machine gun - Small Arms Defense Journal

2005, Nevada. STS President Dale McClellan, a former M60 gunner with SEAL Team 8,
prepares to test fire a MK43 Mod 1 machine
gun fitted with the short (17.5 inch), fluted
Assault barrel. It is topped with a Trijicon
Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight on the
distinctively angular machined feed cover’s
rock-steady integral rail and a PEQ-2A laser
aiming module on the Mod 1’s new Rail Interface System forearm. He has moved the
Tango Down vertical grip to just the right place
for his shooting preference. Note on his load
harness the specialized rectangular carrying
pouches for belted ammo, available now in
desert tan from US Ordnance as a sturdy alternative to the flimsy GI bandoleers. (Photo
courtesy of Vantage Pointe Studios)
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US ORDNANCE
MK43
MOD
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MACHINE GUN
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a special report by
ROBERT BRUCE
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NEW LIFE FOR A COMBAT CLASSIC:
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“The M60E4 is a great weapon and definitely fills the gap
between vehicle mounted M240B and dismounted M249
SAW. Scout teams have been taking them out to overwatch and support the snipers, occupying OPs near them
and carrying the M60E4 because it is small enough to hump
a good distance and has great firepower. Some comments
directly from soldiers: The M60E4 is small enough to maneuver in tight places, it allows for easy access entering
and exiting vehicles and aircraft, can be shoulder fired in
short bursts accurately, does not require a complete crew
to operate effectively.” Email to US Ordnance from an officer of 101st Airborne Division in Operation Iraqi Freedom
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hat’s not to like about a real machine gun
that’s significantly lighter than a chunky
M240, about the same size as a puny
SAW, pumps out powerful 7.62mm rounds
with reliability and accuracy, and has long
been a force multiplier in elite Navy SEAL Teams? GIs
who’ve tried ‘em love ‘em, they’re comparable in price to
buy and sustain as the FN guns, they’ve been in the logistics and combat doctrine chains for ever, and they’re 100
percent American designed and built. Slam dunk? Sorry.
The “Screaming Eagles” in Iraq only had a few of the
newest Sixties, provided free of charge by US Ordnance
in response to their urgent request while forward deployed
for the Global War on Terror. US Ord sent a crate full of
MK43s (M60E4), spare barrels and spare parts to Fort
Campbell and the Army delivered it to Iraq.
Subsequent use in the unforgiving arena of intense urban combat resulted in a number of enthusiastic responses
leaking out, but any formalized after action report has apparently been kept on close hold. We are unaware of any
plans by the Army for further evaluation and PM Soldier
Weapons is moving out at double time to develop a lighter
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ABOVE: The tough and rigid machined feed cover with integral MIL-STD 1913 rail, as well as additional rails on both
sides and underneath the improved Rail Interface System
(RIS) forearm, immediately identify this as the new MK43
Mod 1 machine gun from US Ordnance. That’s an ELCAN
M145 Machine Gun Optic clamped on top and the RIS is fitted
with an Insight ANPEQ-2A laser aiming module on the side
plus a Tango Down vertical foregrip underneath. The short,
fluted Assault barrel (17.5 inches) seen here has the E4 version gas cylinder extension that is self-locking. The barrel’s
improved “birdcage” flash suppressor is closed on the bottom
to minimize dust dispersion when firing from prone. (Photo
courtesy of Vantage Pointe Studios)
and shorter version of the M240.
Meanwhile, production of M240s and 249s at FN’s
South Carolina plant continues at breakneck pace but there
remains a substantial backlog. This necessitates keeping
large numbers of existing M60s in service with all branches
of the US Armed Forces. But these guns are mostly old
and tired veterans of decades of hard service and victims
of poor maintenance with shoddy and cannibalized parts.
What’s going on here?
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Passing a Sputtering Torch
Prior to its last-ditch effort in the
“Upgrade Kit” trials, M60 production
had long been the exclusive domain
of Saco Defense, where a skilled force
of dedicated craftsmen had been turning out hundreds of thousands of these
guns in various configurations. But for
some reason the level of quality seems
to have dropped.
This is particularly puzzling given
Navy Special Warfare’s apparent satisfaction with their measurably improved
M60E4/MK43s of about the same time
frame.
sionary named Curtis Debord.
Market forces being what they are,
SACO was acquired by defense industry giant General Dynamics in 2000.
No secret that the Sixty was by then a
neglected stepchild as Big Army transitioned to the M240 and it would have
slowly faded away if it weren’t for a vi-
SADJ: Who is primarily responsible for
acquiring the M60 rights from SACO
and what was his reason for pursuing
this?
We contacted Steve Helzer, General Manager of US Ordnance, Inc., located in Reno, Nevada, to get the straight
story on how the M60 was saved from
a lingering but certain death. What follows is based on telephone conversations and email exchanges.
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ers through its mechanical upgrades?
Helzer: US Ordnance’s MK43s feature
twenty-two key improvements. I’ll list
them roughly from muzzle to buttstock,
not necessarily in order of importance:
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1. Redesigned flash suppressor. It’s
shorter, more effective and not prone to
breaking like the ‘duck bill’ variant used
in early SEAL team guns.
2. Adjustable front sight allows for zeroing of spare and primary barrel prior
to mission operation. The old design
required the gunner during combat to
remember to adjust the rear sight for
each barrel change. A small relief cut
in the new front sight base decreases
the chance of losing the front sight in
the field.
3. Bipod moved from barrel to receiver. This has reduced the weight of the
spare barrel and keeps the receiver
stable, off the ground away from debris
and pointed down range during barrel
changes.
4. Bipod is strengthened and simplified,
one hand operated and has ambidextrous legs to ease maintenance and
spares.
5. Improved forward handguard with
increased heat shielding that protects
the operator from barrel heat, plus a forward pistol grip for better control.
6. Mod 1 variant has a Rail Interface
Handguard with removable/repositionable pistol grip. This accommodates
different sized soldiers and allows
mounting of the gun to most all existing
platforms. Three rails (both sides and
underneath) allow mounting of multiple
items like lasers and aiming devices.
7. Carry handle is mounted on the barrel
to facilitate hot barrel change and offset
so it won’t get in the way of the sights.
8. Improved gas system is “soldier
proof” reversible. The old system was
one direction only and if assembled
wrong the gun would fire once and not
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It must be left to others to explain the
reasons for the abysmal performance of
the eighteen guns SACO brought to the
Army’s gunfight in 1994. Our numerous
phone calls – with detailed messages
left for a certain individual who had
been identified to us as a key player on
the industry side of the trials – were not
returned.
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Helzer: In 2000, Curtis Debord recognized that there was a business opportunity for a small arms manufacturer in
acquiring the original tooling, technical
data packages, processes, and procedures necessary to make a MIL-SPEC
M60. General Dynamics (GD) was
just completing the purchase of SACO
Defense and recognized that they had
an obligation to ensure the availability
of spare parts for the M60 for the next
five to ten years. But GD wanted out of
the 7.62mm General Purpose Machine
Gun business so a licensing agreement
between US Ordnance and Saco Defense/GD was a logical conclusion. It
ensured the availability of spare parts
and ensured that the M60 remained in
production. Spare parts and complete
weapon systems would be available,
and design improvement work could
continue.
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SADJ: We have seen plenty of evidence to convince us that US Ordnance’s M60E4 – initially fielded by
Navy Special Warfare as the MK43 Mod
0 and now the Mod 1 – represent significant ‘design improvements’ over all previous versions. Will you take our read-
19 Feb 1968, South Vietnam. An M60 machine gun team from Charley Company,
1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division takes cover behind a palm
tree during Operation Hue City. Note the gunner’s secondary armament, a .45
caliber M1911 pistol, and both he and his assistant gunner carry a spare belt of
7.62mm ammunition worn bandoleer style over their flak jackets. The gun’s bipod
is deployed for accurate shooting from a prone position. (USMC photo/National
Archives)
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cycle.
9. Gas tube on the barrel is simplified
with three fewer parts than the old standard.
10. Both the Mod 0 and Mod 1 come
with an aluminum rail top cover to facilitate the mounting of optics.
11. A new spring loaded feed cam allows loading of the weapon with the
bolt forward (safe position) or rearward
(charged) without damaging the feed
cam assembly.
12. A redesigned feed cam, feed pawl
assembly, and cartridge retaining pawl
for 30% improved belt pull to overcome
misaligned ammo and debris.
13. Two sear notches on the operating
rod help prevent run away gun in extreme operating environments.
14. The operating rod tube is now hard
chrome plated for corrosion resistance
and to facilitate cleaning. Its fore end is
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induction hardened to resist mechanical
wear from the forward sling mount.
15. A new captured pin prevents accidental detachment and loss of the trigger group.
16. Improved trigger grip housing that
is stronger and redesigned to prevent
trigger pin from being installed backwards in unsafe position.
17. Ambidextrous safety.
18. A trigger guard that hinges down to
allow trigger finger access wearing thick
winter mitts or NBC protective gloves.
19. Nyloc safety nut on cocking handle
retainer holds tight despite vibration and
allows for multiple assembly and disassembly with no degradation.
20. The ammunition hanger is now rigidly mounted to the side of the receiver
– unlike the previous version, where
the hanger was mounted to the feed
try. Now, when checking the chamber,
OPPOSITE TOP: 2005, Nevada. Formidable topside armament for a desert camo’d HMMWV, this versatile MK43 Mod 1
machine gun fitted with the distinctively fluted 17.5 inch long Assault barrel and its new type self-locking gas cylinder extension. A Trijicon Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight is securely clamped on the integral section of MIL STD 1913 rail on the
feed cover and the bipod is neatly folded up but instantly ready if needed for dismounted operations. Note also the PEQ-2A
laser aiming module on the side and the Tango Down “broomstick” vertical foregrip underneath the Mod 1’s new Rail Interface
System forearm. (Photo courtesy of Vantage Pointe Studios)
LEFT: 27 May 2003, Al Hillah, Iraq. Engineering Aide 1st Class Scott Lyerla, of Navy Mobile Construction Battalion 15, mans
a MK43 Mod 0 machine gun to provide security for his convoy conducting a road movement during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
(US Navy photo by PHM1C Arlo Abrahamson)
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Navy. The M60 family of weapons is still
very popular around the free world.
SADJ: What’s the price of the MK43
retro-fit parts kit?
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the gunner doesn’t have to lift a belt of
heavy ammunition and also risk dumping it out of the bandoleer.
21. Improved polymer buttstock that is
lighter and stronger while retaining the
hinged shoulder rest feature.
22. Overall weapon length (fitted with
short barrel) is 5 inches shorter then
the Standard M60 and almost 4 pounds
lighter
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Helzer: That’s right. Our improved
short fluted barrel is currently available
and is based on the ones that STS did
the 850 round demos with. Still in the
RDT&E (research, development, test
and engineering) stages are the improved cocking handle, bolt with new
metallurgy, and a modification to the
feed tray. We’re always working to improve our M60 family of guns and there
are a couple of other things that maybe
we can talk about in a few months.
SADJ: What US military/government/
law enforcement entities have pur-
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SPRING 2009
have ongoing programs on both coasts
and in with the gulf coast states to arm
their various patrol boats with Mk43s.
Helzer: We have sold to numerous
Sheriff Departments to assist with their
new role in Homeland Security. Primarily for Maritime Security escort duty
for tankers carrying oil or LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) in states with ocean
access ports. We would prefer not to
mention their names as this might be
somewhat sensitive. It is safe to say we
The US Army Tank and Automotive Command in Rock Island, Illinois
(TACOM-RI) is our largest customer.
TACOM-RI purchases are primarily for
Foreign Military Sales. We have also
received US Government purchase
orders for spare parts from TACOMRI, Defense Supply Center Columbus
(DSCC) and Defense Supply Center
Philadelphia (DSCP) for use by our own
soldiers. These have primarily been
spare barrels and sub assemblies for
complete weapons.
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SADJ: When we interviewed Dale McClellan at STS he said there were some
other improvements in the works.
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chased at least several guns and/or
quantity orders for spares in the last
couple of years?
And, we just delivered a small quantity of complete MK43 Mod 1s to the
US Navy.
SADJ: What foreign countries have
gotten guns in quantity over the last two
years?
Helzer: Colombian Navy and Army,
Czech Republic for their 601st Special
Forces, Philippine Air Force, Spanish Air
Force, Italian Navy, Chilean Air Force,
Mexico, Denmark, Tunisia and Thai
Mod 1 was run without incident for several thousand rounds in the industry
demo and participant live fire opportunity at NDIA Small Arms 2006. Then,
in our day on the range with students of
Navy Center for Security Forces’ Crew
Served Weapons Instructor Course, no
problems occurred with either of two US
Ord MK43 guns that were hard-used all
afternoon by a dozen Sailors.
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Helzer: Anyone with a serviceable M60
receiver can have what amounts to a
brand-new MK43 for about 60 percent
of the cost of a complete new gun. Or,
we’ll be happy to sell them a complete
MK43 Mod 1 for $11,200 (domestic
suggested retail price). That’s less than
commercial price for FN’s M240 and
significantly less than their MK48 guns.
Our MK43s are in stock and ready for
delivery to US Government and law
enforcement pending ATF transfer approval.
29 Mar 2004, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Master-at-Arms Seaman Ray Cowan, assigned to Naval Station Pearl Harbor Security,
mans a MK43 Mod 0 machine gun aboard a 28 foot SeaArk patrol boat. (US Navy photo by PHM1C William Goodwin)
In a recent telephone conversation,
Lomont told us he has put more than
70,000 rounds of “every kind of ammo”
through his US Ord MK43 with excellent
results. In no uncertain terms he declared, “It’s a goddamn good gun! For
the first time there’s a Sixty you can bet
your life on.”
SADJ: We know that US Ord used to
sell semiauto M60s that were civilian legal with no special paperwork. But now,
the website says resumption of sales is
delayed indefinitely. Comment?
Helzer: The Global War on Terror has
caused a dramatic impact on the small
arms industry. As our government orders ramped up we pulled our employees from the semi-auto production line
and converted that area in our shop to
military and law enforcement. This was
a difficult decision because of the large
and loyal civilian M60 following but a
necessary one to support the warfighter
and our coalition partners. Sales are
still delayed indefinitely.
SADJ: How many semiauto US Ord
Sixties are out there now?
Helzer: There are more than 150 of
the M60, M60E3 and a small number
(10-20) of factory M60E4/Mk43 Mod 0
and Mod 1 semi autos in civilian hands.
US Ordnance have resumed semi-auto
sales and now offer a semi-auto M249
SAW in limited numbers. These are
available from Desert Ordnance (www.
desertord.com)
Live Firing the MK43
The scope of this feature is not intended to include a hands-on evaluation
of the new Sixties from US Ordnance.
This has been well done by others,
most notably Kent Lomont, the highly
respected tactical small arms guru.
Lomont’s salty and straightforward
endorsement tracks with what we have
repeatedly heard from law enforcement and military users. To the point,
the MK43 has proven itself over recent
years in hard training and combat operations by Navy SEALs and other elite
formations such as the “Screaming Eagles” in Iraq.
We have personally observed the
situation where one US Ordnance MK43
Those who are still skeptical are invited to see for themselves some real torture tests of the MK43. A couple different
850 round continuous burst videos are
linked on the Special Tactical Services’
website at www.spectacserv.com. Click
VIDEOS on the navigation bar, then select MACHINE GUNS. Plenty more folks
have accessed and marveled the one at
Blackwater that is posted on YouTube.
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9 Sep 2005, Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia. Expended brass cartridge
cases and steel links pile up as STS President Dale McClellan hammers away
with a MK43 Mod 0, nearing the end of another highly convincing demonstration
of the gun’s ability to sustain a continuous 850 round burst when fitted with US
Ordnance’s high reliability retrofit kit. (Photo courtesy of Special Tactical Services)
MK43 MOD 1 TECH SPECS
CALIBER
7.62x51mm NATO
OPERATION
Gas piston with 2-lug turning bolt
WEIGHT
20.5 pounds with short barrel
LENGTH
37 inches with short (16.5 in.) barrel
BARREL OPTIONS
Short (16.5 in.)
Assault (17.5 in.)
Long (21.5 in.)
CYCLIC RATE
500 to 600 rounds per minute
MAX EFFECTIVE RANGE
1,100 meters
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