Light machine gun The M249 SAW, formally as the Light Machine Gun, 5.56 mm, M249 Squad Automatic Weapon, is the United States Armed Forces adaptation of the Belgian FN Minimi, a light machine gun designed and manufactured by FN Herstal. 970,256 views on November 2, 2017 — Wikipedia's most-read article that day. Also most read: M2 Browning, George Springer, Houston Astros, Day of the Dead. Wiki link