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FN MAG
Photo: FN Herstal · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0
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FNMAG

General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG) · Belgium · 1958
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FNMAG

FN MAG
FN MAG Photo: FN Herstal · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0
* Absolute score — assessed within category · no era adjustment
Sustained Firepower
92
Effective Range
88
Penetration
85
Reliability
94
Accuracy
87
Barrel Endurance
90
Mount Versatility
93
Controllability
89
Portability
78
Cost-Effectiveness
95
Origin Belgium
CategoryGeneral Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG)
EraEarly Cold War
In service1958
Operators113 countries
Quantity200,000
Data Quality88%
89
General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG) MASS Rating
1/21
Early Cold War
1/131
All-Time
General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG) · 10 axes scored
Sustained Firepower
92
Effective Range
88
Penetration
85
Reliability
94
Accuracy
87
Barrel Endurance
90
Mount Versatility
93
Controllability
89
Portability
78
Cost-Effectiveness
95
ⓘ Regardless of era, the same scoring system applies to all units in the general purpose machine guns (gpmg) category.
01 / Overview
FN MAG
Country
Production
1958–
Quantity
200,000
Operators
Conflicts
💰 PERFORMANCE / PRICE ASSESSMENT Methodology ↗
GENERAL PURPOSE MACHINE GUNS (GPMG) · EARLY COLD WAR
1
PERFORMANCE/PRICE
96
UNIT COST (2025 USD)
—
89
general purpose machine guns (gpmg) category
ⓘ Performance/Price and MASS score are computed across all units in the general purpose machine guns (gpmg) category, regardless of era.
02 / Specs & Design
◎General6MOD.6
  • First Production Year1958
  • Service Entry Year1958
  • DesignerDieudonné Saive, Ernest Vervier
  • Weight (Empty)11.8 kg
  • Currently In ServiceYes
  • Notable Users80+ countries
◈Cartridge & Calibre6MOD.6
▣Operation6MOD.6
◇Ballistics4MOD.4
  • Muzzle Velocity840 m/s
  • Effective Range (point)800 m
  • Effective Range (area)1,800 m
  • Maximum Range3,500 m
◆Barrel & Sights4MOD.4
  • Barrel Length630 mm
  • Sight TypeFolding leaf sight with aperture and notch, front blade
  • Optic RailNo
  • Iron SightsYes
▤Construction5MOD.5
▲Production & Cost3MOD.3
  • Total Production200,000
  • Production Start1958
  • Variants3
◎Additional Dimensions2MOD.2
  • Width118.7 mm
  • Height263 mm
03 / History
SERVICE LIFESPANStill in Service
  1. 1945First deployment: Cold War
  2. 1958Production started
68
years in service
200,000
units produced
112
countries operating
ⓘ The producing country still actively operates it. 1 countries retired it.
05 / Variants
▚ WEAPON FAMILY
FN MAG 1958
// DERIVATIVES
Ksp 58 1958
06 / Operators
Operator Inventory3country · 11,600units
11,600active
07 / MASS Score
GENERAL PURPOSE MACHINE GUNS (GPMG) RANKING General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG) · Early Cold War
📖 TERMS ON THIS PAGE6terms
A firearm feed system where ammunition is stored in a flexible or rigid container (magazine) inserted into the grip or attached externally, feeding rounds into the chamber via a spring or follower.
Firearm action type where expanding gas from a fired cartridge cycles the mechanism, typically via a piston or direct impingement.
Uses high-pressure gas to cycle the action, rather than recoil energy.
Integral bipod: a permanently attached, built‑in bipod that provides a two‑point support for a firearm, allowing it to be rested on a surface without separate accessories.
Adjustable metal aiming devices on firearms, consisting of a front post and rear notch, used without magnification.
Select fire is a fire selector mechanism on a firearm that lets the shooter choose the firing mode, such as semi‑automatic, burst, or fully automatic.
These terms are listed automatically because they appear on this page.full encyclopedia →
📚 Sources
📖 ENCYCLOPEDIA Browse the General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG) entry →