True Velocity RM338

General Dynamics first realized the capability gap being experienced by U.S. forces in Afghanistan around 2010. In many cases, troops were on low ground and being engaged by PKM machine gun fire from the high ground, forcing them to return fire from where they were instead of being able to seek a better position. The M2 machine gun is too heavy for use by dismounted patrols, and rounds from an M240 begin to drift off-target at 800 meters, especially when shooting upwards. At closer ranges, an M240 is accurate but does not have enough penetrating power against hard structures. The Precision Sniper Rifle competition going on at that time also showed that the U.S. military was interested in an infantry general-purpose machine guns with a 1,500-meter range. To achieve desired range capabilities, the .338-caliber was chosen, specifically the .338 Norma Magnum over the .338 Lapua Magnum for several reasons including greater barrel life and a less tapered case for better use in a push-through design metallic disintegrating link. At 1,000 yd (914 m), the 7.62 NATO's velocity drops to about 1,000 ft/s (300 m/s); at that range, the .338NM travels at 2,000 ft/s (610 m/s) and out to 1,100 yd (1,006 m), the round is capable of defeating Level III armor. A machine gun was then designed around the concept with Short Recoil Impulse Averaging technology, uses available subsystem components to keep cost down, and has a broad view 6-power scope to enable point target engagement out to 1,000-1,200 meters. The development of prototypes was entirely company-funded and took 12 months. The LWMMG was first unveiled on 15 May 2012 at the Joint Armaments Conference in Seattle, Washington.^[4][5]

An improved LWMMG was displayed at AUSA 2014 with its weight decreased to 22 lb (10.0 kg). Previously, the machine gun underwent a firing demonstration with special operations elements at Camp Roberts, California. When firing from a bipod, the gunners were able to fire directly and hit targets as far out as 1,950 m (2,133 yd). At that range, the LWMMG was able to maintain accurate automatic fire. This showed the LWMMG's significance of hitting targets at longer ranges. Another firing demonstration of the LWMMG is expected to take place in late October at Fort Benning, Georgia.^[6]

In April 2021 the technical data package for the LWMMG was sold to LoneStar Future Weapons.^[7]

In November 2021 True Velocity Ammo acquired LoneStar Future Weapons.^[8]

The LWMMG is designed to fill the gap between 7.62x51 mm NATO and .50 BMG machine guns. The RM338 uses the .338 Norma Magnum round, giving it greater lethality and double the range of the 7.62 NATO round. The LWMMG has a rate of fire of 500 rounds per minute, an effective range of 1,700 meters (1,900 yards), and a maximum range of 5,642 meters (6,170 yards). It weighs 24 pounds (11 kg), making it only slightly heavier than the M240L, and 3 lb (1.4 kg) lighter than the M240B. The .338NM cartridge has over 6,300 J (4,600 ft⋅lb) of muzzle energy and is four times more powerful than the 7.62 NATO at 1,000 meters. An individual round is twice as heavy (45.5 grams compared to 24 grams), as are each belt link (8 grams compared to 4 grams). The standard LWMMG weighs 10.8 kg (24 lb) plus a belt of 500 .338NM rounds that would weigh at 37.6 kg (83 lb), while an M240B weighs 12.5 kg (28 lb) plus a belt of 800 7.62 NATO rounds that would weigh at 34.9 kg (77 lb). The LWMMG is operated by a gas-operated, long-stroke piston with a rotating bolt located under the barrel and fires from an open bolt. It uses “Short Recoil Impulse Averaging” technology, patented by General Dynamics and previously used on their XM806 machine gun, where the entire barrel, barrel extension, gas system, and bolt assembly recoil inside the outer housing. The LWMMG is equipped with a quick-change barrel, quad picatinny rails, collapsible stock, and can be used by dismounted troops or mounted on a platform.^[10][11]

The LWMMG is designed to be a bridge between 7.62 mm NATO and .50 BMG machine guns. While the M240 has an effective range of 1,100 m, the LWMMG fires a 300 gr (19 g) .338 bullet that can provide effective and accurate fire out to 1,700 m. General Dynamics officials say their machine gun is not meant to be a replacement for the M240, but to give the ability to put effective fire on targets at extended ranges. The LWMMG can be mounted on an M240 mount and costs about the same. While the company is satisfied with the shorter .338NM cartridge's performance, the gun could easily be converted to .338 Lapua Magnum. The gun's short recoil operating system causes the barrel to reciprocate, similar to the M2 machine gun. This combined with a gas system to minimize recoil balances positive and negative recoil forces, allowing a gunner to fire a round with significantly greater energy but with the recoil profile similar to a 7.62 mm round from an M240.^[12]

• SIG Sauer MMG 338
• Overmatch