. The latter uses a shorter barrel, a fixed stock and a quad-rail forend.

Gun Details

While the M249 fires from an open bolt and is capable of automatic fire only, the semi-automatic M249S fires from a closed bolt to satisfy the BATFE’s threshold requirement that semi-autos not be “readily convertible” to full-auto fire, which is how the agency classifies any open-bolt, magazine-fed firearm. Both the semi- and full-auto versions feature gas operation. Each use a long-stroke piston design with a rotating, three-lug bolt that locks into the barrel extension. (“Long-stroke” means the gas piston moves rearward with the operating rod at least the length of the cartridge—examples include the Garand, AK-47 and M1A. “Short-stroke” gas systems use pistons that move shorter distances, as with most piston-driven AR-15s and the M1 Carbine.)

Belt-Fed Fun

The M249S is fed with either belt ammunition or NATO STANAG (i.e., M16) magazines in “emergencies,” according to the official U.S. Army manual. Belted ammo uses steel M27 links that are fed onto the feed tray from the left. The magazine well is also located on the left, just under the tray. Belted ammo is stored in a container that mounts below the receiver. The M249S comes with 200 links, one aluminum magazine and a black plastic box that holds up to 200 rounds and attaches under the rifle.

Dimensionally, the M249S Para weighs 16 pounds unloaded—just over the weight of two AR-15s—and is 31.5 to 37 inches long depending on the stock position. It uses an integral steel bipod that folds up and stows inside the forend. The bipod’s legs are adjustable for firing on uneven terrain. But it does not have the capability to pan left to right. The weapon also comes with eyelets for slinging it over the shoulder and two sockets for mounting onto a tripod or a pintle for deployment from a vehicle, though the larger and more potent M240 in 7.62mm NATO is typically used in that role.

Quick-Change Barrel

The M249S Para also uses a quick-change barrel. The rifling has a 1-in-7-inch twist rate, and the flash suppressor/compensator is pinned and welded to the muzzle of a slightly longer M249 Para barrel to make it the legal length of 16.1 inches. Quick-change barrels are a necessity for belt-fed machine guns because they maintain the weapon’s accuracy and allow for continuous firing over long periods. Each military M249 is issued with two barrels. According to U.S. Army manuals, a barrel should be changed after firing 200 rounds or more per minute in two minutes, 850 rounds in one minute or 500 rounds in 10 minutes.

To change the barrel on the M249S, retract and maintain the bolt group rearward by hand or by inserting the supplied plastic block that FN calls the “Manual Bolt Lock Device” into the mag well, then depress the lever on the trunnion and pull the barrel forward. The cold-hammer-forged barrel is made by FN and has a chrome-lined bore, which FN has determined preserves the rifling from wearing out better than nitriding.

Operating the M249S is so distinctive from typical magazine-fed rifles that FN decided to produce a comprehensive instructional video covering every aspect of this rifle, from belt linking to disassembly and cleaning. Watch this video completely, even if you are proficient in operating the full-auto M249, because the semi-auto version incorporates new parts (for example, a sliding hammer) that require different techniques for effective operation.

The Differences

Most buyers of the M249S will want to know how it differs from the “real-deal” weapon they see on TV in the hands of U.S. forces fighting in conflict zones across the globe. The two weapons differ substantially in construction and operation.

The M249S and the M249 use the same stamped-steel, heat-treated receivers with two chrome-plated rails welded to the inside upon which the bolt group rides. Both versions are finished using the same process, but the semi-auto version is held to a higher cosmetic standard. Though the receivers of the M249 and M249S are dimensionally the same on the outside, the internal builds differ. For instance, two additional rails are attached to the bottom of the semi-auto’s receiver to guide the slide hammer assembly forward and rearward, and preclude the installation of the full-auto bolt group, and a narrower bracket on the rear of the receiver prevents a full-auto trigger assembly from being installed. FN’s engineers also had to design a new trigger mechanism and slightly modify the bolt, bolt carrier, firing pin, firing pin spring and piston rod assembly.

Open Versus Closed Bolt

There are also operational differences. The semi-auto version fires from a closed and locked bolt. So it can fire only when the bolt is fully forward and locked into the barrel extension. Depressing the trigger releases the slide hammer, which moves straight forward under spring tension to strike the firing pin. After firing, the bolt unlocks and moves rearward along with the slide and piston assembly. The slide hammer moves rearward to its cocked position and is held by the disconnector in the trigger group. Releasing the trigger connects the cocked slide hammer to the trigger sear.

In contrast, the full-auto M249 is ready to fire when the bolt group is retained fully rearward by the trigger. (This is intended to provide barrel cooling between firing bursts and prevent “cook-offs” of rounds chambered in a super-hot barrel.) Depressing the trigger allows the bolt, slide and piston assemblies to move forward. The bolt strips a cartridge from the belt and channels it downward from the feed tray into the chamber. After the round is chambered, the bolt is cammed rightward by the forward-moving slide until it locks into the barrel extension. The slide and piston assembly continue to move forward, pushing the firing pin through the bolt face to strike the primer.

Range Time With the FN M249S Para

We at Tactical Life typically test rifles for accuracy at 100 yards. However, given the obvious purpose of the M249S as a collectible and extravagant plinker for those with about $8,600 to spare, I focused on assessing its reliability using Federal American Eagle 55-grain FMJs, Federal 62-grain XM855 “Green Tip” rounds and a 55-grain FMJ reload from U.S. Cartridge Company.

All three loads ran at 93- to 100-percent reliability when feeding from the linked belt, the supplied magazine, a Magpul PMAG GEN M2and an LMT magazine. Be mindful to keep the plastic box containing the linked ammo from flexing or damage to ensure the gun feeds properly. A bit of lubricant on the plastic feed lip on the side that contacts the steel links might also help.

Putting Rounds Downrange

When firing the FN M249S, the most stable technique is to shoot from a prone position with the buttplate hook atop the firing shoulder and the support hand pressing downward and rearward on the buttstock. It’s hardly a novel method, having been used by soldiers since at least World War II, but it also works quite well in semi-auto fire.

Though optics have been standard issue for years, the M249S Para comes with a fairly sophisticated and well-made, fully adjustable rear sight with ranging calibrations out to 1,000 meters. The front sight is a protected post. Casual firing from a prone position at 50 yards using the bipod and the iron sights easily yielded five-shot groups of 2.5 to 3 inches. Adding an optic would obviously shrink groups, as would firing the rifle while it was rested on a solid support.

This platform has endured for so many decades in part because of its. The M249S features a wide, smooth, curved trigger shoe, while the large crossbolt safety provides activation via the thumb. The trigger has a bit of creep, but its travel is smooth, not gritty, with a 6-pound pull. The plastic 200-round box, however, makes the rifle awkward to carry afield. Nylon bags are a better choice for the field. Finally, the telescoping Para stock proved sturdy and without wobble when locked in the firing position.

Parting Shots

Civilian-legal imitations of military arms are immensely popular, but their authenticity is often lacking because, besides the necessary change to semi-auto fire, most use parts that wouldn’t be accepted under the military’s rigorous quality-control standards. FN manufactures both the military and civilian versions of the M249 on the same assembly line. Many of the same parts undergo the same quality-control process, according to FN. So, for those who want an authentic semi-auto version of the M249 SAW, the FN M249S is as true to form as you can get.

For more information, visit fnamerica.com.

FN M249S Para Specifications

  • Caliber: 5.56mm NATO
  • Barrel: 16.1 inches
  • Overall Length: 31.5-37 inches
  • Weight: 16 pounds (empty)
  • Stock: Collapsible
  • Sights: Front post, adjustable rear
  • Action: Semi-auto
  • Finish: Matte black
  • Capacity: 30+1; 200+1
  • MSRP: $8,799

This article is from the April-May 2019 issue of Tactical Life magazine. Grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com. For digital editions, visit Amazon.

Didn't find what you were looking for?

CLICK HERE FOR COMMENTS

RELATED POSTS

The MAUSER 98 125th Anniversary Limited-Edition Series.

The MAUSER 98 125th Anniversary Limited-Edition Series

The Springfield Armory DS Prodigy torture test.

VIDEO: Springfield Armory DS Prodigy 10,000-Round Torture Test

The MDC “Trench Art” Classic AK-47 Rifle.

Get Your History On: Own a Limited MDC “Trench Art” Classic AK-47

The Final Edition of the Walther P99 pistol.

UPDATED: Final Edition Walther P99 Closes Out Model Run

Load More

TACTICAL-LIFE NIGHT SHOOTER SEASON 2

Discussion about this post

FEATURED POST

The MAUSER 98 125th Anniversary Limited-Edition Series.

The MAUSER 98 125th Anniversary Limited-Edition Series

I first got a taste for MAUSER when a friend took me shooting with a 1917 MAUSER from his milsurp...

Read more

TRENDING

U.S. Secret Service adopts Glock G47

FIRST LOOK: Glock Just Very Quietly Unveiled the New Glock 47 Pistol

...

Police Sidearms, police duty pistols, Handguns, America's Largest Police Departments 2018

Police Sidearms: The Handguns of America’s 10 Largest Departments

...

5 new pistols launched at NASGW.

5 New Pistols Launching for 2023

...

The new Smith & Wesson M&P 5.7 pistol packs 22+1.

Smith & Wesson M&P 5.7 Packs 22+1 Rounds of Firepower!

...

PICK A CATEGORY

TACTICS & TRAINING SPOTLIGHT

Tactical Reload Semi-Auto Pistol Step 8

5 Strategies For Effectively Completing a Tactical Reload

If you’re reading this publication, you’re most likely familiar with the “speed reload,” sometimes called the “combat reload” or “emergency...

TACTICS & TRAINING SHOWCASE

Active School Shooter Training: 14 Key Points to Consider

Active School Shooter Training: 14 Key Points to Consider

Fact vs. Fiction 5 Myths Gunfight Survival lead

5 Common Myths on How to Survive a Gunfight

Standing Your Ground Castle Doctrine lead

Understanding Stand Your Ground Laws and Castle Doctrine

long distance shooting tips

Long-Distance Shooting: 5 Must-Know Tips For Spotters & Shooters

IMPACT Experience Events.

IMPACT Experience Events Redefine Your Long-Range Shooting Limits

Enhance your shooting precision skills in a course with Modern Day Sniper.

Sniper Skills: Taking Your Shooting Precision to the Next Level

Once you find a carry gun that works for you, get another for a spare. These “hammerless” S&W J-frame lightweights are M340 M&P with Hogue Bantam grips, top, and a M442 Airweight with Crimson Trace Lasergrips, below.

10 Commandments of Concealed Carry

self-defense myths can be dangerous

Self-Defense Myths that Could Get you Killed

Mossberg 590 Shockwave review for home defense myths

4 Home Defense Myths You Need to Stop Repeating

AMMO SPOTLIGHT

Remington Ammunition Issues Recall Notice on 12-Gauge Premier Accutip Ammo.

Remington Ammunition Issues a 12-Gauge Premier AccuTip Ammo Recall

Remington Ammunition has recently discovered an issue related to its 12-Gauge Premier Accutip ammo and issued a recall notice. This...

site logo
Tactical Life Gun Magazine: Gun news, gun reviews and gun magazines for gun enthusiasts, military and law enforcement

Tactical

  • tactical-life.com

Magazines

  • Tactical Life
  • The Complete Book of Reloading
  • Guns of the Old West

Facebook

  • Tactical-Life Facebook
  • Guns of the Old West Facebook

Twitter

  • Tactical-Life Twitter

Self Defense

  • PersonalDefenseWorld.com

Magazines

  • Personal Defense World
  • Combat Handguns

Facebook

  • Personal Defense World Facebook
  • Combat Handguns

Twitter

  • Personal Defense World Twitter

Shooting Lifestyle

  • BallisticMag.com

Magazines

  • BallisticMag.com

Facebook

  • Ballistic Magazine Facebook

Twitter

  • Ballistic Magazine Twitter

Alpha Lifestyle

  • SkillsetMag.com

Magazines

  • Skillset

Facebook

  • Skillset Magazine Facebook

Twitter

  • Skillset Magazine Twitter

Instagram

  • Skillset Magazine Instagram
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • California Privacy Notice
  • Cookie Policy
© Athlon Outdoors, All Rights Reserved.
You use of this website constitutes and manifests your acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy, and awareness of the California Privacy Rights. Pursuant to U.S. Copyright law, as well as other applicable federal and state laws, the content on this website may not be reproduced, distributed, displayed, transmitted, cached, or otherwise used, without the prior, express, and written permission of Athlon Outdoors.

Manage your GDPR consents by clicking here. Manage your CCPA consents by clicking here.
No Result
View All Result
  • Guns
    • Rifles
    • Handguns
    • Shotguns
  • Knives
  • Gear
    • Holsters
    • Optics & Sights
    • Accessories
    • Ammo
    • Suppressors
  • News
    • New Products & Industry News
    • Police News
    • Military News
  • Videos
  • Contact Us

© 2023 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme.