Familiar Look

Publication: Armed Forces Journal
Title: Familiar Look

The M60E4/M43 Mod. 0, from U.S. Ordnance Inc., of Reno , Nev. , looked very familiar to our evaluators but, as they say, looks can be deceiving. Although the gun's major components are interchangeable with other M60 configurations, the E4 model sports major improvements over those more-familiar guns.

The E4 features Stellite-lined, thick-walled barrels, giving it boasting rights to sustained-fire capabilities in all barrel types (short, long and assault versions). Depending on barrel type, E4 models weigh from 21.3 pounds to 23.1 pounds. The guns have a cyclic rate of fire of 500 to 650 rounds per minute, and a maximum effective range of 1,100 meters.

The manufacturer stakes claim to barrels that will withstand the wear caused by more than 15,000 rounds; a barrel-changing handle negates the need for a heat mitten during that operation. Also, the forward grip is larger than that of a standard M60, providing additional heat protection for the gunner. U.S. Navy SEALs are numbered among U.S. Ordnance's E4 customers.

AFJ's shooters covered most of the E4's other attributes in their evaluations. "Good recoil for a machine gun," wrote one. "Nice handling; easy to shoot. I like being able to load it with the bolt in either the forward or the rear position."

"A dramatic improvement over the M60s I remember shooting in the Marine Corps," noted another. "Better reliability, ergonomics and recoil control."

"The front handle on the weapon is a great feature that not only adds stability but also reduces push from recoil and helps keep the weapon on target," said another. "Trigger is good - allows control of bursts. The feed tray configuration is easier on loading. One of the best features is that the piston does not clog with carbon and jam, as the old M60 does. Its weight and its length reduction make it easier for airborne forces to take on jumps."

"This is a magnificent modernization of the M60," another wrote. "They have transformed an old Chevy truck into a Corvette!" This evaluator added a question that was on the minds of more than a few of his colleagues: "Is it possible for this gun to ever jam?"

AFJ posed a similar question to the U.S. Ordnance folks, who replied by linking together 8½ (100-round) belts of ammo and inviting an evaluator to see for himself. One minute and 45 seconds and a pile of brass later, he had pumped 850 rounds through the E4 with a single pull of the trigger

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Armed Forces Journal is the leading tri-service monthly magazine for officers and leaders in the United States military community. AFJ offers in-depth feature coverage of military technology, strategy, doctrine and tactics. Founded in 1863, AFJ has been providing essential reporting and analysis on key defense issues for over 140 years.

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