How to Maintain an M60 Machine Gun

The M60 machine gun was introduced to the U.S. Military during the Vietnam War as a replacement for the Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR). After decades of tireless service the M60 is still a vital part of the armed forces arsenals. Preventive maintenance has helped to play a part in this weapon's longevity. Read on to learn how to maintain an M60 machine gun.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• M60 cleaning kit
• Lubricant

1. Check that the gun's chamber is clear and the bolt is forward.
2. Begin disassembling the weapon from back to front by opening the hinged shoulder latch and poking a small punch or the tip of a bullet into the latch hole in the butt stock and removing the butt stock.
3. Push in on the cylinder sticking out of the back of the weapon, this is the buffer. Find the little rectangular buffer yoke near the back of the open feed tray and pull it out.
4. Pull the charging handle to the rear, this will make the cam roller accessible. Put your finger on the cam roller and pull it to the back. This will allow access to the bolt and piston rod.
5. Clean out the inside of the receiver and trigger mechanisms with a clean rag and cotton swabs. Clean the barrel with a barrel rod and swabs. Wipe down all of the internal parts and inspect them for cracks, burrs or damages.
6. Apply a thin coat of CLP to all of the metal surfaces of the M60.
7. Reassemble the gun from front to back. First guide the piston and fore arm assembly into the operating tube, replace the feed tray cover and hanger group then replace the butt stock.

Tips & Warnings

• To clear an M60, point the machine gun in a safe direction, grasp the charging handle with your palm up, pull the charging handle to the rear, place the weapon on "safe" and open the feed tray cover to check that there are no pieces of brass or links in the feed tray mechanism or the breech.
• The cam roller is a chromed, spinning disc on top of the bolt assembly in the receiver.
• Squeeze the bolt and piston rod together as you remove them.
• Only use an M60 approved Cleaning Lubricant and Protectant (CLP) to clean and lubricate your machine gun.
• When temperatures are blow zero Fahrenheit, use an approved, cold-weather M60 lubricant like LAW, otherwise use CLP.
• Always clear a weapon before attempting to disassemble.
• Don't get any CLP in the gas cylinder near the muzzle, on the bottom of the barrel.
• Be careful with the bolt mechanism. This is a guide for general cleaning and maintenance only so, bolt and receiver disassembly is not required.

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