Matthew Cox reports on the GD Lightweight Medium Machine Gun …

OK, so we all know the Pentagon has no money. But if it did, General Dymanics’ Lightweight Medium Machine Gun, chambered in .338 Norma Magnum might be worth a look.

GD’s Ordnance and Tactical Systems division was showing off the 23-pound LWMMG at Modern Day Marine 2013, touting it as the needed bridge between the M240 and the M2 .50 caliber machine guns.

“We wanted a round that could provide capabilities to eliminate the gap between 7.62mm and .50 cal,” a GD official said. “We needed a round that could provide accurate, effective fire on target beyond 1,500 meters.”

The LWMMG fires a 300 grain .338 caliber bullet and is capable of effective fire out to 1,700 meters, compared to the M240 round which is effective out to 1,100 meters.

The time to introduce this gun was early or mid-way through Operation Enduring Freedom. For better or worse, the military is not going to adopt a new machine gun cartridge in the immediate future.