Barrett 240 LWS Ultra-Light Machine Gun—SHOT Show 2017

in Authors, Clay Martin, SHOT Show 2017

For more information, visit https://barrett.net/.

Overview

Barrett is one of America’s truly great weapons designers, and the new 240 LWS from the company took the cake for change this year. The 240 family of weapons has been in service with the US military since the late 70s, and it was due for an overhaul. Barrett delivered one of those in spades. The first step was moving the trigger group forward 4 inches, something most of us didn’t think could be done. This instantly allows you to shorten the buttstock by 4 inches, making a more compact weapon.

Barrett 240 LWS Ultra-Light Machine Gun—SHOT Show 2017

Ronnie Barrett, owner of Barrett Firearms, is shown here demonstrating the 240LWS.

Impression

Barrett also says they have reduced the parts in the receiver from 64 to 2. Not 62. 2.I have no idea how they pulled off that feat of magic, but armorers and supply clerks the world over are jumping for joy. This has also allowed them to drop 4 pounds off the receiver. The barrel has been fluted to boot, every ounce counts. The sights are now folding, handy in an era of optics on machine guns. They even redesigned the carry handle, allowing you to mount more optics on a longer feed tray cover rail. Red dot plus night vision plus machine gun = win. A very big win.

There is an array of other changes, every one of which has been thought through. I know the troops will be very appreciative if this update ever makes it through the US procurement system, and they deserve it. I didn’t get an exact weight on this new Barrett model, but I know this from experience: It is significantly lighter than even the 2010 update called the M240L, and that gun included titanium parts.

For more information, visit https://barrett.net/.

Barrett 240 LWS Ultra-Light Machine Gun—SHOT Show 2017

The 240LWS is designed to shave off a lot of weight from the 7.62mm machine gun while still retaining all its power and capabilities.

About the author: Clay Martin is a former Marine and Green Beret, retiring out of 3rd Special Forces Group. He is a multi-decade and -service sniper, as well as 3-Gun competitor and Master ranked shooter in USPSA Production. In addition to writing about guns, he is the author of “Last Son of The War God,” a novel about shooting people that deserve it. You can also follow him on twitter, @offthe_res or his website, Off-The-Reservation.com

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  • viktor knapp February 8, 2017, 1:24 pm

    Anything made by Barrett is stone age, compared to my GM6 Lynx

    • SSG G June 9, 2017, 1:01 pm

      Kind of confused by your comment. The two weapons are apples and oranges. Using the GM6 would be great if you needed to shoot it 4 or 5 times a day to stop a vehicle or breeech, the M240 platform, well, its meant to stop people.

  • Thunder February 8, 2017, 9:38 am

    Who L.R. shooters don’t love the Ronnie Barrett Special ? Changed the entire dynamic of Long Range shooting .

  • segian February 7, 2017, 4:31 pm

    I don’t know billy bob there are alot of things I cannot afford. I guess I will stop watching documentaries on fighter jets, tanks, and aircraft carriers. Rock On Clay that thing is bad ass.

  • Dan February 7, 2017, 4:18 pm

    Seeing Mr Barrett demo one of his weapon at the shot show impresses me greatly! Heres and man that understand the military needs and know how to make them work and accomplish the mission! Good for you Mr Barrett….. reduce it by 62 parts and 4 pounds… darn!

  • Alan February 7, 2017, 12:51 pm

    Why many military suppliers haven’t gone over to fluted barrels long before now is a mystery, it just makes sense.
    I would say the reciever parts reduction to 2 is most likely by sub assembly, sub assembly’s make more sense for combat weapons as opposed to dozens of small parts.

  • joe February 7, 2017, 8:49 am

    Fantastic! Now let’s get the NFA repealed so I can buy one.

    https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/repeal-nfa

  • Brad February 7, 2017, 8:25 am

    Mike,
    I think Billy was being sarcastic. He was just reiterating the negativity that comes from some readers who aren’t as enthusiastic about projects and innovations that companies like Barret produce.
    Pretty cool to see Mr. Barret out there on the floor touting his wares. Gotta love a hands on guy.

  • jim February 7, 2017, 7:45 am

    Great review. Please disregard the comment by the guy who got his Willie bobbed.

  • Mike February 7, 2017, 7:12 am

    Hey Billy Bob, did someone tell you that this entire blog was supposed to be only about what you want to see? I must have missed that intro, I thought the purpose here was to inform anyone about what’s developing in the firearms industry, sort of give you a chance to stay ahead of the 70’s. From your comment it appears as if your main interest is everyone else’s wee wee. There are other websites I’m sure that will cater to your fetishes in those areas, just not so much on this one.

  • Billy bob February 7, 2017, 3:04 am

    Cant believe they would review this gun…This is nothing that us average Joe’s could ever afford…I can get a beautiful Glock 17 and use extra money for accessories to make this thing…No one needs this type for firearm….Just more range candy…What do u have a small wee wee and need to look cooler than me at the range? Huh huh huh??

    Summary of the comments I’ve seen past month. Oh I forgot, this is wayyyy too expensive a price point to ever consider…No practical at all!!!

    • Big John February 7, 2017, 11:21 am

      If it’s not your thing just don’t watch/read the review and bitch about the content…oh…and no one digs a COCK GAZER!

      • Kelly Lee February 11, 2017, 7:14 am

        Wow, Billy Bob’s sarcasm was clearly evident and his comment at the end should have cleared it up for those who didn’t get it. Geez, guys, relax.

    • matthew martinez February 7, 2017, 2:08 pm

      Its not about the average joes. i dont avoid reading about the c7 corvette or new amg mercedes lineup because i cant afford them. Im dedicated to learning about the industry not making a list of things i cant afford. the magnetic dampening in gms halo cars is now in your “average joe” lineup. same as how we now get the new models of weapons.

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