NOTICE: We've been mis-IDing M249s...
 

Steve just corrected me on a mistake that we've been making on our pages for a long time. It seems that a whole bunch of the machine guns which we've been identifying as "M249s" or "FN Minimis" in movies are actually not FN weapons at all, but rather these:

http://www.imfdb.org/images/8/86/DaewooK3.jpg

http://www.imfdb.org/index.php/Daewoo_K3

So far, I've found that the "M249s" in the movies "3000 Miles to Graceland", "Walking Tall", "American Dragons", "AvP: Requiem", "Postal", and both of the "Stargate" TV shows are actually Daewoo K3s. Most of them have been given fake M249 Paratrooper-style buttstocks, shortened barrels, and flash hiders.

Just thought I'd tell you guys. Realizing this mistake has totally turned my world upside-down tonight...

Damn, this is big. Changes how we look at M249s

I know, and I should've figured it out a long time ago. My faith in my ability to properly identify guns has been ruined. Clearly, I am unworthy of being an admin here... :(





:D :D :D

Who is steve and what are the tale-tale signs of a K3 disguised as an Minimi/M249

Steve = Pheonixent = Steve Karnes = movie armorer/gunsmith = admin on IMFDB

I first figured it out when I noticed some LMGs we called M249s had front sights that didn't look Minimi/M249-style. The K3's front sight post is different from the side. Also, the K3s disguised as M249s have a fake stock which looks different from the M249 Paratrooper stock.

"3000 Miles to Graceland" and "Walking Tall" (both of which have good screenshots on their IMFDB pages) are probably the best movies to spot these differences.

Here are some "M249s" in movies/TV shows that are actually Daewoo K3s made to look like M249s:

3000 Miles to Graceland:
http://www.imfdb.org/images/1/1b/3000miles_minimi-1.jpg

Stargate: Atlantis
http://www.imfdb.org/images/f/fa/SGASAW2.jpg

Walking Tall:
http://www.imfdb.org/images/7/7d/WTLMG-4.jpg
http://www.imfdb.org/images/d/d4/WTLMG-2.jpg

Also, note the front sight of the guns in "Walking Tall"; this is probably the best close-up I've found illustrating the difference. The front sight on the Minimi/M249 is a different shape from the side.

:D:D

'member who capped that page?

I figured I'd bunch all of the gun images together for instant comparison:

http://i39.tinypic.com/16jlaxj.jpg
FN M249 Para - 5.56x45mm.

http://www.imfdb.org/images/8/86/DaewooK3.jpg
Daewoo K3 - 5.56x45mm.

So far i have noticed that the front and rear sights are different, the angle of the pistol grips are different and the bipod is of a different design. the SPW versions have a none M-249PARA stock and and the none rail fore ends have a half circle taken out of them on the M-249.

have i missed anything?

I don't think there really is an "SPW" version of the K3. The original K3 is the only version that seems to exist.

As best I can tell, the ones in "3000 Miles to Graceland" and "Walking Tall" are fitted with scratch-built stocks and shorter barrels. These are all visual modifications made by the armorers, so that they'll look more like M249 Paras. The one in "Stargate: Atlantis" does have a real M249 Para stock, though...

Other than that, you're right on.

I know, I know, and I remember you weren't sure, either, and then I told you they were FN Minimi SPWs. Even back then, I remember looking at them and thinking they didn't look exactly like Minimi variants at all.

And the lesson is, I need to act on my eagle eyes a little more... :D

Yeah, I was skeptic too on them being legit since they looked kind of off (especially the stocks), but I figured you knew more on the guns than me and moved on.

Well, let this be a lesson that even I'm not infallible. :D

By SPW I ment a K3 mocked up to be an M-249 SPW.

I've also noticed that the K3's carry/barrel handle is a consistent thickness all the way through while the M249's seems to taper.