Firearms / Machine guns / FN Minimi
FN Minimi
General Facts
- TYPE
Machine gun - ORIGIN
Belgium - NICKNAMES
C9 (Canada)
F89 (Australia)
Maximi (Australian nickname)
L108A1 (United Kingdom: Minimi)
L110A2 (United kingdom: Minimi Para)
M249 (United States)
Squad Automatic Weapon / SAW (United States) - DESIGNED
Early 1960's - 1980 - DESIGNER
Fabrique Nationale - PRODUCTION
1982 - present - PRODUCERS Belgium - FN Herstal
United States - FNH USA
Licenced production:
Australia - ADI / Thales Australia
Greece - EBO / EAS
Indonesia - Pindad
Italy - Beretta
Japan - Sumitomo
Sweden - Bofors Carl Gustav - QUANTITY
Unknown - UNIT COST
Unknown - CHARACTERISTICS
Limited weight
High volume of fire
Dual feed mechanism
Quick change barrel
Overheats quickly
Introduction
The Minimi is a machine gun of Belgian origin. It was developed in the mid and late 1970's by Fabrique Nationale although concepts were drawn up much earlier. The Minimi is the world's first dedicated 5.56x45mm machine gun. Such weapons did exist earlier, but were derived from assault rifles or larger caliber machine guns. The name Minimi stands for Mini Mitrailleuse, which is French for mini machine gun.
Design
The Minimi is a belt fed machine gun with a quick change barrel and is also able to use magazines if needed. The Minimi gas operated and has a gas piston below the barrel. The design has a strong emphasis on a limited weight, allowing the Minimi to be used by a single operator. The Minimi has a plastic forearm and uses a fixed plastic stock, although the earliest versions had a metal tubular stock. The more compact models use a tubular retractable stock and shorter barrels. The latest model is a scaled up version that fires the heavier 7.62x51mm round.
Firepower
The Minimi fires the 5.56x45mm NATO round from 100 or 200 round belts or STANAG magazines. Recently a scaled up model that fires the 7.62x51mm round has been introduced. The Minimi fires fully automatic only and has a rate of fire of 700 to 1.150 rpm, depending on the setting of the gas valve. The effective range is quoted as 300 meters against point targets and 800 meters against area targets.
Users
The Minimi is one of the most common machine guns in the world. The USA was one of the first who adopted it and remains a major user. The Minimi is in service with most NATO countries and can also be found in Asia and South America. In many armies two Minimi's replaced a single 7.62mm machine gun in infantry sections.
Minimi Standard
The full size Minimi is the first model of the Minimi to be developed. It fires the 5.56x45mm NATO round from belts or STANAG magazines. Since 1996 the Minimi is produced to a so called new standard, mostly consisting of components from the US product improvement package developed for the Minimi's in US service. The new pattern Minimi was called the Minimi Mk 2, but this designation changed to the Minimi Standard. The improvements include some reliability upgrades, ergonomic changes, a plastic fixed buttstock and folding carrying handle. The US military M249 features a heat shield above the barrel. The new pattern Minimi is also available with Picatinny rails as the TR model.
- Specifications:
- Minimi
- Minimi Standard
- Minimi Standard TR
| Type | Machine gun |
|---|---|
| Caliber | 5.56x45mm NATO |
| Magazine | 100, 200 rounds |
| Operation | Gas operated, rotating bolt, open bolt |
| Fire selector | 0-F |
| Rate of fire | 700 - 850 rpm, 950 - 1.150 rpm |
| Barrel length | 465 mm |
|---|---|
| Rifling | 6 grooves, 178 mm right hand twist |
| Muzzle velocity | 915 m/s |
| Stock | Fixed |
| Length | 1.040 mm |
| Width | ? |
| Height | ? |
|---|---|
| Weight | 6.88 kg empty |
| Sights | Iron sights, hooded post front and adjustable aperture rear, 300 - 1.000 m gradations, 490 mm sight radius |
| Remarks | Bipod |
| Type | Machine gun |
|---|---|
| Caliber | 5.56x45mm NATO |
| Magazine | 100, 200 rounds |
| Operation | Gas operated, rotating bolt, open bolt |
| Fire selector | 0-F |
| Rate of fire | 700 - 850 rpm, 950 - 1.150 rpm |
| Barrel length | 465 mm |
|---|---|
| Rifling | 6 grooves, 178 mm right hand twist |
| Muzzle velocity | 915 m/s |
| Stock | Fixed |
| Length | 1.040 mm |
| Width | 110 mm |
| Height | ? |
|---|---|
| Weight | 7.31 kg empty |
| Sights | Iron sights, hooded post front and adjustable aperture rear, 300 - 1.000 m gradations, 490 mm sight radius |
| Remarks | Bipod |
| Type | Machine gun |
|---|---|
| Caliber | 5.56x45mm NATO |
| Magazine | 100, 200 rounds |
| Operation | Gas operated, rotating bolt, open bolt |
| Fire selector | 0-F |
| Rate of fire | 700 - 850 rpm, 950 - 1.150 rpm |
| Barrel length | 465 mm |
|---|---|
| Rifling | 6 grooves, 178 mm right hand twist |
| Muzzle velocity | 915 m/s |
| Stock | Fixed |
| Length | 1.040 mm |
| Width | 110 mm |
| Height | ? |
|---|---|
| Weight | 7.58 kg empty |
| Sights | Iron sights, hooded post front and adjustable aperture rear, 300 - 1.000 m gradations, 490 mm sight radius |
| Remarks | Bipod |
Minimi Para
The Minimi Para is a Minimi with a shorter barrel and a retractable stock. This reduces the overall size and weight of the weapon and makes it more suitable for operation by a single person. The Minimi Para is also available with Picatinny rails as the TR model.
- Specifications:
- Minimi Para
- Minimi Para TR
| Type | Machine gun |
|---|---|
| Caliber | 5.56x45mm NATO |
| Magazine | 100, 200 rounds |
| Operation | Gas operated, rotating bolt, open bolt |
| Fire selector | 0-F |
| Rate of fire | 700 - 850 rpm, 950 - 1.150 rpm |
| Barrel length | 349 mm |
|---|---|
| Rifling | 6 grooves, 178 mm right hand twist |
| Muzzle velocity | 866 m/s |
| Stock | Retractable |
| Length | 914 mm / 766 mm |
| Width | 110 mm |
| Height | ? |
|---|---|
| Weight | 7.35 kg empty |
| Sights | Iron sights, hooded post front and adjustable aperture rear, 300 - 1.000 m gradations, 490 mm sight radius |
| Remarks | Bipod |
| Type | Machine gun |
|---|---|
| Caliber | 5.56x45mm NATO |
| Magazine | 100, 200 rounds |
| Operation | Gas operated, rotating bolt, open bolt |
| Fire selector | 0-F |
| Rate of fire | 700 - 850 rpm, 950 - 1.150 rpm |
| Barrel length | 349 mm |
|---|---|
| Rifling | 6 grooves, 178 mm right hand twist |
| Muzzle velocity | 866 m/s |
| Stock | Retractable |
| Length | 914 mm / 766 mm |
| Width | 110 mm |
| Height | ? |
|---|---|
| Weight | 7.62 kg empty |
| Sights | Iron sights, hooded post front and adjustable aperture rear, 300 - 1.000 m gradations, 490 mm sight radius |
| Remarks | Bipod |
Minimi SPW
The Minimi SPW is a version of the Minimi Para that was developed for special forces use. The name SPW stands for Special Purpose Weapon. It features a lighter handguard, lacks a bipod, lacks the magazine feed ability and is fitted with Picatinny rails. The SPW is discontinued now the Minimi Para is available with Picatinny rails.
- Specifications:
- Minimi SPW
| Type | Machine gun |
|---|---|
| Caliber | 5.56x45mm NATO |
| Magazine | 100, 200 rounds |
| Operation | Gas operated, rotating bolt, open bolt |
| Fire selector | 0-F |
| Rate of fire | 750 rpm |
| Barrel length | 406 mm |
|---|---|
| Rifling | 6 grooves, 178 mm right hand twist |
| Muzzle velocity | ? |
| Stock | Retractable |
| Length | 908 mm / 762 mm |
| Width | ? |
| Height | ? |
|---|---|
| Weight | 5.75 kg empty |
| Sights | Iron sights, hooded post front and adjustable aperture rear, 300 - 1.000 m gradations, 490 mm sight radius |
| Remarks | - |
Mk 46
The Mk 46 Mod 0 is a version of the Minimi SPW that was specifically developed for US special forces. It differs from the SPW in having a fixed plastic stock, different heat guard and it has an attached bipod. The Mk 46 Mod 1 has a titanium bipod and improved forward rail.
- Specifications:
- Mk 46
| Type | Machine gun |
|---|---|
| Caliber | 5.56x45mm NATO |
| Magazine | 100, 200 rounds |
| Operation | Gas operated, rotating bolt, open bolt |
| Fire selector | 0-F |
| Rate of fire | 750 rpm |
| Barrel length | 414 mm |
|---|---|
| Rifling | 6 grooves, 178 mm right hand twist |
| Muzzle velocity | ? |
| Stock | Fixed |
| Length | 920 mm |
| Width | ? |
| Height | 237 mm |
|---|---|
| Weight | 5.7 kg empty (without bipod?) |
| Sights | Iron sights, hooded post front and adjustable aperture rear, 300 - 1.000 m gradations, 490 mm sight radius |
| Remarks | Bipod |
Minimi 7.62
The Minimi 7.62 is a Minimi that is chambered for the 7.62x51mm NATO round. It has a longer and heavier barrel than the 5.56mm model and is belt fed only. The Minimi 7.62 is available with a fixed plastic stock or the same retractable stock as used on the Minimi Para. In both versions it is available with Picatinny rails as the TR model.
- Specifications:
- Minimi 7.62
- Minimi 7.62 TR
- Minimi 7.62 Para
- Minimi 7.62 Para TR
| Type | Machine gun |
|---|---|
| Caliber | 7.62x51mm NATO |
| Magazine | 100 rounds |
| Operation | Gas operated, rotating bolt, open bolt |
| Fire selector | 0-F |
| Rate of fire | 680 - 800 rpm |
| Barrel length | 502 mm |
|---|---|
| Rifling | 4 grooves, 305 mm right hand twist |
| Muzzle velocity | ? |
| Stock | Fixed |
| Length | 1.015 mm |
| Width | 128 mm |
| Height | ? |
|---|---|
| Weight | 8.2 kg empty |
| Sights | Iron sights, hooded post front and adjustable aperture rear, 100 - 1.000 m gradations |
| Remarks | Bipod |
| Type | Machine gun |
|---|---|
| Caliber | 7.62x51mm NATO |
| Magazine | 100 rounds |
| Operation | Gas operated, rotating bolt, open bolt |
| Fire selector | 0-F |
| Rate of fire | 680 - 800 rpm |
| Barrel length | 502 mm |
|---|---|
| Rifling | 4 grooves, 305 mm right hand twist |
| Muzzle velocity | ? |
| Stock | Fixed |
| Length | 1.015 mm |
| Width | 128 mm |
| Height | ? |
|---|---|
| Weight | 8.4 kg empty |
| Sights | Iron sights, hooded post front and adjustable aperture rear, 100 - 1.000 m gradations |
| Remarks | Bipod |
| Type | Machine gun |
|---|---|
| Caliber | 7.62x51mm NATO |
| Magazine | 100 rounds |
| Operation | Gas operated, rotating bolt, open bolt |
| Fire selector | 0-F |
| Rate of fire | 680 - 800 rpm |
| Barrel length | 502 mm |
|---|---|
| Rifling | 4 grooves, 305 mm right hand twist |
| Muzzle velocity | ? |
| Stock | Retractable |
| Length | 1.000 mm / 865 mm |
| Width | 128 mm |
| Height | ? |
|---|---|
| Weight | 8.4 kg empty |
| Sights | Iron sights, hooded post front and adjustable aperture rear, 100 - 1.000 m gradations |
| Remarks | Bipod |
| Type | Machine gun |
|---|---|
| Caliber | 7.62x51mm NATO |
| Magazine | 100 rounds |
| Operation | Gas operated, rotating bolt, open bolt |
| Fire selector | 0-F |
| Rate of fire | 680 - 800 rpm |
| Barrel length | 502 mm |
|---|---|
| Rifling | 4 grooves, 305 mm right hand twist |
| Muzzle velocity | ? |
| Stock | Retractable |
| Length | 1.000 mm / 865 mm |
| Width | 128 mm |
| Height | ? |
|---|---|
| Weight | 8.6 kg empty |
| Sights | Iron sights, hooded post front and adjustable aperture rear, 100 - 1.000 m gradations |
| Remarks | Bipod |
Mk 48
The Mk 48 Mod 0 is a 7.62x51mm NATO variant of the Minimi and led to the development of the Minimi 7.62. It differs from the Minimi 7.62 in having a heat shield above the somewhat shorter barrel.
- Specifications:
- Mk 48
| Type | Machine gun |
|---|---|
| Caliber | 7.62x51mm NATO |
| Magazine | 100 rounds |
| Operation | Gas operated, rotating bolt, open bolt |
| Fire selector | 0-F |
| Rate of fire | 680 - 800 rpm |
| Barrel length | 502 mm |
|---|---|
| Rifling | 4 grooves, 305 mm right hand twist |
| Muzzle velocity | ? |
| Stock | Fixed |
| Length | 1.015 mm |
| Width | ? |
| Height | 237 mm |
|---|---|
| Weight | 8.3 kg empty |
| Sights | Iron sights, hooded post front and adjustable aperture rear, 100 - 1.000 m gradations |
| Remarks | Bipod |
Negev
The Israeli Negev looks somewhat similar to the Minimi light machine gun and has a rougly similar performance.
