The PKM vs M240 Debate

[Talyn]

A 7.62x51 PKM is a great combo. Would rather have it than a M249.

And the M240 is a great but heavy. medium MG.

The West emphasizes fire superiority, which must be established before engaging in maneuvers, serving as a support weapon for infantry. The PKM machine gun, while distributed as an individual weapon, actually serves as the squad automatic weapon within the infantry squad.

The PKM vs M240 Debate

It is common to compare machine guns, particularly the PKM and the M240/MAG-58.This overview will provide a brief comparison.While the PKM shows strong performance on paper and during range evaluations, making it an excellent option for direct assault scenarios, the M240 may be more effective...

www.thefirearmblog.com

 

[Warrior9(Ret)]

A 7.62x51 PKM is a great combo. Would rather have it than a M249.

And the M240 is a great but heavy. medium MG.

The West emphasizes fire superiority, which must be established before engaging in maneuvers, serving as a support weapon for infantry. The PKM machine gun, while distributed as an individual weapon, actually serves as the squad automatic weapon within the infantry squad.

The PKM vs M240 Debate

It is common to compare machine guns, particularly the PKM and the M240/MAG-58.This overview will provide a brief comparison.While the PKM shows strong performance on paper and during range evaluations, making it an excellent option for direct assault scenarios, the M240 may be more effective...

www.thefirearmblog.com

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Having humped the M60 as part of a 4 man MG team I can tell you that the M240B wasn’t a move up. Yes, it’s more reliable and you can easily mount optics on it. The problem is that it’s awkward to have to do IMT with. (Individual Movement Techniques).
a M249 SAW in 7.62mm like what the SEALS use would have been a much better option.
The main selling point for the M240 is its configuration options. Kits come with them to easily convert them to turret mounted mode, aircraft mode, etc

 

[Belt Fed]

I'll take both please. I'm greedy.

 

[Warrior9(Ret)]

This is the one I’d rather see being issued than the M240B. Yes, it’s basically a 7.62mm M249.

 

[Cedric]

It's the infantry organization and tactics debate of the century - literally. Two choices as the author says: incorporate an MG team in each rifle squad or have an MG section in a weapons squad. In WWII and Korea we did the latter. (My Marine Dad was a MG section leader in Korea.) The Germans did the former and basically used the rifle squad as the enabler and protector of the MG team. In VN we went to an MG in each squad. Post Gulf War units I saw went back to MG sections ala WWII. So, take your pick as to what is best for the operation at hand. I do not have experience with the PKM except as an observer. I side with the M240 because of it's flexibility as the author mentions.