GUN TEST 300 BLACK BELTMACHINE GUN ARMORY’S 300 BLACKOUT SAW K UNLEASHES A FIRESTORM OF FURY!

BY DAVID BAHDE

ELT-FED MACHINE GUNS have been mainstays with militaries around the world for decades. For small units, Lighter, faster and these weapons provide significant cover chambered in 300 BLK— and suppressive fire. The M249 squad meet the new SAW K. automatic weapon (SAW) is the currently Shown with a Trijicon SRS sight, a SureFire issued 5.56mm belt-fed for SOCOM762-Mini most squads in the U.S. military. suppressor, a Grip Pod U.S. Machine Gun Armory (MGA) has created several and Steiner’s DBAL-A3 laser and Mk4 light. versionsB of the M249 and is constantly trying to improve on the basic system. As part of this effort, it offers a number of conversions as well as stock and handguard options. The company’s own patented SAW, currently available in 5.56mm NATO, 300 Blackout, 6.8 SPC and 7.62mm NATO, is pretty versatile. Now the company has gone a step further by creating a smaller variant—the MGA SAW K—and I recently tested a version in the ever-popular 300 Blackout.

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1. The SAW K Carrying the SAW K would be easier Final Notes machine gun ran with a two-point, however. In the end, SPECS The SAW K just ran and ran. There and handled well this weapon’s weight and balance turns were no malfunctions or failures to fire with a 100-round MACHINE GUN ARMORY SAW K the platform into a viable CQB system. during testing. No links broke. Sure, soft magazine during Caliber: 300 BLK testing, but it can The Grip Pod worked well with the it’s only one gun with limited ammo, also use belts and SAW K. Simply push a button and the Barrel: 9.75 inches but it performed better than any of the 200-round mags. Grip Pod’s legs extend, turning it into a OA Length: 25-33 inches SAW-style variants I had previously bipod for use in prone or on barricades. tested. I would not hesitate a moment Weight: 10 pounds (empty) 2. The gun comes The SOPMOD stock was another great to take this weapon to work in the law with a hooded front addition—I could extend or collapse Stock: Ark SOPMOD enforcement realm. sight, but MGA can also replace it as needed to get into any position Sights: Front post, If your law enforcement agency or this with a rail easily. Trijicon’s SRS proved excellent adjustable rear team needs a belt-fed machine gun, for mounting your throughout the test. : Full-auto make sure you take a close look at 1 2 preferred sight. While select-fire versions are avail- this one. Nothing to date has been as Finish: Cerakote able, my test SAW K was a full-auto practical for use in close quarters or at 3. Behind the machine gun. In other words, it’s not Capacity: Belt-fed or shorter ranges. My guess is that it is just receiver’s top rail is 100-round mag an adjustable rear exactly a precise instrument. But, with about perfect for military missions. And aperture sight that’s controlled fire, the SAW K kept 10-shot MSRP: $15,000 considering that you will soon be able to effective out to the bursts of Gemtech’s 187-grain subsonic switch its chambering from 5.56mm to limits of the 300 BLK ammo within an 8-inch circle at 25 nearly as controllable. Gemtech’s 7.62mm, the SAW K is pretty versatile. chambering. yards and a 4-inch circle at 15 yards. 125-grain Nosier ammo performed I’d prefer the 300 BLK, as I recently Two-, three- and five-round bursts similarly—it was just faster. Cyclic rates became one of its converts. One thing 4. The SAW K’s stayed inside 6 inches on the move. are dependent, but both is for sure: I had trouble putting this forend features Picatinny rails That’s absolutely impressive. of the test loads seemed to stay in the gun down and sending it back to the for additional The subsonic ammunition was 800-rpm range. Cyclic rates in 5.56mm folks at MGA! For more information, accessories, like insanely quiet, with very little muzzle approach that of an MG42 (1,100 rpm) visit machinegunarmory.com or call the Steiner DBAL-A3 rise. The supersonic ammunition was with the same control. 801-839-4683. laser shown. 3 4

Gun Details housed a Steiner DBAL-A3 laser as well I added a Trijicon SRS red-dot sight If you want to cut a ’s weight, as an Mk4 Battle Light. The bottom to the receiver’s top rail for testing as you should start by looking at the of the handguard sported a Grip Pod well as a Magpul MS3 Gen 2 sling. barrel. One of the easiest ways to shed with a quick release that made it easy MGA also provided belts of ammo pounds is to make the barrel shorter, to transition from off-hand to prone for testing loaded with Gemtech’s so the MGA SAW K starts with a shooting positions. 187-grain Predator subsonic and 125- 9.75-inch barrel. The SAW K uses a As mentioned, the improved receiver grain Nosler supersonic ammunition. proprietary piston design that facili- houses a proprietary buffer system Standard 5.56mm links are used with tates AR-style stocks straight behind compatible with AR-style the 300 BLK, while custom links are the action—there’s no drop or a heavy stocks. My test SAW K used for the 6.8 SPC and 7.62x39mm. buffer. Various handguards can be also came with an Ark Defense used, including railed units. The new Enhanced SOPMOD Range Time system makes the SAW K work in sev- buttstock installed on a The SAW K’s smaller size is eral chamberings, including 5.56mm, carbine-style buffer tube. immediately noticeable. I could fit it in 300 BLK, 6.8 SPC and 7.62x39mm, and The machine gun also a standard rifle bag—with the sound MGA is currently working on a 7.62mm sported a fixed front sight suppressor and all. When I picked it NATO/.308 Winchester version that post as well as an adjust- up, the weight difference was striking. will utilize a 13-inch barrel. In all, the able rear unit. Belts were A difference of 5 pounds may not SAW K weighs about 5 pounds less housed in a 100-round sound like much until you have to carry than a standard M249 SAW, a very soft magazine. the weapon. Shouldering the MGA noticeable difference. SAW K was as easy as it gets with My test gun came with a 9.75-inch, The author tested a belt-fed machine gun. It still takes 1-in-8-inch-twist barrel chambered in the SAW K with a some strength, but at 10 pounds, the 300 BLK and capped with a SureFire SureFire SOCOM762- compact SAW K is not much heavier SOCOM muzzle brake. To this I added Mini suppressor, than some ARs. which helped quiet my SureFire SOCOM762-MINI sound the belt-fed beast. Working in and around my truck suppressor. The SAW K’s overall and a shoothouse, I preferred using a length was similar to an M4’s, with single-point sling. This made it easy a nice balance. The railed handguard to get into a prone firing position, too.

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