Durability Evaluation and Live Firing Exercise for Two 100-Round Assault Packsand a Product-Improved 200-Round Magazine for the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW)

摘要

The Human Research and Engineering Directorate (HRED) of the U.S. Army ResearchLaboratory (ARL) conducted a durability and live firing exercise of two types of 100-round magazines and the latest product-improved 200-round magazine for the M249 squad automatic weapon (SAW). The purpose of this evaluation was to assess the durability of a reusable 100-round magazine (soft pack), a disposable 100-round magazine (hard pack), and a product-improved version of the 200-round magazine. The primary objectives were to determine if the magazines stayed attached to the SAW during obstacle course maneuvers, any of the magazines adversely affected the integrity of the linked munitions, and the munitions in these magazines could be fed into and fired from the SAW after portability maneuvers. In addition, magazine removal and attachment trails were conducted to determine the ease with which the 100-round magazines could be removed from the ammunition carrying cases and attached to the SAW.