Madsen Saetter M1950

Dansk Rekyl Riffel Syndikat / Dansk Industri Syndikat · Machine Gun · Discontinued · 1952

Also known as: Madsen-Saetter M/50, Madsen-Saetter Model 1950

Overview

The Madsen Saetter M1950 is a Danish gas-operated, belt-fed, air-cooled general-purpose machine gun firing 7.62x51mm NATO from an open bolt. Designed by Eric Larsen-Saetter and built by Dansk Industri Syndikat, it featured a quick-change barrel and a selectable rate of fire, and was adopted in numbers by Indonesia.

Specifications

Weight (empty)11600 g (409.2 oz)
Overall Length1290 mm (50.79")
Barrel Length660 mm (25.98")
Action TypeGas Operated Short Stroke
Firing MechanismOpen Bolt
Trigger TypeSingle Stage
Magazine Capacity50 rounds
Magazine TypeBelt
Muzzle Velocity825 m/s (2707 fps)
Muzzle Energy3243 J (2392 ft·lbf)
Effective Range1000 m (1094 yd)
Maximum Range3000 m (3281 yd)
Rate of Fire850 rpm
Barrel RiflingRight-Hand
Number of Grooves4
Frame MaterialSteel
Barrel MaterialSteel
Stock MaterialWood
FinishPhosphate

Calibers

Features

Production

Production years: 1952-1965

Limited series production; principal export customer was Indonesia.

Origin

Country of origin: Denmark

Designer: Eric Larsen-Saetter

Discontinued: 1965

Notes

Early pattern of the Madsen-Saetter family; the design matured into the definitive Madsen-Saetter universal machine gun around 1960.

Background

Conceived in postwar Denmark as a lightweight universal machine gun to compete with the German MG42 lineage, the Madsen-Saetter offered a tool-less quick-change barrel and an adjustable rate of fire but never achieved wide NATO adoption.