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Lightest machine guns

The 25 lightest of 261 machine guns in the catalogue with a recorded empty weight. The median is 10.50 kg (23.15 lb).

RankFirearmEmpty weightYear
1stAstra Model FAstra Model FAstra-Unceta y CiaAstra-Unceta y Cia1.45 kg (3.20 lb)1934
2ndAres Shrike 5.56Ares Shrike 5.56Ares Defense SystemsAres Defense Systems3.40 kg (7.50 lb)2002
3rdNorinco QBB-95Norinco QBB-95China North Industries Corporation (Norinco)China North Industries Corporation (Norinco)3.95 kg (8.71 lb)1997
4thHK MG36HK MG36Heckler & Koch GmbHHeckler & Koch GmbH4.25 kg (9.37 lb)1995
5thLSAT Light Machine GunLSAT Light Machine GunAAI Corporation (Textron Systems)AAI Corporation (Textron Systems)4.45 kg (9.81 lb)2009
6thRPK-16RPK-16Kalashnikov ConcernKalashnikov Concern4.50 kg (9.92 lb)2018
=7thRPK-74RPK-74Kalashnikov Concern (formerly Izhmash)Kalashnikov Concern (formerly Izhmash)4.70 kg (10.36 lb)1974
=7thValmet M78Valmet M78ValmetValmet4.70 kg (10.36 lb)1978
=9thST Kinetics Ultimax 100ST Kinetics Ultimax 100ST Kinetics (ST Engineering Land Systems)ST Kinetics (ST Engineering Land Systems)4.75 kg (10.47 lb)1982
=9thUltimax 100Ultimax 100ST KineticsST Kinetics4.75 kg (10.47 lb)1982
=9thST Kinetics Ultimax 100 Mk5ST Kinetics Ultimax 100 Mk5ST Kinetics (ST Engineering Land Systems)ST Kinetics (ST Engineering Land Systems)4.75 kg (10.47 lb)2000
12thRPK-74MRPK-74MKalashnikov Concern (formerly Izhmash)Kalashnikov Concern (formerly Izhmash)4.76 kg (10.49 lb)1991
=13thRPKRPKIzhmash (Kalashnikov Concern)Izhmash (Kalashnikov Concern)4.80 kg (10.58 lb)1964
=13thRPKSRPKSIzhmash (Kalashnikov Concern)Izhmash (Kalashnikov Concern)4.80 kg (10.58 lb)1964
15thSteyr AUG HBARSteyr AUG HBARSteyr MannlicherSteyr Mannlicher4.90 kg (10.80 lb)1978
=16thCentury Arms AES 10BCentury Arms AES 10BCentury ArmsCentury Arms5.00 kg (11.02 lb)2005
=16thZastava M72Zastava M72Zastava ArmsZastava Arms5.00 kg (11.02 lb)1973
18thKnight's Armament LAMGKnight's Armament LAMGKnight's Armament CompanyKnight's Armament Company5.10 kg (11.24 lb)2017
19thFightLite MCRFightLite MCRFightLite IndustriesFightLite Industries5.13 kg (11.30 lb)2002
20thType 81 LMGType 81 LMGNorincoNorinco5.15 kg (11.35 lb)1983
=21stCETME AmeliCETME AmeliCETME (Centro de Estudios Tecnicos de Materiales Especiales)CETME (Centro de Estudios Tecnicos de Materiales Especiales)5.30 kg (11.68 lb)1982
=21stMilkor MGL Mk 1SMilkor MGL Mk 1SMilkor (Pty) LtdMilkor (Pty) Ltd5.30 kg (11.68 lb)1983
=21stMilkor Y2Milkor Y2Milkor (Pty) LtdMilkor (Pty) Ltd5.30 kg (11.68 lb)1983
=21stStoner 63Stoner 63Cadillac GageCadillac Gage5.30 kg (11.68 lb)1963
25thStoner 63AStoner 63ACadillac GageCadillac Gage5.31 kg (11.71 lb)1966

Ranked from the catalogue's own measured figures, the same records the API serves. A record whose weight, length, barrel and capacity match a set shared by ten or more records from five or more makers is a default rather than a measurement, and is left out, as is a record with fewer than five of the figures a reader looks for.