Out of curiousity...
On the old and maybe even new fully auto heavy machine guns, say a MG34, MG42, M60, etc, I've heard that the barrels would burn out really quickly. What does burning out the barrel really mean? is it from the heat literally melting the metal away, or is it from bullets actually starting to take parts of the barrel with them from friction when it is hot?
can anyone clear this up for me.
can anyone clear this up for me.
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I presume that when the metal gets hot it gets soft and the bullets are more likely to start taking steel along for the ride 0 -
It is extremely difficult to "burn out" an M60 barrel. Oh, it CAN be done- ya just have to work at it pretty hard. They are lined with a material named Stellite. Harder than a banker's heart. Firing a belt fed weapon at its cyclic rate for an extended time gets the barrel hot- REAL hot. Above the temp that the metal was heat treated at. Have personally turned a couple bright glowing yellow (far beyond red) At that point ammo is starting to fire from the heat of the chamber. You are supposed to stop and swap barrels (yes, but I was really busy at that moment). When you do this, you have heated the metal to where it has softened, and you are eroding metal from the bore. Continue and you have a smoothbore, and bullets traveling sideways in flight. MGs made before Stellite will erode (burn out) quicker. And the M-60 is not a heavy machinegun. Need bigger cal to be a heavy. 0 -
thats for the explanations [:)]
As for Heavy, when i think of a heavy machine gun i usually just picture something that usually takes two guys to lug around the gun, and ammo. like a .50, or a WWII MG34, and 42. Also when i think heavy i think big, since the M60 is pretty big, there ya go [:D]
Hard to imagine a barrel getting hot enough to actually start to melt, and to have a round go off from the heat... DAMN!0 -
Here is your discriptions from:
U.S. Marine Corps
PCN 143 000014 00
MCWP 3-15.1 Machine Guns and Machine Gun Gunnery
1002. Types of Machine Guns
Machine guns are classified as light, medium, or
heavy. Classifications are determined by a combination
of weapon caliber, weapon system weight,
crew size, and the primary type of intended target.
a. Light Machine Guns/Automatic Rifles. The
light machine gun (LMG) classification generally includes
.22 to .250 caliber (5.45mm to 6mm) automatic
weapons. An LMG typically weighs between
15 and 30 pounds, complete. An LMG is normally
manned by a crew of one or two individuals depending
on the accessories being used. Neither a tripod
nor a spare barrel is normally used with an LMG
when it is manned by a single individual. Bullet
weights for LMGs normally range from 45 to 72
grains. They are optimally employed against exposed
and lightly protected personnel at ranges less
than 1,000 meters. In this category, the Marine
Corps employs the squad automatic weapon, M249,
5.56mm. Figure 1-1 provides an example of a Marine
using an LMG.
b. Medium Machine Guns. This medium machine
gun (MMG) classification generally includes
.264 to .33 caliber (6.5mm to 8mm) automatic
weapons. Typical MMG weights are 25 pounds or
more when loaded with 50 rounds of ammunition.
Remaining ammunition, ground tripod, spare barrel,
and other accessories can add another 25 pounds or
more to the overall weight of MMG systems. The
MMG is generally employed by a crew of three. A
MMG generally uses bullets that weigh between 140
and 220 grains. Optimally, they are employed
against personnel and light materials ( e.g., motor
vehicles) at ranges of 1500 meters or less. In this
category, the Marine Corps employs several variants
of the 7.62mm, M240G machine gun. Figure 1-2
show Marines training with a MMG.
c. Heavy Machine Guns. The heavy machine
gun (HMG) classification generally includes .50
caliber or larger (12.7mm to 15mm) automatic
weapons. The system weight of a heavy machine
gun is substantial. In a ready to fire configuration
using a ground tripod, an HMG without ammunition
can weigh more than 125 pounds. An HMG is normally
manned by a crew of four or more personnel
(although a crew of three may be sufficient if motor
vehicles or draft animals are employed for transportation
over distance). The common bullet weight
of an HMG is 700 grains or larger. HMGs are primarily
employed against field fortifications, vehicles,
and aircraft. They are generally effective
against these types of targets at ranges of 1,000 meters
or greater. The machine guns from this category
currently employed by the Marine Corps are the
caliber .50, Browning, M2HB, machine gun and the
40mm, MK-19 MOD 3 machine gun. Figure 1-3
portrays a HMG squadron during Operation Desert
Shield.
Here is a M60 support kit for you [8D]:
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To add to what 11b6r had to say. In the case of the early M60 the barrel would actually get so hot that it would warp somewhat actually sagging downward before the chamber would get hot enough to cause ignition of the ctg if the barrels weren't changed. We were issued asbestos gloves with the M60 and 3 barrels so they could be changed before damage occured. Not always possible in a firefight though. 0 -
I turned an M60 barrel orange on the range at Ft. Richardson AK. Lots of snow and Ice on the ground, We just swapped barrels and dropped the hot one in the snow. Made a nice big steam cloud![:D][8D] 0 -
When that chamber is hot enough to detonate ammo, that is called a cook-off. On the M60 sometimes you would get a run-away gun and you would have to break the belt to make it stop firing. 0 -
those would make some nifty oven mitts 0 -
quote:Originally posted by buschmaster
those would make some nifty oven mitts
Yeah, I think I paid about $10 each for them. I am sure they would work well. Just watch out for the asbostes (sp).0
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