hscs,
I agree, M240's are a marginal step above a slingshot...perhaps "an official Red Ryder carbine action two-hundred shot range model air rifle with a compass in the stock and this thing that tells time", but I've come to realize that there's more politics here than DC (if that's possible). Also, having the 3rd AC eliminates the need to pop the scupper and load my M11 or better, pop the whole window and lock and load the M16 in the event that they're needed.
Something that I'm learning is that what we learn in flight school and that tactics manual isn't necessarily what happens in theater, and since things here don't have to make sense to happen, I've found myself pressing the 'I believe' button more and more often.
As for the M240 holding it's own, yea, it's not too bad for keeping heads down, but it could be like throwing a rock at a bee hive depending on what the bees are armed with and how many there are.
ChuckMk23, (Red cross = don't shoot me) yea, if your a subscriber to NATO policy and rules, but I'm 100% certain that the bad guys aren't proponents of that school of thought.
As for hscs comments about waiting until the MEDEVAC bird arrives for fun and games...yes.