The 240 Bravo Machine gun is a standard U.S. Military Weapon. It is a belt fed, air cooled, automatic weapon that fires from the open bolt position. It fires a 7.62X54mm NATO round It can be fired from three basic positions, bi pod, tripod, and mounted. The effective range for point target is 800 meters and targets can be engaged up to 1800 meters, (for area target). I have used this weapon in Iraq with success. I have officially engaged and neutralized 4 enemy insurgents and one insurgent mortar team, consisting of three men. The accuracy of the 240 Bravo surpasses the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon and(in my view), the M2 Browning 50.cal. The 7.62mm round is large enough to neutralize any individual while keeping collateral damage to a minimum. In laymen's terms, it can get the job done without overkill. I would recommend any deploying troop to any war zone to familiarize themselves with the M240 Bravo. For any line platoon deploying, make sure these weapon systems are kept in clean working condition. If I deployed again to any middle eastern country or any country for that matter i would most certainly bring along my M240 Bravo machine gun because I am wicked nasty at killing things with its super awesome 7.62 NATO rounds, go go go. If I had the chance to deploy again I would do it because I'm a little sick in the head, haha no just kidding, but seriously. And you have to look at the bright side of the deployments which is the really nice tax free money that i get paid to get blown up and shot at. So to all you young privates, I would jump on as many deployments as humanly possible.