question for JReed

[mescalero1]

JReed,
This has been bothering me for a while now.
At the squad level, are american troops carring M60"s in.308
Or are they carring the SAW in 5.56?

[JReed]

We use the SAW in 5.56 and the 249Golf in 7.62X51.

[mescalero1]

Is one seen more often than the other?

[JReed]

I had a typo before it is a 240Golf the 249 is the SAW. The SAW is more prevelant due to the fact that it is part of a fire team (4 man unit) 3 fire teams make up a squad. The SAW works better as a small unit weapon due to its lighter weight and the fact that in the absence of belted ammo you can use the same magazine that goes in the M16. The 240 is more often found with the heavy weapons bubbas along with the M2 50cal and the mortars.

[mescalero1]

JReed,
Thank you, that was my thought process, just wanted to confirm it,
being a civilian I have not seen the 7.62 in some time unless it was mounted on a vehicle.

[JReed]

Trucks and helos is where you see them the most these days but they are still part of an infantry company. The gunner carrys the gun and the A-gunner carrys the tripod and the extra bbl. But no you dont see many Marines on the news humping them around. Darn things sure are fun to shoot