FN Mk 48
- Category
- Machine Gun
- Barrel
- 502 mm
- Weight, empty
- 8.20 kg
- Introduced
- 2003
About
What it is, and why it matters
The FN Mk 48 is a Belgian-American 7.62x51mm NATO light machine gun developed by FN Herstal's US subsidiary FN Manufacturing for United States Special Operations Command. Introduced in 2003, it is a gas-operated, air-cooled, belt-fed weapon firing from an open bolt, derived from an early 7.62mm prototype of the FN Minimi and effectively a scaled-up version of the 5.56mm Mk 46. The Mk 48 was created to give special operations units a hard-hitting yet portable medium machine gun, weighing far less than the M240 / FN MAG while delivering the longer range and penetration of the 7.62mm cartridge. It feeds from disintegrating M13-link belts, has a quick-change chrome-lined barrel, an integral folding bipod, and Picatinny rails for optics and accessories. The improved Mk 48 Mod 1 added an enhanced feed system, rail handguard, and refinements for reliability. It serves with US SOCOM and several allied special operations forces.
The Mk 48 filled a niche between the 5.56mm Mk 46 and the heavier 7.62mm M240, giving SOF gunners a belt-fed weapon they could carry on foot patrols while still reaching out with full-power rifle ammunition.
Often designated Mk 48 Mod 0 (original) and Mk 48 Mod 1 (improved). Sometimes referred to as the Mk 48 LWMG (Light Weight Machine Gun).
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- FN Herstal
- Category
- Machine Gun
- Country
- United States
- Status
- In production
- Produced
- 2003
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 502 mm
- Overall length
- 1000 mm
- Weight, empty
- 8.20 kg
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Action
- Gas operated long stroke
- Firing mechanism
- Hammer fired
- Trigger
- Automatic only
- Magazine
- Belt
MaterialsEach swatch is the material itself, not a colour chosen to stand for it.
- Frame
- Steel
- Barrel
- Steel
- Stock
- Polymer
- Finish
- Phosphate
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Muzzle velocity
- 850 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 3441 J
- Effective range
- 800 m
- Maximum range
- 3725 m
- Rate of fire
- 710 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
Gas regulator
Picatinny rail
Bipod
Open bolt
Belt fed
Folding stock
Carrying handle
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 32 7.62x51mm NATO machine guns | 8.20 kg | 10.51 kg | Lighter than about 80% |
| Overall lengthAmong 32 7.62x51mm NATO machine guns | 1000 mm | 1149 mm | Shorter than about 80% |
| Barrel lengthAmong 32 7.62x51mm NATO machine guns | 502 mm | 559 mm | Shorter than about 80% |
Its place in the rankings
Answers
Questions about the FN Mk 48
How much does the FN Mk 48 weigh?
The FN Mk 48 weighs 8.20 kg (18.08 lb) empty.
What caliber is the FN Mk 48?
The FN Mk 48 is chambered in 7.62x51mm NATO.
How long is the FN Mk 48?
The FN Mk 48 is 1000 mm (39.4 in) long overall, with a 502 mm (19.8 in) barrel.
Who makes the FN Mk 48?
The FN Mk 48 is made by FN Herstal (Belgium). It was designed by FN Manufacturing.
When was the FN Mk 48 introduced?
The FN Mk 48 was introduced in 2003.
How does the FN Mk 48 operate?
The FN Mk 48 uses a gas operated long stroke action, and its firing mechanism is hammer fired.
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
- United States Special Operations Command
- 2003
- Australian Defence Force
- Australia
- Italian Armed Forces
- Italy
Provenance
Confidence in this record
85%
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-mk-48' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "fn-mk-48", "name": "FN Mk 48", "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": "US", "year_introduced": 2003, "barrel_length_mm": 502, "weight_empty_g": 8200, "action_type": "gas_operated_long_stroke"}