The M249 for civilians

Hard to believe but true, FN produces a semi-automatic version of the legendary M249 machine gun, also known as the Minimi. "Happiness is a belt fed weapon." Whether these will also be legal to purchase in Austria and Germany is still questionable, but for Austria it can be said that it is a semi-automatic weapon from the factory and should therefore be legal.

The semi-automatic FN M249S with belt feed is part of the FN Military Collector Series, introduced in 2015 to bring classic interpretations of firearms to the market that FN has developed and sold to the US military. The series also includes the FN Military Collector M4 and M16, semi-automatic versions of the military's M4A1 and M16A4.

The closed-bolt FN M249S Standard is the classic FN M249 SAW configuration with an 18.5-inch cold hammer-forged chrome-lined barrel with quick-change capability, an ergonomic polymer stock with hydraulic buffer, a crossbolt safety, and an ammunition feed from an M27 disintegrating belt.

The Paratrooper model, abbreviated PARA, is the compact configuration of the M249 SAW and features a shortened 16.5-inch barrel and a telescoping and collapsible buttstock.

Prices start at $9,999 USD. A small advantage that speaks for a semi-automatic machine gun: a belt does not count as a magazine.

FN America online