Cut off M1 Carbine? -- Yum! M-14's

[usabaker]

I have also seen a few photos of the M60 m/g where the barrel was shortened

I can't even imagine cutting a pig barrel down, she what I carried when I was in the SEABEES.

[browningautorifle]

I can't even imagine cutting a pig barrel down

I carried one for two months in the Australian jungle and had no problems, cutting it down wouldn't have made any difference to me...

[usabaker]

I carried one for two months in the Australian jungle and had no problems, cutting it down wouldn't have made any difference to me...

I was thinking the muzzle blast would be freeking LOUD, not about the weight of the M60. At 26.6 pounds (unloaded) I feel the same Jim, I don't know what difference hacking off the barrel would make.

[browningautorifle]

the muzzle blast would be freeking LOUD

Probably like a 37mm anti tank gun...

[usabaker]

Probably like a 37mm anti tank gun...

LOL... at a 600 RPM fire rate, I have bad tinnitus from the M60 and the heavy equipment I worked on. I would more than likely be deaf if I had had a cut-down barrel.

[Sapper740]

I believe John Plaster carried a cut down pig in Vietnam. John Plaster was a three tour SOG veteran and told some of the most riveting stories about his exploits with RT New Mexico. In any event, whether it was him or one of the many SF Troopers I've read about, lightness and especially handiness in the weapons carried was paramount. Time and time again the SF troopers survived a firefight because they brought more firepower into play and quicker than the enemy, hence the variety of cut-down weapons they carried.

[Daan Kemp]

I would expect the noise wouldn't influence the operator that much, with everything else happening. The enemy should be impressed with the noise hitting them just after the bullets, make them look for cover.

[usabaker]

I would expect the noise wouldn't influence the operator that much, with everything else happening.

Only when you can't hear anything after. Its a odd feeling. Now days the US military provides good hearing protection. In the 70's you got foamies at best.

[Peter Laidler]

The trouble with cutting barrels down is that, as we found out with MANY scientific (and not so scientific....) trials and tests at Shrivenham under Lt Col Toomeys eagle eye, was that the standard barrel gave the optimum/best results every time. I never saw any L2 versions with cut down barrels in Malaya or SVN with Australians. But as I have explained in simple language elsewhere several times, the closer the cut down barrel gets to the gas port, the LESS gas is available to operate the action. Because the action can only take place after the bullet has PASSED the gas port and the gas is diverted to do its job.... Unlocking, extracting, ejecting, cocking etc etc. But as soon as the bullet has LEFT the barrel, all these operations have to be achiever by sheer momentum or inertia as discovered by 'apple-on-the-head' man Newton.

SLR's failed to function quite quickly, as did L4 Brens and L7 GPMG's. We had these guns with shorter and shorted barrels. As someone also said, the shorter the barrel, the more violent the muzzle blast.

I accept that the shorties look good in a picture sent home for the folks but in reality, they were like a mickey mouse watch. They LOOKED good but not so good but not so good for reliable time telling.

Just my views, having been there and participated in the theory and practice.

[Sapper740]

Arnold wasn't the first to put a feed chute on a machine gun. SOG members, ever searching for more useful and reliable firepower came up with the most impressive M60 modification—dubbed the “Death Machine”. China Lake, Calif., Naval Weapons Center technicians put a 500-round drum fitted inside the gunner’s rucksack, connected to the Pig with a 5-ft., aircraft-type articulated feed belt. Total weight including the gun and ammunition was just short of 90 lbs., requiring a stout man to carry it. It was best suited to raids and was apparently carried on the Son Tay raid by Tony Dodge of RT Illinois.