M-60 Fired about 500-600 rounds a minute slow compared to the German M-42 which fired 1200 rounds a minute , in Vietnam each grunt carried a hundred rounds of 7.62 so 11 grunts 11 hundred rounds or about 2 1/2 minutes of sustained firing .

How much sustained firing was there though, I am not sure about others but we were told to stick to 3 second bursts otherwise accuracy went out the window.

That's what you'd be told now, Monty. After all, if you're just sending bullets down range, you're not going to hit a damn thing you're aiming at.

Originally Posted by tetvet

M-60 Fired about 500-600 rounds a minute slow compared to the German M-42 which fired 1200 rounds a minute , in Vietnam each grunt carried a hundred rounds of 7.62 so 11 grunts 11 hundred rounds or about 2 1/2 minutes of sustained firing .

If I recall Tet didn't the M-60 take some getting used to?
It had quite a bit of kick.

Originally Posted by crazytanker

That's what you'd be told now, Monty. After all, if you're just sending bullets down range, you're not going to hit a damn thing you're aiming at.

Which is why when the L1A1 SLR, the British version of the FN FAL was issued it was semi automatic only. It was one of the best battle rifles ever issued to the British, very reliable, accurate and hit hard. Very good rifle.

I was an Instructor on the M-60 at Ft. Benning GA for 7 months until they gave me a me an M-60 and shipped my ass to Vietnam ,quite a bit of the M-60 was copied off the MG-42 , you had to have a feel for the M-60 it was not the easiest weapon to qualified with you were taught to fire the thing in 6 round bursts to keep from burning out the barrel .

Originally Posted by BritinAfrica

Which is why when the L1A1 SLR, the British version of the FN FAL was issued it was semi automatic only. It was one of the best battle rifles ever issued to the British, very reliable, accurate and hit hard. Very good rifle.

That's the same reason the standard M16 assault rifle is semi-auto. Accuracy is always better to wasting munitions.

Originally Posted by crazytanker

That's the same reason the standard M16 assault rifle is semi-auto. Accuracy is always better to wasting munitions.

I thought that the latest M16 has a 3 round burst capability.

Originally Posted by BritinAfrica

I thought that the latest M16 has a 3 round burst capability.

Yes.... Single shot or 3 round burst. That's still considered semi-auto. Which of course, Hollywood would have you to believe you can just hold the trigger down and spray.

Deliberate: Against small or indistinct targets at long range. Five rounds per minute accurate fire

Snap Shooting: At short ranges with short exposures (like urban) Two rounds per exposure for assault rifles and three to five rounds for machine guns.

Rapid Fire: Used for or against assaults. Twenty rounds per minute.

Intense Fire: To defeat Rapid Fire and gain fire superiority. Thirty to forty rounds a minute and aimed if possible.

Full Auto: If you want to break out of an ambush and gain immediate fire superiority. Eight to ten round bursts from Machine guns. Virtually everything you got.

Is basically what I use.