MG 338
The SIG Sauer MMG 338, formerly known as the SIG Sauer MG 338 is a medium machine gun chambered in.338 Norma Magnum, manufactured by SIG Sauer.
MG 338

USSOCOM · Public domain
- Name
- SIG Sauer MMG 338
- Field
- machine gun
- Region
- United States
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Documentary summary
The SIG Sauer MMG 338, formerly known as the SIG Sauer MG 338 is a medium machine gun chambered in.338 Norma Magnum, manufactured by SIG Sauer.
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wikidata · Q112107430
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — SIG Sauer MMG 338 • Origin — United States • Type — General-purpose machine gun Medium machine gun • Is Ranged — Yes • Wars — Gaza war • Used By — See Users • Manufacturer — SIG Sauer • Cartridge —.338 Norma Magnum • Action — Open Bolt, Short Stroke Gas Piston Operated • Rate — 600-750 rounds/min • Feed — 50- or 100-round belts in ammo carrier
History
History
In 2017 United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM) issued a solicitation for a.338 Norma Magnum machine gun. This was in response to the need for overmatch when examining the capabilities of the 5.56×45mm NATO and 7.62×51mm NATO rounds compared to 7.62×54mmR. The MMG 338 was planned to have a similar weight to the M240 but, with the.338 Norma Mag, deliver terminal ballistics on targets similar to that of the.50 BMG. Programs for acquisition of.338 Norma Mag ammunition began in 2018. Acquisition of the weapon system began in 2019. The MMG 338 was first unveiled at AUSA 2018. The development of the MMG 338 also led to the design of the NGSW M250 light machine gun, chambered in 6.8×51mm cartridge. At one point, the MMG 338 was referred to as the SL MAG. The MMG 338 passed its U.S. military safety evaluations in 2020. The US Army also looked at adopting the MMG 338 alongside SOCOM, and it was also evaluated by the Marine Corps' MARSOC.
Military adoption
Military adoption
In 2025, the Israel Defense Forces announced that it had adopted the MMG 338, designated as the "Orim", and had deployed it with its frontline and special forces units during the Gaza war.
Design details
Design details
The SIG MMG 338 is primarily chambered in.338 Norma Magnum and has an effective range of approximately 1,700 meters, approximately twice the effective range of 7.62x51mm NATO, while at 1,000 meters, it is still capable of penetrating Level III armor. The MMG 338 can be switched to chamber either the 6.8×51mm or 7.62×51mm NATO by changing out the barrel, bolt, feed tray, and feed cover. It weighs approximately, which is lighter than the weight of the M240. The MMG 338 uses a gas-operated short-stroke system combined with a proprietary recoil mitigation system and is select fire, capable of both automatic and semi-automatic fire. The MMG 338 is fully ambidextrous and is capable of being fed and charged from the right or left side which can make mounting the machine gun to various vehicles easier. It can also be loaded from the closed or open bolt position. Standard configuration uses an AR style handgrip and folding buttstock. The MMG 338 is also paired with an NGS (Next Generation Suppressor) suppressor made by SIG Sauer and has gas settings for firing suppressed or unsuppressed. Optics are mounted to the frame of the MMG 338 which avoids issues with mounting optics to the feed tray of the weapon. A separate acquisition program for a fire control system was underway as of 2021. Recoil is managed via a proprietary system which allows the barrel to shift backward, reportedly reducing the felt recoil to slightly more than an M4 carbine.
Users
Users
• Used by the Israel Defense Forces. • Used by the United States Special Operations Command.
Places
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Places
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- United States
Named but not plotted · 1
MG 338 is associated with United States.
Country
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Defense Machine Guns. www.sigsauer.com.
- 2.Schatz, Jim. A Path to Overmatch: Next Generation Individual Weapon System. NDIA. 27 April 2016.
- 3.Babbitt, Joel. SOF Warrior Overview. NDIA. May 2020.
- 4.Babbitt, Joel. SOF Warrior Systems. NDIA. May 2021.
- 5.Owens, Mark. Ammo & Weapons. NDIA. May 2018.
- 6.USSOCOM Small Arms Update. Soldier Systems Daily. 14 May 2020.
- 7.Cervantes, Marcos. Delivering Dominance. NDIA. May 2019.
- 8.AUSA 18 – SIG SAUER Unveils Belt-Fed Machine Gun, Carbine and Hybrid Ammunition – Next Generation Squad Weapon Candidates. Soldier Systems Daily. 8 October 2018.
- 9.SIG Range Day 19 – SL MAG, SIG’s New 338 Machine Gun. Soldier Systems Daily. 20 January 2019.
- 10.1005-01-685-5209. Part Target.
- 11.USSOCOM Completes Safety Certification and Purchase of SIG SAUER MG 338 Machine Guns, Ammunition, and Next Generation Suppressors. SIG Sauer. 15 January 2020.
- 12.Eger, Chris. USSOCOM TAKES DELIVERY OF NEW SIG SAUER MG 338 MACHINE GUN. Guns.com.
- 13.Keller, Jared. The Army is on the hunt for a brand new machine gun to replace the M240. Task & Purpose. 7 November 2020.
- 14.MARSOC To Conduct Combat Evaluation of SIG Lightweight Machine Gun in 338 Norma Mag. Soldier Systems Daily. 5 June 2020.
- 15.South, Todd. MARSOC to evaluate machine gun that could replace both the M240 and .50 caliber ‘Ma Deuce’. Army Times. 16 January 2020.
- 16.TAB. SIG Sauer’s Machine Guns Around the World. The Armourers Bench. 2026-02-12.
- 17.Israeli SIG Sauer machine gun order confirmed. Default. 2025-08-07.
- 18.Egozi, Arie. IDF inducts SIG MG 338 for frontline, spec ops. raksha-anirveda.com. 2025-08-18.
- 19.i24NEWS עברית. The IDF’s new weapon: A look at the new machine gun. 2025-08-13.
- 20.Suciu, Peter. The SIG Sauer MG 338 is the Machine Gun the Army Drools Over. The National Interest. 16 April 2021.
- 21.Cox, Matthew. Here's the New Light Machine Gun SOCOM Is Evaluating. Military.com.
- 22.Curtis, Rob. Mind The Gap: USSOCOM’s 13-Year Quest for a .338 Norma Magnum Machine Gun. Recoil. 2024-07-22.
- 23.Trevithick, Joseph. Special Operators Are Eying This Machine Gun To Solve A Number Of Problems. The War Zone. 15 January 2020.
- 24.RecoilTV. SHOT Show: SIG Sauer Range Day! The SL Mag 338. 5 February 2020.
- 25.Moss, Matthew. TFB First Look: SIG Sauer’s Next Generation Squad Weapons. The Firearm Blog. 12 September 2019.
- 26.USSOCOM Small Arms Update. Soldier Systems Daily. 20 May 2021.
- 27.Larson, Caleb. Sig Sauer’s MG 338 Heavy Machine Gun Take the U.S. Military By Storm?. The National Interest. 28 August 2021.
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