What is meant by 'Cone of Fire' when discussing machine gun firing?

The concept of 'Cone of Fire' refers to the pattern in which rounds land as a result of various factors affecting the trajectory of fired bullets. When a machine gun is fired, it does not produce a single, precise point of impact due to several influences such as barrel vibrations, the shooter’s positioning, environmental conditions, and ammunition variances. These factors combine to create a zone, often visualized as a cone shape, where the bullets are likely to strike the target area.

Understanding this concept is crucial for effective machine gun employment because it allows operators to anticipate where rounds are likely to impact and thus optimize their firing patterns for better coverage over a designated area, especially on moving or dispersed targets. The 'Cone of Fire' is essentially a tactical consideration that highlights the need for both accuracy and dispersion in machine gun operations.