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Tarnish

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Posts posted by Tarnish

  1. A&K M249 initial impressions

    in Rifles (AEG)

    Posted

    LoL! That's one hell of a set of magnets indeed! Kept having allen keys flying off at a rate of knots!

     

    Mine was totally bone dry too, not a hint of any grease. I've just spent lunchtime sorting it out and have given it a large helping of grease. A nice "little" gearbox all round I thought and apart from those iffy looking shims, most of the parts seem to be of quite good quality.

  2. A&K M249 initial impressions

    in Rifles (AEG)

    Posted

    Excellent mod. I may use that once I confirm everything works okay. Could also do with a bit coming of the mag release as well since it's a bit big and gets in the way of blank rounds. I like the way the mag has a little catch that you loop the link from blank rounds on to.

     

    Thanks, it also gives one the excuse to say the word "Flange" a lot too which is always a good thing!

     

    :D

  3. A&K M249 initial impressions

    in Rifles (AEG)

    Posted

    and I'm having trouble getting the gearbox out.

     

    Here's a copy and paste of a reply on gearbox removal I posted on ASCUK:-

     

    Gearbox removal is easy, this is for the Mk1 and Para models, Mk2 users will have to modify these instructions as required for the stock routed wiring.

     

    1) Remove the barrel group

     

    2) Remove the front section of wiring that holds the fuse, this allows the wires to pass through the receiver.

     

    3) On the right hand side of the receiver just forward of the cocking handle there is an allen screw, remove this as it allows the handle to move further forward.

     

     

    4) On the left hand side of the receiver above the trigger group there are two allen screws that secure the gearbox into the body, remove both of them.

     

    5)Remove the stock. Whether to stock is completely removed or simply hinged down is up to the individual.

     

    6) Press and hold the trigger to ensure the mircoswitch lever does not foul on the trigger. Carefully pull the gearbox as far to the rear as it will go. Ensure the cocking handle is pushed fully forward then carefully lift and rotate the front of the gearbox up and forward out of the body, ensure the wires pass through the front of the body cleanly.

     

    You should now have the gearbox free of the gun. Assemble in reverse order.

  4. A&K M249 initial impressions

    in Rifles (AEG)

    Posted

    Get a large pair of pliers and using some kind of material as padding to protect the knurling undo the large nut on the right hand side of the gun. It's all pretty tough as long as you don't go really silly. The pin then pushes out to the left and it may be quite tight at first and may require a tap or two to get it moving. Once it's been in and out a few times it loosens up nicely.

  6. A&K M249 initial impressions

    in Rifles (AEG)

    Posted · Edited by Tarnish

    My Mk1 finally arrived a little after 2pm on Friday not too long after my last whinge regards the continuing wait.

     

    All in all considering the price I'm pretty impressed. I did the obligatory check for screw tightness and found most to be ok, the few that were suspect have had a little thread lock applied and been tightened up carefully. The barrel had the muzzle end droop others have encountered, that has been remedied by the simple expedient of a suitably size rubber O-ring being fitted to the exposed end of the inner barrel with the flash eliminator removed and then refitting the flash eliminator. The barrel centres up nicely.

     

    I've re-profiled the legs of the magazine blank/catch plate the make it more positive and it seems to work quite well gripping mags more tightly

     

    There are a number of other areas with slightly loose parts that will receive the attention of a suitable grade of Loctite when I get the chance.

     

    The Hop unit is rather rough as has been noted but I've not been able to shoot at a sufficient range to test its effectiveness as yet but rate of fire is good with the included battery although there is no indication on the battery as to what type or capacity it is. It is after checking with a multi-meter putting out smack on 9.6V.

     

    I've also not checked the muzzle velocity yet as I still haven't found my chrono.

     

    The supplied box mag seems to work well, feeding quite consistently, it does need some work to protect the wires, soldered connections and the PCB.

     

    As for M16/M4 mags it is quite happy with TM and CA standards and Hi-Caps, Star 30 round real caps and it's ok'ish with an ICS 450 Hi-Cap. However it doesn't like the G&G 450 round mag that came with my L85A1, it just doesn't want to fit.

     

    Anyway that's enough of my waffle for now, I'll post if & when I have any further revelations.

  10. A&K M249 initial impressions

    in Rifles (AEG)

    Posted

    Well I've just had a phone call from my girlfriend as she's popped over to my place and there was a missed delivery card there. She tried ringing Business Post to see if they would redeliver now if possible but they weren't interested in helping and tried to make excuses, not clever considering my missus used to work in the courier business and knows her stuff!

     

    Anyway I've got a days leave booked for tomorrow now so all's well.

  12. A&K M249 initial impressions

    in Rifles (AEG)

    Posted

    I've just got home to find an email waiting for me.

     

    The following order has been shipped to your delivery address:

     

    Your order will be sent out on Wednesday, for delivery on Thursday.

     

    Best regards

     

    The Warehouse Crew

    Airsoft World Ltd.

     

    Cheesy grins abound! Now lets' see if I can scam an afternoon's leave, I've got plenty to use up!

  13. A&K M249 initial impressions

    in Rifles (AEG)

    Posted

    An announcement on the airsoftscotland website

     

    "An important change has taken place which involves online payments for ALL airsoft replicas. Paypal in their infinite wisdom have decided to pull the plug on us all by closing down all accounts dealing in airsoft and air gun products. We actually received no notice from them at all which was very nice and polite of Paypal - thanks for nothing!"

     

    I'm glad i payed before they got shafted,i just hope they have my money & paypal didn't steal it off them.I've just mailed them to confirm all is well.

     

    I'm rather glad I payed ASW directly with a credit card rather than going through PayPal on this occasion in that case.

  14. A&K M249 initial impressions

    in Rifles (AEG)

    Posted

    cool but would you be able to use with out the stock on  and were does the battrey go on the mk2

     

    Why on earth would you want to use it without the stock fitted?! If you want a shorter weapon then the Para is the way to go.

     

    Jebus will have to give you the definitive answer as to the battery location in the A&K Mk2 but in the CA it is in the stock.

  17. A&K M249 initial impressions

    in Rifles (AEG)

    Posted

    Good call with that reminder regards the CA249 Stealth, I'm pretty sure we can do a direct read across to the A&K M249 with that judging by the pictures I've seen of the HOP unit.

     

    I'd offer you a lift Shard but even if I do go I'll be starting on the Sunday from my girlfriend's place in Eastleigh so I'll be on the wrong side of Southampton for you.

     

    Plus I'm in two minds at being a member of the "Minimi Flood" that's sure to occur for the next few weeks at most sites as happened after the Star M249 came out.

  21. A&K M249 initial impressions

    in Rifles (AEG)

    Posted

    Sad innit? I've been doing the same, clicking on the Airsoft World's M249 page to see the last update still on the 4th of Sept and then onto the forums to see if there's any news.

     

    I'm hoping we'll see them delivered before this working week is out, an update online would be good as then there'll save themselves the grief of more phone calls from the more impatient airsofters among us. I expect sod's law dictates that customs are taking their time.

     

    :)

  22. A&K M249 initial impressions

    in Rifles (AEG)

    Posted · Edited by Tarnish

    I tend to agree with Shard on that score. Certainly when the STAR M249 was released there was an influx of them at my usual site Combat South, but I have noticed on most of my visits this year that the majority of players are using the usual M16/M4, G36, AK and M14 selection. I've been a rarity there in that I've the used my "Stealthbomber" modded G&G L85A1 almost exclusively this year and there have not been a huge number of SA80s in evidence apart from on a couple of occasions.

     

    Yeah I expect (myself perhaps included in that number) to find many players with discovers that lugging around an LMG and hanging back a little to give supporting fire is not to their taste and will revert to their preferred rifle or smg.

  24. A&K M249 initial impressions

    in Rifles (AEG)

    Posted

    Here you go, a bit of useless info for you taken from the Jane's Infantry Weapons entries on the FN Minimi and the US M249 SAW.

     

    FN HERSTAL 5.56 mm Minimi light machine gun

    Development

     

    Development of the 5.56 mm light machine gun, which was to become the Minimi, began in the early 1960s. Although some of the early development work resulted in the M193, Ernest Vervier and his successor Maurice Bourlet carried out work on a different 5.56 × 45 mm cartridge which became the SS109. In the event, the Minimi was developed to fire both cartridges. The first Minimi prototypes appeared during 1974, although production did not commence until 1982. Since then it has been adopted by many armed forces, including the US Army and Marine Corps (as the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon - SAW).

     

    Description

     

    The Minimi light machine gun is gas operated, using gas tapped from the forward part of the barrel in conventional fashion. The rotary gas regulator is of a simple design, based on the earlier MAG machine gun type and has two basic settings (normal and adverse conditions). Adjustment is by hand, even with a hot barrel.

        The breech locking mechanism is an FN design, where the bolt is locked into the barrel extension by a rotational action. This action is initiated by a cam in the bolt carrier.

        Normal gas operation, in which the gas piston is forced to the rear, moves the bolt carrier back, leaving the bolt still locked to the barrel extension. The residual chamber pressure is virtually zero by the time the cam action unlocks the bolt. Primary extraction of the spent case begins with the rotation of the bolt before it unlocks.

        In the ammunition feed system of the Minimi the disintegrating link belt is held in a 200-round plastic box, which, apart from acting as an ammunition carrier when not on the gun, locks firmly to the gun and becomes virtually integral with it when in action.

        The Minimi can accept either a magazine or a belt feed without any modification. The gun is normally regulated to fire using the belt and in this mode the mechanism has to lift the weight of the belt. When firing from a magazine, the load is absent and thus the gun tends to have a higher rate of fire.

        The gun is normally bipod mounted but can, if required, be mounted on a tripod. It can also be used with either a fixed or a sliding butt-stock.

     

    Variants

     

    Minimi Para

    For users needing a light machine gun shorter than the standard version, there is a Para model with a sliding butt-stock and a shorter barrel. The chief advantage of this version is that it is much easier to handle and carry in and out of vehicles, helicopters and similar confined spaces. Details of this version can be found under Specifications.

        The Para butt-stock has been type classified by the US Army as the M5 collapsible butt-stock for its M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW - see entry under United States of America for details).

    Minimi New Standard

    Starting during 1996, the Minimi New Standard version includes modifications to improve ergonomics and maintainability, without any loss of interchangeability with the earlier models. The most noticeable changes on the Minimi New Standard are a composite butt, the folding carrying handle on the standard barrel and the suppression of the cartridge indicator on the feed cover. Other changes are to the cocking handle stop and the backplate retaining pin. A new Para version is also available. Both the standard and Para models can be supplied with a hydraulic buffer.

    M249 SAW

    See entry under United States of America for details.

     

     

    Specifications

     

    Data for standard Minimi; where Para differs, in parenthesis

    Cartridge: 5.56 × 45 mm (FN SS109 NATO or M193)

    Operation: gas, firing fully automatic

    Locking: rotating bolt head

    Feed: 200-round belts or 30-round M16A1 magazine

    Weight: 7.1 kg (7.14 kg)

    Length: 1.04 m (stock folded, 736 mm; stock extended, 893 mm)

    Barrel: 465 mm (347 mm)

    Rifling: 6 grooves, rh, 1 turn in 304 mm (M193) or 1 turn in 178 mm (SS109)

    Sights: fore, semi-fixed hooded post, adjustable for windage and elevation; rear, aperture, adjustable for windage and elevation

    Sight radius: 495 mm

    Muzzle velocity: M193, 965 m/s; SS109, 915 m/s

    Rate of fire: cyclic, 700-1,000 rds/min

    Effective range: up to 1,000 m

     

    FNH USA 5.56 mm M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW)

    Development

     

    The 5.56 mm M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW) was type classified in 1982. Original plans called for 49,979 for the US Army and 9,974 for the US Marine Corps, but these totals were revised downwards during 1985 pending a number of necessary modifications. This lead to the hurried purchase of 1,000 units at the time of the 1991-92 Gulf War. Initial production forecasts were for 70,000 M249s.

        In March 1995, FNH USA (formerly FN Manufacturing Inc (FNMI)) was awarded a US$8,995,110 modification to a firm-fixed-price (with options) contract for 4,089 M249 SAWs.

        By the second quarter of 2000 there will be a target quantity of about 72,000 M249s in service with the US armed forces. It is anticipated that this quantity will be maintained until the final quarter of 2007 when the numbers will decline to about 64,000 by the end of 2009. This quantity will be maintained until at least 2012 and probably thereafter.

     

    Description

     

    The licence-produced M249 is a version of the FN HERSTAL Minimi light machine gun (see entry under Belgium in this section) with ergonomic and other modifications to meet US military specifications and manufacturing techniques. The main visual difference is the heatshield above the barrel. It is employed as the squad light machine gun in US Army and Marine Corps service.

        Belt feed for the M249 involves 200-round belts using the M27 link, loaded into a plastic container. Rounds are fed with a ratio of four M855 Ball to one M856 Tracer, although special training packs using M855 Ball rounds only are provided for areas where Tracer is prohibited for fire risk reasons.

        During 1995 the US Army type classified the M5 collapsible butt-stock for the M249. Several thousands of these were procured direct from FN HERSTAL. The US Army Rangers use the short (381 mm) barrel; this model is also used with the M5 collapsible butt-stock. Adoption of the short barrel for other units is planned.

        Planned modifications for the M249 included a blank firing attachment, optical sights (FY99) and a mounting suitable for installation on the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) series. Other planned enhancements included armour-piercing ammunition, a feed tray cover with an integral Picatinny rail (FY99), mounting surfaces to accommodate a variety of combat accessories (FY02) and an ammunition assault pack.

     

    Variant

     

    MK46 MOD 0

    The M249 Special Purpose Weapon (SPW) was developed jointly by FN HERSTAL and FNH USA for US special operations forces and is a lightened and modified version of the standard M249. This version has a full size buttstock, a SOPMOD rail kit and special coatings to resist corrosion; lubrication requirements are minimal. There is no provision for magazine feed. Barrel length is 406 mm. There is no gas regulation system. Some components have been omitted, such as the carrying handle, magazine well, upper hand guard over the barrel and tripod mounting. These changes and a lightening of both internal and external components have reduced the overall weight of the SPW to 5.7 kg.

        In October 2000, it was announced that the SPW had been selected as the new lightweight machine gun for the US Special Operations COMmand (USSOCOM) programme. The USSOCOM designation is MK46 MOD 0. The first delivery order was for 406 examples, although the total contract quantity could be 2,506 over a 4-year time period. Full production began in February 2001 at a rate of 100 weapons a month.

     

     

    Specifications

     

    M249 SAW

    Cartridge: 5.56 × 45 mm

    Operation: gas, firing fully automatic

    Locking: rotating bolt head

    Feed: 200-round M27 link belts or 30-round magazine

    Weight: 6.85 kg; barrel, 1.7 kg

    Length: 1.04 m

    Barrel: overall, 523 or 381 mm (see text)

    Rifling: 6 grooves, rh, 1 turn in 178 mm

    Sights: fore, semi-fixed hooded post, adjustable for windage and elevation; rear, aperture, adjustable for windage and elevation

    Sight radius: 490 mm

    Muzzle velocity: 915 m/s

    Muzzle energy: ca 175 kgm

    Rate of fire: cyclic, ca 750 rds/min

    Max range: ca 2,000 m; effective, up to 1,100 m

     

    MK46 MOD 0

    Cartridge: 5.56 × 45 mm

    Operation: gas, firing fully automatic

    Locking: rotating bolt head

    Feed: 100- or 200-round belts

    Weight: empty, 5.7 kg

    Length: 908 mm

    Barrel: 406 mm

    Rifling: 6 grooves, rh, 1 turn in 178 mm

    Sights: fore, semi-fixed hooded post, adjustable for windage and elevation; rear, aperture, adjustable for windage and elevation; SOPMOD rail for optical sights, laser designators and tactical lights

    Muzzle velocity: ca 915 m/s

    Rate of fire: cyclic, ca 750 rds/min

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