Prior to the M249 making an appearance, we used to use two M14s - one was an M21 for the sniper and the other was an M14A1 (magazine fed w/auto-selector switch and bipod) for use as a SAW type support weapon similar to a BAR. The A1 worked extremely well under all types of conditions and gave us good extended range coverage when needed - weighed about 60% less than the M249.
We also had access to cut-down RPDs in 7.62X39 with 100 round drums - weighed about 50% less than an M249.
And so it goes...
Richard 
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“Sometimes the Bible in the hand of one man is worse than a whisky bottle in the hand of (another)… There are just some kind of men who – who’re so busy worrying about the next world they’ve never learned to live in this one, and you can look down the street and see the results.” - To Kill A Mockingbird (Atticus Finch)
“Almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so.” - Robert Heinlein
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