Make the Wasteland your b*tch.

Last year some guy on the New Vegas Nexus forums posted an M249 model with a request that someone implement it into a Fallout mod. I am glad to say that after a substantial amount of work, I was able to convert the model into a highly functional Fallout 3 mod with custom sounds, moving weapon components, and plenty of other unique features.

This mod adds two M249 SAW (Squad Automatic Weapons) light machine guns to the National Guard Armory on the northern side of the DC ruins.

The M249 SAW is a standard issue light machine gun used extensively throughout the Unites States Armed Forces, designed to provide infantry squads with a suppressive firing platform that provides a high rate of fire while not sacrificing accuracy or range. In this mod I add two variants of the M249 PIP model (shorter barrel and rails) one with no attachments and one with an Elcan C79 medium range scope. The base damage is roughly the same as the Chinese assault rifle, however the rate of fire is 600 rpm (10 rounds/sec) so damage per second is significantly higher than most other vanilla 5.56mm weapons. Both weapons use 5.56 as their ammo, so if you want to go Rambo on some Super Mutants you'd better have plenty of bullets on hand (If you want to go crazy with them, I recommend using the GECK to change it's ammunition to 5mm). Both weapons can be repaired using miniguns.

The textures have normal maps, so the weapons should appear to be pretty battle-worn and scratched up. (One issue is with the scope glass, it's made out of triangular faces and not very reflective, so if someone wants to take it upon themselves to improve it, go right ahead.)

NOTE: Yes, I am aware there is some clipping with the stock and main weapon, but keep in mind the M249 is a machine gun, and the game animations are designed for the player to be holding much smaller assault rifles.

==Plans for Future Update==

-Modify the weapon sound so that it sounds smoother when going fully-automatic.
-Figure out how to make the scope glass better
-Improve magazine model by including the bullets along with the box

==Installation==

Copy and paste the contents of the folder into your Fallout 3/data folder.
I recommend you use FOMM, as always.

==Uninstallation==

Delete the following folders and files;
meshes/m249
meshes/interface/hud/scopeta01.nif
textures/m249
sound/fx/wpn/m249/m249fire.wav
m249.esp

==Permissions==

Consider this mod a modder's resource. Anyone is allowed to use the meshes/textures for their own purpose as long as they credit me and user ubi1rub.

==Credits==

User ubi1rub for the M249 model
User TheLama for the scope reticle