M60

The Machine Gun, 7.62, M60, is an American GPMG, developed by the US Ordnance Office to replace the aging design of the BAR rifles. Built using designs like the MG42 and FG-42, the M60 uses a gas operated feeding system and an open rotating bolt. It uses disintegrating belts of 7.62x51 NATO cartridges. Introduced in 1957, and serviced in 1959, the M60 saw notable action in conflicts such as the Vietnam War and the Gulf War. It served a relatively short life in service, being replaced by the M240 in 1977.

The M60 has been a problematic platform, with constant updates and modifications to fix issues with the platform. From the M60E1 to M60E6, every version has modifications to improve the performance of the M60 platform.

The M60 is featured in Insurgency:Sandstorm as the M60E4.

Insurgency:Sandstorm

M60E4
Slot	Primary
Category	Machine Gun
Faction(s)	Security Forces Gunner
Supply Points	3
Statistics
Caliber	7.62x51 NATO
Fire Rate	652 RPM
Velocity	853 m/s
Penetration	645 pp
Horizontal Recoil	48
Vertical Recoil	42
Magazine Capacity	50 rounds 100 rounds (Ext.)
Reserve Ammunition	1 box 2 (LC) 3 (HC)
Fire Modes	Automatic

The M60E4 is a machine gun featured in Insurgency: Sandstorm. It is available to Insurgent Gunners in every game mode.

The M60E4 is a light machine gun that is a relatively cheap and reliable choice. It shares the same cost of three credits with the M249 and the Insurgent PKM and RPK, with all working as a step up from the cheaper rifles. They all give Gunners extreme suppressive capabilities for a decent price.

The M60E4 chambers 7.62x51mm NATO, the same round as the MK14 EBR, and utilizes this round in a suppressive fashion. This round carries enough energy to one-shot enemies consistently. The 7.62x51 bullet is able to travel at 853 m/s, which allows it to engage at considerable range. This complements the heavy suppression role that the M60E4 fills. While firing at 652 RPM, exactly the same as the PKM, the recoil of the M60E4 is relatively tame for machine guns, even when firing in a standing or crouched position.

While in a prone position, however, the pre-attached bipod braces the weapon when against a place to mount it, like a short wall, a window, or even the ground. When mounted, the bipod will almost negate any recoil, making the gun spray a laser of bullets towards enemies. When not mounted, the gun will take a long time to raise due to its weight, and the recoil, while not unmanageable, will still kick hard.

Unlike other machine guns, the appeal of the M60 is its attachment availability. While most other machine guns are unable to attach underbarrel grips, the M60E4 is able to mount the four grips due to the use of picatinny rails found all around the gun. This allows it to be a lot more versatile than the competition, and a grip can help cover certain lacks of stats of the gun, even though one grip isn't enough to cover the problems of firing the gun from an unmounted position.

Muzzle attachments, scopes, and a laser module can also benefit the M60 for slight costs. Adding a flash hider will do great for concealing the M60E4's muzzle flash, something that will definitely give it away in certain situations. Even better is the suppressor, which hides both the muzzle flash and also the sound of it firing, but will take up a lot of space on the front of the barrel.

One downside to this, unlike every other machine gun at its price point, is its price. Spending credits attaching grips, sights, muzzles, and lasers will cost quite a handful of credits, especially if you want the extended box magazine to increase the M60's capacity from 50 to 100 (which the PKM and M249 come stock with).