MG4 with a
telescopic sight. The MG4 is an air-cooled, belt-fed
gas-operated light machine gun with a positively locked
rotary bolt and is somewhat similar in concept to the Belgian
Minimi light machine gun. The receiver of the MG4 is made out of
stamped sheet metal. The safety mechanisms on the machine gun includes a manual safety incorporated into the fire mode selector toggle; setting the fire selector lever on the "safe" position blocks the trigger mechanically and locks the bolt in the cocked position. When the bolt is not pulled back completely, accidental firing is prevented by an integral, automatic mechanism that prevents the bolt from traveling forward. In addition, the firing pin cannot reach the cartridge primer until the cartridge has been fully chambered. The machine gun is fed from a disintegrating M27 ammunition belt and is carried out in two stages from the top left using an enhanced pawl mechanism. As on the
MG 42 family of machine guns, empty M27 belt links are expelled to the right and spent cartridge cases are ejected downwards, although sideways ejection to the right is an option. The MG4 has a hammer-forged quick-change barrel that can be safely exchanged when hot without the need for protective gloves; the carrying handle serves as the barrel change grip. The barrel assembly weighs . To reduce the overall length of the weapon for transport, the butt stock can be folded to the left side of the receiver. With the buttstock folded the MG4 remains fully operable. A field cleaning kit is housed within the stock. The MG4 takes zero shifts between barrel assemblies into account by making the front sight of the assemblies mechanically adjustable. In its standard form, the MG4 is equipped with closed type
iron sights with range settings up to in increments. The folding front sight element is mounted on the barrel assembly and is adjustable mechanically for both windage and elevation. The sight line radius is . Optical or night sights or
laser pointers can be mounted on a length of MIL-STD-1913
Picatinny rail located on the receiver feed tray cover.
Bundeswehr models are equipped with telescopic sights with 3× magnification. A folding bipod weighing is provided. Supporting interfaces are integrated into the receiver to allow the MG4 to be mounted on the standard American
M122A1 tripod for increased accuracy and stability. == Variants ==