The Mk43/M60E4 General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) is a 7.62 mm NATO light machine gun. Evolved from the M60

M60

M60 or M-60 may refer to:Astronomy:* Messier 60, an elliptical galaxy in the Virgo ClusterComputers:* M60, an Olivetti Zilog Z8001 based computer Firearms and military equipment:...

 Series of machine guns, it has several improvements over the originals. The Mk43/M60E4 Series includes the Mod 0 and Mod 1 configurations.

The Mk43/M60E4 is effective against infantry, unarmored or lightly armored vehicles and boats.

It is the primary light machine gun used in the United States, other NATO countries and U.S. government-approved countries.

The Mk43 machine gun currently is manufactured solely by U.S. Ordnance

U.S. Ordnance

U.S. Ordnance–Defense Systems and Manufacturing–often referred to as USORD is a firearms manufacturer located in McCarran, Nevada, 20 minutes outside Reno, Nevada. Since 1997, the Nevada corporation has designed, developed and manufactured military small arms, machine guns and replacement...

 (USORD). USORD has produced it since 2000.

Design details

The Mk43/M60E4 is a gas-operated, disintegrating-link, belt-fed, air-cooled machine gun that fires from an open bolt. It is the newest, upgraded version of the M60

M60

M60 or M-60 may refer to:Astronomy:* Messier 60, an elliptical galaxy in the Virgo ClusterComputers:* M60, an Olivetti Zilog Z8001 based computer Firearms and military equipment:...

 Series machine guns.

Features

The Mk43/M60E4 fires a 7.62 x 51 mm NATO cartridge, which offers accuracy, reliability, and stopping power. It fires at a cyclic rate of 500 to 600 rounds per minute, with an effective distance of 1200 yards (1100 meters). The weapon’s controllable, yet lethal, rate of fire allows for accurate firing in the offhand, kneeling and prone positions.

The machine gun’s light weight—20 to 21 pounds (9 to 10 kilograms)—and compact design make it easy to carry long distances and maneuver in tight spaces. It also allows for the weapon to be fired offhand (shouldered) accurately.

The Mk43/M60E4 Mod 1 has multiple M1913 rail mounting points for mounting optics, aiming lasers, and accessories for around-the-clock capability. It mounts directly or adapts to all standard NATO tripod and vehicle mounts.

The M60E4/Mk43 Mod 0, typically used as an infantry machine gun, features an injection-molded composite handguard.

The weapon system’s quick-change barrel is crucial for safety and efficiency, particularly when the operator is under fire. With the lightweight bipod mounted to the receiver, the barrel can be changed without removing the bipod.

Barrels are Stellite

Stellite

Stellite alloy is a range of cobalt-chromium alloys designed for wear resistance. It may also contain tungsten or molybdenum and a small but important amount of carbon...

® lined for sustained fire and extended life. They are available in short, long and heavy fluted configurations for use in various applications.

All major components of the Mk43/M60E4 directly interchange with other M60 configurations. U.S. Ordnance manufactures a conversion kit that upgrades older M60s to its Mk43/M60E4 model.

Source: U.S. Ordnance Spec Sheets

Users

The Mk43/M60E4 is used globally by military, government and law enforcement agencies in these countries:

Afghanistan,
Chile,
Colombia,
Czech Republic,
Denmark,
Egypt,
Iraq,
Italy,
Mexico,
Peru,
Philippines,
Spain,
Thailand,
Tunisia,
United States