Sig Sauer Upgrades M250 Machine Gun, Making It Shorter and Lighter

SIG Sauer has unveiled an upgraded version of the M250A1 light machine gun, featuring a shorter barrel, reduced weight, and several design changes based on feedback from U.S. Army personnel.

SIG Sauer representative Jason St. John discussed the changes at the annual Association of the United States Army (AUSA) exhibition. The U.S. Army is already receiving the standard M250s under the Next Generation Squad Weapons program, The War Zone reports.

The most noticeable change to the M250A1 is its new 13-inch barrel. The standard M250 machine guns currently being delivered to troops have barrels approximately 16 inches long, although the weapon was originally designed to use a 17.5-inch barrel.

The Army will continue to procure 16-inch barrels as well, allowing soldiers to choose the configuration best suited to their mission.

According to St. John, switching to a 13-inch barrel did not require any changes to the 6.8×51 mm ammunition. The Army determined that the machine gun still meets its ballistic and target engagement requirements even with the shorter barrel.

The barrel has also been redesigned with a modified profile, further reducing the weapon’s weight. SIG Sauer has not yet disclosed the exact weight of the M250A1 in its new configuration. The standard M250 weighs around 13 pounds (approximately 5.9 kg) without ammunition, optics, or additional equipment.

New Barrel Replacement System

The M250A1 also features an improved quick-change barrel mechanism.

The standard M250 already allowed barrel changes, but its original design did not include a mechanism for handling a hot barrel.

The upgraded version adds a dedicated handle, while the upper forearm remains attached to the weapon during barrel changes. Previously, this component had to be removed entirely and could be lost during field operations.

The designers also added a gas piston guide to facilitate the installation of the barrel and gas system when soldiers need to perform the procedure quickly and under pressure.

New Buttstock and Reinforced Design

SIG Sauer has also refined the M250’s gas system to improve reliability and reduce carbon buildup.

The trigger guard has been enlarged to let soldiers operate the machine gun in thick Arctic gloves.

During the operation of the standard M250s, it became apparent that the connection between the stock and the receiver could loosen over time due to impacts and normal military use.

The M250A1 features a different commercially available Magpul buttstock that soldiers preferred during testing. The mounting arrangement has also been reinforced.

The mounting points for attaching the machine gun to tripods and turrets on vehicles have also been reinforced. Cross-bolts have been added through the receiver to better withstand prolonged vibration loads.

M250A1 Has Not Yet Been Adopted for Service

The U.S. Army has not yet officially approved the M250A1 configuration, so further design changes remain possible.

SIG Sauer expects the Army to eventually adopt most or all of the upgrades introduced.

The M250 was developed under the NGSW program to replace some of the 5.56 mm M249 SAW machine guns. It uses the new 6.8×51 mm cartridge and belongs to the same weapon family as the M7 rifle and the newer M8 carbine.

The M7 rifle underwent a similar refinement process. Following criticism of its weight and dimensions, SIG Sauer gradually shortened and lightened the design, eventually leading to the development of the more compact M8.