/ forgottenweapons  



In the mid/late 1960s, Colt was manufacturing AR15 rifles and wanted to supply light machine guns to go with them so they developed the CMG2 ("Colt's Machine Gun"). The CMG2 competed against the Stoner 63 in trials for the Navy SEALs (among others), and narrowly lost out. It was a very well designed and thoughtout weapon, but not quite as good as the Stoner.

A few years later in the early/mid 70s, Colt brought the design back in response to a request for a beltfed 7.62mm machine gun for special operations units. Something with the firepower of the M60 was desired, but in a lighter package. Colt took their CMG2, scaled it up to 7.62mm NATO caliber, and redesignated it the CMG3. A total of 5 guns were made, and they went into military testing.

Unfortunately for Colt, the design wasn't quite as simple to scale up as they had hoped. The CMG3 was determined to have a service lifespan of about 35,000 rounds a third of what was required. Around that point, the receivers would fracture at the front trunnion. By the time Colt had worked out a new design to strengthen the guns without adding too much weight, the contract opportunity had passed, and the improved version was never made.

Of the five guns originally made, I believe only two still exist. This one is serial number 1, and I was privileged to get permission of the consigner to testfire it on camera. In my opinion, it is a fantastic gun. At only about 18 pounds it is remarkably light for a 7.62mm beltfed, and quite simple to shoot from the shoulder. As with the SMG2, it's internals are a parade of clever elements.