M60 Machine Gun
Saco Defense (now General Dynamics) · Machine Gun · In Production · 1957
Also known as: The Pig, Machine Gun, 7.62mm, M60, Mk 43 Mod 0
Overview
The M60 Machine Gun is an American general-purpose machine gun chambered in 7.62x51mm NATO, type-standardized in 1957 to replace the M1919A6 Browning and the M1918A2 BAR. Its design borrows the belt-feed mechanism of the German MG 42 and the gas operating system and bolt-locking arrangement of the FG 42 paratroop rifle. It is a gas-operated, air-cooled, belt-fed machine gun firing from an open bolt in fully automatic mode only, with a cyclic rate of approximately 550 rounds per minute and a muzzle velocity around 853 m/s. Weighing about 10.5 kg with bipod, it feeds from M13 disintegrating-link belts and earned the nickname 'The Pig' among Vietnam-era soldiers for its weight and appetite for ammunition. Largely supplanted in U.S. infantry service by the M240 from the 1990s, the M60 has been continually refined through lightweight variants and, as the M60E6, remains in production with U.S. Ordnance and in service worldwide.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 10510 g (370.7 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1105 mm (43.50") |
| Barrel Length | 560 mm (22.05") |
| Action Type | Gas Operated Short Stroke |
| Firing Mechanism | Open Bolt |
| Trigger Type | Automatic Only |
| Magazine Type | Belt |
| Muzzle Velocity | 853 m/s (2799 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 3396 J (2505 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 1100 m (1203 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 3725 m (4074 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 550 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 305 mm (12.01") |
| Number of Grooves | 4 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Stellite Lined Steel |
| Stock Material | Polymer |
| Finish | Parkerized |
Calibers
- 7.62x51mm NATO · primary · 7.62mm NATO — also known as .308 Winchester compatible, 7.62 NATO, 7.62x51mm
Features
- Firing modes: Full Automatic
- Feed systems: Belt Fed Disintegrating
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety Selector
- Features: Quick Change Barrel, Stellite Lined Barrel, Chrome Lined Chamber, Gas Operated, Open Bolt, Belt Fed, Folding Bipod, Flash Suppressor, Adjustable Gas System, Carrying Handle
Variants
- M60E3 — Lightweight
- M60E4 (Mk 43 Mod 0) — Improved Reliability
- M60E6 — Lightweight Modern
- M60D — Helicopter Pintle
Service history
Operators
- United States Army · adopted 1957 · as M60
- United States Marine Corps · adopted 1957 · as M60/M60E3
- United States Navy SEALs · as M60E3/Mk 43
- Australian Defence Force · adopted 1960 · as M60
- Danish Armed Forces · adopted 2014 · as M/14 (M60E6)
Conflicts
- Vietnam War (1955-1975)
- Invasion of Grenada (1983-1983)
- Gulf War (1990-1991)
- War in Afghanistan (2001-2021)
Production
Estimated total produced: 250,000 · Production years: 1957-present
Produced by Saco Defense, Inland Manufacturing, U.S. Ordnance and others; current production by U.S. Ordnance as the M60E6
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Notes
The original M60 placed the bipod and gas system on the barrel assembly rather than the receiver, so the bipod had to be removed during barrel changes -- an awkward procedure under sustained fire. The M60E3 reduced weight to roughly 8.5 kg with a receiver-mounted bipod and forward pistol grip, while the M60E4/Mk 43 and later M60E6 restored reliability with a Stellite-lined barrel and added Picatinny rails.
Background
The M60 earned the nickname 'The Pig' among Vietnam-era soldiers for its heavy weight and voracious appetite for ammunition. Its design borrowed from two legendary WWII German weapons: the belt-feed of the MG 42 and the gas system of the FG 42. A notorious early flaw placed the bipod on the barrel assembly, forcing gunners to remove it during barrel changes under fire.