Lightweight Dismounted Automatic Machinegun---Forget 7.62 this bad boy is a .338 Norma Magnum!

In November 2013 the US Army announced two new small-arms programs, designated LDAM ---Lightweight Dismounted Automatic Machinegun--- and CLAWS ---Combat Lightweight Automatic Weapon System....

LDAM is seen as a replacement for the 7.62 mm M240 medium MG (the FN MAG) and, possibly, the .50 caliber M2 HMG in dismounted applications. CLAWS is intended to replace all existing 5.56 mm rifles, carbines and light machine guns with one modular weapon family with interchangeable barrels, stocks and accessories, providing the flexibility to assemble a carbine, assault rifle, squad-designated marksman rifle, and a squad automatic weapon or light machine gun (LMG) from a common kit of parts.

But if you all follow Military news like I do you probability know all that. at least you know about the project but not the gun itself.
From World Guns

GD Lightweight Medium Machine Gun / LWMMG
Caliber
.338 Norma Magnum / 8.6x64
Weight
10.9 kg / 24 lbs (gun with bipod) + 5.2 kg / 11.5 lbs (M192 tripod)
Overall length
1244 mm / 49”
Barrel length
609 mm / 24”
Cyclic rate of fire
500 rounds per minute
Feed and capacity
Belt

338 Norma Magnum cartridge is a recent development. It has evolved from .338 Lapua Magnum cartridge by shortening the case and slightly altering its shape, to ensure same overall length as .338LM with longer heavier bullets with outstanding ballistic properties. In its basic form, .338 NM cartridge, when fired from LWMMG, launches very low drag Sierra MatchKing bullet weighting 19.44 gram (300 grains) at 808 m/s (2650 fps), with muzzle energy in excess of 6300 Joules (4600 ft-lbs).

The LWMMG offers noticeable increase in terms of range (from about 800 meters for 7,62mm GPMG such as M240 or PKM up to 1700 meters for LWMMG) and lethality. Terminal energy of the bullet at 1000 meters range for .338NM bullet fired from LWMMG is almost 4 times higher than energy of the 7,62mm bullet fired from M240. It must be noted that Lightweight Medium Machine Gun (LWMMG) is intended for many different applications, including use by dismounted /

if you watch the vid it looks like felt recoil is way down from that of the old M240.
only time and testing will say if this is our new small machine gun--- given the upgrade in performance of this this new .338 NM round--- 800 meters for 7,62mm to 1700 effective for the .338 I think we are indeed looking at the next gen of lightweight machine guns.

Now, to get this same round chambered in a main battle rifle... that would be cool!

When do the popo get theirs?
Thats one hard hitting round.

Quit glorifying these horrible weapons of war!

Just kidding I may as well be the 1st.

Anything in .338 makes giggle. You'd definitely be able to carry a lot more rounds and with these ballistics I doubt too many would miss the ma duece.

I mean this is actually mobile. As you can walk carrying it lol.

Thanks for the gun porn!

a reply to: HardCorps

I just got an off line question asking what the CLAWS half this project is going to be?

IWI X95 assault rifle / carbine / submachine gun (Israel)
is the front runner right now.. or so they say...


but they are still testing dozens of others--- so no... it's way to soon to even guess at what will replace the M4...

I got to play around with the LDAM system up at Picatinny last year and it was quite enjoyable. It was mounted on an Abrams platform so the recoil aspect was virtually nil.

did you see the M4 that was converted to a .50 cal?

Thats some stopping power, they think it can shoot through a car engine block at close range.

The beowulf.

Hmmmmmmmmmmm, I thinkin there will be a lot of cheap M16 variants available soon as they get their pick of battle rifle system together.....plus aMMO!!!! BY THE BOATLOAD!!!

originally posted by: stirling
Hmmmmmmmmmmm, I thinkin there will be a lot of cheap M16 variants available soon as they get their pick of battle rifle system together.....plus aMMO!!!! BY THE BOATLOAD!!!

I agree! Then you simply buy a different upper and BCG to take the .338

That is the beauty of the AR platform. Need a different weapon platform? Pop two pins and slam another upper on your lower.

a reply to: Biigs
Awesome gun with it being interchangeable with M4 stuff, but presented via a stupid video IME.

Carried the M60 with 500 rounds while I was in during Desert sheild/storm,just with a bipod and shoulder harness. It was pretty close in weight but the new round seems like a hard hitter. Never did get to shoot the 240. I was a strong lad ,doubt I could do it now. I wonder how the round would do compared to the M2 for anti material. It seems to have the range but not sure it could replace the .50 straight up. I thought they came out with a titanium M2 that you didnt have to set headspace anymore. Modulare makes sense for sure