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One good M60 article deserves another. Likewise, one good “Pig” article deserves another. Having already published an article on one M60 – as in the M60 Patton main battle tank – and with an article on one “Pig” publication – as in the F-111 Aardvark jet fighter-bomber – it only makes sense for us at 19FortyFive to now turn to a weapons system that has both the M60 and “Pig” labels, though admittedly only the former label one is official whilst the latter is a decidedly unofficial nickname: the M60 7.62x51mm NATO general-purpose machine gun (GPMG).
If you served in a Combat Arms career field within any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces between the late 1950s and early 2000s, you’ll recognize the M60, Even if you didn’t serve in the military, you’ll still recognize the gun if you’re fan of either 1980s action films like Rambo and Commando and/or Vietnam War movies like Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket; regarding the latter movie, who could forget Adam Baldwin’s “war face” as Animal Mother, or Tim Colceri as the helicopter door gunner in the iconic “Get Some!” scene?
A Pig Is Born
The gas-operated, belt-fed, air-cooled M60 is actually partly derived from a WWII Wehrmacht machine gun, the fearsome MG-42 AKA “Hitler’s Buzz Saw.”
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The weapon was designed in 1952 and initially manufactured by Saco Defense; which was acquired in 2000 by General Dynamics; subsequent to that acquisition, U.S. Ordnance of Reno, Nevada, took over manufacture.
The U.S. Army officially adopted the weapon in 1957, initially intended as a replacement for the battle-proven Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR). The M60 later served in the Vietnam War as a squad automatic weapon, and it was in that conflict that both the positives and the negatives of the gun’s reputation were established.
American grunts had a love-hate relationship with one; some swore by it, others swore at it. The late great military historian Robert F. Dorr – himself an Air Force veteran – elaborated back in 2013:
“They loved its reliability and rate of fire but disliked its bulk, which earned it the nickname ‘the Pig.’ Changing the barrel on an M60 was an awkward, cumbersome task, all but impossible in the heat of battle. Former U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Steve Beasley, a firearms authority, said the M60 is ‘iconic as a general-purpose light machine gun,’ but had many flaws.
‘It had some good features,’ said Beasley in a telephone interview with 19FortyFive. ‘It had many that weren’t so good.’’
Some of features in the “weren’t so good” category: early models suffered from “receiver stretch,” a problem with the receiver-trunnion block weld; in addition, stamped aluminum feed tray covers could be damaged fairly easily, often taking the weapon out of action.
For better and for worse alike, the M60 soldiered on for several decades, until the Army started phasing out the gun in favor of the M240 in the early 1990s, and the sister services began following suit for the most part shortly thereafter. However, the M60 is still lingering on with the U.S. Navy, specifically with the SEALS and as part of the SH-60 Seahawk helicopter’s armament package. Reportedly some U.S. Coast Guard units still have them as well.
Personal Shooting Impressions (Secondhand, That Is).
During my 7 years of active-duty service in the U.S. Air Force Security Forces (HOOAH!), I never got to fire the M60, though I did get to fire the M240B, and even got to hump the latter beast during Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT) training at Camp Bullis, Texas (a whole ‘nother story in and of itself). To give you an idea of the timeframe, when I went through the enlisted Security Apprentice Course in 1999-2000, USAF SF still had the ’60, but by the time I got to the Security Forces Officer Course in 2004, the 240B had taken over.
U.S. airman with an M60, assigned to the 52nd Security Forces Squadron (SFS), at Spangdahlem Air Base (AB), Germany.
U.S. airman with an M60, assigned to the 52nd Security Forces Squadron (SFS), at Spangdahlem Air Base (AB), Germany.
So then, since, unlike with most of my gun articles, I don’t have firsthand shooting experience to write about, I shall instead draw off of one of my former comrades-in-arms who did get to wield the weapon. My friend Bret Wallace – now a retired USAF Master Sergeant (MSgt/E-7) with 23 years of honorable service – was a 60-gunner with my unit back when he was a Senior Airman (SrA/E-4) and I was a mere lowly humble Airman 1st Class (A1C/E-3) safeguarding Minuteman III nuclear ICBMs at the frozen tundra of Minot AFB, North Dakota. Here’s what Bret had to say about his M60 experience:
“I sure was, that was my baby. It sucked to carry 800 rounds while doing a recap [recapture exercise of a missile launch facility (LF), that is] from 400 meters out. I loved that thing though, never had an issue when I would fire that thing, maybe just my luck.”
A Sea-Air-Land (SEAL) team member fires an M60 lightweight machine gun from the shoulder during a field training exercise.
A Sea-Air-Land (SEAL) team member fires an M60 lightweight machine gun from the shoulder during a field training exercise.
So, You Want Your Own M60?
Believe it or not, American civilians can legally purchase an M60, though of course internals have been extensively modified to make it essentially impossible to convert them to fire in fully automatic. Assembled by Desert Ordnance of McCarran, Nevada, a semiauto-only ’60 is currently listed on the Mockingbird Precision website for a mere $15,500.00 USD, a whopping $500.00 savings over the regular $16K price. So, if you’ve got that much spare money burning a hole in your pocket and nothing better to do with it, hey, go ahead, what’ve you got to lose?!
Christian D. Orr has 33 years of shooting experience, starting at the tender age of 14. His marksmanship accomplishments include: the Air Force Small Arms Ribbon w/one device (for M16A2 rifle and M9 pistol); Pistol Expert Ratings from U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP), Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) Criminal Investigator Training Program (CITP); multiple medals and trophies via the Glock Sport Shooting Foundation (GSSF) and the Nevada Police & Fires Games (NPAF). Chris has been an NRA Certified Basic Pistol Instructor since 2011. In his spare time, he enjoys (besides shooting, obviously) dining out, cigars, Irish and British pubs, travel, USC Trojans college football, and Washington DC professional sports.
Christian D. Orr is a former Air Force officer, Federal law enforcement officer, and private military contractor (with assignments worked in Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Kosovo, Japan, Germany, and the Pentagon).
GhostTomahawk
August 27, 2022 at 4:39 am
Hummed the pig every year of my career until I was medically retired. Great weapon. Easy to use. Easy to maintain. Like all weapons once you’re accustomed to its nuances its easy. It’s it better than the 240? It’s literally the same weapon. I feel the military dumped the 60 and took on a newer identical platform. I chose the 60 over the 249.
Bruce_in_AZ
August 27, 2022 at 2:01 pm
In 1969 I claim that I fired more M60 ammunition than anyone else in II corp. Riding through the jungle on a water truck for the first month as the new guy in the battery, I would fire back at snipers. That was a long 9 mile trip to Qui Nhon.
John Seger
August 27, 2022 at 2:38 pm
Upon arrival into Nam November 1968 my my company 1st Sargent asked If I would carry ammo for the M60 team he sold me by saying I wouldn’t have to pull point lp op or flank, he sold me at point. We blew 8-10 night ambushes in my year, me being gunner the last 3. Our platoon had two gun teams and all rifleman troops claymore igniters were split between the 2 gun teams. The gun was where the action was at close jungle contact, M16’s didn’t do much the claymore and 60 was devastating. Here are the cons but understand the gun was our lifesaver for those dumb enough to hump the jungle with the pig or carrying gun ammo plus your frags, smokes, precious water etc. Try it sometime in 100% humidity 95F degree Vietnam dry season, it is the ultimate ass kicker. Also two big cons the belts had to be tenderly held by the assistant gunner to avoid gun jamming short rounds allowing very mad NVA soldiers to vigorously respond with AK 47s. I have a purple heart to prove that fact. Also after firing off 20 rounds the 60 barrel glows red hot exposing your position during night ambushes. Hope this helps.
HeftyJo
August 27, 2022 at 2:47 pm
I believe the inner workings of the M60 bear more of a resemblance to the FG42 gas operated rotating bolt design. Though the M60 does use a belt feed system similar to the MG42. Early prototypes of the M60 look like an FG42 with the side magazine replaced by a belt feed system. Though the manner in which the German’s used the MG42 as a highly mobile fire support platform heavily influenced the overall design of the m60 and how it was employed in the field.
john moir
August 27, 2022 at 3:06 pm
Humped the 60 in Nam in a battalion recon squad for last 2 months of 12 month tour. Was a far better experience than packing the 16 that failed to extract causing jams. The 60 was easier to pack than the 16 with all of the xtra weight of explosives, mines and 60 ammo the squad had to pack. The 60 never jammed or gave me any type of malfunction. Never heard of it being called the pig in 66-67 btw, but that’s just me.
Mike in a Truck
August 27, 2022 at 4:29 pm
Dismounted patrol I often carried an M60. Each artillery section had one of them, 8 per battery and we could choose what to carry. But youre never Rambo. Always had an A.G. – assistant gunner. Everyone in the patrol carried a belt of ammo for the “Pig”, which is why we called it that- it ate a lot of ammo. A quirk that some may not be aware of is that an 8 round burst must be fired at a minimum to avoid jamming.Hence the field expediant wiring of a C- ration can below the feed tray.We never carried the spare barrel when we dismounted. That stayed with the spare barrels for 50 cal’s in the ammo carry. No the Pig is not the best squad automatic ever fielded. It has to be saftey wired togather to keep from shooting itself apart.But by the balls of Ho Chi Minn it was an all American weapon that put the fear into the enemy thats right.
FRED
August 27, 2022 at 4:37 pm
I lugged that heavy bastard around for two years at a european nato base. shot the m240 as well but i never had to lug it like the 60….so heavy.
John Leslie
August 27, 2022 at 4:38 pm
Well, I was also USAF Security Police 76-82. Ramstein AB Germany and Barksdale AFB, Louisiana (SAC). My opinion would be that the M-60 was a 23 lb boat anchor?
reddog
August 27, 2022 at 4:44 pm
It had many bad features and very few good ones. A poorly thought out weapon that combined what they thought was the better parts of two other machine guns. I fondly remember it as “junk”.
ReamField
August 27, 2022 at 5:13 pm
I was lucky enough to fire an M60 from a bridge wing mount at life rafts for practice. I only got to do it once, but that was better than never. I was an EW, so I was supremely impressed by the experience. It was a reward for respecting Deck div and QM.
S. L.
August 27, 2022 at 5:44 pm
We only called it the ‘Sixty’.
Never actually heard anyone call it the ‘Pig’ while using it.
CATM NCOIC
August 27, 2022 at 5:49 pm
The M-60 Machine Gun is the 2nd worst machine gun ever made, the French Chauchat is the worst.
I spent 15 years in the USAF Reserve Security Forces, 14 of those years in Combat Arms Training and Maintenance. The last six years as NCOIC CATM. When deployed, I was military police…but at home station I taught people to shoot and worked on machine guns. I have been a Federal Firearms Licensee and SOT since 2000. Each course I taught on the M-240B GPMG, I gave this discourse about the M-60.
Some claim the M-60 is based on the famous German MG-42, but the only similarity is both are made out of stampings. The M-60 left off the MG-42’s sear trip, so when the shooter releases the trigger the sear tries to gradually engage…which hammers the engagement edge of the sear and the sear wears out quickly causing the gun to run away (fire without stopping)
The bolt on the M-60 is made of poor quality metal and is not supported so it wears prematurely. On the M-60, the bolt must be cocked to close the top cover, if one closes the top cover without cocking the bolt…parts are damaged. On the M-60 front sight is fixed and the rear sight is adjustable, so after changing the quick change barrel the gun no longer shoots to the same place. Also, the M-60 designers put the bipod on the barrel, which means one must carry a spare bipod with each barrel.
The M-60 pig tries to jerk itself to death when fired, on the FN M-240-B machine gun the cartridge is brought halfway into position in the feed block when the bolt goes back and extracts the round from the belt and the round is chambered when the bolt goes forward to chamber it. On the M-60 the entire positioning is done on the rearward bolt stroke and the belt remains stationary…this is why the belt jerks so much as it goes thru the gun.
If you ere operating an M-60, you had to be an expert at extracting ruptured cases from the weapon. Thats because there is not enough locking lug area on the M-60 so after dozens of rounds the gun has excess head-space. To compound this problem, the M-60 chamber is cut .150 of an inch rather than the .125 of an inch designed for the normal NATO 7.62×51 chamber.
The M-60’s gas operating system is not adjustable, the designers promise its ‘self-adjusting’ which means it either feeds too much or not enough and the gas regulator has to be safety wired on. Compare the M-60 and the M-240 side by side. The M-60 has weak extractor and ejector springs so the spent rounds drop into the receiver rather than ejecting from the small side ejection port. The M-240, is the son of the venerable MAG-58 weapon and it uses basically the same receiver as the Browning Automatic Rifle turned upside down and uses belts rather than box magazines…and has a huge ejection port that ejects downward so gravity aids in the function of the weapon.
Finally, look at other countries who adopted the M-60 versus countries who adopted the MAG-58. Taiwan and the Philippines adopted the M-60 cause we gave it to them. Australia bought the M-60, then dumped them. Over 30 counties bought the MAG-58.
The only advantage the M-60 has over the M-240 is weight, the M-60 weighs 23.6 pounds and the M-240 is longer and weighs 27.6 pounds.
I went thru enlisted Security Forces apprentice course in 2003-2004 and the Combat Arms Training and Maintenance course in 2004, so I may have saluted the author around Camp Bullis at the time. Me and my fellow enlisted trainees would play a fun game back then. When a few of us walking together spotted an officer we stopped to tie our shoe, or call to a friend…any excuse to distance ourselves. This way we passed and saluted the officer at more than 6 feet apart and he had to return numerous salutes rather than only one.
Mike Arnold
August 27, 2022 at 7:04 pm
I carried the M60 in both the Army and Marines (M60-E3). I detested the E-3. The barrels were prone to warping, and they jammed quite frequently. The M60 was a beast. Never had any problems with it. Fired the 240 before I left the Corps. The only one I knew who referred to it as the “Pig”, was a Viet vet (196 Inf /69-70). The other vets called it the “60”. As did I.
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