Posted on 03/09/2018 5:17:58 AM PST by w1n1
Do you remember the Stone 63 machine gun?
Want to know how good it was?
Ask any of the former Seal members from the Vietnam war and mid 70’s, they can attest it was the thing to have for a four man patrol. The Stoner 63, is a 5.56×45mm NATO, Modular Weapon System, using a variety of modular components, it can be configured as a rifle, a carbine, a top-fed light machine gun and a belt-fed squad automatic weapon.
Designed by Eugen Stoner in the early 1960s. War departments claims the Stoner machine gun saw limited combat during the Vietnam war. The Stoner was phased out by the 1980, the M249 SAW took its place. But this wasn’t military wide as many conventional units were still armed with the M-60 machine gun.
Have a look at this video, we're fortunate enough to hear a Navy SEAL share his memories of the unique Stoner 63 machine gun here.
“...solenoid operated machine gun for aircraft or vehicular use...”
I want one mounted on the hood of my car just to drive the libs crazy. Doesn’t even have to be loaded.
The Stoner 63 was designed by stoner at a company called Cadillac Gage in Warren, MI.
When I was younger, I knew a man who had worked there. I think he was an engineer. I assume they would have known each other.
Devestatingly effective weapon. Great SEAL/Pheonix clip!
I will add to my Christmas list!
I need one mounted on the hood of my car with remote aiming and firing controls on the center console. Mine needs to be locked and loaded. I live in Baltimore.
awww,,, shes beautiful . .
MD is NFA friendly. Just need 60k for a legal one...and 100-125k for all the accessories.
I guess a used up-armored Hummer and a twelve gauge would be a cheaper option.
Exactly, what would anyone adopt a 5.56 platform when you already have 7.62.
“The Marine Corps tested the Stoner 63 weapon system...”
Stoner is a sweet piece, no wonder the SEALs loved it.
In late 1965 or early 1966, 3rd Battalion 6th Marines performed a battalion wide field test of the Stoner. The 100-round (?) drum magazine pictured was a later development. In LMG-mode we used a 100 (?) round side-fed assault pack. Another LMG config was a top-fed (Bren gun style) using the standard magazine. Yet another was a folding stock carbine. Mounting via legacy tripods was a losing proposition.
The only possible flaw I recall was a tendency for the “take-down” pins used to connect sections of the weapon to not fully lock into place. A little due diligence usually took care of that problem though.
Take-down pins were also an enabler of sorts as scuttlebutt maintained the basic Stoner a good fit to a weekend AWOL bag. Some were said to have “made the weekend” to a deer hunt or show-n-tell in the City.
All-in-all, out of the box, Stoner was everything M-16 took years to become.
i guess that's why they adopted the M16 then...
Nice I want one.
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