That is why the Marine Corps M27 has replaced the M249 SAW.

The United States Marine Corps employs the M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle, which is designed to be supplied to all infantry riflemen as well as automatic riflemen. Initially, the USMC planned to buy 6,500 M27s to replace some of the M249 light machine guns used by automatic riflemen in Infantry and Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalions.

[rayb]

mistake...the m249 is for suppressive fire to keep the enemy heads down so your guys can maneuver on an objective. I was a m249 gunner in the army.

[ernestop]

It's A Rifle, But when fitted with a bipod it works as a Squad Automatic No. It is a rifle with a Bipod. Who writes this stuff

[TXRBL]

The modern Corps is returning to the fireteam configuration we had in the 70s.

[jessiewasson]

Former saw gunner here and let me tell you it’s the weight of the gun it’s self the problem what they expect you to do with it… carrying 1000 rds on you and they want you to move like a rifle man does and let me tell you, it can’t be done

[trainsinkansas]

I carried an M60 when I was in the Marines. !967- 1973. Nice machine gun.

[chavezchavo]

The idea of the M27 is pretty much the similar philosophy of the RPK. It's supposed to be the soldier that lays down limited auto fire. It's NOT meant to replicate what the M249 does.

[skydiver]

I am a former 03-1100 US Marine. I went through Boot Camp & Inftreay Training School with an M16A1. However, when I got to my first duty station I was issued an M14 for my first two years. We used 13-man squads - three 4-man Fire Teams. An M14 on full auto with bipods was what the Automatic Rifleman carried. Many times we have an M60 machine gunner from Weapons Patloon with our squad. We also used the M79 grenade launcher. Shows how times change.

[gdolson]

Thee 12-man Rifle Squad was dumped and the 2030 Rifle Squad is 15-man. A 3-man command team (Squad Leader, Assistant Squad Leader, Drone Operator/Radioman), 3x4-man Fire Teams (Team Leader w/M320, Automatic Rifleman, Assistant Automatic Rifleman, Rifleman).
As to the M-27, the USMC values accurate fire over volume of fire. And has since we were snipers in the rigging.

[gsmith]

I just have the feeling that the Marines just wanted to put a M27/416 in the hands of every Marine because its a superior M16 variant platform but to get around the bean counters and nay sayers they sold it to the powers that be as a weapon that can be used to replace a bunch of other weapons including the M249. But I have a feeling they arent getting the M249s off of inventory but instead keeping them in the closet for a situation if they are needed. I could be wrong... but thats just my thought

[AC-uwil]

everything wrong in this video

0:15 thats a M240 not the M249
4:45 when fitted with the Bipod its still a IAR not a SAW all it does is increase stability and again its only accurate cuz overall its a Rifle not a Machine gun
9:50 the US Military isnt dissatisfied with the M249 over "lack of accuracy" if anything its doing what a machine gun is suppose to do suppress and accuracy by volume its not a rifle like the M27
10:15 yes literally the difference between a machine gun and a rifle

this video is just about the difference between a rifle and a machine gun but ill say the Marine Corpse and US Army have different mission sets as I always tell people the Marines are a offensive force primarily so they prioritize mobility while the Army is a defensive force so they Prioritize stability in other words the Marines are a "small" unit that needs to move fast to survive the Army is the mean Giant that needs firepower to survive

anyways this video was a terrible comparison you know its bad when they name the weapon and pull up the wrong video along with saying "single shot mode" instead of Semi-Auto

[jeffreywall]

It’s as if my beloved Marine Corps has completely ignored history. We went to a belt fed squad automatic weapon for really sound reasons back in the late 70’s. A machine gun ISN’T suposed to be all that accurate - it is supposed to deliver a cone of fire and a beaten zone - it’s supposed to deliver a 2 mil spread.

By ignoring history I mean the following. Here is information found by the guy who retired as the Marine Corps' Historian; it is an article from 1940 about the Automatic Rifle squad, and I’ve included here the section on the specific modifications to the squad auto rifle of the day, the M1918 BAR. These are the mods made after 21 years of experience with the weapon:

"Certain modifications in the BAR M1918 have recently been adopted and incorporated in the M1918 A2 rifle. These are:

1. A metal bipod has been attached to the rear section of the flash-hider. This is so attached that the rifle can be rotated on the bipod head without canting regardless of uneven ground on which the bipod legs may stand. The bipod legs are rigidly locked in a vertical plane for firing. The shoes on the legs of the bipod are rounded to resemble skids and-have been set at angles of ninety degrees to the legs.
2. A hinged butt-plate has been attached to the top of the butt-plate. It is short enough to prevent cramping of the large muscle at the junction of the neck and shoulder.
3. The cyclic rate can now be changed at will from the normal rate of about 600 rounds per minute to a decreased rate of about 350 rounds per minute. This decreased cyclic rate has greatly increased the accuracy of automatic fire. It also enables the gun to be fired automatically from the shoulder in the standing position.
4. A cut away forearm gives better cooling properties.
5. A pistol grip affords better control in firing.
6. A stock rest has been provided to permit laying the gun on a final protective line during daytime. An elevating screw and clamp on the stock rest allow the gun to be laid and clamped for any desired range. Aiming stakes, or improvised stakes driven along the side of the barrel, can be used to control the direction of fire. Thus the gun can deliver automatic fire along a predetermined line under any condition of visibility— regardless of fog, smoke, and darkness.”

For all intents and purposes, the only one of these modifications that appear on the new squad automatic rifle is the pistol grip. All of the other mods that were determined to be useful if not vital in an automatic rifle were IGNORED.

Next and perhaps conclusively, I have known a number of men who fought in WWII [my dad being one & he used a BAR] and Korea. These included guys who fought in Italy [one of my Dad’s 2 best friends], , went across Omaha Beach on 6 June [my father in law], fought on Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima [my Dad’s other best friend], Saipan and Okinawa.

Universally, their primary complaint with the BAR? Having to change magazines every 10 to 20 SECONDS. Unless your first 2 bursts neutralized the target, you were unable to keep up suppressive fire because you had to stop firing so often to change magazines. The movement from a 20 round magazine to a 30 round magazine used in the M27 only mitigates this problem to a minor degree - instead of 10 to 20 seconds between magazine changes it’s now 15 to 25 seconds if that long; not a big improvement.

The obvious solution to the problem with the BAR was to go to a belt fed squad automatic weapon - which we did. Now as a guy who was rather closely involved with machineguns between 1978 and 2014, I personally wouldn’t have chosen the M2249. My choice would have been the Ultimax 100 or the Ultimax Mod 8 [at 11 pounds, eliminating the objection of weight]:
and

Anyone who has studied machine gun gunnery for more than a day recognizes the thing that makes a machine gun a mass casualty producing weapon is the tripod. Now a squad automatic weapon doesn’t on the surface seem like a weapon you would ordinarily put on a tripod. But there are occassion when you might well want to do exactly that. The M249 has that capability, the M27 doesn’t. WE’VE NOW LOST THAT CAPABILITY. For example a belt fed squad automatic weapon mounted on a tripod laid on its Principle Direction of Fire in a defensive position is exponentially more effective than a hand held, should fired rifle. Where would the tripods come from? The wise Platoon Commander would have tripods, pintle mounts and Traversing and elevating mechanisms with the platoon gear in his vehicle/among the company supplies.

Is the M27 inherently more accurate than the M249? Unquestionalby yes. But accuracy isn’t the first priority of an automtic weapon. Creating a 2 mil cone of fire and beatne zone is.

For expert discussions of machinegun gunnery, see "A Rifleman Went To War" and "The Emma Gees" both by Herbert W. McBride. He was acknowledged as the most knowledgeable machine gun expert in the Allied services in WWI.

[chadlebato]

Rifles have a different role and can’t do what light machine guns do, period

[SC-bsjd]

Adopting the M27 as the standard USMC rifle makes sense. Think it may be a mistake to sunset the SAW. It probably would be best to improve upon the SAW with a similar machine gun fixing the system's flaws.

[billywoods]

I like the rifle with optics for sharpshooters and the rifle with 40mm for grenadiers, but give us a belt fed rifle for the base of the fire team.

[ericb.]

WELL... The US Marines better take a good long look at the Army's new M7 battle rifle and M250 light machine gun (LMG). With the new 6.8 x 51 high pressure cartridge both have much better lethal ballistics at longer ranges than the 5.56 x 45 AND the 7.62 x 51 Nato rounds. Andthen there is teh revolutionary M157 Vortex sight system shat mounts atop the 1-8 variable power scope on EVERY M7
This sight system, with its sensors feeding a ballistic computer, gives an EIGHTY PERCENT hit probability to 700 meters from the M7!

[DutchK]

Gunners Wade and Mortimer were both the leads on doctrinal development of the M27. It was stated on multiple occasions that, Marines were told to suppress targets with the M27. They'd fire a short burst and stop. Seniors asked why they had stopped firing. And the answer was always, "Because the targets are down." Pretty simple.
At 29 Palms 400 series ranges. Assaults on objectives are way faster. Like across all battalions going to CAX that are so equipped with the M27. Vs the prior TO&E weapons.

[jackjones]

Is the first time I ever heard of 5.76cm at 100 meters approaching sniper accuracy! That’s 2.26 inches.

[flyboya]

What happened with the push for a more powerful round such as the 6.8 or was that just the Army? I know there have been a number of issues with the 5.56 not being able to put down the enemy quickly, so why has the Corps remained with the 5.56?

[Bren.nto]

Without belt fed or drum magazines for sustained fire, m27 chosen solely because lowest bid and highest bribe

[nichep]

As a jarhead I’m very concerned about turning the Corps into light infantry. This country is going to regret this decision. Hope I’m wrong.