Template:Infobox weapons
The Combat MG, also appearing as M249 and Advanced MG, is a light machine gun featured in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, The Ballad of Gay Tony, Grand Theft Auto V and Grand Theft Auto Online.
Design
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
In Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, the M249, as the name suggests, is based on the M249, specifically the M249E1 model. This rendition of the weapon is considered a Heavy Weapon.
Unlike the M60 from Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories, the M249 has a unique firing and reloading animation, no longer copied from the assault rifle animation.
The Ballad of Gay Tony
The M249 in The Ballad of Gay Tony (referred to as the Advanced MG) is the first light machine gun to be featured in the HD Universe. It is now based on the M249E2, as suggested by the barrel handguard and the fixed stock.
The weapon is placed in the Assault Rifle slot and thus, the character will be able to wield it while riding a helicopter or boat (both as a passenger). Although hard to see, it is possible to see a "M249" reading etched on the side of the weapon.
Grand Theft Auto V
The M249 returns in Grand Theft Auto V as the Combat MG. It is now based on the Mark 48 machine gun, an advanced derivative of the M249; this is also suggested by the side of the weapon reading "7.62mm". The model has the stock of an M60.
Unlike previous iterations of the weapon, the Combat MG lacks a folding bipod, and instead features Picatinny Rails for a wide variety of attachments. The weapon is now considered a Machine Gun and thus, it is able to be used by passengers of certain vehicles with enough room (i.e. helicopter bays, truck beds, while hanging on a side of a vehicle, etc.). The Combat MG also suffers in stealth due to the fact that it has a slightly lower firerate when discharged from the hip, and lacks a suppressor attachment.
Performance
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
The weapon is a powerful, one shot kill gun that holds 100 rounds per magazine, and is capable of knocking down a person when hit (similar to the way shotguns do), but is slightly less effective than the Minigun. Victims shot with this weapon will release a higher amount of splattering blood than they do if shot by other machine guns. Since it is a heavy weapon, it can destroy unarmored vehicles quickly.
GTA Vice City Stories Overview
| Damage | Fire Rate [?] | Range (m / ft) |
Ammo Specifications/ Capacity |
Reload Mechanism | Reload Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | N/A | N/A | 100 | N/A | N/A |
| N/A | 625 RPM | Cannot be determined | 100-round belt box | Charging handle | N/A |
The Ballad of Gay Tony
The Advanced MG employs a 200-round magazine capacity and high rate of fire, but has less stopping power and accuracy than the Assault Rifle and the Carbine Rifle. It is highly inaccurate because the weapon is fired from the hip rather than from the shoulder, causing high recoil when firing. The Advanced MG requires sustained fire to destroy a vehicle, unlike the LMGs from previous games, which could destroy vehicles with just a few rounds.
The weapon is best suited for engaging multiple enemies at close to medium range, but suffers in long range combat, being outclassed by the other rifles and even SMGs. While still able to aim targets at long distances, the gun will often miss it unless if fired in short bursts. It is recommended to aim at the opponents' heads for higher chances of eliminating them. Crouching will also help at reducing the recoil, decreasing the chances of missing the target.
TBoGT Overview
| Damage (per shot) |
Fire Rate [?] | Range (m / ft) |
Ammo Specifications/ Capacity |
Reload Mechanism | Reload Speed [?] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 37.5 18.8 |
133 | 70 / 230 | 200 | N/A | 2066 |
| N/A | 900 RPM (TBoGT Website) | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 1-2/8 | 800 RPM 400 RPM [?] |
Cannot be determined | 200-round box magazine | Charging handle | 2.6 seconds |
Grand Theft Auto V
The Combat MG is all-round superior to SMGs, the Assault Rifle, and the MG. It shoots further, but with less accuracy than the Carbine Rifle. Its recoil is also notably lighter than the MG and even its TBoGT counterpart, due to the reduced rate of fire. However, it is somewhat slow at reloading and the wielder usually has low mobility. It can shoot down almost any aircraft thanks to its 100-round (200 with extended clip) magazine.
With the appropriate attachments, the Combat MG can increase the accuracy and reduce the recoil a bit more, increasing its general efficiency over most bullet-based weapons.
GTA V Overview
| Damage (per shot) [?] |
Fire Rate [?] | Range (m / ft) [?] |
Ammo Specifications/ Capacity |
Reload Mechanism | Reload Speed [?] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22.5 (36) 33.8 |
0.108 | 120 / 394 | 100 | N/A | N/A |
| N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| N/A | 555 RPM | N/A | 100-round box magazine 200-round box magazine (Extended Magazine) |
Charging handle | 2.90 seconds |
 |
Damage | 32% 32% | |||
| Fire Rate/Speed | 65% 65% | ||||
| Accuracy | 45% 45% | ||||
| Range | 60% 60% | ||||
| Clip Size | 70% 70% | ||||
Customizations
Grand Theft Auto V
| Rounds & magazine | GTA V | GTA Online (Unlock) | Image |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rounds (200) | $92 | $277 (Rank 80) | |
| Default clip (100 rounds) | Default | Default | |
| Extended clip (200 rounds) | $315 | $10,000 (Rank 81) | |
| Attachments | |||
| Grip (more stability, slightly increases accuracy) | $322 | $4,425 (Rank 82) | |
| Scope (mid-range zoom, slightly increases accuracy) | $1,397 | $10,975 (Rank 83) | |
| Special | |||
| Etched Gun Metal Finish | $35,000 | $35,000 | |
| Tints | |||
| Black | Default | Default | |
| Army | $100 | $5,000 (Kill 100 players)* | |
| Green (Collector's and Enhanced Edition) | $200F | $5,250 (Kill 200 players)* | |
| Orange (Collector's and Enhanced Edition) | $400F | $5,500 (Kill 400 players)* | |
| LSPD | $600 | $5,750 (Kill 600 players)* | |
| Pink (Collector's and Enhanced Edition) | $800F | $7,500 (Rank 50) | |
| Gold (Collector's and Enhanced Edition) | $1,000F | $10,000 (Rank 75) | |
| Platinum (Collector's and Enhanced Edition) | $1,500F | $12,500 (Rank 100) | |
- F Free for players that have the Special/Collector's edition of the game.
- * These Tints can also be unlocked by bringing the Combat MG to any Weapon Workshop.
Image Gallery
In-game Model
HUD Icon
First Person
Screenshots
Locations
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
- The M249 is a weapon of choice for several Rampages and is featured during the mission Farewell to Arms.
- At the InterGlobal Films studio in the first studio directly right of the entrance up the ramp on the catwalk.
- Spawns at every safehouse after shooting all 99 red ballons.
The Ballad of Gay Tony
- Given to the player in the mission Going Deep for Ray Bulgarin.
- Available from Armado's gun van after completing the aforementioned mission for $7,550, plus $400 for each additional magazine.
- Spawns in the player's safehouse after completing 20 Drug Wars and Going Deep.
- Used by some of Ray Bulgarin's goons in the missions In the Crosshairs and Departure Time.
- The law enforcement use the Advanced MG to fire at the player from Police Mavericks/Annihilators during wanted levels, instead of the Carbine Rifle as used in Grand Theft Auto IV and The Lost and Damned. The player needs to disarm them to make them dropping the weapon.
Grand Theft Auto V
- The Combat MG is equipped by the protagonists in the following heists:
- Franklin Clinton in The Merryweather Heist (offshore approach only)(temporarily)
- Michael De Santa in Blitz Play along with both grip and scope attachments
- Trevor Philips in The Paleto Score.
- Available at Ammu-Nation for $3,700.
- Can be found at the crash site of the Merryweather Security Cargo Plane after the mission Minor Turbulence, in the Alamo Sea.
Grand Theft Auto Online
- Available at Ammu-Nation after reaching Rank 80.
- Can be found in Survival as early as Wave 4 and will be kept for the rest of the session.
- Can be found in crates in Gang Attacks.
- Almost always found in the Mile High Club and Sandy Shores Airfield gang hideouts.
Trivia
The Ballad of Gay Tony
- The Advanced MG will spawn in Deathmatch when weapons are set to snipers, despite its status as a machine gun.
- The weapon seemingly ejects .45 ACP shell casings. This is odd since the weapon fires the 5.56mm NATO cartridge.
- The Advanced MG has a dark green skull on the front portion of the ammo box.
Grand Theft Auto V
- Like the Micro SMG and the MG, attaching a scope to the weapon will cause the player character to fire it from the shoulder rather than the hip.
- The Combat MG is often preferred by the three protagonists, as they will start with it on every loaded game and if the player is hanging out with the other two protagonists, they will wield it if provoked and when on foot or while riding a helicopter.
- There is a beta render of the Combat MG in the game files, which looked similar to the TBoGT rendition of the weapon, with design cues from the Mark 46, a lightweight variant of the M249. It also seems to have a shorter barrel.
- In the enhanced version, the HUD icon depicts the weapon with the 200-round box magazine instead of the standard 100-round one.
- Under the belt feed tray of the weapon there is an adaptor for STANAG box magazines, which in reality is available to the original M249, but not to the Mk 48 nor the Mk 46.
- If the Combat MG is discharged (fired) while in stealth mode, it'll have a slightly lower firerate.