A dual feed light machine gun (1) is provided which comprises a barrel (3 a receiver (4) , a cartridge belt feed mechanism assembly (12) on top of the receiver (4) , a magazine socket (9) at the bottom side of the receiver (4) and essentially opposite the cartridge belt feed mechanism assembly (12) . The machine gun (1) comprises slide assembly (31) comprising a slide (32) which has essentially the form of a rectangular, elongated frame with an integral bolt housing (33) at the top near the rear end thereof and a gas piston (52) attached at its front end. The bolt housing houses a bolt (36) , of the open bolt type, which has a head portion with upper and lower projections (57,59) adapted, respectively, to drive a cartridge from a belt or from a magazine into the breech.