An M240 machine gun barrel assembly with a barrel with a muzzle end at the distal end of the barrel and a breach end at the proximal end of the barrel; a handle connector connecting the barrel to a handle assembly; and the handle assembly having a free end and a connected end, the connected end operably connected to the handle connector; the handle assembly operable between a first position with the free end of the handle assembly pointing proximally and a second position with the free end of the handle assembly pointing distally.