At what distance can grazing fire be achieved with the M249 and M240B?

Grazing fire is a technique used to have bullets travel just above the ground, allowing for effective fire against targets that are close to the firing position without the risk of the rounds skipping or being ineffective. For both the M249 and M240B machine guns, grazing fire can be achieved effectively up to a distance of 600 meters.

This range is significant because beyond this distance, the bullets will begin to rise above the height of the targets, thereby reducing the effectiveness of the fire. The effective use of grazing fire at this range is crucial for engaging enemy personnel and light vehicles effectively while maintaining accuracy and avoiding collateral damage. Understanding this distance enhances the tactical employment of these machine guns, enabling operators to maximize their combat effectiveness when engaging targets in a variety of scenarios.