The M60 machine gun entered U.S. service in 1960, designed as a general-purpose weapon to replace the aging M1919 Browning. Chambered for the 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge, it combined elements from earlier European designs: its belt-feed traced back to the German MG 42, while its rotating bolt and stock layout drew inspiration from the FG 42. The result was a gas-operated, air-cooled gun that could fire 500–650 rounds per minute, with quick-change barrels and a straight-line design that helped manage recoil. Though officially intended as a tripod- or bipod-mounted weapon, troops often fired it from the shoulder, hip, or underarm in combat. The weapon was meant to be versatile. It could mount on the M122 tripod for sustained fire, or be carried with its built-in bipod for mobile use. In practice, its heavy weight and awkward balance made it burdensome for infantry patrols, though its bulk gave it stability when firing. Gunners usually employed short bursts, guided by tracer rounds in the belts—four ball cartridges followed by one tracer—to walk fire onto targets. When properly mounted, it was effective against area targets out to 1,100 meters and could suppress enemy forces even farther with a skilled crew. The M60 became a familiar sight in Vietnam, where it earned the nickname 'the Pig' for its bulk and constant appetite for ammunition. It served as the squad’s base of fire but also showed its flaws in the humid, muddy conditions of jungle warfare. Soldiers complained of frequent jams, broken parts, and extraction failures that sometimes forced dangerous barrel swaps under fire. Barrel latches could snag and release unexpectedly, and fragile spring clips in the trigger housing often failed, leading crews to secure them with duct tape. Worst of all, worn sears occasionally caused the gun to 'run away,' firing uncontrollably until the belt was exhausted. Despite these problems, the M60 remained the U.S. standard for decades. Variants such as the lighter M60E3 and updated M60E4 attempted to fix design weaknesses, though many of the older models stayed in service unmodified. By the 1990s, the Belgian FN MAG—adopted as the M240—began replacing it across the U.S. military. The M240 was heavier but more reliable, and gradually pushed the M60 into reserve, naval, and ceremonial roles. Even so, the M60’s legacy endures. It armed helicopters, boats, and ground forces through Vietnam, the Cold War, and beyond. Its silhouette, belt-fed firepower, and reputation for both firepower and frustration made it one of the most recognizable American weapons of the 20th century. Though largely supplanted, the 'Pig' continues to see service abroad and survives in the civilian market, a reminder of the U.S. military’s search for a truly universal machine gun.