FN Minimi
- Category
- Machine Gun
- Barrel
- 465 mm
- Weight, empty
- 6.83 kg
- Introduced
- 1974
About
What it is, and why it matters
The FN Minimi is a Belgian 5.56x45mm NATO light machine gun designed by Ernest Vervier and manufactured by FN Herstal. Introduced in 1974, the Minimi was developed as a squad automatic weapon to provide sustained suppressive fire at the infantry squad level. The weapon employs a gas-operated, long-stroke piston system with a rotating bolt, firing from an open bolt position for optimal cooling during automatic fire. A distinctive feature of the Minimi is its dual-feed capability, accepting both standard M27 disintegrating link belts (typically in 100- or 200-round cloth or plastic assault packs) and STANAG magazines, providing exceptional tactical flexibility. The Minimi features a quick-change chrome-lined barrel system, folding bipod, and adjustable gas regulator. With a cyclic rate of approximately 700-850 rounds per minute from belt feed and up to 1,150 rpm from magazines, the weapon delivers effective suppressive fire out to 800 meters against area targets. The FN Minimi has been adopted by over 75 countries worldwide, making it the most widely used squad automatic weapon in the world. It serves as the basis for the US M249 SAW, the British L110A2, the Canadian C9 LMG, the Australian F89, and the Swedish Ksp 90, among many other national designations.
The Minimi's unique dual-feed system -- accepting both belt ammunition and standard STANAG magazines -- was revolutionary for a light machine gun and provided unprecedented tactical flexibility. When belt ammunition ran out, a rifleman could hand his magazine to the Minimi gunner to keep suppressive fire going.
The Minimi Para variant features a shortened 349mm barrel and telescoping buttstock for airborne and special operations troops, reducing overall length significantly. The Mk 3 variant introduced in the 2010s features enhanced Picatinny rail systems, an adjustable buttstock, and improved ergonomics. The FN Minimi 7.62 variant chambers the larger 7.62x51mm NATO cartridge for greater range and terminal effect. The weapon's rifling can be either 1:178mm (M193 optimized) or 1:305mm (SS109/M855 optimized) twist depending on the variant and customer specification. The six-groove barrel with chrome lining in both bore and chamber provides extended service life. Licensed production has been established in Australia, Canada, Italy, Japan, Indonesia, Greece, Switzerland, and Sweden. The Minimi can be mounted on tripods for the sustained fire role or fitted to vehicle mounts as a secondary armament system.
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- FN Herstal
- Category
- Machine Gun
- Country
- Belgium
- Status
- In production
- Produced
- 1974
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 465 mm
- Overall length
- 1040 mm
- Height
- 241 mm
- Width
- 133 mm
- Weight, empty
- 6.83 kg
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Action
- Gas operated long stroke
- Firing mechanism
- Open bolt
- Trigger
- Automatic only
- Capacity
- 200
- Magazine
- Belt
MaterialsEach swatch is the material itself, not a colour chosen to stand for it.
- Frame
- Steel
- Barrel
- Chrome lined steel
- Stock
- Polymer
- Finish
- Matte black
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Muzzle velocity
- 915 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 1674 J
- Effective range
- 800 m
- Maximum range
- 3600 m
- Rate of fire
- 775 rpm
Trajectory
What the round does downrange
Solved from the muzzle figures and the bullet. The dashed rule is the effective range on the record, and the crosses are the steps the solver returned.
Features
What it has
What the record lists as fitted, drawn from the catalogue.
Quick change barrel
Chrome lined barrel
Chrome lined chamber
Folding bipod
Dual feed system
Picatinny rail
Air cooled
Gas regulator
Rotating bolt
Standing
How it compares
Each figure against the firearms of the same type and cartridge that record it, or of the same type where that cartridge has too few. Positions are read to the nearest tenth.
| Measurement | This firearm | Median | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty weightAmong 27 5.56x45mm NATO machine guns | 6.83 kg | 6.35 kg | Heavier than about 60% |
| Overall lengthAmong 25 5.56x45mm NATO machine guns | 1040 mm | 1020 mm | Longer than about 90% |
| Barrel lengthAmong 26 5.56x45mm NATO machine guns | 465 mm | 465 mm | Near the median |
| Magazine capacityAmong 26 5.56x45mm NATO machine guns | 200 | 200 | Holds more rounds than about 80% |
Answers
Questions about the FN Minimi
How much does the FN Minimi weigh?
The FN Minimi weighs 6.83 kg (15.06 lb) empty.
What caliber is the FN Minimi?
The FN Minimi is chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO.
How many rounds does the FN Minimi hold?
The FN Minimi holds 200 rounds, fed from a belt.
How long is the FN Minimi?
The FN Minimi is 1040 mm (40.9 in) long overall, with a 465 mm (18.3 in) barrel.
Who makes the FN Minimi?
The FN Minimi is made by FN Herstal (Belgium). It was designed by Ernest Vervier.
When was the FN Minimi introduced?
The FN Minimi was introduced in 1974.
How does the FN Minimi operate?
The FN Minimi uses a gas operated long stroke action, and its firing mechanism is open bolt.
Compatibility
Which parts fit this firearm
Studio
Every part that mounts on this, resolved
Not a list the maker typed out: the answer comes from the mounts this firearm exposes and the interface each part needs, so it stays right when either one changes.
- Every part that mounts on any firearm in the catalogue
- Interface standards, platforms and fit overrides
- The same answers through the API and the MCP server
Requires a signed-in GunSpec account on the Studio plan. The answer is computed per part, so it is not part of the public record.
Provenance
What the record holds
Every figure above was taken from one of these pages. The confidence reflects how much of the record came from a page a claim can be checked against.
In service
- Belgian Armed Forces
- 1982
- Australian Defence Force
- Australia
- Canadian Armed Forces
- 1984
- French Armed Forces
- France
- Italian Armed Forces
- Italy
- Japanese Self-Defense Forces
- Japan
- Netherlands Armed Forces
- Netherlands
- Norwegian Armed Forces
- Norway
- Polish Armed Forces
- Poland
- Swedish Armed Forces
- Sweden
Provenance
Confidence in this record
82%
Stockists
Where to buy
Offers link straight to the shop. GunSpec never takes the order.
No shop has listed this firearm yet
Stock and prices come from the shops themselves. If you sell this firearm, you can list it and it appears here.
List a firearmMCP
Ask an assistant about it
The same record, reached the way a person asks for it rather than the way a program does.
Ask GunSpec
Works with
Point an MCP client at GunSpec and it answers from the catalogue rather than from memory. A free key covers the read tools.
API
The call that returns this record
The same fields, in the same units, from the same endpoint the page reads.
curl --request GET \ --url 'https://api.gunspec.io/v1/firearms/fn-minimi' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "fn-minimi", "name": "FN Minimi", "manufacturer": { "id": "fn-herstal", "name": "FN Herstal", "countryCode": "BE", "foundedYear": 1889, "website": "https://www.fnherstal.com", "logoUrl": null, "description": null, "status": null, "defunctYear": null, "stateOwned": null, "makesFirearms": null, "parentId": null, "predecessorId": null, "createdAt": "2026-02-11 23:44:38", "updatedAt": "2026-02-18 03:43:43", "version": "868b12ac455d24b965edddf486bafb1892f606961311b1ab9907556e3a23b075" }, "category": { "id": "machine-gun", "name": "Machine Gun", "description": "Fully automatic firearms for sustained fire" }, "country_of_origin": "BE", "year_introduced": 1974, "barrel_length_mm": 465, "weight_empty_g": 6830, "action_type": "gas_operated_long_stroke"}