The Combat MG, formerly known as the 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 and Online[]
The weapon returns in Grand Theft Auto V and Grand Theft Auto Online as the Combat MG. It is now based on the Mark 48 machine gun, a larger-caliber derivative of the M249; this is also suggested by the side of the weapon reading "7.62mm". The model has the STANAG magazine adaptor of an M249, a very short barrel, a fictional handguard, and 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 fire rate 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. As such, the MG is best used at close ranges, where spraying at targets won't be as much of an issue. At longer ranges, tap firing is incredibly accurate, but it still does less damage than the AK47, which is the most damaging assault rifle in the game.
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 and Online[]
The Combat MG is all-round superior to SMGs, the Assault Rifle, and the MG with a base damage of 45. 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 have increased accuracy and reduced recoil, leading to an efficiency that is better than that of most bullet-based weapons. As such, it is an excellent and all-around powerful weapon that can outperform most weapons in a variety of situations. It has a rather quick reload speed as well, increasing close-quarters performance. However, it is easily outgunned at longer ranges by specialized weapons, such as sniper rifles and the minigun, and shotguns at close range.
GTA V and Online Overview[]
| Damage (per shot) [?] |
Fire Rate [?] | Range (m / ft) [?] |
Ammo Specifications/ Capacity |
Reload Mechanism | Reload Speed [?] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22.5 (36) 33.8 |
0.108 (556 RPM) |
120 / 394 | 100 | N/A | N/A |
| N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| N/A | 480 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 and Online[]
| 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. However, setting the helicopter's engines on fire will make the officers fall out unharmed, and they can be killed on foot from there.
Grand Theft Auto V[]
- Available at Ammu-Nation for $3,700 after completing The Merryweather Heist.
- The Combat MG is equipped by the protagonists in the following heists:
- Franklin Clinton in The Merryweather Heist with extended clip (offshore approach only) and The Big Score (obvious approach only).
- Michael De Santa in Blitz Play along with both grip and scope attachments.
- Trevor Philips in The Paleto Score.
- Michael De Santa in The Paleto Score.
- Additionally, Trevor Philips uses it in the ambush on the FIB and Merryweather during The Third Way.
- 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. The Combat MG has an initial price of $14,800. It can also be purchased at any rank if the player owns a Weapon Workshop or Agency Armory.
- 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.