M240 Bravo: America Replaces the M60

The M240 Bravo, the US Army's FN MAG variant, replaced the M60. It features a simple cross-bolt safety and a unique top cover mechanism with a spring-loaded roller bearing for reliable cycling. The hydraulic buffer in the stock effectively manages recoil, contributing to its stable operation at a rate of fire around 600 rounds per minute.

The M240G, a variant of the FN MAG adopted by the US military, is a robust 7.62mm general-purpose machine gun. It evolved from vehicular use (M240C) to ground roles for the Army (M240B) and Marines (M240G), with the G model featuring a lighter handguard for weight savings. Mechanically similar to an inverted Browning BAR, it's known for extreme durability and reliability, though its weight and length make shoulder firing challenging.

This video provides a direct comparison between the PKM and M60 machine guns, demonstrating their destructive power on a Smart car. It highlights the visual impact and damage caused by sustained fire from both iconic weapons, offering insights into their operational characteristics and the effectiveness of their respective calibers in a destructive test scenario.

The T44 LMG prototype, a 1946 Springfield Armory project, combined German FG42 and MG42 components to explore post-WWII US light machine gun concepts. Developed by Bridge Tool & Die Works, it aimed to test the feasibility of merging these designs, influencing the later T52 and ultimately the M60.

The T44, a 1946 prototype, represents the initial developmental stage of the M60 machine gun. It uniquely combines the receiver and barrel of a German FG42 with the top cover and feed system of an MG42. Key modifications include a roller lug on the bolt for the MG42 feed mechanism and a custom stock, with the receiver altered to accommodate the bolt's travel.

This review of the M60E3 machine gun highlights its improvements over the M60E1, including a lighter barrel, polymer buttstock, and forward grip for better control. While demonstrating impressive firepower and accuracy on various targets, the review also addresses the M60's historical reliability issues, such as bolt rotation wear, which led to the military's adoption of the M240B. The M60E3's iconic status in 1980s action films is also noted.

This video details the unique 'French Finger Trap' issue with the MAS-36 rifle's bayonet, where two rifles can become unintentionally locked together. A 1951 French arsenal memorandum identified this problem, proposing a simple modification to the bayonet handle. Drilling a small hole allows a tool, like a firing pin, to depress the internal spring, enabling the separation of locked rifles.

The M134 Minigun is a scaled-down 7.62 NATO rotary cannon, requiring 24V DC power and consuming 1.5 kW. Its high rate of fire (3,000+ RPM) is essential for aircraft engagement windows. The complex delinker mechanism is critical for feeding ammunition, and practical hand-held use is impossible due to weight and recoil. Live fire demonstrates rapid ammunition consumption and the need for indirect aiming.

The H&K G11 is a revolutionary prototype assault rifle designed in the late 20th century, notable for its caseless ammunition and unique rotating drum bolt mechanism. Despite advanced features like a 2000 RPM burst fire rate and integrated optics, its development was ultimately halted by geopolitical shifts and cost concerns.

This video demonstrates the assembly and live-fire of the German 1936 pattern light mortar (L.Gr.W.36). It highlights the mortar's leveling mechanism for accuracy and the difficulty in visually tracking its 50mm projectiles after firing. The content showcases historical military hardware and its operational use.