Posted on 01/21/2021 5:49:25 AM PST by Onthebrink
One of the most iconic scenes in the over-the-top Rambo: First Blood Part II involves the shirtless Sylvester Stallone wielding the M60E3 while firing from the hip. Even those who don’t know guns would recognize it as “Rambo’s gun.”
While Stallone’s handling was cinematic, to say the least, it was still a very real weapon that saw use with the U.S. military around the world.
(Excerpt) Read more at 19fortyfive.com ...
“...which allowed for rapid changing of barrels – something that was necessary as it was not safe for a sustained rapid rate of fire without the danger of catastrophic failure of the barrel. When firing 100 rounds per minute, it was necessary to change the barrel every five minutes, but at 200 rounds per minute, it was necessary to change out the barrel in just about two minutes.”
Right. Real fun in the middle of combat — take a time out
to change the barrel...
Changing barrels was fast and easy for a good crew.
That's why the M60 is a crew-served weapon. A well-trained crew can change barrels as fast as a NASCAR pit stop.
The Germans pioneered the quick change barrel with their MG42, and the M60 has a lot of features taken from the MG42.
They have those hand held mini gattling guns. Wouldn’t that prevent having to change out the barrel of an m60? I guess the only problem is that it’s a complicated machine. Might be a problem in the field if there’s a mechanical problem.
We should have just copied the MG 43 100% and slowed the cyclic rate down. Change the stock design and say we made one better.
Even Hitler’s buzz saw, the Mg 42 that the M60 was partially designed from had a quick change barrel for the same reason.
Either you need a water cooled MG or perhaps a mini gun like governor Jesse “the brain dead” Ventura wielded in Predator.
Who writes this stupid crap? Even for a blog pimp you’re failing miserably.
I’ve shot a mounted M60, but the one I shot had been repaired with upgrades. The ones in the field, reports I’ve read, tended to “run away”, that is, keep firing even after the trigger is released, until the belt ran out. Word is, the engineers ignored Colonel (at the time) George M. Chinn’s advice on the design (I won’t say more), resulting in this failure.
That is correct. Well, very nearly. Col Chinn had a proven design, which was ignored, from what I read.
Bruce Campbells Chin wrote: “Changing barrels was fast and easy for a good crew.”
It was, as long as you remembered to bring the asbestos glove.
Carried an M60 many miles. I was commissioned infantry. I was one of the larger guys so when my training unit went to the field, I was usually carry ‘the gun’.
I was a pretty good sized Sp4 and a wise guy sometimes.
During night patrolling training in Friedburg Training Area, I complained about carrying the ‘prick-77’ yet again because “it’s my birthday”.
The platoon Sgt snapped “Oh, it’s your birthday huh?
Take the 60 Birthday Boy”!
Spent all night humping it with 200 rounds attached, Friedburg Training Area was pretty hilly too, so I got another lesson in suck it up, lol.
....and now I have to watch Predator again. :)
During self defense force training at little creek in early 1981 everyone in our class of about two dozen was to fire a short belt of ammo from two m60s mounted on tripods. About midway through they both malfunctioned and they had to exchange parts from them to get one functioning machine gun. That didn’t inspire confidence.
Right; the main problem with the German gun was the ammo consumption (though it was probably an advantage during Barbarossa). As supply lines lengthened, supplying that ammo must have been a nightmare.
The Pig.
L
That’s why there’s an M60E4.
An 850-round burst from an M60E4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zh8lDgV993A
It wasn't very accurate (probably by design) as a wide beaten zone with high rate of fire enabled adequate coverage of a target area. A lower cyclic rate with the same dispersion would mean inadequate coverage.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.