The M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle (IAR) is a 5.56mm, select-fire assault rifle / squad automatic weapon developed from the HK416 by Heckler & Koch.

Feb 2, 2023 · It’s easy to see why when you look at the specs: It fires the 5.56x45mm NATO round and can use a box with 200 rounds in a belt, or it can use the same 30-round magazines from M16 rifles and M4 carbines. But now the M27 reigns supreme. Why? Well, the specs have an answer for that, too.

The M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle (IAR) is a 5.56mmx45mm rifle that used by United States Marine Corps (USMC) forces. The M27 will replace many of the M249 SAW belt-fed light machine guns currently employed at the squad level. The M27 is based on the Heckler & …

May 21, 2020 · The Marine Corps hasn't yet finished fielding M27 infantry automatic rifles to all its grunt units as their new standard service weapon, but it's already eying the Army's Next Generation Squad...

Sep 8, 2022 · The M27 would replace the M249 SAW and would become an automatic rifle tasked with laying down suppressive fire. Marines in Afghanistan fell in love with the weapon, and the Marine Corps was impressed.

Apr 16, 2024 · The Marine Corps originally adopted the M27 to replace the M249 SAW. They wanted an automatic rifle to replace the hefty and aging complement of SAWs. The idea was suppression by precision rather than volume of fire.

Critics say the 5.56mm SAW‘s hefty 20+ pound combat weight slows movement and reliability issues too often degrade the gun’s claimed firepower advantage.

short of the new M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle. Combat weight of this light machine gun with 200 rounds loaded plus the USMC version ACOG, laser aiming module and bipod, is about twice that of a comparably equipped M27 and seven loaded mags.

The new “M27 IAR” reportedly weighs 7.9 pounds unloaded, which is very close to a regular HK416, and much less than the M249 LMG’s 17 pounds. It uses a short-stoke gas piston, which is far more reliable and resistant to fouling than the M4/M16’s direct gas system.

Apr 2, 2017 · Initially the Corps thought the M27 IAR could replace the M249 squad automatic weapon. It is far lighter — about nine pounds, compared to a 23-pound SAW. And the M27’s free-floating barrel...