Few firearms have left such a lasting impact on contemporary military history as the M60 machine gun. Dubbed “the pig” by its bearers, the M60 was an icon of American firepower, ruggedness, and resourcefulness, used throughout decades of international conflict following its debut in the late 1950s.
The M60 has its roots in the post-World War II period, when the United States. The Army needed a lighter, more handy replacement for the heavy Browning M1919. Taking a page out of German designs like the MG42 and the FG42 paratrooper rifle, American designers merged the belt-fed mechanism of the MG42 with the gas-operated, rotating bolt mechanism of the FG42.
The outcome was a 23-pound general-purpose machine gun with a quick-change barrel—a vast improvement over previous designs and one that could be used by infantry, vehicle crews, or aerial teams.
7.62×51mm NATO-chambered, the M60 provided serious stopping power at ranges of up to 1,200 meters when equipped with optics, or approximately 800 meters when using open sights. Sustained fire at rates of 500 to 650 rounds per minute was made possible through its gas-operated, belt-fed design.
The M60, which was fitted with an attached bipod and could be mounted on tripods or vehicles, allowed much flexibility on the battlefield. Weighing approximately 10.5 kilograms when empty, the M60 was lighter than the Browning M1919, but still difficult for soldiers to lug across long distances.
Soon, the M60 demonstrated its worth on the battlefield—and its idiosyncrasies. In Vietnam, the M60 became a standard-issue piece of equipment for infantry units, helicopter crews, and vehicles. Its firepower was both fearsome and practical, and generally drew the first shots of enemy fire.
Victor Renza, a machine gunner in the 4th Infantry Division, remembered, “The M60 was a terror weapon—so feared that enemy soldiers tended to engage the gunners first, who were frequently in exposed positions.” The weapon was both physically and technologically demanding, as troops learned to take it apart and put it back together blindfolded and carried hundreds of rounds into battle.
Still, the M60 was not perfect. Heavy use resulted in speedy wear of internal components, and while the quick-change barrel was new, it occasionally hindered performance during combat. Heavy barrels and bipod mounting lent to weight, and some of the gas system components tended to come loose after long firing, requiring crews to make impromptu repairs with safety wire.
Reliability in adverse conditions was a problem, with some units saying that barely half their M60s worked perfectly despite meticulous maintenance.
The versatility of the weapon also saw several variants. The basic infantry version came with a rubber-coated steel handguard and folding shoulder rest. The M60C variant was prepared for fixed helicopter installations using hydraulic charging and electrical firing, and the M60D was designed for use on aerial pintle mounts, equipped with spade grips and ring sights. They enabled the M60 to be used both as a squad automatic weapon and a suppressive fire platform from vehicles and aircraft.
Compared to other machine guns of its generation, the M60 stood out for its multitasking capabilities, even if it later lost ground in reliability and simplicity of maintenance.
While the MG42 influenced its development and provided a more rapid rate of fire, it did not match the multi-tasking capabilities of the M60. The FN MAG, adopted as the M240 by the U.S. military later, was more durable and simpler to service, eventually replacing the M60 in U.S. usage.
Aside from its battlefield applications, the M60 became an icon in popular culture. Its distinctive shape and deafening noise were immortalized on screen, television, and video games—most notably carried by Sylvester Stallone’s John Rambo in First Blood. Its visibility in popular culture solidified its status as a representation of American military strength and brutality.
Though largely superseded by newer variants such as the M240, updated models like the M60E6 continue to see duty with select units.
Collectors and mil guys still exalt the M60 for its historical significance and engineering. Its reputation continues to live on not only in the annals of military history but in the minds of those who carried, cared for, and relied upon the “pig” amidst combat.