The Firearm Blog goes more in-depth on the SIG MG 338 MG which is now being used by the US SOCOM... "In this episode of TFBTV, James Reeves interviews SIG about their ultimate belt-fed machine gun – the MG 338. The gun weighs under 20 lbs and is chambered in .338 Norma Magnum giving the gun an effective range out to 2000 metres. This machine gun uses a short-stroke gas piston system and SIG Sauer’s proprietary recoil mitigation system, it can also be re-chambered to 7.62x51mm. The gun has been purchased by US Special Operations Command (US SOCOM).

The lightweight medium machine gun project dates back a number of years with a joint USMC & US SOCOM sources sought solicitation launched in May 2017. SOCOM’s purchases so far have included the guns themselves, 338 Norma Mag ammunition and some of SIG’s new next generation suppressors.

The ammunition and guns have been safety certified to enable them to undergo troops testing with MARSOC and have completed function, drop, stress, and various endurance and cook-off tests. The testing by MARSOC is in-line with the original 2017 solicitation that sought up to 5,000 guns."