Favorite T2K-era SAW/LSW/LMG

[Sanjuro]

I went for the L4 Bren; first MG I ever fired but in a T2k environment the slow rate of fire is made up for in the ability to use it without a loader, and as an individual weapon, at a pinch. Just remember to only put 28 rounds in the magazine!

[Legbreaker]

Originally Posted by Sanjuro

...the ability to use it without a loader, and as an individual weapon, at a pinch.

I carried an M60 myself for a number of years and rarely had a No2 to help with reloading, changing barrels, carrying ammo, etc, etc. When I did have one they actually tended to slow me down with most tasks (although it was nice to have an ammo mule).
Another gunner in my platoon occasionally removed the bipod and used it more like a rifle. He tended to attract less attention too as unless you looked closely it didn't actually look like an MG. Not great for longer range work, but perfect for up to a few hundred metres, especially if he could rest it on a log, window sill, etc.

[Raellus]

If I could re-vote, I'd go with one of the HK 21. I did a lot of research for a PC I run in Fusilier's game and it sounds like a really versatile weapon. With its heavy barrel and biped, when scoped and firing semi-auto from box mags, it can serve as a DMR. With a drum mag, it's a SAW with more range and punch than equivalent 5.56mm weapons. Add in a conversion kit, when your T2K character invariable runs out of 7.62mm NATO, he can switch to 7.62x39mm AK rounds. And, according to Wikepedia, it's got 48% parts commonality with the G3, which, in the v1.0 timeline at least, would still be fairly common in the ETO.

Apparently, German KSK commandos still use a version of the HK12.

[swaghauler]

Originally Posted by CDAT

I wounder how much of this was hype, and how much was lack of maintenance? I have spent several years in the sand box, and used several different versions of both the M16/M4 and the SAW, never once had any issues with sand. I do not know if I was just "lucky" or if the ones who were unlucky got worn out ones, or did not pull maintenance. I do know for my first deployment we got brand new from the factory M16A4's and some of our guys had issues, but they were the guys who did not clean there rifles ever (and only them), and after more than a year in country they started to have issues "with the piece of junk" rifle we were issued.

I liked the M249 and have never had any major problem with the five I have fired (three at civilian NFA ranges). The one thing I noticed is that the Rate of Fire of 800 rounds increases to around 1000 when you configure the weapon to shoot from 30 round Stanag magazines. I'm told that this is because the belt feed system is disabled and not needing to pull the belt through the action speeds up the bolt (thus increasing ROF). I noticed that the M249 REALLY chews up the feed lips of the GI mags you put in it. I have to wonder how long it would take for repeated use to render those mags unreliable?

[Raellus]

Based on the new responses on the Favorite APC/IFV thread, I thought a bit of thread necromancy might be in order.

[CDAT]

Originally Posted by swaghauler

... I noticed that the M249 REALLY chews up the feed lips of the GI mags you put in it. I have to wonder how long it would take for repeated use to render those mags unreliable?

This is something that I am guessing is a non issue to the services as the GI mags are a disposable line item, but post your on your own would be a major issue. How valuable would the links become? As much as brass?

[StainlessSteelCynic]

I think for anyone wanting to keep any belt-fed MG in action the links/belts* would be just as valuable as brass. Without the link, the MG is at best, just a heavy single-shot rifle with average accuracy (compared to most combat rifles). At worst it's just extra weight with little purpose (except maybe, for psychological purposes, i.e. making it look like you have more firepower than you really do).

* e.g. German DM-1 non-disintegrating belt.

[pmulcahy11b]

I've only fired a SAW, and not in real-life. But based on my experiences with the M16 and AK-47, I'll take an RPK-47.

[Legbreaker]

Originally Posted by pmulcahy11b

I've only fired a SAW, and not in real-life. But based on my experiences with the M16 and AK-47, I'll take an RPK-47.

I thought you might have been more of a Bren guy?

[Raellus]

I created a Danish Jaegerkorpset PC for a v1 timeline, v2.2 rules PbP and equipped him with a scoped, suppressed HK21E. It's awesome. It works equally well as a DMR and a LSW/LAW/LMG. Golden- possibly the ultimate T2k small arm.

That said, I really do like the RPD. If I ever have to gen up a new PC, I think I'll give him an RPD.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbDHeNrhPfA

In John Plaster's SOG: A Photo History of the Secret Wars, he describes how SOG recon teams mod'ed the RPD for LRRP use. They removed the bipod and cut down the barrel to just in front of the gas tube, shortening it to 31" and lightening it to 12lb, just a bit heavier than a Tommy Gun. They jury-rigged an additional 25-round segment to the standard 100-round ammo belt, and put a slice of linoleum in the drum mag to eliminate rattle. He calls it the "most fearsome short-range weapon in the SOG arsenal".

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