I'm an old school soldier that left the Army when the M-60 was the final word in a bad argument. The typical trooper either had his m-16 or a buddy to help with the M-60. Now the kids got these sweet SAWs. 1st is the old 50 cal. still in service and if not, what has replaced it?
In US service, the M240 was originally a coax MG for tanks. The Marines had a "dismount kit" so the crew could take the gun with them and use it as a LMG, if their tank was disabled.
Finally, someone got smart and asked why we had two different MGs, easpecially when one was vastly superior to the other. That finally brought about the replacement of the M-60. (The 240's gotta be good, it's basically a modification of the BAR) As far as I know, all the 240 models can be carried as dismounted weapons.
The M240 is known as the MAG 58 in most of the world and may be the most widely produced MG ever, outside of Comblock weapons. I first fired one 32 years ago and fell in love with it. It was really a disappointment to shoot an M60 after shooting an MAG58.
The “M-2” 50 cal. is one of John Browning most durable designs is still in use today it has seen action from WW1, to current Operations. As an old schooler you will probably remember being able to mount them on ring sets that were attached to things like duce and a half’s,5 ton and hum-v’s. Now they are also using an “M-19” an Automatic 40MM grenade launcher system as well. It doesn’t replace the M-2 but Augments. The fact that the M-2 has been around so long says something for the argument that John Browning was the best gun designers of all time. You might have heard of some of his other works. The BAR, the M1911 45cal. colt pistol and the Browning 9mm HP just to name a few. Anyway that’s my two cents.
OMG the M-85! that was the biggest POS ever. You would have been better off taking it apart and throwing the parts at the enemy. Although it did have a nasty spring init that could cause significant damage.
We use M240B's now. I have 2 in my Squad. I am also an old 60 guy and it felt like I was taking the old dog to the vet to put it down when I fired the 240 for the first time. But it did not take me long to fall in love with it. The 240 fires faster, breaks down less and has better control of the beaten zone at long range than the 60. It does have some faults like it is very heavy on the muzzle end which tends to hang hard on a gunner. The M60 could be pretty well balanced on the guy carrying it. Also, as a former light fighter, the high rate of fire is nice but you must use self restraint and good fire control so as to not run out of ammo. One other good thing is the quick change barrel, no head space and timing. Just crank on the new one and get to business.
The first thing that impressed me about the MAG58/M-240 is the real quick change barrel. The bipod mounted on the receiver, the carrying handle on the barrel. No asbestos glove needed and the gunner doesn't have to lift the gun up off the bipod feet to change the barrel.
A gunner can actually change the barrel, by themselves, while prone. Try that with an M60.
Of course, we never had the gloves when I was a Grunt (they were always on order), so we normally just held onto one of the bipod legs to pull the barrel from the M60.
There are still a quite a few soldiering on here in the sandbox. Mostly air Force guns, but some Army units still inventory them. The phase out is not complete just yet.
I was on the All Service Champion MG team for '88-'89-'90 (Co B-, 340th FSB, California National Guard). We learned to single tap for greater accuracy at all ranges, and had the barrel change/shooter change portion down to less than 6 seconds (fire 10 rounds and clear weapon, AG changes barrel, then G & AG swap positions) before the AG fired the remaining 100 rounds (two minutes total for segment).
Army changed the entire competition format, dis-allowing any single tap, and requiring firing from the hip and shoulder. That's when we quit. We were untouchable for 3 years straight, taking all state, all Army, and all services. We felt the rules and format were changed to stop us.
Our record still stands.
Life ain't worth living, if ya ain't got a good cigar.
Originally posted by gumbydammit: The first thing that impressed me about the MAG58/M-240 is the real quick change barrel. The bipod mounted on the receiver, the carrying handle on the barrel. No asbestos glove needed and the gunner doesn't have to lift the gun up off the bipod feet to change the barrel.
A gunner can actually change the barrel, by themselves, while prone. Try that with an M60.
Of course, we never had the gloves when I was a Grunt (they were always on order), so we normally just held onto one of the bipod legs to pull the barrel from the M60.
Actually the Marine M60E3 had that same set up, the bipod was attached the the reciever instead of the barrel so we could change barrels while prone. It was also lighter (18 1/2 lbs) and had a handy forward "pistol grip." With that said I'd still prefer the 240G, shot it once while it was being tested in '91 and it was a blast to shoot!
Well, look carefully. The M-60 has served for years. It is a good weapon I have to say. But it's limitations have been reached. The army is in need of a new and lighter weapon. But I can still say that the change might take a while.
Originally posted by JorgenMalkovich: Well, look carefully. The M-60 has served for years. It is a good weapon I have to say. But it's limitations have been reached. The army is in need of a new and lighter weapon. But I can still say that the change might take a while.
The change has been taken place for a while its called a 240BRAVO
Originally posted by DIABLO_OPSGRP: The change has been taken place for a while its called a 240BRAVO
Neither lighter, nor really "newer". They both were developed along the same time line, with the 60 being put into Army production in 1957, compared to the FN's British acceptance in '58.
Personally...I'll still take a pig over the Bravo.
