Ksp 58DF
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| Ksp 58DF (FN MAG) | |
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| Type | General Purpose Machine Gun |
| Place of origin | Sweden (Belgium) |
| Service history | |
| Used by | See Operators |
| Wars | South African Border War, Falklands War, Gulf War, 2003 Iraq conflict |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1950s |
| Manufacturer | Fabrique Nationale (FN) |
| Produced | 1955— |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 10.15 kg |
| Length | 1250 mm |
| Barrel length | 546 mm |
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| Cartridge | 7.62 × 51 mm NATO |
| Caliber | 7.62 mm (.308 in) |
| Action | gas-operated long piston |
| Rate of fire | 850 rounds/min |
| Effective range | 1,000 m, 1,500 m (with bipod) |
| Feed system | Belt fed |
The Ksp 58DF is a machine gun based on the FN MAG manufactured by Bofors in Sweden. It was developed in the 1950s, in production since 1958, and has become a widely adopted 7.62 mm NATO-firing machine gun, used by more than 20 countries. MAG stands for Mitrailleuse d'Appui General, translated as 'general purpose machine gun' (GPMG).
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[edit] Design
Like the FN MAG, It is Chambered for the 7.62 x 51 mm NATO cartridge, the Ksp 58 uses a locking system similar to that of the Browning Automatic Rifle and has made use of some other work by John Browning who had worked on other, earlier designs in Belgium. The downward locking bolt drives the belt feed system, which is a similar type to that of the MG42, itself borrowing it from an earlier design. They are, however, not identical: the MAG works with the standard NATO belt type, which was a capability not added until a 1968 redesign of the MG3, a descendant of the MG42. The MG42 also influenced the MAG's trigger mechanism
The FN MAG has proven to be extremely reliable under all conditions. In U.S. Army testing it could fire, on average, 26,000 rounds until a failure (such as a part breaking). Mean rounds to a stoppage, such as jam, was lower.
One popular feature of this weapon is that the barrels can be switched very quickly; indeed during sustained usage, a well trained crew can swap to a fresh barrel within about three seconds, and are technically supposed to do so after every 200 round belt during sustained fire in order to prevent overheating. In practise, this is often skipped, and the weapon can take it. During the Falklands War for example British Paratroopers participating in the assault on Goose Green were forced to fire over eight thousand rounds through individual barrels without significant pause or opportunity to change them. The result was muzzles glowing white hot, but the weapons still proving effective.
[edit] Operation
The weapon is cleared by pulling the charging handle to lock the bolt to the rear, pushing the safety button to safe, opening the feed cover, sweeping away any rounds or links, and lifting the feed tray to inspect the bolt. If a live round is on the bolt face, it is knocked loose. If there is a round in the chamber, and the weapon is hot (from firing), the soldier must move his face away from the weapon to prevent injury in event of the round cooking-off. If a cook-off is likely, the best course of action is to slam the feed cover shut, put the weapon to fire, and squeeze the trigger to fire off the round. Some militaries prescribe this course of action as an automatic drill. The weapon may also be allowed to cool, before attempting to remove the round.
Loading the weapon is performed by pulling the charging handle to the rear, locking the bolt to the rear, placing the weapon on safe and then pushing the charging handle forwards. The feed tray cover is then lifted and rounds are laid inside the feed tray. The feed tray cover is then closed and the weapon is ready for operation. In some armies however, such as the Canadian Forces, the feed tray cover is lifted first, then the weapon loaded, then the charging handle is cocked to the rear and the weapon put on safe.
[edit] Gas setting
The rate of fire may be controlled by three different settings. The first setting allows the weapon to cycle at 750 round/min. The two remaining settings increase the rate of fire by 100 round/min per setting — second setting being 850 round/min and third setting, 950 round/min). These settings are changed by turning the gas regulator using the C-tool provided. It is generally performed before missions, as changing the setting is distracting at best under field or combat conditions. In event of sluggish operation due to fouling, the gas regulator is usually turned two positions up in situ to provide more gas for reliable operation. This operation is usually done by the assistant gunner, on instruction by the gunner.
[edit] Changing barrels
The barrels can be exchanged rapidly, thanks to a barrel release button located on the left side of the weapon. The weapon is cleared first and then the button is held down, while the barrel's carrying handle is moved from the right side of the weapon to the center, unlocking it from the receiver. At this point, the button is released and the barrel is then pulled free of the receiver and placed to the side. The new barrel is inserted into the receiver and then the carrying handle is shifted to the right, locking it into place.
During prolonged firing, care must be taken to not allow exposed skin to come in contact with the weapon. The barrels can become hot enough to inflict second degree burns instantly without becoming visibly different. However, such barrels glow brightly to anyone using any sort of night-vision device. In winter use, care must also be taken not to let the removed barrel lay on bare snow, as it will melt its way through that in a very short time, causing some embarrassment, or worse, when the replacement barrel is lost in the snow.
