The first thing we did when we got to the 2015 NRA’s Annual Meetings & Exhibits in downtown Nashville, Tennessee, was to head on over to FNH USA. Word on the street was they released some new guns late yesterday…
Turns out, the word on the street was true! See video for details! Press release below.
(McLean, VA – April 10, 2015) FNH USA is excited to announce that three new products, including a brand-new product line, will be making their first appearance on the FNH USA Booth #2324 at the 2015 NRA Annual Meetings in Nashville, TN. Expected to be released in the Fall of 2015 are the mil-spec FN M249S™, a semi-automatic version of the U.S. Military’s M249 SAW light machinegun and two new additions to the company’s modern sporting rifle line, the FN 15™ M4 and M16 Military Collector Series.
“FNH USA has a unique history of commercializing and releasing to U.S. firearms buyers products that were originally developed for military or tactical applications,” said Mark Cherpes, President and CEO of FN America, LLC. “We are proud to continue that tradition with the introduction of the FN 15™ Military Collector Series and the semi-auto FN M249S™.”
FN M249S™
The FN M249S, a semi-automatic version of the M249 SAW light machinegun, was originally developed by FN Herstal as the FN MINIMI® and adopted by the U.S. Military in 1988. The rifle features the signature 20.5-inch FN cold hammer-forged, chrome-lined barrel and operates from a closed bolt position. Chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO, the rifle will accept both magazine and linked ammunition belt and offers a 4.5-6.5 pound trigger pull out-of-the-box.
FN 15™ Military Collector Series
The FN 15™ Military Collector’s Series M4 and M16 bring to market military replica rifles made to FN’s exacting specifications. The semi-automatic rifles are chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO and feature M4 -profile 16 and 20-inch 1:7” RH, button broached and chrome-lined barrels, respectively. Each UID-labeled lower receiver is equipped with an ambidextrous selector switch, just like its select-fire big brother.
To learn more about FN America, LLC and FNH USA branded products, visit us at booth 2324 at the 2015 NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits or visit www.fnhusa.com.
# # #
FNH USA — DISTINCT ADVANTAGE™
FN America, LLC, is a U.S. subsidiary of FN Herstal, S.A., a global leader in the development and manufacturing of high quality, reliable firearms for military, law enforcement and commercial customers worldwide. Headquartered in McLean, VA with manufacturing operations in Columbia, SC, FN America is passionately committed to providing its customers with a portfolio of products, training and support services under the FNH USA brand name that enhance their performance and safeguard their lives. For more information, visit us at www.fnhusa.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
The M16 can’t handle continuous full auto. It overheats badly. The M249 is made for such use.
considering that the full auto version goes for 100x as much, this is a nice thing to have around, if you can afford it. Simply spend a few k on having a Title II license, convert it and keep it as a “dealer’s sample” for sale only to Class III dealers or to cops. You can rent the hell out of it, by charging 3x the price of ball ammo for people to shoot your reloads thru it.
Lets just be real. I love the gun and yea 7k is ridiculous. But what REALLY gets me is its .223 Seriously why would I buy a 30 pound AR? I can belt feed TWO with ARES systems for half. That gun is only worth it in .308 or 30-06 like the bar.
This is no longer a SAW. You made it a SSW. Making it a squad semi-auto weapon for civilians. That’s false advertising fellas no offense. M249 SSW.
how much for the FN-M249S? Semi-Auto
What’s the price on the FN-M249S?
I own a couple of FN Pistols, and a FNAR , They are beautiful rifles, I have always am impressed by their products. I love guns I am up their now and retired, I get to the range as often as I can. but I have so many things to do and not enough time to do them. I see so many people that make up their minds about firearms but know very little about them. The new products are the safest products that have ever been build. They are engineering marvels. I have guns because I am older and can offer little physical force to protect my wife and family. I am 75, and do not hunt. but if I had to I could. I was brought up in a family that did hunt. I have been around guns all my life and 4 years in the US Army. I have a CCW but I don’t carry all the time . I have the highest regard for life and I mean all life. If anyone has a negative feeling about guns in this country, get to know about them and who owns them. I know you fear someone will do you harm with a gun. you should look into their background and if you find a problem report it. The people I know and enjoy the sport of shooting with , Don’t exhibit any hostility to anyone else. Do you know how much a person is responsible for by using a weapon even in an self defense encounter. You see in the media everyday accounts of someone defending them selves and the cost of having to obtain a lawyer, It cost up to and including everything they own. These are usually the product of knowing a person has told friend and family they are going to do this and not reporting it. I know evil is out there but more gun laws will not help these situations . We are responsible for things that we dismiss and ignore. The problem is not the gun, but the system that ignores the people that need help. . .
That is going to be too easy to mod
There is nothing “sporting” about a gas-operated belt fed semi-auto with 100 round ammo can attached to it and it appears the ancestry of this one is not held in that high esteem. There are weapons that have an historical context that warrant a semi-auto version but the M 249 isn’t one of them. Maybe FN should spend more time improving the existing line instead of adding an oddity.
It’s cool and all, but it doesn’t offer anything that the ARES Defense SHRIKE/MCR don’t offer and has a lot of down-sides. It’s big, heavy, EXPENSIVE, and complicated. You can get the magazine-fed SHRIKE/MCR for $2000 for the complete rifle and add a bump-fire stock, or even get the belt feed kit, and have a few thousand dollars for ammunition, optics, accessories, and drum magazines. I’m glad FN is offering us lowly civilians cool stuff, but there are better options out there.
Your a dumb ass! Make that a double dumass!!!
Well there is one HUGE thing this has over the Shrike. More than 3 people will be able to buy one of these over the course of 8 years.
The M249 I shot functioned very well, belt after belt, decent accuracy.. On a stateside range with no blowing sand. As for FN, I wish they would have made the M240. But really, other than a coolness factor, it’s a bit heavy for a semi auto only rifle
Very nice M249 SAW but Very Pricey
Give me a free pass on the CLASS 3 TAX stamp, cut the wait period to 1 week, Make it full auto and beg me to pay $7K. I may do it. Anything less, NO WAY!!! Most of us are mid to lower income that would use this. WHy would we give 1 to 2 months salary up on a whim for something like this that isn’t full auto. Like we can afford the ammo to, thanks to our Gov’t driving up prices for those idiots that panic and buy so much up they create a short supply for the rest.
Never liked the saw, underpowered round and weapon is subject to cook offs due to closed bolt design. M60 or M240, give me a 7.62×51 any day over a free semi-auto M249.
Good luck finding belted ammo….or finding links and then relinking them. Oh, it takes AR style mags? Awesome. What do you call a M249 in semi only that you shoot mags out of? An AR15. A very expensive AR15 at that.
Morons… 99% of the people who would’ve been interested in the M249S aren’t going to be able to afford it, that is an utterly ridiculous price, it should be a third of that at the most.
Oh well, will be interested to see how many they sell, hopefully none.
I have to disagree with a few things here, as I was a Saw gunner in my Squad back
86 and 87, the article said it was,”adopted in 88′?
Nope, I took it to CAX86, I believe it was, and I got out in 87′, so I know it was there well before then.
Secondly, if the accuracy of this weapon is the same as the original, its a WASTE OF AMMO! The one I attempted to zero in the desert was impossible! Even with tracers I could not get it remotely close to being what I would accept as accurate, the ONLY thing I can see it being good at is laying down a wall of lead, hopefully close enough to the enemy to allow our guys that have, the new and (whats the opposite of imptroved,anyway), M-4’s to hooefully make a decent shot with! I only can hope this weapon system didnt cost American lives. Why anybody would want
one is beyond me!!!!
Former Lance Corporal,R. McClellan, (but everyone called me ‘Bama’!)
If it comes with a free high speed motorized titanium trigger pulling finger it might work…..
Stupid idea – the m-249 was too prone to jamming as it was and on top of that non-sense – FN is really going to try to “squeeze” people for $7k for a semi-auto POS? You know those answers that only apply to the questions absolutely non-one is asking? That’s the equivalent to this gun in the market. Just ask yourself – “why?” You’d literally get exactly half the potential firepower (100 rounds instead of 200) from a standard M-4 with a surefire mag or C-beta mag at a quarter of the price (and about half the weight). The m-249 is not well-liked in the military and anybody who claims otherwise either serves in a POG unit or doesn’t know their a$$ from a hole in the ground. The 249 is more apt to go “chunk” instead of “bang” during a firefight – especially in sandy environments. There is a reason why you will almost never see a SOF operator with a 249. While the 240 is heavier – it tends to be much more reliable (and it is chambered in 7.62x51mm).
I was in a special ops unit (read non – POGGIE) and we certainly used the hell out of the SAW with a lot of success. We were also a test squad for the M240 (“G” at the time) as well. Both were great weapons serving different roles. Weapons squad had 240’s and line dogs had the SAW’s. I’ve seen lots of SOF operators with SAW’s. But then again that was early ’90’s. Our 60’s were the ones that jammed.
Rifle retails for 7000 to start
I was a M60 gunner in the 82d Airborne when the M249 was brought in for testing. Our unit got them and we loved them. A fine weapon for non-urban environments.
But a semi-auto M249? What’s the use? The draw, as far as this weapon goes, is the INSANE rate of fire. Squeezing out round after round manually just won’t do it for me. Waste of money.
Although they have the awesome factor covered, I think their price point is on the high side, “around” 7k for a semi auto saw? I’ll pass.
Hope Slide Fire gets on this one fast!!!
How about something a little more practical, like a mid size or compact FNX-45? Maybe a striker fired 45? I’ve been waiting for a smaller FN 45 for years now.
Why? Ive got the fnp-45t, cant say ive ever wanted a smaller version. Let alone striker fired. Go look at walther and smith. Maybe they can help you. Lol
I have no experience with the m249 since it came out shortly before I retired. I can see where it was the better weapon in the conflict we are currently in due to being able to carry more ammo and rate of fire.The m60 was my choice while serving but I can understand with all the Vets now out their it will have a lot of fans. Great idea FN!
Yea I want a pig
Who cares about price! THIS lokks fun
That feller in the video is gonna have a sore bugger pickin finger after unloading that big box mag in semi auto mode.
This will drive liberals more nuts than they already are. It is the gun those afflicted with hoplophobia have nightmares of. I’d love to have one. But at the price tag that it will most likely be at I don’t see one in my future.
Make it a m240, and then someone needs to come out with a slide fire stock or a tac-con trigger, then I will think about getting one.
Ohio Ordinance makes a semi 240. It’s north of $12k.
Saw this up close in Nashville, and nobody would say how much it would cost. Now, hearing it’s going to be >$4000, I think I’ll pass. For that money, it should be full auto!
Too sweet!!!
I am a fan of the 249. I believe we (Marine Corps) have made a mistake trading firepower for perceived accuracy by going to the M27; in short, the shooter’s ability to squeeze the accuracy out of the M27 will be overcome by internal (adrenaline, stress, etc) and external (being shot at, environment) variables. Result: the shooter won’t shoot more accurately, and the squad will have lost sustained firepower. But of course what do I know, I’m just a pogue/P.O.G….
Having said, I’d have to hit a serious jackpot before buying a 249S. Lots of cool factor and screams look-at-me at the range, but that’s about it. Now, a full auto 249… mmmmm!
i totally agree and would add that i think both have a place in our nations defense.
I used both overseas the m249 saw is basically using accuracy by volume of Fire and the M27 iar is more precise and dependable ,never had the m27 IAR(Named after my unit) jam once , less weight and is much more user friendly easier to use and only one person to operate. The 249 jammed every couple burst, much more maintenance, much more training and even requires a assistant gunner for quick barrel swaps spotting ect. If you are a civi take it from us the weapon has a nice fun factor to it but the downs of it aren’t worth it as a full auto never mind a semi-auto.Spraying bullets is cool and all. but.. accurately suppressing and killing your target is cooler . If you want to buy it for a combat
I used both overseas the m249 saw is basically using accuracy by volume of Fire and the M27 iar is more precise and dependable ,never had the m27 IAR(Named after my unit) jam once , less weight and is much more user friendly easier to use and only one person to operate. The 249 jammed every couple burst, much more maintenance, much more training and even requires a assistant gunner for quick barrel swaps spotting ect. If you are a civi take it from us the weapon has a nice fun factor to it but the downs of it aren’t worth it as a full auto never mind a semi-auto.Spraying bullets is cool and all. but.. accurately suppressing and killing your target is cooler .
Moral of the story If you want to buy it for a combat mindset forget about it. If you want to buy it to make you happy and the person next to you at the range jealous then also buy it. I’ll be the first to tell you that I would line up to shoot that thing again.
prices? especially the 249s we need an official mrsp soon.
It’s a Porsche.
I drive used Hondas.
That’s a hell of a lot of rifle.
Good for the rich guy who’s holding the position, of his castle on the hill.
very kewl but 7000.00 no way if you want a belt feed buy a shrike top end for your ar-15 it will do the same thing
it will belt feed or magazine or beta mag AND IF YOU HAVE A FULL AUTO LOWER THAN YOU CAN ROCK N ROLL FOR A HOLE LOT LESS