So, I like that we've got a little more variety for machine gunners with the two new guns. However, I'm not seeing a reason to use M240B and MG3 instead of M249 or PKM. Here are my analysis of the machine guns.
Old Guns
M249
Costs 3 points (Means I can bring some grenades or a comfortable side arm without sacrificing carrier and armor)
200 rounds base (Almost never need to reload during firefights)
741 rpm (I suppose this compensates for the low caliber)
5.56x45mm NATO (Your garden variety assault rifle caliber)
PKM
Costs 3 points (Same as M249)
100 rounds base (Sometimes runs out when you need to shoot)
652 rpm (Helps a little with the ammo economy)
7.62x54mmR (What does R stand for? Russia? Anyways, enough damage and penetration to kill things behind walls reliably)
New Guns
M240B
Costs 4 points. 7 with extended mag (Better lose that grenade or makarov the side arm. Or I guess I could do without armor)
Lighter without extended mag (I don't think these aim noticeably faster)
50 rounds base (Runs out like an assault rifle)
100 rounds with extended mag (Runs out like pkm)
706 rpm (I guess this helps with the ammo economy)
7.62x51mm NATO Armor Piercing (Yay ap rounds! But it feels like overkill)
MG3
Costs 4 points. 7 with extended mag (Same as M240B)
Lighter without extended mag (Same as M240B)
50 rounds base (Runs out all the time)
100 rounds base (Still runs out all the time)
1000 rpm (Helps you with losing ammunition)
7.62x51mm NATO Amor Piercing (I guess this is the caliber the gunship uses)
So, um... It seems to me that the new machine guns don't do much better than the old machine gun, but is more expansive. I think maybe MG3 could help take out a helicopter or shoot down drones, but other than that, the new machine guns are overpriced for what they can do. I mostly play co-op and not very good at the game. So am I missing something?