The United States Marine Corps is swapping out their M249 SAWs for the new M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle. It’s a gas piston driven 5.56mm NATO M4 similar to the FN SCAR and the H&K 416 (which this is based on.) Other than the piston drive  — which makes the weapon much easier to maintain and more resistant to heat, dirt, and other fouling — and full-auto rather than a 3-round burst function, it’s the same gun. The USMC is using both 30 round standard magazines and the 100 round Beta-C double drum.

PM: 0   S/R: 2/10   AMMO: 30/100   DC: I/L   CLOS: 0-15   MAX: 40-70   CON: n/a   JAM: 98+   DR: 3   RL: 2

GM Information: The M27 JAM is 99 for single fire.

Q Evaluation: The M27 represents the latest and best evolution of the M16/M4/AR15 platform, with a much more robust action (the gas piston similar to the AK-47) coupled with the accuracy of the 5.56mm round. There is some concern that this weapon represents a reduction in the firepower for a marine squad in comparison to having an M249 in the squad, but that is debatable.