Drop-only belt-fed LMG. 100-round magazine, hardest sustained-fire pattern in the game.
By Frozen · checked in-game on the live patch · Updated 3 July 2026
Drop-only belt-fed LMG. 100-round magazine, hardest sustained-fire pattern in the game.
| Tier | Drop only — cannot be crafted |
|---|---|
| Ammo | 5.56 Rifle / HV / Explosive / Incendiary |
| Magazine | 100 rounds (largest in the game) |
| RPM | ~500 (community-consensus) |
| Damage | ~50 body / ~100 headshot (community-consensus) |
| Range | Long (effective at 200m+ in skilled hands) |
| Recoil | Hard vertical and lateral, requires significant training |
| Acquisition | Drop only — Bradley APC, Patrol Helicopter exclusively |
The M249 SAW is Rust's apex sustained-fire weapon — 100-round belt-fed magazine, 5.56 ammo, ridiculous output potential. Drop-only from Bradley or Patrol Helicopter (verified against corrosionhour). The 100-round mag is the headline feature; the recoil curve is the main difficulty. Skilled M249 users can tag the Patrol Heli at 1250m. Most players never master the full pattern.
The best gun in Rust and you can't craft it — heli and Bradley drops only. If your team wins one, it anchors every fight until you lose it.
— Frozen · playing on the live patch
Drop only — Bradley APC kills and Patrol Helicopter kills are the two sources. Cannot be crafted at any workbench tier. Verified against corrosionhour.
100 rounds — the largest of any firearm in Rust. 5.56 ammo, same as AK / LR-300 / SAR / Bolt / M39.
If you can manage the recoil, yes — sustained fire potential is unmatched. Most players struggle with the recoil past 20-30 rounds. Best for skilled long-range shooters or static defence.