Machine guns introduction
Austria
 Schwarzlose M07 M07/12
 Steyr-Solothurn MG 30
 Steyr AUG /Hbar
Belgium
 FN Model D
 FN Minimi
 FN MAG
 FN BRG-15
China, People's Republic
 Type 67 GPMG
 Type 88 GPMG
 Type 95 LMG
 Type 77 HMG
 Type 85 HMG
 W-85 HMG
 Type 89 HMG
 Type 02 / QJG 02 HMG
Czech Republic
 ZB 26
 ZB 53 / Vz.37
 ZB 60 new
 Vz.52, Vz.52/57 upd
 UK Vz.59 upd
Denmark
 Madsen LMG
 Madsen-Saetter
Finland
 L/S-26
 Valmet KvKK 62
France
 Chauchat CSRG M1915
 Hotchkiss Portative
 Hotchkiss M1914
 Hotchkiss M1922 LMG
 Hotchkiss M1930 HMG
 MAC M1924/29
 AAT Mod.52
Germany
 MG 08, MG 08/15, MG 08/18
 MG 13
 MG 34
 MG 35/36 Knorr-Bremse
 MG 42 and MG 3
 HK 21 and 23
 HK MG 4
Great Britain
 Vickers Mk.I
 Hotchkiss Portable Mk.I
 Lewis
 Vickers-Berthier
 Bren
 L86A1 SA-80 LSW
Israel
 Dror
 Negev
Italy
 Fiat-Revelli M1914 M1935
 Breda M1930
 Breda M1937
Japan
 Type 03 & Type 92
 Type 11
 Type 96 & Type 99
 Type 62
Mexico
 Mendoza
Russia / USSR
 Maxim M1910/30
 Degtyarov DP DPM RP-46
 Degtyarov DS-39
 Degtyarov RPD
 Kalashnikov RPK
 Kalashnikov RPK-74
 Gorjunov SG-43 SGM
 Kalashnikov PK / PKM
 Pecheneg
 DShK DShKM 12.7
 NSV 12.7 'Utes'
 Kord 12.7
 KPV 14.5
Singapore
 STK Ultimax 100
 CIS .50 MG
South Africa
 Vector SS-77 / Mini-SS
South Korea
 Daewoo K3
Spain
 CETME Ameli
Sweden
 Knorr-Bremse m/40
Switzerland
 W+F Lmg 25
 SIG KE-7
 Steyr-Solothurn MG 30
 SIG MG 50
 W+F MG 51
 SIG MG 710
USA
 Benet-Mercie M1909
 Lewis
 Browning M1917 M1919
 Browning M1918 BAR
 Johnson M1941 M1944
 M60
 M16 LSW / LMG
 M134 Minigun
 XM214 Microgun
 Stoner 63
 M249 SAW
 M240
 Mk.48 mod.0
 Browning M2HB .50 cal
 XM312 .50 cal
 LW50MG

 Gatling, Minigun, Vulcan

all texts and some pictures
copyright © 1999-2009
by Max R. Popenker
and can not be used without author permission

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Colt M16 automatic rifle / light machine gun / light support weapon (USA)

Colt M16A2 automatic rifle / light machine gun with 100-round Beta-C magazine

Colt M16A3 automatic rifle / light machine gun. Note detachable carrying handle, installed over the integral Picatinny rail, and relocated bipod

 
Colt M16A3 automatic rifle / light machine gun

Data for current production Colt M16 automatic rifle / LMG

Caliber	5.56x45 NATO
Weight	5.78 kg
Length	1000 mm
Barrel length	510 mm
Feed	magazine, 30 or 100 rounds
Rate of fire	600 - 750 rounds per minute

Colt company build a variety of heavy barreled “automatic rifles” (machine rifles, light machine guns) based on most versions of the M16 assault rifle, starting from early XM16E1 (which also unsuccessfully were converted to belt feed) and up to latest M16A4 assault rifles. These weapons were sold abroad, and a small number of such rifles were used by US Marine Corps in the Squad Automatic weapon role during late 1970s and 1980s, before adoption of the M249 light machine gun. It is worth to note that current production Colt M16 LMG are produced in Canada rather than USA, by Colt Canada factory (former Diemaco Ltd).

Colt M16 automatic rifle is gas operated, air cooled, magazine fed weapon which fires from open bolt. Gas system is copied from M16 rifle, and is of direct-impingement type, as there is no dedicated gas piston, and powder gases are fed from the gas block via gas tube into the bolt carrier. Rotary bolt has seven locking lugs and locks into the barrel extension. Receiver is made from aluminum alloy and consists of two parts, upper and lower, which are linked by two cross-pins. Barrel is of heavy profile and cannot be replaced in the field. Gun is fitted with hydraulic recoil buffer (located in the buttstock) which decreases the rate of fire.
Feed is from magazines only; any M16-compatible magazine can be used, but most common are either 100-round double-drum magazines, made by American company Beta-C Co, or standard issue 30-round curved box magazines for M16 rifle.
Standard furniture includes large plastic handguard of rectangular cross-section, with attached vertical fore-grip and mounting point for detachable, folding bipod. Rifles of most recent production also feature detachable M16A4-style carrying handle with built-in fully adjustable rear sight; this handle can be attached to the Picatinny type rail on the top of the receiver. Alternatively, any other sighting equipment can be installed on this rail using appropriate mountings.

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