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139-563: Soon after leaving ArmaLite , Eugene Stoner , one of the United States' most prolific modern military small arms designers, responsible for the design of the ArmaLite AR-15 / M16 assault rifles , ArmaLite AR-10 battle rifle and Armalite AR-7 survival rifle, among others, devised a concept for a modular weapon that would be built around a common receiver and certain interchangeable components and could be transformed into

278-399: A closed bolt to ensure maximum accuracy, or in machine gun mode, fire from the open bolt position to prevent cook-offs and enhance cooling. The weapon has a rotary bolt locking mechanism with 7 radially symmetrical locking lugs that engage a series of recesses in the barrel extension, and is actuated by a conventional long-stroke piston. The radial arrangement of locking lugs distributes

417-432: A 1:8-inch (200 mm) in rifling pitch to be used with heavier experimental bullets. None of these were ever produced in significant numbers. The Stoner 63/63A LMG is an automatic weapon that fires from the open bolt and the trigger mechanism permits only fully automatic firing. The entire trigger unit has four trigger pins that give the unit its modularity. The front pin holds a flapper-type magazine catch/release (used in

556-460: A barrel change before it could be fired again. Due to the rotating bolt design, the M60 required stoning of burrs or roughness on the lugs, which could increase headspace, occasionally causing cartridge case stretching and head separation. This required replacement of the bolt. The M60 sometimes (depending on the version) tore off the rims from fired cartridge cases during the extraction cycle, causing

695-493: A bipod (attached to the receiver) for improved stability, ambidextrous safety, universal sling attachments, a carrying handle on the barrel, and a simplified gas system. However, these features also caused almost as many problems for the weapon as they fixed. There were different types of barrels used, but the lightweight barrel was not as safe for sustained fire at 200 rounds per minute as heavier types. Despite this, some personnel claim to have witnessed successful prolonged firing of

834-491: A bird cage type flash suppressor with six oval ports. The AR and standard machine gun barrels also have a carrying handle that can be snapped into one of three positions or removed altogether. The black-painted wooden handles are attached to a steel rod via roll pin. With a few exceptions, all the barrels used in the Stoner 63/63A have a six-groove right-hand rifling with a twist rate of 1:12-inch (305 mm), designed to stabilize

973-422: A cartridge into a hole over the regulator's lock detent, pushing down on the detent and rotating to the desired position. The gas regulator has three settings: a "slow" cyclic rate of about 700 rounds/min, produced when the narrowest indicator notch is set over the detent; a middle position with an intermediate rate of 830 rounds/min and a third "fouled" position that delivers the largest quantity of propellant gas to

1112-631: A design derived from the original Hollywood prototypes of 1956, and designated the AR-10A. Unable to produce either rifle in quantity, ArmaLite licensed both designs to Colt in early 1959. That same year, ArmaLite moved its corporate offices and engineering and production shop to new premises at 118 East 16th Street in Costa Mesa, California. Frustrated by what it perceived as unnecessary production delays at AI and poor AR-10 sales, Fairchild decided not to renew Artillerie-Inrichtingen's license to produce

1251-651: A five-year manufacturing license for the AR-10 to the Dutch arms manufacturer Artillerie-Inrichtingen (AI). Converting the AR-10 engineering drawings to metric, AI found the Hollywood version of the AR-10 deficient in many respects and made many significant design and engineering changes in the AR-10 that continued throughout the production run in the Netherlands. Firearms historians have separated AR-10 production under

1390-558: A forward pistol grip, as was added on the E3 variant. The M60E2 is used on armored fighting vehicles , such as the M48A5, later M60 Patton tanks and the K1 Type 88 . It lacks many of the external components of the standard M60, including stock and grips. The M60E2 was electrically fired, but had a manual trigger as a backup, as well as a metal loop at the back for charging . The gas tube below

1529-555: A hold-over in concept from the M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle . It may also be fired from the integral bipod, M122 tripod , and some other mounts. M60 ammunition comes in a cardboard box containing a cloth bandolier of 100 pre-linked rounds. The M60 uses the M13 ammunition link, a change from the older M1 link system with which it was not compatible. The cloth bandolier is reinforced to allow it to be hung from

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1668-432: A jam that required a cleaning rod to be rammed down the barrel to extract the torn cartridge, a potentially deadly procedure while under fire in combat. The barrel latch mechanism (a swinging lever) could catch on the gunner's equipment and accidentally unlatch, causing the barrel to fall out of the gun. On new M60s, the lever was replaced with a push button mechanism that was less likely to be accidentally released, but few of

1807-587: A modified AR-180 named the AR-180B (discontinued in 2009). In the mid-2000s, ArmaLite announced that it was introducing a handgun line including the AR-24 and AR-26 (both pistols also discontinued). In 2013, Westrom sold ArmaLite, Inc. to Strategic Armory Corps , owner of AWC Silencers , Surgeon Rifles , Nexus Ammo , and McMillan Firearms . Strategic Armory Corps was formed to acquire and combine firearm companies. M60 machine gun The M60 , officially

1946-421: A pulse of strain energy which propels the reciprocating parts forward in counter-recoil with a speed only slightly below that of the original recoil velocity. The plates will function without failure for between 40,000 and 50,000 rounds (depending upon the type of ammunition used and cyclic rates employed). This feature was designed to extend the weapon's service life. In the belt-fed configuration, belt movement

2085-521: A rifle, carbine or various machine gun configurations by simply fitting the appropriate parts to the basic assembly. Stoner managed to solicit the help of Howard Carson, in charge of Cadillac Gage's West Coast plant in Costa Mesa , California (where Armalite was also located), in convincing the company's president, Russell Baker, of the feasibility and commercial potential of his new weapons system. Russell obliged and Cadillac Gage (a subsidiary of

2224-406: A small arms engineering concern founded by George Sullivan, the patent counsel for Lockheed Corporation , and funded by Fairchild Engine and Airplane Corporation . After leasing a small machine shop at 6567 Santa Monica Boulevard in Hollywood, California, Sullivan hired several employees and began work on a prototype for a lightweight survival rifle for use by downed aircrew. On October 1, 1954,

2363-490: A small-caliber version of the AR-10 to meet a requirement for the U.S. Air Force. Using the Hollywood-produced AR-10, the prototype was downsized in dimensions to accept the .223 Remington (5.56 mm) cartridge. This resulted in the ArmaLite AR-15 , designed by Eugene Stoner, Jim Sullivan , and Bob Fremont , and chambered in 5.56 mm caliber. ArmaLite also re-introduced the AR-10, this time using

2502-412: A spare barrel and extra ammunition and reloads and spots targets for the gunner. The ammunition bearer carries additional ammunition and the tripod with associated traversing and elevation mechanism, if issued, and fetches more ammunition as needed during firing. The M60 can be accurately fired at short ranges from the shoulder thanks to its design. This was an initial requirement for the design and

2641-468: A talented small arms inventor, whom Sullivan immediately hired to be ArmaLite's chief design engineer. Stoner was a Marine in World War II and an expert with small arms. Since the early 1950s, he had worked various jobs while building gun prototypes in his spare time. At the time, ArmaLite Inc. was a small organization. As late as 1956, it had only nine employees, including Stoner. With Stoner as

2780-400: A two-position fire selector with separate safety, ejection port dust covers and modifications to the belt feed mechanism. The upgrades resulted in the improved Stoner 63A , which began production in 1966. Only about 2,000 examples of the initial version were manufactured before the transition to the model 63A. XM207 upgrades From 1969 to 1971 Cadillac Gage Co initiated a program to upgrade

2919-474: Is fluted to reduce weight and enhance the barrel's cooling characteristics. This version was sometimes used by the Navy SEALS but was never fully reliable as the gas port is near the muzzle and as soon as the bullet leaves the barrel, gas pressures drop drastically leaving the operating system little to no power reserve. The gas port was drilled larger in an attempt to alleviate this problem; however this had

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3058-551: Is a problem for all weapons in this caliber using this tracer round. At the time of the M60's development, other designs, like the Belgian FN MAG and the German Rheinmetall MG 3 (MG42 derivative), had yet to enter production. In Army tests, the M60 proved fairly effective, but in the jungles of Southeast Asia, it displayed a number of troubling issues. A common complaint was the weapon's weight; though

3197-474: Is a variant of the standard M60 for aircraft mounting, such as in helicopter armament subsystems . It lacks things like the bipod, pistol grip, and iron sights . The main difference between the standard M60 and the "C" variant is the electronic control system and the hydraulic swivel system used. It could be fired from the cockpit by the pilot or co-pilot. It is an electronically controlled, hydraulic-powered, air-cooled, gas-operated, belt-fed weapon system. It used

3336-411: Is also attached to the trigger housing. The checkered grip is flared at the bottom to prevent the shooter's hand from sliding off and has an internal storage compartment sealed by a hinged cover with a spring-loaded hatch. The hooked, non-reciprocating steel charging handle is typically mounted on the right side of the receiver. It has 24 lightening holes and engages a projection on the piston to draw

3475-464: Is an American small arms engineering company, formed in the early 1950s, in Hollywood, California . Many of its products, as conceived by chief designer Eugene Stoner , relied on unique foam-filled fiberglass butt/stock furniture, and a composite barrel using a steel liner inside an aluminum sleeve, including the iconic AR-15 / M16 family. While the original ArmaLite ceased business in the 1980s,

3614-553: Is commonly used in larger rifles, such as the M14 . It is generally used as a crew-served weapon and operated by a team of two or three individuals. The team consists of the gunner, the assistant gunner (AG), and the ammunition bearer. The gun's weight and the amount of ammunition it can consume when fired make it difficult for a single soldier to carry and operate. The gunner carries the weapon and between 200 to 1,000 rounds of ammunition depending on strength and stamina. The assistant carries

3753-608: Is covered under U.S. patent 3,198,076 . On March 4, 1963, the Department of Defense's Advanced Research Projects Agency made the first purchase of the Stoner 63, ordering 25 units in various configurations. In August and September 1963, the Stoner 63 was sent to the Marines Corps Landing Force Development Center at Quantico for evaluation, where it made a positive impression with its light weight and high ammunition capacity;

3892-418: Is on the right side when the receiver is inverted and the weapon is configured as a rifle or carbine and on the left side when in the various machine gun roles. The various components are phosphate finished and then coated with a black baked enamel finish called Endurion. Early examples of the Stoner 63 were delivered with all wood furniture, however these were soon replaced with black polycarbonate parts with

4031-405: Is produced by a roller riding in the channeled feed arm and is actuated by the reciprocating movement of the bolt. The spring-loaded feed arm is protected by a hinged top cover and is pivoted at its rear end. As the bolt travels back, the front end of the feed arm moves across the feed tray and operates a lever attached to a single set of spring-loaded pawls. These pawls move a cartridge and link over

4170-548: Is used in the FG 42 in semi-automatic mode even though it is actually unnecessary in the M60, which operates only in full automatic mode. The M60's gas operation is unique, and drew on technical advances of the period, particularly the White "gas expansion and cutoff" principle also exploited by the M14 rifle. The M60's gas system was simpler than other gas systems and easier to clean. The M60

4309-793: The AR Series 100 were approved for production. Production plans for the AR Series 100 would fail to push through as Elisco would dissolve and liquidate its assets in the late 1980s. After passing through a series of owners, Mark Westrom, a former U.S. Army ordnance officer and inventor of a 7.62 NATO sniper rifle based on Eugene Stoner's design concepts, purchased the ArmaLite brand name and rampant lion logo in 1996. The company resumed business as ArmaLite Inc. ArmaLite produced some AR-15 and AR-10-based rifles, as well as .50 BMG rifles (the AR-50 ), and

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4448-566: The ArmaLite AR-18 (also 5.56 mm). These were not enough to sustain the company, and it ceased operations in the early 1980s. The design rights and name were purchased in 1996 by Mark Westrom, who re-launched the company ArmaLite, Inc., headquartered in Geneseo, Illinois . In 2013, Westrom sold ArmaLite, Inc. to Strategic Armory Corps, which owns AWC Silencers, Surgeon Rifles, Nexus Ammo, and McMillan Firearms. Strategic Armory Corps

4587-667: The M14 , and the T-48, a version of the famous Belgian FN FAL rifle. The T-44 and the T-48 were several years more advanced than the AR-10 in development and trial testing; the T-44 had the additional advantage of being an in-house Springfield Armory design. The Army eventually selected the T-44 over both the AR-10 and the T-48. ArmaLite continued to market the AR-10 based on a limited production of rifles at its Hollywood facility. These limited-production, virtually hand-built rifles are "Hollywood" model AR-10s. In 1957, Fairchild/ArmaLite sold

4726-791: The M2 , M6 , and M16 armament subsystems and was mounted on the OH-13 Sioux , the OH-23 Raven , the UH-1B Huey , and comprised the standard fixed armament of the OV-10 Bronco . M60C production was on the order of several hundred. It was also used in the XM19 gun pod . The M60D is a mounted variant of the standard M60. It can be mounted on boats, vehicles and as a pintle-mounted door gun in helicopters. When used in aircraft, it differs from

4865-665: The M60E1 (an improved variant that did not enter production), the M60E2 (a variant designed to be used from fixed mounts as a co-axial for armored vehicles or in helicopter armament systems), the M60E3 (a lightweight variant) and the M60E4 (another improved variant, designated as the Mk 43 Mod 0 by the U.S. Navy ). The M60C was adopted for use on fixed mounts on aircraft. It was characterized by

5004-510: The MG 42 with a single pawl), quick barrel replacement, a pistol grip and stock , and a semi bullpup design similar to the FG 42 (much of the action occupies the weapon's stock). The M60's operating system of an operating rod turning a rotating bolt was inspired by the FG 42, which was based on the much earlier Lewis Gun . The M60 was even constructed with a secondary assisting firing pin spring that

5143-465: The Machine Gun, Caliber 7.62 mm, M60 , is a family of American general-purpose machine guns firing 7.62×51mm NATO cartridges from a disintegrating belt of M13 links . There are several types of ammunition approved for use in the M60, including ball , tracer , and armor-piercing rounds. It was adopted in 1957 and issued to units beginning in 1959. It has served with every branch of

5282-482: The U.S. military and still serves with the armed forces of other nations. Its manufacture and continued upgrade for military and commercial purchase continues into the 21st century, although it has been replaced or supplemented in most roles by other designs, most notably the M240 machine gun in U.S. service. The M60 is a belt-fed machine gun that fires the 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge (similar to .308 Winchester ), which

5421-473: The 1960s and 1970s. Nicknamed the "Free Gun" by aircrew door gunners, it was not mounted, just held, and was soon replaced by the pintle-mounted M60D. The 'B' model differed most noticeably in that it had no bipod and featured a different rear stock than the regular model. It still had a pistol grip (as opposed to spade grips). The M60B's advantage over pintle-mounted variants was that it had a wider and much less restricted field of fire. An unusual arrangement of

5560-588: The 1980s, the Army partially replaced the M60 by the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon within infantry squads. Their new doctrine reduced the general-purpose machine gun role in favor of portability and a greater volume of fire. However, many disliked the M249, which was less reliable, accurate, and long-ranged, and fired a 5.56 mm round that was lighter than the M60's 7.62 mm round. The M60

5699-507: The 21st century by U.S. Navy SEALs . It was the main 7.62 mm machine gun used by some U.S. special operations forces to the late 1990s. As of 2005 it was used by the U.S. Coast Guard , U.S. Navy, and some reserve units. In 2015, the Danish Army adopted an M60E6 variant from U.S. Ordnance to replace their aging MG3s in infantry roles. The M60 is a gas-operated , air-cooled , belt-fed, automatic machine gun that fires from

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5838-642: The AI license into three identifiable versions of the AR-10: the "Sudanese" model, the "Transitional", and the "Portuguese" model AR-10. The Sudanese version derives its name from its sale to the government of Sudan , which purchased approximately 2,500 AR-10 rifles, while the Transitional model incorporated additional design changes based on experience with the Sudanese model in the field. The final AI-produced AR-10,

5977-436: The AR-10. In 1962, disappointed with ArmaLite's meager profits, primarily derived from licensing fees, Fairchild dissolved its association with ArmaLite. With the AR-10 and AR-15 designs sold to Colt, ArmaLite was left without a viable major infantry arm to market to potential manufacturers and end users. ArmaLite developed a series of less expensive new rifle designs in 7.62 mm and 5.56 mm. The 7.62 mm NATO rifle

6116-688: The AR-15. The weapon system using the smaller cartridge was known as the Stoner 63. The first models were produced in February 1963. The Costa Mesa facility produced 234 Stoner 63s, when production was then moved in September 1964 to the Cadillac Gage plant in Warren , Michigan . With the change in manufacturing plants, polycarbonate plastic was used for the stocks and grips instead of wood. The weapon

6255-711: The AR-180. However, the sales success of the AR-15 worldwide to the U.S. military and other nations proved the undoing of the AR-18, and the latter failed to garner substantial orders. In response to criticism of the rifle's performance in trials by the military in the United States and Great Britain, ArmaLite made a few minor improvements to the original design but did little else. ArmaLite manufactured some AR-18 and AR-180 rifles at its Costa Mesa facility and later licensed production to Howa Machinery Co. in Japan. However, Japan prohibited

6394-567: The AR-5, could be disassembled, and the components stored in the buttstock. Primarily made of alloys, the AR-7 would float, whether assembled or stored, due to the design of the buttstock, filled with plastic foam. Several companies have produced the AR-7 and derivative models since their introduction in the late 1950s, including Henry Repeating Arms , of Bayonne, New Jersey. ArmaLite spent most of its time and engineering effort in 1955 and 1956 developing

6533-728: The Ex-Cell-O Corporation) established a small arms development branch in Costa Mesa. Stoner then recruited his two principal aides at Armalite: Robert Fremont and James L. Sullivan (who would later design the Ultimax 100 light machine gun for the Chartered Industries of Singapore ). The first working prototype was chambered in 7.62×51mm NATO and completed in 1962. It was designated the Stoner M69W (for no other reason than when turned upside down it reads

6672-496: The M122, was selected over it. The M122 was replaced in the 2000s (decade) by a new mount, in time for the M60 to also be used with it. The M60 family of weapons are capable of firing standard NATO rounds of the appropriate caliber. Most common in U.S. use are M61 armor-piercing , M62 tracer , and M80 Ball. For training purposes, M63 Dummy and M82 blanks are used. Newer tungsten -cored M993 Armor-piercing rounds may also be fired in

6811-539: The M16 front sight). The Stoner 63/63A is supplied with several accessories, including: a blank-firing attachment (BFA), winter trigger guard, asbestos -lined spare barrel bag, cleaning kit, 40 mm grenade launcher , several types of slings and a wide range of belt box and magazine pouches. The Stoner 63/63A used three different types of bayonets : the standard U.S. M7 , the KCB 70, developed specifically for this rifle by

6950-457: The M60 consists of sequences of four ball (M80) cartridges and one tracer (M62) in belts of 100 rounds. The four-to-one ratio theoretically allows the gunner to accurately "walk" the fire into the enemy. Tracer bullets do not fly quite the same trajectory as ball, and the weapon's sights must be used for accurate fire—particularly at ranges in excess of 800 meters, where 7.62×51mm NATO tracer bullets usually burn out and are no longer visible. This

7089-414: The M60 was among the lightest 7.62 mm machine guns of the era, the weapon was poorly balanced and thus awkward to carry for long periods. The single most common complaint was that the M60 was unreliable in extreme conditions and prone to jamming and other malfunctions during heavy firing, especially when it was dirty. Sometimes spent casings would fail to extract and stay stuck inside the chamber, forcing

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7228-516: The M60's 846 MRBS and 1,669 MRBF. As a result, the M240 was declared the winner and accepted into infantry service. Although the M60 was lighter, had better balance, was more controllable, and there were many in the inventory, it did not work reliably enough. Starting with Ranger battalions, the U.S. Army began adopting and modifying M240 variants to replace their remaining M60s in the early 1990s. The M60, though largely phased out, continued to be used in

7367-526: The M60, a spare barrel, or both. The up-gunned M113 armored personnel carrier added two M60 gunners beside the main .50-caliber machine gun while the Patrol Boat, River had one in addition to two .50-cal mounts. The M60 received the nickname "The Pig" due to its bulky size and appetite for ammunition. Vietnam's tropical climate harshly affected weapons, and the M60 was no exception. Its light weight led to it being easily damaged and critical parts like

7506-431: The M60, though they did not enter the inventory until after the M60 was withdrawn from service in active-duty units. When firing blanks, the M13 or M13A1 blank-firing adaptor (BFA) is necessary in order to produce enough gas pressure to cycle the weapon with blanks. All ammunition must be fixed in a NATO standard M13 disintegrating metallic split-link belt to feed into the weapon. The standard combat ammunition mix for

7645-481: The M60B was done by HA(L)-3 squadron aircrew by removing the sights, shortening the barrel inline to the gas block, removing the stock to shorten the receiver as the shorter buffer spring increased the rate of fire, an improvised side mounted grip was installed on the handguard. This arrangement allowed the door gunners easier movement of the weapon as well as firing sideways improved the belt feed performance. The M60C

7784-579: The M60C in that it is not controlled by the pilot—rather, it is mounted in a door and operated by a member of the crew. Like the rest of the M60 family, it is an air-cooled, gas-operated, belt-fed weapon. Unlike other models, however, the M60D normally has spade grips and an aircraft ring-type sight or similar, as well as an improved ammunition feed system. A canvas bag is also affixed to the gun to capture ejected casings and links, preventing them from being sucked into

7923-591: The M60D has been primarily replaced by the M240H. The M60D is still manufactured by U.S. Ordnance and still used on the SH-60 Seahawk . The M60E3 was fielded c. 1986 in an attempt to remedy problems with earlier versions of the M60 for infantry use. It is a lightweight, "improved" variant intended to reduce the load carried by the gunner. Unlike its predecessors, the M60E3 has several updated modern features. It has

8062-677: The Marines favored the rifle and light machine gun configurations. Trials were performed by the Army Materiel Command (responsible for logistical support for the Marine Corps) at their own test facilities. Many bugs affected the outcome of the Army trials of the gun: the ammunition requirements proposed were unrealistic and the weapon was expected to perform with an extremely wide range of port pressures, leaving very little power reserve with some ammunition types. For instance,

8201-559: The Netherlands, around 315 were modified and improved by NWM De Kruithoorn N.V. in various configurations for possible use in the Dutch Armed Forces as the Stoner 63A1 consisting of 6 variants One of the main modifications was an MP40 (later AK47) type underfolding and later side folding stock, a carbine, an assault rifle, heavy barrel assault rifle, belt fed machine gun, commando machine gun and fixed machine gun. The Stoner 63A1

8340-807: The Portuguese, was a product-improved variant sold to the Portuguese Air Force for use by paratroopers. While AR-10 production at AI dwarfed that of ArmaLite's Hollywood shop, it was still limited, as sales to foreign armies proved elusive. Guatemala , Burma , Italy , Cuba , Sudan and Portugal all purchased AR-10 rifles for limited issue to their military forces, resulting in a total production of less than 10,000 AR-10 rifles in four years. ArmaLite never adopted AI's suggested design changes and product improvements. Disappointed with AR-10 sales, Fairchild ArmaLite decided to terminate its association with AI and instead concentrate on producing

8479-639: The Rifle, Caliber 5.56 mm, M16 . By the 1980s, it had also been adopted by the militaries of many US allies, especially within NATO countries. The M16 remained the primary combat rifle of the US military until 2016. Furthermore, its replacements have often been derivatives of the M16 (e.g. the M4 carbine ), or other ArmaLite and/or Eugene Stoner designs (e.g. M27–IAR ). ArmaLite had other brushes with success, especially with

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8618-402: The Rifle, Carbine and Automatic Rifle models are fabricated from steel and weigh 8 oz (230 g) unloaded. In an effort to reduce weight, aluminum magazines were later developed cutting the weight down to 4 oz (110 g). Standard magazines have a 30-round cartridge capacity but a 20-round magazine was also offered. Barrel interchangeability is one of the main features that provides

8757-473: The Rifle/Carbine models). When fired, propellant gases from the ignited cartridge following the projectile down the bore are vented through a gas port into a gas cylinder where they drive the piston and bolt carrier rearward. There is about 0.2 in (5.1 mm) of uninterrupted free travel calculated to permit the gas build-up in the bore to drop to a safe level before the carrier's cam slot rotates

8896-418: The Rifle/Carbine variants and the left-hand feed LMG with a 150-round drum-type belt container), a full dust cover (used with the top-feeding Automatic Rifle or vertically mounted ammo box on any belt-fed system) or a half size dust cover (used with the right-hand-feed bottom box carrier). The next two pins retain the timer and hammer, both of which are absent in the open bolt configurations. The final pin acts as

9035-458: The Stoner 63 bipod will not work with the later 63A pattern guns as the gas tube is of a larger diameter. The sight arrangement on the Stoner 63/63A differs amongst the various configurations. On the belt-fed LMGs, the rear sights are mounted on the top cover. These consist of a folding leaf aperture elevation scale graduated in 100 m increments from 200 to 1,000 m. The rear sight can also be corrected for windage in ¼- mil increments. When

9174-499: The Stoner 63 light machine gun due to Marine Corps interest. They were given one last chance to make design improvements and have a final test by the Army Materiel Command. Several changes were made to the weapon, soon to be designated "XM207 Light Machine Gun". Misfires, high cyclic rates, jams and link separations were among the issues to be resolved. The 63A used a stack of Belleville spring washers to absorb some of

9313-421: The Stoner 63 rifle its outstanding versatility. There are 5 barrel options available for the system: the Rifle, Carbine, Automatic Rifle (AR) and two types of machine gun barrels, a standard heavy barrel and a short Commando tube. The standard machine gun and AR barrels are 20 in (508.0 mm) in length (not including the flash suppressor ). The Commando barrel has a length of 15.7 in (398.8 mm) and

9452-400: The Stoner 63 system is the receiver which is a rectangular sheet metal pressing. The gas cylinder, support structures, brackets, lugs and other devices are welded in place. The front portion carries the piston and barrel and is perforated to reduce weight and improve air circulation around the barrel and gas cylinder. The rear segment holds the piston extension and bolt group. The ejection port

9591-463: The Stoner 63A system was field tested by Company L (Lima Company), 3rd Battalion , 1st Marine Regiment , 1st Marine Division . Riflemen were issued the weapon in the Rifle configuration (in both 63 and 63A variants, designated XM22 and XM22E1 respectively), while officers and certain other personnel received the Carbine ( XM23 ). The Automatic Rifle configuration was deployed on a limited basis in

9730-490: The US military. The following year, ArmaLite also competed for the contract for a new main US combat rifle, in the NATO standard 7.62 mm caliber, with its AR-10 . While that bid was unsuccessful, the rifle attracted the attention of both Colt and the Dutch company Artillerie-Inrichtingen , both of which acquired licenses to manufacture the AR-10. In 1962, Fairchild relinquished its interest in ArmaLite, which continued as an independent company. The AR-15 , chambered for

9869-440: The West German company Eickhorn-Solingen together with NWM and a rare bayonet made by the Swiss industrial conglomerate SIG . The KCB 70 features a 7-inch (180 mm) long Bowie blade with a clip-point and an integrated wire-cutter, it was inspired by Soviet bayonets for the AKM . A highly successful multi-purpose tool, it evolved into the KCB 77, a modular design that was adapted to many different assault rifles. The Stoner 63

10008-399: The abutments in the barrel socket. Incorporated into the bolt carrier/piston group is an anti-bounce device, consisting of a 4 in (101.6 mm) carbide rod that rides within the piston extension's hollow interior and moves back and forth during the recoil and counter-recoil cycles, reducing bolt bounce and preventing the possibility of firing out of battery during closed bolt firing (in

10147-430: The barrel forward (with the bolt retracted). The chamber portion of the barrel rests on a U-shaped barrel bracket attached to the gas cylinder. The barrel is firmly locked in position by means of a spring-loaded latch (with two nested coil springs) which drives a steel pin into a hole in the barrel socket. All barrels have a gas block to which a bayonet lug and front sight assembly are mounted. The barrels are equipped with

10286-473: The barrel was extended to the full length of the weapon to vent the gas outside the vehicle. This version achieved a mean time between failures of 1,669 during testing in the 1970s. The M60E2 is used on the South Korea's K1 Type 88 tank as a co-axial weapon , along with an M60D on a pintle mount . The M60B was a short-lived variant designed to be fired from helicopters, with limited deployment made in

10425-743: The basis for the current British small arms family, the SA80 , which came from the XL65 , essentially an AR-18 in bullpup configuration. Other designs, such as the Singapore SAR-80 and German G36 , are based upon the AR-18. A derivative of the AR-16 was the AR-100 series. It came in four variants: the closed-bolt AR-101 rifle and AR-102 carbine, and the open-bolt fired AR-103 carbine and AR-104 light machine gun with ejecting magazines. ArmaLite intended

10564-521: The belt-fed role, the weapon would feed from a disintegrating metallic linked belt marked "S-63 BRW" which is a scaled-down version of the U.S. M13 link developed for the M60 GPMG . The Stoner 63/63A will not work reliably with the later M27 link developed for the M249 SAW. The belt is normally contained in a 150-round plastic ribbed container that has a tab allowing it to be clipped on to the side of

10703-424: The bolt and operating rod wore out quickly. Even so, soldiers appreciated the gun's handling, mechanical simplicity, and effective operation from a variety of firing positions. United States Navy SEALs used M60s with shorter barrels and no front sights to reduce weight. Some SEALs had feed chutes from backpacks to have a belt of hundreds of rounds ready to fire without needing to reload. Many incidents demonstrated

10842-413: The bolt counter-clockwise to unlock. The locking lugs have no pitch therefore no primary extraction occurs during the unlocking sequence. A deeply seated spring-loaded claw extractor in the bolt head extracts the spent cartridge casing from the chamber and a spring-powered ejector fixed to the front feed mechanism trigger housing ejects the casing. The bolt carrier continues to the rear and compresses

10981-510: The brand was revived in 1996, by Mark Westrom. Originating as the light firearms division of Fairchild Engine and Airplane Corporation , ArmaLite was formally incorporated in 1954. Stoner's first design, the AR-1 Parasniper (dating from 1952), was relatively unsuccessful. However, in 1956, when ArmaLite competed in a contest for an aircrew survival rifle, its AR-5 and AR-7 designs were put into production and adopted by elements of

11120-444: The captive recoil spring on its guide rod. The Stoner 63 has a unique buffering system contained within the bolt carrier. In front of the carrier cap are a steel shim and a set of 27 saucer-shaped Belleville washers oriented in opposing sets of three, which absorb energy from the piston stroke by deforming into a flat plate when the bolt carrier strikes the receiver's end cap. When the plates return to their original shape they release

11259-535: The chief design engineer, ArmaLite quickly released several innovative rifle ideas. The first ArmaLite concept to be adopted for production was the AR-5 , a survival rifle chambered for the .22 Hornet cartridge. The AR-5 was adopted by the U.S. Air Force as the MA-1 Survival Rifle . A civilian survival weapon, the AR-7, was later introduced, chambered in .22 Long Rifle . The semi-automatic AR-7, like

11398-510: The company was incorporated as the ArmaLite Corporation, becoming a subsidiary of Fairchild. With its limited capital and tiny machine shop, ArmaLite was never intended to be an arms manufacturer but was instead focused on producing small arms concepts and designs to be sold or licensed to other manufacturers. While testing the prototype of ArmaLite's survival rifle design at a local shooting range, Sullivan met Eugene Stoner ,

11537-518: The competition was the T161E3. The model was type-classified in 1957 and entered production. It saw its first heavy use in the 1960s. The basic design has undergone some smaller changes and has been produced by different manufacturers. The M60E1 was the first major variant of the original M60. It did not go into full-scale production, though many of its features were included in the later E3 and E4 variants. Some of its features were also incorporated into

11676-493: The current version of the feed tray. Historically, units in Vietnam used B3A cans from C-rations packs locked into the ammunition box attachment system to roll the ammunition belts over for a straighter and smoother feed to the loading port to enhance reliability of feed. The later models changed the ammunition box attachment point and made this adaptation unnecessary. The M60 has been adopted by various military agencies around

11815-404: The effect of merely accelerating the piston's initial displacement. The issue was never truly resolved. The Rifle, Carbine and AR barrels have no gas valves as they are exclusively used in magazine-fed configurations and do not require the energy surplus levels of belt-fed mechanisms. The standard machine gun barrel has a manually adjustable gas regulator that can be operated by inserting the nose of

11954-427: The effectiveness of the M60 in combat. In 1966, Medal of Honor recipient Lance Corporal Richard Pittman , a Marine with 1/5 (1st Battalion/5th Marine Regiment), used the M60 to engage superior elements of the 324th North Vietnamese Army (NVA) Division, defeating two enemy machine gun positions and suppressing enemies in his immediate vicinity, then advancing another 50 meters into the face of more attacking NVA. In

12093-422: The exception of the handguard, which remained wood, but was painted black. The Stoner 63 bipod is a non-locking type that attaches to the gas tube; it does not pivot and has a limited height adjustment feature. The Stoner 63A bipod is extensively perforated with lightening holes and can be locked in either the stowed or deployed positions. It too does not pivot but is compatible with the earlier Stoner 63, whereas

12232-483: The existing M60 production. This mainly changed how the gas cylinder, the barrel, and the bipod were connected in the first iteration. The M60 and the M60E1 are two different versions. Opinions vary on whether the M60E1 was officially adopted. One of the more noticeable changes on the M60E1 is that the bipod attachment point was moved to the gas tube rather than the barrel (like on the later M60E3). It did not, however, have

12371-420: The feed tray's stop pawl from where they are positioned onto the slotted feed path and held firmly in place by a spring-powered steel plate in the top cover. The cartridge is then pushed out of its link and the empty link is discarded through the link ejection port which is held closed by a spring-loaded dust cover. The Stoner 63/63A is chambered for the now-standard 5.56×45mm intermediate rifle cartridge. When in

12510-456: The felt recoil. The large grip also allowed the weapon to be conveniently carried at the hip. The gun can be stripped using a live round of ammunition as a tool. The M60 is often used with its own integrated bipod or with the M122 tripod . The M60 is considered effective up to 1,100 meters when firing at an area target and mounted on a tripod ; up to 800 meters when firing at an area target using

12649-401: The firing load evenly around the bolt head and barrel socket, reducing stress and increasing the longevity of these critical components. Attached to the piston extension is the bolt carrier which is equipped with a curved cam track that guides the bolt's cam pin (retained by the firing pin ) and rotates the bolt 22.5° during the movement of the piston to either lock or unlock the bolt from behind

12788-465: The forward velocity of the carrier. With the "rate regulator" installed the cyclic rate of the weapon was limited to about 800 rpm. This resolved the mechanical malfunctions that occurred above 1,000 rpm. In combination with the "rate regulator" changes were made to the belt feed system for better reliability. Another issue was low gas pressure when firing tracer rounds, causing failures to cycle. The addition of an expandable steel sealing ring in

12927-425: The gas chamber kept the external gas leaks to a minimum, retaining enough gas pressure to cycle the action reliably. The next issue was the polycarbonate buttstock being unable to withstand the 5,000+ pound recoil force of firing anti-tank grenades. With the weapon's tight weight restriction, using a heavier metal buttstock was not an option. Several ribbed designs were evaluated, but none were successful. The solution

13066-441: The integral bipod ; up to 600 meters when firing at a point target; and up to 200 meters when firing at a moving point target. United States Marine Corps doctrine holds that the M60 and other weapons in its class are capable of suppressive fire on area targets out to 1,500 meters if the gunner is sufficiently skilled. Originally, an experimental M91 tripod was developed for the M60, but an updated M2 tripod design, which became

13205-463: The left-hand feed tray. Early ammunition boxes were olive drab in color and manufactured at Costa Mesa, this later changed to a black-colored plastic container made in Warren, Michigan. Stoner 63A boxes were also black but had a reduced capacity of 100 rounds as the larger container would unbalance the rifle. These can either be attached to the left-hand feed tray or held in a bottom box carrier when using

13344-536: The lightweight 55- grain M193 projectile, which was standard at the time. At the Army's request, Cadillac Gage submitted for testing rifles, carbines, and light machine guns, with 1:9-inch (230 mm) twist barrels, respectively designated XM22E2, XM23E2, and XM207E2. The different twist was to test the 68-grain XM287 and XM288 bullets. After NWM obtained a license to produce the Stoner 63A, some barrels were manufactured with

13483-601: The new, lightweight, high velocity 5.56 mm round, included features of Stoner's previous designs. Under financial pressure, ArmaLite sold the entire rights to the AR-15 design to Colt, which quickly secured significant US military and law enforcement contracts for the weapon, beginning with the USAF Security Forces (1962). A variant of the Colt product was adopted as the US Army's main combat rifle, from 1964, as

13622-443: The older M60s were modified due to expense, with many of the extant weapons still bearing them. The grip/trigger housing assembly is held in place with a rather fragile leaf spring clip instead of the captive pins used in other designs. The spring clip has been known to be prone to breakage since the first trials at Aberdeen Proving Ground. Duct tape and cable ties have been seen on M60s in the field, placed there by their crews in case

13761-412: The open-bolt position and is chambered in 7.62×51mm NATO. It has a cyclic rate of fire of around 500–650 rounds per minute (RPM). Ammunition is usually fed into the weapon from a 100 or 250-round disintegrating, metallic split-link belt. The design drew on many common concepts in firearms manufacture of the period, such as stamped sheet metal construction, belt feed (a modified mechanism for belt feed from

13900-404: The overall length of the weapon. As with all such weapons, it can be fired from the shoulder, hip, or underarm position. However, to achieve the maximum effective range, it is recommended that a bipod-steadied position or a tripod-mounted position be used, and the gun fired in bursts of 3–5 rounds. The weapon is heavy and difficult to aim when firing without support, though the weight helps reduce

14039-417: The piston and bolt group to the rear (cocked) position. The handle should then be pushed back forward allowing a flat-spring latch riveted to the front end to capture a slotted plate welded to the front of the receiver. With the right-hand feed mechanism with underslung box carrier installed the handle is awkward to operate, so a special slotted forearm with a bottom cocking handle was developed. The nucleus of

14178-492: The primary sight is folded down, a battle sight aperture with a diameter of 0.09 in (2.29 mm) is exposed. The Rifle and Carbine versions have simple flip-type apertures with settings for 0–300 and 300–500 m contained between large perforated protective ears. The sights are adjustable in both windage and elevation in 1 MOA increments. All variants share the same front sight assembly—a semi-shrouded round threaded post adjustable for windage and elevation zero (similar to

14317-549: The prototypes for what would become the ArmaLite AR-10 . Based on Stoner's fourth prototype, Springfield Armory tested two hand-built production AR-10s in late 1956 and again in 1957 as a possible replacement to the venerable yet outdated M1 Garand . The untested AR-10 faced competition from the two other significant rifle designs, the Springfield Armory T-44 , an updated M1 Garand design that became

14456-474: The proven German MG 42 or the still-unproven FN MAG, was largely due to Congressional requirements that preference be given to the designs of U.S. arms manufacturers primarily to avoid licensing fees, but also to support U.S. firms. Many U.S. units used the M60 during the Vietnam War as a squad automatic weapon . Every soldier in the rifle squad would carry an additional 200 linked rounds of ammunition for

14595-518: The receiver rather than the barrel. The weapon still was not durable and its performance was reduced. In the early 1990s, Saco Defense addressed Navy Special Warfare requirements to develop a retrofit parts package for the machine gun. Called the M60E4, it was more reliable and durable than the M60E3, had a "duckbill" flash suppressor, and a shorter and thicker positive lock gas cylinder extension. NAVSPECWAR units began to receive it in late 1994, when it

14734-639: The remaining ArmaLite employees acquired the remaining inventory of parts for the AR-17 and AR-18. Elisco had planned to pitch the AR-18 as a replacement for the license-produced M16A1 then in service with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and such made several modifications to the design. Twenty (20) prototypes of four types (AR 101, AR 102, AR 103, AR 104) were built and underwent testing and evaluation. About 3,500 of these rifles, collectively designated

14873-430: The right-hand feed mechanism. Several drum-type belt carriers were designed for the left-hand feed system, with a 150-round drum container being the most popular and used frequently by SEALS in Vietnam. A 250-round drum carrier was also developed by NAWS China Lake , but this proved too heavy and cumbersome. SEALS would also resort to converting RPD belt carriers for use with their Stoners. The detachable magazines used in

15012-1041: The rotor blades or into an engine intake. The M60D was equipped on the UH-1B Huey (using the M23, XM29, M59, and the Sagami mounts), the CH-47 Chinook (using the M24 and M41 mounts) in both door and ramp locations, the ACH-47A "Guns-A-Go-Go" variant of the Chinook (using the XM32 and XM33 mounts), and on the UH-60 Black Hawk (using the M144 mount). The M60D is also used by the British on Royal Air Force Chinooks. In US service,

15151-796: The sale of military-style arms to combative nations. With the United States involved in the Vietnam War, production at the Howa plant was limited. ArmaLite then licensed production to Sterling Armaments in Dagenham, Great Britain. Sales remained modest. Today, the AR-180 is best known for its use by the Provisional Irish Republican Army in Ireland, who received small quantities of the rifle from black market sources. The AR-18 gas system and rotating bolt mechanism did serve as

15290-529: The same type. The most recent descendant of this line is the Stoner LMG produced by Knight's Armament Company , which has significant changes from the older Stoner 63, being based on Stoner's later model 86. Robinson Armament Co. also produced the semi-automatic M96 Expeditionary Weapon System which, though technically different, was based on the Stoner 63 design, and thus has some of its features and configurations. Although none were manufactured in

15429-420: The same, symbolizing Stoner's vision of a fully invertible receiver). The follow-up design, called the Stoner 62 , also chambered in 7.62×51mm, was intended for mass production. However, the design team decided to focus on the 5.56×45mm small caliber high-velocity cartridge, as it appeared the new round was gaining mainstream military approval. Eugene Stoner had previously worked with the cartridge when he designed

15568-416: The shock and bounce when the firing pin struck the primer. By changing the configuration of the washers, a higher spring rate was achieved, and this was the solution for the bulk of the misfires. The weapon, when cold, would fire at about 650 rounds per minute (rpm). When it was very hot, after several hundred rounds had been fired, the cyclic rate climbed as high as 1,100 rpm. The mechanical functions of

15707-465: The short-recoil principle with aluminum and plastic construction; ArmaLite only produced about 1,200. In 1963, development began on the AR-18 rifle, a "downsized" 5.56 mm AR-16 with a new gas system utilizing a short stroke gas piston instead of the Stoner direct gas impingement system used on the AR-10 and AR-15. Designed by Art Miller, ArmaLite accompanied the AR-18 with a semi-automatic version,

15846-407: The spring clip breaks. The sear in the trigger mechanism gained a reputation for wearing down, and a malfunction could cause the gun to "run away". A second sear notch was eventually added to the operating rod to reduce the chance of this happening. The nomenclature M60 describes either the first adopted variant or, generically, the family of weapons were derived from it. Major variations include

15985-478: The squad automatic role, while Lima's weapons platoon received both the LMG and MMG configurations. In 1967, Dutch firm NWM (Nederlandsche Wapen-en Munitiefabriek) De Kruithoorn N.V. of 's-Hertogenbosch acquired licensing rights to manufacture and sell the weapon worldwide with the exception of the United States, Canada and Mexico. NWM assembled several prototypes but the company failed to secure any export customers and

16124-416: The standard M60 at 23.15 lb (10.5 kg). U.S. Navy SEALs continued to use the "CAR-60" (M60E3) version due to its lighter weight and slower rate of fire, which allows a more effective duration of fire with allowable levels of ammunition carried. The U.S. Air Force Security Forces received the M60E3 from 1988 to 1989. All USAF M60E3s were withdrawn from general issue by 1990, because it did not meet

16263-401: The system, resulting in a rate of fire of 865 rounds/min (the use of this setting should be limited as it induces excessive wear on the operating mechanism). All Stoner 63/63A barrels are gas nitrided and have a quick-detach capability and can be removed in a matter of seconds in field conditions by simply pushing down a latch located on top of the weapon in front of the feed cover and pulling

16402-408: The tracer ammunition used in the Stoner 63 was of such low pressure that it even failed to function reliably in the M16. These factors severely affected the weapon's reliability. After several months of testing, the Stoner 63 system was ultimately deemed to be unacceptable for service use. The Army submitted recommendations for improvements to the design—these included a stainless steel gas cylinder,

16541-408: The trigger's axis shaft; the spring-loaded sear pivots on the selector lever's axis pin. The selector is disconnected when firing from the open bolt and a sliding manual safety installed near the trigger guard disables the trigger when pushed to the rear. The rear portion of the trigger housing serves as a receiver end cap and is used to attach the shoulder stock . The black polycarbonate pistol grip

16680-498: The use of an electric solenoid to operate the trigger and a hydraulic system to charge the weapon. The M60D differed from the base model by employing spade grips, a different sighting system, and lacking a forearm. It was typically employed as a door gun on helicopters or as a pintle-mounted weapon as on the Type 88 K1 tank. There are many smaller variants among each type, between makers of the firearm, and over time. The initial variant

16819-684: The vehicle mount requirements of the Cadillac Gage Ranger and due to overheating problems. The M60E3 did remain in the Air Force as weapons converted back to M60 configuration with the E3 X-stamped via locally installed kits issued from depot. The Air Force cut the barrel change times, sustained fire 100 rounds per minute change barrel every 10 minutes (M60) to five minutes (M60E3), and rapid fire 200 rounds per minute change barrel every five minutes to two minutes. The M60E4 or Mk 43

16958-450: The weapon just would not work properly at these high rates. There were several problems that occurred at high RPM, including link separation. A "rate regulator" similar to that used in M60 machine gun was installed in the buttstock . It was basically a shock absorber (designed by Cadillac Gage Co) that eliminated the recoil bounce off the back plate. This allowed the main drive spring to control

17097-399: The weapon passed all tests. But soon afterwards, president Nixon announced that the United States would be withdrawing from Vietnam, eliminating the urgency to adopt a new infantry weapon. The XM207 project was cancelled. Even very early on in its development stage, a small number of weapons were hurriedly pressed into service with the U.S. Navy SEALs deployed to Southeast Asia . During 1967,

17236-501: The weapon to increase a squad's firepower and mobility. It was never adopted but led to the Ultimax 100 . By the 1970s, ArmaLite had essentially stopped all new rifle development, and the company effectively ceased operations. In 1983, ArmaLite was sold to the Elisco Tool Manufacturing Company of the Philippines. The AR-18 tooling at the Costa Mesa shop went to the Philippines. At the same time, some of

17375-514: The weapon was withdrawn. The Stoner 63 was also considered for the Swiss armed forces as the W+F Stgw 71 In 1970, the U.S. Army designated the light machine gun configuration XM207 and issued it to select Army Special Forces units for evaluation. However, due to its complexity and high maintenance requirements (especially when compared to the new M16), the design was rejected, and the project

17514-399: The weapon, making it more prone to rapid wear and parts breakage than the original. Most infantry units in the U.S. Army and Marine Corps have now switched over to the M240 as their general-purpose machine gun , which is more reliable (particularly when dirty) and seems to be well liked by the troops for its ruggedness, despite the fact that it weighs 27.6 lb (12.5 kg) compared to

17653-411: The weapon. The stellite superalloy barrel liner makes it possible, but the excessive heat generated by this process may quickly render the gun unusable. There were two main barrels, a lightweight barrel and another heavier type—the former for when lighter weight was desired, and the latter for situations where more sustained fire was required. The reduced-weight components also reduced the durability of

17792-403: The world. It also has been updated and modernized throughout the years to meet modern military requirements. The M60 machine gun began development in the late 1940s as a program for a new, lighter 7.62 mm machine gun. It was partly derived from German guns of World War II (most notably the FG 42 and the MG 42 ), but it contained American innovations as well. The final evaluation version

17931-651: Was designated the AR-16 . The AR-16 and the other newly designed ArmaLites utilized a more traditional gas piston design with stamped and welded steel construction in place of aluminum forgings. Due to the success of the FN FAL, H&K G3, and the US M14, the 7.62 mm AR-16 (not to be confused with the M16 ) was produced only in prototype quantities. ArmaLite also developed the AR-17, a 5.5-pound, two-shot autoloading shotgun based on

18070-751: Was designated the Mk 43 Mod 0. In January 1994, the U.S. Army began the Medium Machine Gun Upgrade Kit program. The only two competitors were M60 and M240 versions. Saco offered an "enhanced" M60E3 with improved parts, and FN offered the M240 variant of its MAG; both weapons were upgrade kits of weapons already in service. Eighteen guns of each were tested until December 1995. There were two main performance areas: mean rounds between stoppages (MRBS-jams) and mean rounds between failures (MRBF-parts breaking). 50,000 rounds were fired through both guns. The M240 had 2,962 MRBS and 6,442 MRBF, compared to

18209-479: Was designated the T161E3. It was intended to replace the M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle and M1919A6 Browning machine gun in the squad automatic weapon role, and in the medium machine gun role. One of the weapons tested against it during its procurement process was the FN MAG . The U.S. Army adopted the T161E3 as the M60 in 1957. The decision to adopt the M60 instead of foreign designs, like modified versions of

18348-569: Was designed for mass production, like the MG 42 it was based on. While the M1919 required much machining for its large, recoil-operated internal mechanisms, the M60's stamped sheet receiver had a gas-operated, carrier-cammed bolt mechanism; the same type of mechanism was used on the Lewis machine gun. The straight-line layout allowed the operating rod and buffer to run directly back into the buttstock and reduce

18487-654: Was dropped in 1971. That same year, Cadillac Gage ceased all production of the Stoner 63. Around 4,000 63 and 63A units were built in total. The Navy SEALs continued to use the Stoner 63 and had officially adopted the Commando version as the Mark 23 Mod 0 machine gun . By the late 1980s the Stoner 63 was completely phased out in favor of the new M249 SAW , and most of the remaining guns were destroyed. The Stoner 63 series of weapons are piston driven, air-cooled, belt or magazine -fed and in rifle and carbine configuration, fire from

18626-468: Was formed to acquire and combine market-leading companies within the firearms industry. In 2014, 3-Gun Champion Tommy Thacker was appointed president. In 2015, ArmaLite introduced 18 new products, including AR-10 and M-15 platform firearms. In mid-2018, ArmaLite relocated to Phoenix, Arizona. As of mid-2023 Strategic Armory Corps and its subsidiaries (including Armalite) relocated headquarters to be based out of Bryan/College Station, Texas. ArmaLite began as

18765-520: Was officially adopted by the U.S. Army in the late 1950s, though at this time it was only intended for the infantry. It was known as the T161 before it was adopted (specifically the T161E3) and was chosen over the competing T52 during testing in the 1950s. They both used a similar feed and were both gas-operated, but the T161 was easier to produce and its different internals performed better. The model that won

18904-452: Was produced in several configurations, with 15 separate assemblies, which had limited parts commonality. These variants included a carbine , an assault rifle , and various light machine guns feeding linked ammunition from the left or right. The gas system was mounted in different positions depending on the weapon's configuration. Due to the multi-role nature of the design the carbine and rifle versions were heavier than comparable weapons of

19043-403: Was retained in the vehicle-mounted and the general-purpose roles due to its greater power and range. The U.S. Marine Corps , which became concerned about the M60's reliability, weight, and the high round counts, adopted the M60E3 to replace most original M60s in infantry units. The M60E3 was five pounds lighter than the original M60. It included a forward pistol grip and had the bipod mounted to

19182-618: Was tested by the US Army and USMC as the XM22 assault rifle, XM23 carbine and XM207 machine gun. Various improvements was the Dutch pattern side folding stock, quick release bipod that folded under the handguard, an improved removable magazine floor plate, a quick release scope mount. The rifle, carbine, commando, and LMG variants were all given designations by the US Military. They are as follows: ArmaLite ArmaLite , or Armalite ,

19321-449: Was to pressure-fill the hollow buttstock with a lightweight urethane foam, imparting structural rigidity and high impact strength. This solved the problem without going over the weight limit, and made the buttstock extremely durable. Several weapons with these improvements were produced by Cadillac Gage for testing by the Army Materiel Command. This would be the last chance for the weapon, now designated XM207. With its latest design changes,

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