071-312-3025 (SL1) - Maintain an M60 Machine Gun
Standards: 1. Disassembled the M60 machine gun into the following groups: stock; buffer and operating rod; bolt assembly; trigger mechanism; barrel; feed cover, feed tray, and hanger; forearm; and receiver. 2. Cleaned the M60 machine gun, removed powder fouling and other foreign material and identified any unserviceable parts. Did not get CLP in the gas cylinder. 3. Lubricated the M60 machine gun. 4. Assembled the M60 machine gun, performed a function check, ensured the forearm group was locked in place, the hinge pin was interlocked with the latch engaging the sear pin, and the stock group latch engaged.

WARNING: Weapon must be clear before disassembling.

1.   Clear the M60 machine gun.

a. Pull the cocking handle to the rear.

b. Lock the bolt to the rear.

c. Raise the feed cover.

d. Ensure the chamber is empty.

e. Close the feed cover.

f.  Place the safety lever on FIRE.

g. Pull the cocking handle to the rear and hold it.

h. Pull the trigger and allow the bolt to ease forward.

i.   Place the selector lever on SAFE.

2.   Remove the stock group.

a. Raise the hinged shoulder rest.

b. Insert the nose of a dummy cartridge into the latch hole (figure 071-312-3025-1).

Figure 071-312-3025-1. Stock

c. Push the latch down.

d. Pull the stock group to the rear, removing it from the M60 machine gun.

3.   Remove the buffer, operating rod, and bolt assembly group.

a. Remove the buffer.

(1)  Press the exposed buffer lightly with the palm of the hand (figure 071-312-3025-2).

Figure 071-312-3025-2. Buffer yoke

(2)  Remove the buffer yoke from the top of the receiver.

(3)  Remove the buffer slowly by pulling it rearward. Allow the driver spring guide to expand until the end of the guide is showing at the rear of the receiver.

(4)  Pull the buffer plunger from the driver spring guide (figure 071-312-3025‑3).

Figure 071-312-3025-3. Buffer

(5)  Pull the driver spring guide and spring from the receiver.

(6)  Separate the driver spring from the driver spring guide.

b. Remove the operating rod and bolt.

(1)  Grasp the pistol grip with the left hand.

(2)  Pull the cocking handle to the rear with your right hand until the bolt separates from the barrel socket.

(3)  Return the cocking handle to the forward position.

(4)  Pull the cam roller until it stops. This pulls the rod and bolt to the rear.

(5)  Push the bolt to the rear with your finger on the face of the bolt (figure 071-312-3025-4).

Figure 071-312-3025-4. Cam roller  

(6)  Grasp the operating rod and bolt when they are about 4 inches out of the cylinder to prevent the bolt from rotating.

(7)  Pull the operating rod and bolt from the receiver (figure 071-312-3025-5).

Figure 071-312-3025-5. Operating rod and bolt

(8)  Relax your grip, allowing the bolt to rotate slowly.

(9)  Grasp the bolt and operating rod with both hands. The bolt should be on the bottom, facing away from your body.

(10) Disengage the bolt from the operating rod by pulling forward on the operating handle and lifting upward (figure 071-312-3025-6).

Figure 071-312-3025-6. Bolt assembly and operating rod being separated

4.   Remove the trigger mechanism group consisting of the grip, leaf spring, and retaining pin.

a. Press in on the rear of the leaf spring.

b. Rotate the rear of the leaf spring up to clear it from the sear pin (figure 071-312-3025-7).

Figure 071-312-3025-7. Sear pin

c. Pull the leaf spring to the rear, disengaging it from the front notch of the retaining pin.

d. Remove the retaining pin by pushing it to the left.

e. Remove the trigger mechanism.

(1)  Slide the trigger mechanism slightly forward.

(2)  Rotate the front of the trigger mechanism housing down.

(3)  Remove the trigger mechanism (figure 071-312-3025-8).

Figure 071-312-3025-8. Trigger mechanism group

5.   Remove the cover, feed tray, and hanger group.

a. Remove the feed cover.

(1)  Raise the feed cover.

(2)  Unlock the hinge pin using a pointed object (figure 071-312-3025-9).

Figure 071-312-3025-9. Hinge pin latch

(3)  Push the hinge pin out of its recess and remove it from the opposite side of the hinge pin latch.

(4)  Lift the feed cover from the receiver assembly.

(5)  Remove the feed cover spring from the cover.

b. Lift the feed tray and hanger group from the receiver assembly (figure 071-312-3025-10).

Figure 071-312-3025-10. Feed tray and hanger group

6.   Remove the barrel group, made up of the barrel, flash suppressor, front sight, bipod assembly, and gas cylinder system.

a. Push in on the barrel locking lever plunger (figure 071-312-3025-11).

Figure 071-312-3025-11. Barrel locking lever

b. Raise the barrel locking lever to the vertical position.

c. Remove the barrel group by pulling it straight to the front of the rifle.

7.   Remove the forearm assembly.

a. Turn the receiver so the top is facing down.

b. Insert a pointed object into the latch hole at the bottom rear of the forearm assembly (figure 071-312-3025-12).

Figure 071-312-3025-12. Forearm latch

c. Release the forearm latch by pressing downward with a pointed object.

d. Raise the rear of the forearm assembly slightly.

e. Pull the forearm assembly to the front to remove it.

Note. This completes general disassembly of the M60 machine gun. The receiver group requires no disassembly.

8.   Clean the M60 machine gun.

CAUTION: Do not use gasoline, kerosene, benzene, or high pressure water, steam, or air for cleaning.

a. Position the gas cylinder above the barrel during cleaning so as not to get CLP in the gas cylinder.

b. Clean the bore using CLP and a bore brush attached to a cleaning rod.

(1)  Run the brush through the bore without reversing the direction of the brush while it is in the bore.

(2)  Repeat the preceding step until most of the powder fouling and other foreign matter have been removed.

(3)  Swab out the bore several times using a cleaning rod and a swab wet with CLP.

(4)  Swab out the bore several times using a cleaning rod and a dry swab.

c. Clean the chamber using CLP and a chamber brush attached to a cleaning rod.

(1)  Run the brush through the chamber.

(2)  Repeat the preceding step until most of the powder fouling and other foreign matter have been removed.

(3)  Swab out the chamber several times using a cleaning rod and a swab wet with CLP.

(4)  Swab out the chamber several times using a cleaning rod and dry swab.

d. Clean the receiver with a receiver brush and CLP.

(1)  Brush the receiver until most of the powder fouling and other foreign matter have been removed.

(2)  Swab out the receiver several times using a cleaning rod and a swab wet with CLP.

(3)  Swab out the receiver several times using a cleaning rod and dry swab.

e. Clean the buffer and operating rod group using CLP and a receiver brush. Do not submerge the buffer in any cleaning solvents.

(1)  Brush the buffer group until powder fouling and other foreign matter have been removed.

(2)  Swab out the operating rod several times using a cleaning rod and a swab wet with CLP.

(3)  Swab out the operating rod several times using a cleaning rod and a dry swab.

f.  Wipe down all parts of the M60 machine gun except the rubber-coated parts with a rag wet with CLP.

g. Dry all parts cleaned with CLP.

9.   Inspect the parts for serviceability.

a. Stock group.

(1)  Ensure the stock group fits securely on the receiver.

(2)  Check the guide rails for cracks, bends, or burrs.

(3)  Check the shoulder rest and stock latch for binding.

(4)  Check the rubber coating for gumming or cracking.

b. Buffer and operating rod group.

(1)  Check the yoke and yoke recess for burrs, cracks, or bends.

(2)  Ensure the buffer plunger fits easily into the recess in the