Operator's Manual

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the box. This may not be allowed in all jurisdictions. Be sure of
local firearm laws and regulations before using. Additionally,
200 M27 steel disintegrating links are provided to link
5.56x45mm NATO ammunition for use with the ammunition
box. See Section 15.1 for linking ammunition and feeding from
the box. Make sure you have verified the capacity of your
ammunition belt and box before loading it in your rifle.
The plastic ammunition box and links are reusable if they are
not damaged during use or are cracked, bent or rusted. Do not
lubricate the M27 links. Additional M27 links and unloaded
ammunition packs are available through your FN Dealer.
2. M-16 Style GI pattern 30 round Magazine
The FN M249S
™
will also feed from a standard M-16 style GI
pattern 30 round magazine. The supplied magazine can hold
as many as 30 rounds. This may not be allowed in all
jurisdictions. Be sure of local firearm laws and regulations
before using. Make sure you have verified the capacity of your
magazine before loading it in your rifle. See Figure 10.
15. LOADING
15.1 Linking Ammunition and Filling the Ammunition Pack
Disintegrating linked 5.56x45mm NATO ammunition may be
available through various ammunition suppliers. Linked
ammunition can be assembled by hand if pre-linked
ammunition is not available. The M27 links may be reused if
they are not rusted, damaged, or bent during firing. Do not
lubricate the M27 links. Only use disintegrating belted
ammunition designed for the M-249 SAW, MK46 or other U.S.
5.56mm belt fed firearms.
1. Manually Linking M27 Disintegrating Links into a Belt
a. With a clean and level surface away from the rifle, begin by
placing a single link, open side down on the surface with the
locating leg pointing
toward you.
b. Place a second link to the
right and next to it so that
its single left loop sits
between the right loops of
the left link. Ensure the
open sides of the loops are
facing down. See Figure 11.
c. Take a single cartridge
and insert it, bullet first,
into the overlapping loops
of the two links. See
Figure 12.A. This will join
the two links together.
Push the cartridge into
the links until the notch of
the locating leg locks into
the extraction rim of the
cartridge. See Figure 12.B.
d. Repeat steps “b” and “c”
always assembling the
belt to the right, into the
double loop side of the
links with the locating leg.
See Figure 13.
e. Continue to assemble until the desired length belt is
complete. Do not link more than 200 cartridges into a single
belt. Do not put a cartridge in the left most single loop as it
does not have a locating leg to secure the cartridge. A final
cartridge may be inserted into the double loop side, but is not
required. See Figure 14.
f. Inspect the completed belt to ensure all cartridges are locked
by the locating leg of each link and the belt is not bent,
kinked or uneven. Note that there will be different sides to the
belt: an open side exposing the cartridges between the links
(See Figure 15) and a closed side encircling the cartridges
(See Figure 16).
g. Belts can be disassembled by pushing the cartridges
manually out of the links in a reverse manner. Separate the
loose links from cartridges and store them separately for
future use.
2. Filling the Plastic Ammunition Pack with a Belt of Ammunition
It is recommended that the FN M249S
™
be fed with belted
ammunition only if it is fed from the supplied plastic ammunition
pack. Loose belted ammunition may snag or be damaged if not
FIGURE 16
FIGURE 15
FIGURE 11
FIGURE 12.B
FIGURE 12.A
FIGURE 10
FIGURE 13
FIGURE 14
FIGURE 9