- The former marine ripped through bullets at West Coast Armory, Washington
- His colleagues agreed to film him firing the M249 SAW as a goodbye present
- Within six seconds the weapon’s suppressor glows red, within 10 it catches fire
This is the moment a gun range boss fired 700 continuous rounds as a farewell to colleagues, melting his weapon’s suppressor.
Devin Gude filmed the former marine gunner peeling off shells in West Coast Armory in Bellevue, Washington, by peeling off shells all over his workplace.
As bullets fly out of the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW) machine gun, the silencer at the end of its barrel catches fire before snapping in two.
Footage shows his colleague feeding ammunition through the weapon as it continues to chew through bullets.
Range and training director Mr Gude agreed to film the store manager putting the weapon under the extreme strain on July 5 as a goodbye to those he worked with.
Within six seconds the suppressor was glowing red and within 10 it had caught fire.
The former marine gunner bid farewell to his Washington colleagues by letting off 700 rounds
The suppressor at the end of the light machine gun caught fire as bullets passed through it
After six seconds the suppressor began to glow red and within 10 seconds it had caught fire
The gun has been used by the US Army throughout the war in Afghanistan, which began in 2001, as well as in the Kosovo and Bosnian wars after the weapon came into service in 1984.
The light machine gun is also used by the armies of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Hungary, Iraq, Lebanon, Malaysia and Thailand as well as by Pakistan’s Special Services Group.