Light machine gun vs heavy machine gun — quick primer
Short answer: a light machine gun (LMG) is designed to be portable and used by an infantry squad for sustained automatic fire at squad/platoon level, while a heavy machine gun (HMG) fires much larger cartridges (or is built for sustained long-range fire) and is usually crew-served or vehicle/position-mounted for anti-material/anti-personnel and long-range suppression.
Key differences
- Role
- LMG: Squad automatic weapon / mobile fire support for infantry. Suppression and close-to-medium-range engagement.
- HMG: Long-range fire, vehicle/fortification defense, anti-light-vehicle or material targets, disabling equipment.
- Caliber & ammunition
- LMG: Typically rifle calibers (e.g., 5.56×45mm, 7.62×51mm). Uses magazines or belts.
- HMG: Heavy calibers (e.g., .50 BMG / 12.7×99mm, 12.7×108mm, 14.5×114mm) or even larger. Belt-fed with heavier, longer-range ammo.
- Portability & crew
- LMG: Can be carried and fired by a single soldier (often with a bipod); sometimes issued with a two-man team for ammo/walking. Examples: FN Minimi (LMG/M249), RPK.
- HMG: Often requires a crew and mounting (tripod, vehicle, pintle) because of weight, recoil, and ammo supply. Examples: Browning M2 (.50 cal), DShK.
- Weight & mounting
- LMG: Lighter, designed for dismounted operations; may have quick-change barrels.
- HMG: Heavier, stable mounts/tripods, sometimes vehicle/ship-mounted or on aircraft.
- Effective range & targets
- LMG: Effective suppression and accurate fire out to several hundred meters (depends on caliber).
- HMG: Effective at much longer ranges (kilometer-scale depending on gun and ammo); can penetrate light armor and material targets.
- Rate of fire & cooling
- Both can have high cyclic rates; HMGs often designed for prolonged sustained fire with heavier barrels and cooling considerations.
Typical examples
- LMGs: FN Minimi / M249, RPK, HK MG4
- HMGs: Browning M2 (.50 BMG), Kord (12.7 mm), 14.5 mm KPV
Tactics & use-cases
- LMG: Team-level suppression, maneuver support, anti-personnel at squad/platoon fights.
- HMG: Area denial, long-range interdiction, vehicle/aircraft/structure suppression, anti-material tasks.
Safety & legal note
General information about weapon types is permitted, but if you’re asking about acquisition, modification, or use in a real-world context, laws and safety rules apply and vary widely by country and jurisdiction. I can’t assist with instructions for illegal activities or construction/arming methods — but I can help with historical, technical, or legal/regula
