M249 SAW Light Machine Gun

The M249 traces its roots to the FN Minimi, developed by the Belgian arms manufacturer Fabrique Nationale in the 1970s. The U.S. Army adopted it in 1982 as the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon to fill a critical gap, infantry squads needed a portable, belt-fed machine gun that one soldier could carry and operate, providing sustained suppressive fire without the weight of a crew-served weapon like the M60.

It saw its first major combat deployment during the 1989 invasion of Panama and proved its worth immediately. But the M249 SAW truly earned its legendary reputation in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan. During Operation Anaconda in 2002, M249 gunners provided critical suppressive fire against entrenched Taliban positions in the Shah-i-Kot Valley. In Fallujah, Ramadi, and countless other engagements, the SAW became the weapon that every fire team relied on when they needed to put rounds downrange fast and keep the enemy's heads down.

The M249 also saw extensive action in Somalia, the events depicted in Black Hawk Down showed the SAW's critical role in urban combat. Delta Force operators and Army Rangers used M249s to fight through the streets of Mogadishu during the Battle of the Black Sea, and the weapon's reliability under extreme conditions cemented its reputation.

At Adrenaline Mountain, you'll fire the M249 SAW from a bipod-mounted position with a 20-round belt of live ammunition on our outdoor climate-controlled range, guided by our expert Range Safety Officers. Upgrade on-site to 40 or 60 rounds for an even longer adrenaline fix.

The M249 SAW pairs perfectly with other weapons from our 90+ firearm outdoor shooting range. Popular combinations include the Barrett .50 Cal sniper rifle, the M60 "The Hog", the M1919 Browning, and the devastating M2 .50 cal heavy machine gun.

After your shooting session, explore our other Mojave Desert experiences, off-road UTV tours, monster truck driving, and flamethrowers, all on the same 400-acre property.