M249 SAW

The M249 SAW is a light machine gun featured in Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare: Mobilized.

Singleplayer
In single-player, the M249 SAW is used by the Special Air Service and the United States Marine Corps. The weapon is available in Charlie Don't Surf, The Bog, War Pig, Heat, Sins of the Father, and Ultimatum. The M249 SAW is the preferred weapon of SSgt. Griggs.

Multiplayer
In multiplayer, the M249 SAW has a relatively high rate of fire compared to the RPD and M60E4 but is offset by low damage. A Red Dot Sight, Grip, or an ACOG Scope can be attached to the M249 SAW.

It excels in Hardcore modes, where it delivers one-hit kills (but note that because the SAW does exactly 30 damage, the same amount of health as is in Hardcore, anyone using Juggernaut will take two hits to kill, and if the bullet even touches another surface before hitting the target it will not be a kill, although a second bullet will put them down). Using the SAW with Double Tap brings the rate of fire to 1200rpm (only the P90 and Mini-Uzi are also capable of 1200rpm in this fashion). The Grip attachment for the SAW greatly increases its hipfire accuracy, bringing it to a level in-between assault rifles and SMG's. (in addition to decreasing its recoil). This is actually a greater increase than Steady Aim would provide. If the Grip is used in conjunction with Steady Aim, the SAW remains fairly accurate from the hip even at long ranges.

Also, the SAW, like the other two light machine guns, is very effective against enemy helicopters. But due to its lower damage per bullet, it will take slightly over one belt of ammunition to shoot down a helicopter with full health without Stopping Power. However, the mounted version of the SAW only takes around 3-4 seconds to down an enemy helicopter, regardless of using Stopping Power or not.

A favored multiplayer tactic is to use a Grip or an ACOG Scope, Steady Aim, and Double Tap with the weapon. Its incredibly high rate of fire combined with superb accuracy is more than adequate in most situations.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
In Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, the SAW returns only as a mounted machine gun, in the level "Whiskey Hotel". However, using a cheating or hacking program, it is also possible to get it on Just Like Old Times as well, though it is still mounted. Its appearance is identical to its Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare counterpart. The pickup icon is also used for other mounted machine guns, such as the M2 Browning Machine Gun.

Singleplayer
The M249 SAW is the US squad machine gun. It is one of the most powerful weapons when compared to other weapons, but its greatest weakness is its mobility, as it reduces normal walking speed. However, sprint speed is unaffected.

Multiplayer
It is the last weapon unlocked in multiplayer for the Marines and SAS faction.

Trivia

 * The Create-a-Class Picture lacks the Rear Iron Sight.
 * In "Charlie Don't Surf", an OpFor soldier will use an invisible mounted SAW. But when he is killed, the player can pick up the SAW like it was unmounted.
 * The Mounted SAW's ammo belt doesn't move when firing, but the normal M249's belt does.
 * In Sins Of The Father, when the Blackhawk destroys the machinegunners in the building, unusable M249s drop, if you shoot them, they will move.
 * In Modern Warfare, if the player fires the M249 against flat surface (like the wall of the White House) the bullet pattern the M249 makes will be circular, as if the player was firing a minigun.
 * In third person, the weapon looks rather smaller and slimmer than in first person.