The Official Questions Thread Version: "Charlies in the trees, what do I need to get rid of them?" - General

Are the A&K M249's any good? I really want to go for a support gunner loadout (really just an LMG) and prefer those as they are significantly cheaper and more portable than the PKM or M60's. and is the M249 Para alright? I like that folding stock a lot, but I wonder if the shorter barrel would affect accuracy slightly (even if accuracy isn't that important on a bullet hose)

nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnope, not unless you put some money into it the portability thing with a 7.62 gun isn't even an issue because mk43

[QUOTE=paindoc;42537200]Are the A&K M249's any good? I really want to go for a support gunner loadout (really just an LMG) and prefer those as they are significantly cheaper and more portable than the PKM or M60's. and is the M249 Para alright? I like that folding stock a lot, but I wonder if the shorter barrel would affect accuracy slightly (even if accuracy isn't that important on a bullet hose)[/QUOTE] First off, the A&K Mk43 (AKA M60E4) is very similar to the M249 in terms of size and weight- it has a much more ergonomic foregrip, but also a more awkward box magazine placement, so don't rule it out just because it's an M60. I switched from the original M60 to the Mk43 just because it's so much easier to carry and to me (results not typical, your mileage may vary) it feels like a bigger rifle. That said, the A&K LMGs in general are great [i]for the price[/i] but need work out of the box to be effective guns. At the very least, you're going to need to replace the hop-up rubber and nub. No question about that, the stock parts suck royally and with an MG you need range. Also, you'll want to bend the trigger contacts slightly at some point, as the 249's trigger placement tends to get the contact shoved into the gears, and then it goes runaway. A replacement motor is also a good idea, since the stock ones are godawful. The main reason why I personally recommend the M60 over the M249 is because of the box magazine. I haven't seen any truly reliable M249 box mags, while the one on my M60 has fed over 20k rounds with not a single stoppage and has a great system where it plugs directly into the gun instead of using a microphone or push-button. Of course, getting rails for the Mk43 is a pain in the ass, so if you want accessories you should go with the 249. I have a scope on my 60, but I had to drill holes in the feed tray cover and attach a rail myself. As for the model of 249, doesn't matter. The accuracy difference, if any, is infinitesimally small, so go with what you prefer ergonomically. Also, good on you for taking the plunge into machine gunning.

[QUOTE=catbarf;42537265]First off, the A&K Mk43 (AKA M60E4) is very similar to the M249 in terms of size and weight- it has a much more ergonomic foregrip, but also a more awkward box magazine placement, so don't rule it out just because it's an M60. I switched from the original M60 to the Mk43 just because it's so much easier to carry and to me (results not typical, your mileage may vary) it feels like a bigger rifle. That said, the A&K LMGs in general are great [i]for the price[/i] but need work out of the box to be effective guns. At the very least, you're going to need to replace the hop-up rubber and nub. No question about that, the stock parts suck royally and with an MG you need range. Also, you'll want to bend the trigger contacts slightly at some point, as the 249's trigger placement tends to get the contact shoved into the gears, and then it goes runaway. A replacement motor is also a good idea, since the stock ones are godawful. The main reason why I personally recommend the M60 over the M249 is because of the box magazine. I haven't seen any truly reliable M249 box mags, while the one on my M60 has fed over 20k rounds with not a single stoppage and has a great system where it plugs directly into the gun instead of using a microphone or push-button. Of course, getting rails for the Mk43 is a pain in the ass, so if you want accessories you should go with the 249. I have a scope on my 60, but I had to drill holes in the feed tray cover and attach a rail myself. As for the model of 249, doesn't matter. The accuracy difference, if any, is infinitesimally small, so go with what you prefer ergonomically. Also, good on you for taking the plunge into machine gunning.[/QUOTE] Maybe I'll save for a Mk43 then. I'm a lefty, so the box magazine placement is [I]perfect[/I]

placement of everything else kinda sucks though... one of the main reasons I wanted a scar is because of the fact that I am a lefty also shooting AR's sucks I always catch cartridges in the elbow-pit of my right arm [editline]15th October 2013[/editline] MY MERGE

[QUOTE=paindoc;42538607]placement of everything else kinda sucks though... one of the main reasons I wanted a scar is because of the fact that I am a lefty also shooting AR's sucks I always catch cartridges in the elbow-pit of my right arm [editline]15th October 2013[/editline] MY MERGE[/QUOTE] Today at the range I found a spent 9mm cartridge in my pocket :v:

[QUOTE=apoctank;42539093]Today at the range I found a spent 9mm cartridge in my pocket :v:[/QUOTE] I once found a bb in my goggles as I took them off.

[QUOTE=apoctank;42539093]Today at the range I found a spent 9mm cartridge in my pocket :v:[/QUOTE] The worst is trying not to flinch because you know you'll probably receive a hot little surprise in some way, but if you do tense or flinch, you fuck up your aim

And then cue fitting Terminal Lance comic [editline]poopoo[/editline] [img]http://terminallance.com/comics/2012-10-23-Strip_231_The_Dance_web.gif[/img]

Before I changed the ejector spring on my M1 Carbine it used to spew brass everywhere, and one time a piece came straight back and drilled me in the forehead

A few weeks ago, I'm pretty sure I posted here, I got nailed in the forehead with a piece of brass from the Glock I was firing. At this point brass down the shirt is no big deal.

Brass isn't a big deal in general, I've never had issues with getting hit with brass. Ever. [editline]16th October 2013[/editline] By that I mean I've been hit with brass plenty, but it doesn't bother me at all.

[QUOTE=catbarf;42542953]A few weeks ago, I'm pretty sure I posted here, I got nailed in the forehead with a piece of brass from the Glock I was firing. At this point brass down the shirt is no big deal.[/QUOTE] Uh Isn't getting brass under your shirt worse because you come in a continuous contact with a pretty fucking hot object, instead of just getting smacked by it?

Wulf got brass down his collar repeatedly from some guy that thought he was a bad ass navy seal sniper dood. This guy put up a brass screen, and his rifle ejected the shells straight the fuck up and over it so it didnt even matter. He took maybe one shot every ten minutes, and in the mean time would tap on his scope, inspect the single ejected casing, and go talk to his girlfriend. also all the lanes were open and wulf was in his lane first, but this guy sets up next to him and hits him with brass anyways.

So to be honest I don't really like the look of the Mk43, but do like the M60Vn. it seems unwieldy as hell though and I like just about any of the 249's more than the Mk43. Mechanical work isn't an issue, nor is the hop up nub or spring strength. I can 3D print a spacer for the spring, 3D print a hop up nub, easily fix the trigger contact (i understand what must be done) and can pay a bit more for a new rubber. New motor down the road, but not immediately. M249 is better for me because its $50 cheaper (this may be the only time my 3D printer SAVES me money) and I like it more, which is pretty damn important.

M60VN classiest of all MG's Except the MG42

[QUOTE=deathmog;42549648]M60VN classiest of all MG's Except the MG42[/QUOTE] which is the daddy of the m60 so.....

[QUOTE=The Ultimate;42549682]which is the daddy of the m60 so.....[/QUOTE] The only thing that the M60 shares with the MG42 is the top cover. Everything else is mostly based on the FG42

[QUOTE=deathmog;42549648]M60VN classiest of all MG's Except the MG42[/QUOTE] No way I'm carrying that monster around... its also monstrously expensive I've got endurance from XC, not upper body strength :c

My friend has an M60VN, and it wasn't as heavy as I was expecting, but then again I wasn't carrying it around for a whole day, with gear and shit or in hot weather etc

[QUOTE=apoctank;42549898]My friend has an M60VN, and it wasn't as heavy as I was expecting, but then again I wasn't carrying it around for a whole day, with gear and shit or in hot weather etc[/QUOTE] god damnit STOP TEMPTING ME [editline]17th October 2013[/editline] to be honest I think I'll save my money for a while, I'm applying for a job soon

[QUOTE=felix the cat;42549703]The only thing that the M60 shares with the MG42 is the top cover. Everything else is mostly based on the FG42[/QUOTE] Mother-FG42 Father-MG42

I've always thought the FG42 with optic is one of the most badass guns of WWII [editline]17th October 2013[/editline] I like the early-war aesthetic but that slanty grip must've been uncomfortable as fuck Have a T44 - a MERIKUH commissioned belt-fed FG42 [img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/de/T44.jpg[/img]

[QUOTE=paindoc;42549967]god damnit STOP TEMPTING ME [editline]17th October 2013[/editline] to be honest I think I'll save my money for a while, I'm applying for a job soon[/QUOTE] it's also unbalanced as shit with the bipod on and has the most godawful mag attachment point i've ever seen

[QUOTE=apoctank;42549898]My friend has an M60VN, and it wasn't as heavy as I was expecting, but then again I wasn't carrying it around for a whole day, with gear and shit or in hot weather etc[/QUOTE] The bipod is poorly placed and gives you only a few degrees of traversal when set up, and the box mag is annoying at best- if you're under six foot it will probably be an exercise in frustration. As for weight, it's something where if you just hold it for a few seconds or minutes it's not so bad, but try half an hour or more and then you really start feeling the weight.

Excuse to learn to be ambi :v:

I don't know what you guys think, but DAYUM if the M249 isn't a sexy beast I'm going to get one of those, just have to decide which. [IMG]http://cdn.evike.com/images/large/aeg-m249-para-a.jpg[/IMG] This thing is pretty neat looking, and I really like the collapsible stock; my experience with my Ak-74 showed me that it is much easier to collapse stocks when I'm moving swiftly or trying to sneak around, so I can let the gun hang or tuck it to my side with a strap And to be honest it is my endurance I expect to use more than my strength, so anything that allows me to move my force multiplier of a weapon faster is pretty great. but then there is the MkII [IMG]http://cdn.evike.com/images/large/aeg-m249-mkII.jpg[/IMG] Even sexier than the Para, but that stocks looks like a pain in the ass if you're running or trying to sneak through bushes or trees. Might make shoulder firing easier, but I don't imagine that would happen as often as firing from a set position would. Also seems like it'd be harder to hip fire on the move. and hey, it looks a bit more mean than the para as well for whatever thats worth Anybody have any experience with the stock on the Para? That would be the deciding factor for me. I know that para stocks and 5 position stocks can be purchased online but damn are they expensive ($85)

If you're shoulder firing an MG, you're doing something wrong.

Hardly. There are points where stopping to hit a target you suddenly see a few times is appropriate, same with firing on the move. Stop, shoulder, fire a few rounds, keep moving

[QUOTE=draugur;42560099]If you're shoulder firing an MG, you're doing something wrong.[/QUOTE] If you choose an MG you can't shoulder fire, you're wasting your money. That said, I would go with the MkII. The stock is much more ergonomic IMO, the lack of folding isn't a huge downside, and the different barrel length has minimal effect.