...and the M60 machine gun still lives (apparently)

General General Discussion
1

From today’s DoD contract awards:

U.S. Ordnance,* McCarran, Nevada, was awarded a $13,499,098 firm-fixed-price contract to procure M60 weapon systems, spare barrels, conversion kits, training, and spare parts. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 25, 2023. U.S. Army Contracting Command, New Jersey, is the contracting activity (W15QKN-18-D-0167).

It doesn’t indicate an FMS award, but I thought the M60 was ancient history by now?

2

I think they may be for foreign aid possibly or some other non first line situation

3

deleted

4

It does look more modern:

http://www.usord.com/weapons/m60e6

5

That actually doesn’t even resemble the turn I had envisioned. Having put about a million rounds through M240’s though, I still have to ask “Why?”.

6

The M60 isn’t a bad gun, there are just better options.

Seals were using M60E4s to great effect until recently. This is the first time I’ve seen the E6.

7

Because Rambo.

8

LAV did a video in the M60E6 a few years ago:

//youtu.be/NIIicHWwFQo

9

Buddy of mine in KY 20 years ago was a retired Army MSG (Vietnam), and belonged to my gun club. His son played linebacker at the Univ. of Missouri at the time (6’ 5" and built like, well… a college linebacker!). One day at the range, he “Rambo’d” (one-armed) his dad’s M-60. The result was the typical cross, between hilarious and awesome. :jester: I just wish I had the… ahem… GUNS, to do it myself! :wink:

10

I remember gun writer Peter Kokalis calling the M60 one of the worst pieces of junk ever inflicted on the US military.

11

The E4 and E6 are very much improved over the early M60’s Kokalis had his hate on. Check out the Vickers video, U.S. Ordnance basically PIP’ed all the faults out of the weapon.

Here is a video of an MK 43 (E4) firing a 850 round burst in 1 min 45 sec.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBNGgu0qGlQ

12

Like any other weapon the M60 is a dog when just plain worn out. I saw eight depot re-build M60s where each gun couldn’t go through a 200-round belt without choking, where two MAG58s shot the entire ammo allotment.

I’ve seen M60E4s and 6s that were just as impressive as M240s/MAG-58s.

13

The Danish Army has adopted the M60E6, but in this particular instance it looks like there’s some sort of issue:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vx_MbwvMOg

14

The REAL question is which LPVO do you run on it??? :meeting:

15

Elcan.

16

Most of my first enlistment was spent with either a 1911A1 in leather flap holster or M9 in a Bianchi hanging from my LCE with an M60 in my arms.

I was lucky, I had a Litton instead of a PVS-4. This was the era when maybe one person had PVS-5s per squad for part time use.

The M60 was like a Harely of the era. It required a significant amount maintenance to keep in top running order. And gunner skill.

There are some inherent aspects to the design, that like the M9, keep it from certain steps for modernization and improvement. Like the 1911, it is prone to much more effort to keep reliable in harsh conditions in comparison to some other options.

When I was stuck on a Bn Staff at 7th Group as a newer Captain, after heavy range days I was unaware that part of the current command elements hazing was giving the 60 to the new guy to clean. I had just signed in prior to the major range week. (The command and staff element together cleaned the crew served weapons everyone had used as a group instead of making their personnel do it)

They were shocked to seem me break it down, to include feed tray cover, bolt, etc. when I asked the armored for a new extractor because of a stress fracture I found I was informed the gun had been down and neither the armored or some 18Bs had figured out was up. (It was a very subtle finding, but the exact reason for all the FTEs)

The BC, XO, S3, CSM, Company Commaders and SGMs all had serious WTF expressions. Being a former Ranger BN 60 Gunner, and also a Weapons Squad leader in a NG Infantry unit that ran the Bn’s 60 ranges each summer AT, plus shot the 60 for state AG matches when I went to college had set me up for a fortuitous coincidence that made a hell of a first impression.

Despite its flaws, and the fact that it was replaced, I would still feel a little wistful heading out on target with the Rangers with their modernized FN MAGs.

And, despite its flaws, if they were priced more like 10K I would buy one, back fill a buttpack on a GP strap with five belts, and live like a king.

17

delete

18

It should also be noted that the M60E6 beat out the HK MG5 in the Danish trial. An M60 E4 or E6 is on my short list.

19

Looks like the request is for the E4 and E6 variants:

https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=27c89386be253c79704b2dc33757c07c&tab=core&_cview=1

20

Also looks like for FMS, “Therefore, awarding the requirement to any source other than US Ordnance would fail to fulfill FMS and OGAs’ customer requirements. The M60E4 and M60E6 MGs cannot be procured competitively since the TDPs for both weapon systems are fully owned by US Ordnance and the Government does not have any licensing rights to compete this requirement. In addition, US Ordnance has not licensed any other vendors to manufacture the M60E4 and M60E6 MGs. Therefore, awarding the requirement to any source other than US Ordnance would fail to fulfill FMS and OGAs’ customer requirements.” The M60E4 and M60E6 MGs are already currently in use by the U.S. Army’s FMS & OGAs’ customers. Procurement of a different weapon system would not accomplish customers’ requirements.