Few guns have made as large a niche in contemporary military history as the M60 machine gun. Described as “the pig” by the soldiers who bore it, the M60 was an emblem of American firepower—brutal, dependable when used correctly, and indelible to the warriors who dragged it through decades of war after its debut in the late 1950s.
The history of the M60 starts in the post-World War II period, when the U.S. Army required a lighter, more portable replacement for the old Browning M1919. Engineers analyzed German wartime projects like the MG42 and the FG42 paratrooper rifle, then took elements from both and combined them. The engineers took the belt-fed system of the MG42 and combined it with the FG42’s gas operation and rotating bolt to create a new gun that would deliver speed, versatility, and lots of firepower.
The product was a 23-pound universal machine gun with an instant-change barrel—something the venerable old Brownings could only dream of. With this design, it could go anywhere infantry went, ride around in vehicles, or defend aircraft—the most versatile support weapon of its time.
Chambered in 7.62×51mm NATO, the M60 would shoot accurately to 800 meters using open sights, or to some 1,200 meters when using optics. Its gas-operated, belt-fed cycle could deliver a rate of 500 to 650 rounds per minute continuously, sufficient to pin down foes or disperse an attack in a matter of seconds.
For field troops, the M60 had a bipod but also had the option to be mounted on a tripod or fitted to motor vehicles. Priced around 10.5 kilograms when empty, it was lighter than the Browning it replaced but heavy enough to be a strain for the soldier tasked with carrying it over long patrols.
In Vietnam, the M60 quickly established itself both as valuable and eccentric. It was ubiquitous—on infantry line, helicopter doors, and vehicle turrets. Its massive firepower tended to make the gunner an attractive target. Veterans describe how enemy fighters would attempt to destroy M60 crews first. As one machine gunner, Victor Renza of the 4th Infantry Division, explained: “The M60 was a terror weapon—so feared that enemy soldiers tended to engage the gunners first.” Being deployed was also a problem, too. Soldiers were trained to disassemble and reassemble it blindfolded, shouldering belts of ammunition that provided even more weight to their burdens.
The gun wasn’t perfect. When used intensively, its components wore out rapidly. The quick-change barrel, although clever, was problematic in sustained battles. Parts of the gas system came loose after prolonged firing, and soldiers had to MacGyver battlefield repairs with tape and wire. Reliability might be unstable in harsh environments—half of some units’ M60s operated perfectly under normal maintenance, even in carefully maintained ones.
Nevertheless, its versatility resulted in a number of versions. The regular infantry version had a folding shoulder piece and a steel handguard. The M60C was designed for helicopter use, with electrically controlled firing, while the M60D had spade grips and ring sights for airborne or vehicle mounting. This versatility enabled the M60 to cover a multitude of roles—from support at the squad level to suppressive fire from the air.
In comparison to contemporaries, the M60 did a little of everything. The MG42 German had an unprecedented rate of fire, but not the same multi-purpose design. Afterwards, the FN MAG—taken on by the U.S. as the M240—was harder to deconstruct and ultimately became the U.S. military’s go-to machine gun.
Outside of combat, the M60 became a legend in popular culture. Its massive outline and cannon-like boom became instantly familiar, particularly after Sylvester Stallone’s John Rambo wielded it on the screen. It appeared in innumerable films, television programs, and video games, becoming shorthand for unbridled American firepower. Even as it was replaced by the M240 over time, the M60 never fully went away. Better variants like the M60E6 continue to serve with some units, updated but still bearing the DNA of the original design.
Collectors and veterans continue to hold the M60 in high regard. To many, it represents more than just a weapon—it’s a piece of history, remembered for its flaws as much as for its strengths. For those who depended on it in combat, the “pig” remains a lasting symbol of the gritty, demanding work of warfighting in the second half of the 20th century.