weinersoldier:

ALRIGHT LISTEN

finally I’ve sorted (with help, because oh my god thanks for no ??? good screenshots????) Bucky’s new sniper piece and YOU GUYS:

This is a M249 Light Machine Gun.

This is !!!!! SO RAD !!!! FOR RECOVERED BUCKY!!! for so many reasons:

First of all, the M249 is a belt-fed, gas-operated American-make machine gun.  It’s a most importantly for Bucky a throwback weapon, because it fires in a similar manner to his M1941 Johnson Rifle from the War.  The M249 fires with an open-bolt, meaning it will provide the accuracy of a sniper rifle BUT the power, velocity, and volume of a machine gun.  It fires 5.56 NATO (.45mm) cartridges, and can feed off both linked rounds AND other magazines, meaning the user could swap to an M4/M16 rifle magazine in a pinch (incredibly useful in the field).

Also, this motherfucker is HEAVY, approaching 25 pounds when loaded, and as we can see from the new spot, it’s also been retrofit with an M4 50-round magazine (can be seen over Bucky’s left forearm when he’s standing behind Steve), most likely pushing it into the 30-pound range.  A weapon this heavy, with high volume fire, is a testament to Bucky’s physical endurance in both carrying and operating it, as the kick-back on a weapon this size is disruptive at best.

Additionally, even the disadvantage of this weapon caters to Bucky’s strengths: the M249 is known to heat up quickly along the barrel when in use, but, GUESS WHAT: metal hand steadying the barrel deals with that.  Bucky, as always, adapting!!

Finally – the M249 has been in use by the U.S. Army and Marine Corps in every major military conflict since 1989.  It’s primarily used for high-volume cover fire, but allows for sniping accuracy as well. 

So consider: Bucky picking up a weapon that’s defensive in purpose.  A gun that yes, can be used for sniping but is almost always used to provide cover for other fighters.  A gun that can, at highest volume, discharge approximately 10 shots a second, but operates almost like the weapons he’d used in WWII.

Bucky at Steve’s six, seventy years later, choosing a weapon of defense in his own way.  It might not be a shield, but he’s come a very, very long way.