Development of a machine gun MAG (Mitrailleuse a Gas — «gun the exhaust system, «the other option — Mitrailleuse d’Appui General -« General Purpose Machine Gun «) launched a first 50s on FN. Managing work was the chief designer of M. Ernest Vrevo. As the base took the locking system and automatic, fixed and removable barrel recoil damper Browning machine gun, which had previously produced FN, and belt system power machine gun MG42 (Germany). The result was a machine gun, which is recognized as one of the best and remains so to this day.
Machine gun BAR, from which MAG borrowed automation system and locking the barrel
In the breech there is a thread that serves to bond with his clutch. Closer fixing the clutch and prevent it cranking, set the receiver on its left wall. By coupling flanges of the trunk base is attached carrying handle. Locking barrel in the receiver by turning the knob. The handle, which is in this position, the line of sight is not closing. Another fundamental legacy of the second world war are the use of spot welding, stamping and riveting without down reliability. Receiver is assembled from parts made of sheet iron forging and fastened with rivets. With all of this some critical parts as before are made of iron milling blanks. The design came out very weighty, but had the highest sturdiness. In front of the structure prevailed for coupling installation of the barrel, in the back — to set the damper and stock. Rails for the bolt and bolt are the projections on the inner walls of the receiver. In the receiver has a number of holes: cut-out handle for moving the bolt on the right wall, window ejection — at the bottom.
A single machine gun FN MAG machine on tripod
The bore was chrome-plated. Vapor unit includes a gas regulator and is located under the barrel. Powder gases enter the cylindrical sleeve of the regulator. Gas piston moves therein. In the sleeve has three outlets. During the shooting of cool and scrubbing the gun powder, virtually all gases flow out through the holes, and only a few right amount of gas used for the automation. Heating of the parts of automation, the ingress of sand, and the formation of sludge build up a similar friction, causing the need to increase the pressure of powder gases. To do this, turn the gas control lever, then the gas is moving along the coupling of the gas chamber, alternately closing outlets. Powder gases at a higher level begins to flow to the gas piston. This arrangement enables to adjust the firing rate in the range from 600 to 1000 rounds per minute. On the barrel muzzle flash suppressor installed with slots and front sight.
Assembling the closing and the exhaust system is an «upside-down» scheme Browning machine gun because it had a detachable box magazine, inserted at the bottom and the receiver tape at MAG placed on top. Gas connected to the piston rod which has a window for the ejection. The gate frame (its rear part) is a bulky rack that is connected to the swing arm of the locking lever, which is connected to the locking lever. Half of the locking lever located in the recesses on both sides of the core bolt. Drummer mounted inside the gate, ejector — on the mirror. Inside the piston rod is installed back-action spring. To work properly, increase reliability and extend the life of the spring began to make multi-row. Shock return consists of a sleeve receiving blow bolt that comes when driving backwards in shock-absorbing cone. Cone bushing with smoothly moves in the reverse direction and passes through the poppet seals eleven accumulating energy bolt. During the movement of the working lining with a force pushing forward the sleeve and the cone.
Like most guns, shot done with an open shutter. The shutter when a cease-fire is in the rear position, the cartridge — in a link belt. Once made the last shot, and the chamber can not be cartridge shutter from the front position goes away. For the base of the trigger mechanism was also taken MG42. The trigger is mounted on the axle so makarom that its rear part when you rises, pushing the frontal shoulder whispered, his back shoulder drops, disengaged from combat platoon. With all of this shutter is released and moves forward under the influence of back-and mainspring. In the highest part of the trigger is the disconnector, which gets in the way of the piston and valve. Disconnector lever is spring-loaded, its front side has a projection. Tail whispered when you press the trigger rises, and the disconnector lever moves forward by a spring block the sear. If the trigger is not depressed, the disconnector lever rises, holding the sear makarom so that it can not catch on with the combat platoon. The projection arm uncoupler with all this again gets in the way gate. The gas piston, moving, push down the lever and the spring compresses it. The nose goes up and whispered tail down. The piston rod, passing over the sear contact with the total area of the upper surface of whispering, eliminating the occurrence of deformation and chipping. To prevent spontaneous shot because of failure to sear in the latest series of machine guns mounted sear with a pair of projections, respectively, making a cocked two-stage piston rod.
FN MAG GPMG
Pushbutton fuse formed as chamfered rod. If the fuse is pressed to the right (position «SAFE») it is placed under the spout sears gives him fall, when the fuse is pressed to the left (position «FIRE») he turns his neck to sear, allowing to fall.
As the ammunition used a single 7.62-mm NATO cartridge installed in the U.S. of the link belt type M13. It may also be used iron belt capacity of 50 rounds, but these two types are not interchangeable, requires replacement of the receiver.
C6: MAG modification for Canadian Forces
Sector sight with a notch with a spacing of 100 meters. When the strip is in the folded position, provided the shooting on the range of 200-800 m, with tilted (in other words, in the form of rack sight) — 800-1800 meters. Diopter, which is used in the folded position, and the rear sight, which has a triangular slit made on a mobile ties. For vertical adjustment fly it rises for the safety bracket and turns. Then clip put in place. Horizontal adjustment is carried out by moving inside the frame itself flies. For such adjustment requires a special key. To keep fire NIGHT MODE on sight and front sight installed glowing cap «Trilyuks», but then they changed their special night sights.
Tape — iron ring sealed, with an open link. Rassypnuju cartridge belt fit out only in the industrial criteria. Reloading undemountable 50-charging band may even be in the field criteria. There is a possibility of a connection between the tapes, which ensures continuous firing. A box of 50 cartridges strengthen the left side of the machine gun and 250 rounds of ammunition — pose next to it.
For cocking gun cocking handle all the way back is given with the following its return to the frontal position. Only then the fuse goes into the position «SAFE», with all this on the right side of the gate becomes visible shaped as letters «S». Heavy by pressing the two latches disposed at the rear portion of the upper cover of the receiver raises the upright position. After which the band is put across the receiver tray, open part of the units down. First round with all this is located right in front of the lock. Cover omitted. Lever Fuse transferred to the «fire» («F»). When you press the trigger sear nose drops, bolt carrier together with the shutter begins to move forward by the back-and mainspring. The protrusion located in the highest part of the power system pushes out the first tape cartridge.
Locking lever moves downward under the influence of the gate. The cartridge shall be sent to the chamber, the extractor groove is clinging to the sleeve, with all this in a recess mirror shutter comes Donets sleeve. Ejector to compress the spring is fed back and shutter stops. With all of this gas piston rod and bolt carrier continues to move. Before locking lugs, located on the days of the receiver, the locking lever is lowered. When coming forward motion of the rod is rotated and the scenes of the locking lever is locking bolt. At the final step of motion projection bolt strikes the firing pin and is shot.
FN MAG, set in the doorway Helicopter Eurocopter EC 725 Cougar MkII presented in 2007 at the air show in Le Bourget.
Part of the propellant gas is fed into the gas regulator, then the gas piston moves in the opposite direction. Cullis locking lever, and starts spinning again, as movement of the rod, the lever disengages the box and combat stress. Locking lever moves the bolt, and remove the ejector sleeve. Contact the piston rod and the locking lever connecting link through a swinging with the highest rate of fire softens the blows, making the system more reliable and smoother closing. Ejector sleeve moves to the hole produced in the rod. From there, she is thrown out the window in the bottom of the receiver. Slide, moving backwards, back and compresses the mainspring, after that, hitting the damper is moving forward. If the trigger is pressed, the repetition cycle occurs.
The two-stage delivery system, the scheme of which borrowed from the German machine gun MG42, provides steady progress tape while moving the gate in both directions. On the frame of the gate is placed on top of a spring-loaded clip, part of the receiver shaped recess in the lid. In its rear part there is a hinge, a front lever connected to a little. This arm is swinging so makarom that when one arm moves to the axis of the barrel, leaving the other slot. On one arm, a finger inside the feeder, two outer on the other. So Makar, while moving the gate ahead, the movie came in the straight portion of the groove, following the capture of the cartridge is held in a bent portion, moving to the right and the Control Lever to the left. With all this, the internal finger grips feeder cartridge, and push it outside to the longitudinal axis of the machine gun on the forward one-half lengths. While driving back gate, the roller rotates to the left along the slot. Lever is on the right so makarom that promotes inner finger tape on a half-step. With all of this first round stops at the lock, ready for chambering. Subsequent holder clings outer fingers.
South American Marine is a consuming of L7A2 — British modification MAG.
On the machine gun in front of the gas cylinder installed bipod which pivot in the transverse plane, and allowing to fire from the slope, without breaking the band aiming.
Machine is folding tripod curb the mechanisms of vertical and horizontal guidance. To reduce the mechanical stress and reduce the impact FN developed the so-called «soft» scheme machine in which to mount a machine gun in a cradle machine vibration device is used. For the MAG machine gun in Denmark have developed several models of lightweight tripod machines DISA.
By FN produces three major series MAG: 15 modifications of a machine gun models 60-20, 60-40 tank models and aircraft models 60-30. The latest models are not underlings, butts, as their own sights. MAG tank modifications in some countries have introduced instead of the other guns — for example, in the Dutch army on the German tanks «Leopard 2» instead of anti-aircraft MG3. The model has also been developed 10-10 has a shorter barrel and butt (so called «model to the Jungle»), but she said she found. For parts made of special purpose car setup paired with a sp lit or a single descent.
M240E1, modification MAG for the U.S. Army, mounted on the LAV-25
To change the trunk, turn the safety lever to the right to position «SAFE», the shutter when all this has to be the last in the rear position. If the gun is unloaded, it must be put on combat platoon. Create a vacuum guns are not sure. Latch handles are introduced into the groove coupling shaft, located on the left side of the receiver head contactor trunk recessed and carrying handle in the upright position recline and lift forward. After that separates the trunk forward. To install the barrel to hold the handle in a vertical position, putting trunk the extended part of the gas chambers, then feed it back. Gas regulator enters the gas chamber, and pie cutting the barrel — a sector slot coupling. After that, you have to turn the knob to the right and enter the barrel engages with the clutch. The barrel gun locks clips.
Although MAG to use it as a manual with the proper mass «body», equal to 11 pounds too heavy obviously, he has earned the popularity of his own extreme precision shooting and reliability. It is in service in almost all countries of the world, among which are: Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Cuba, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Israel, Kuwait, Libya, Malaysia, Netherlands, Bimbo Zealand, Peru, Qatar, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, Tanzania, Uganda, United Kingdom, Ireland, USA, Venezuela, Zimbabwe, and many others. In total more than 75 countries received about 150 thousand machine guns. In Sweden delivered a 6.5-millimeter M58 modification. Under the license MAG machine gun manufactured in England (in service is under the designations L7A1 and L7A2), India, Ireland, Israel, USA, Sweden, South Africa, Singapore (with lighter barrel under the designation «Type 74») and Taiwan. Guns produced abroad are some differences — the first in government. The largest number of guns made in the United States, where he was under the designation M240 is set to BMP (M240S), tanks (M240T), armored personnel carriers and helicopters (for pivot installations M240E1). The device complies with the latest modifications M240 Model 60-40 powered belt type M13 South American production.
South American Marine is a consuming of the M240G, mounted on a tripod machine
With respect to the cartridge 7,62 x51 NATO is worth noting that it lacks energy as a weapon for a gun, and its approval as a full NATO cartridge still looks very weird. But for 50 years in a number of the cartridge perfectly mastered in manufacturing and continues to maintain its value. In most cases, the cartridge has a brass sleeve, rarely iron. 7,62 x51 NATO loaded with all applicable bullets — conventional, tracer (in the main, these two types are used in the conduct of fire from MAG), armor-piercing, etc.. The same FN made for this cartridge bullet SS123, which is identical in design to the SS109 bullet from a 56-millimeter bullet. SS123 equivalent mass 9.6 g, the initial velocity — 865 m / s. Thanks to the iron core of hardened armor piercing bullets is 1.5 times greater than the figure the standard NATO cartridge.
Type 74 machine gun, Taiwanese modification MAG
The order of unloading a machine gun FN MAG
Pressing the tab on the front rack of sight to drop the receiver cover up. If the tape is removed it, look around the guide slot, close the lid. Pull back the cocking handle to remove the cartridge from the chamber, to press the trigger while holding the handle in the rear position, return it to the frontal position.
Technical properties of a machine gun FN MAG:
Cartridge — 7,62 x51 NATO;
Weight of gun — 10.85 kg (with bipod and butt);
Weight of gun — 21.35 kg (on tripod mounted);
Weight of the barrel — 3.0 kg;
Length of gun — 1260 mm;
Barrel length — 545 mm;
Rifling — 4;
The stroke length of rifling — 305 mm;
Sights — sector sight, front sight;
The initial velocity — 840 m / s;
Rate of fire — 600-1000 rounds per minute;
Combat rate — 200 rounds per minute;
Effective range — 1,800 m;
Effective range of fire — 1200m;
Tape capacity — 50 or 250 rounds of ammunition.
FN MAG, mounted on the turret of the tank Mexican
Australian fighter for MAG 58 during the Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation (1963-1966)
Sailor Mobile Construction Battalion of the U.S. Navy (Naval Mobile Construction Battalion) is a consuming of M240B, mounted on the turret Army ATV HMMWV, 2004 Iraq
A soldier of the U.S. Navy conducts fire of M240 from a helicopter. Pacific Ocean, 2003
South American fighter is a consuming of M240 with a telescopic sight. Baghdad, 2007
South American fighter is a consuming of M240, mounted on the tripod machine. Afghanistan, 2008