The M60 is a gas-operated, air-cooled, belt-fed, general-purpose machine gun that fires from the open-bolt position and is chambered for the 7.62 mm NATO cartridge.
Operation[]
Ammunition is usually fed into the weapon from a 100-round bandolier containing a disintegrating, metallic split-link belt. The M60 family of weapons are capable of firing standard NATO rounds of the appropriate caliber. The standard combat ammunition mix for the M60 consists of four ball (M80) cartridges and one tracer (M62) in belts of 100 rounds. The four to one ratio theoretically allows the gunner to accurately "walk" the fire into the enemy. Tracer bullets contain small explosive charges at their base and can set flammable targets on fire. They do not fly quite the same trajectory as ball and weapon's sights must be used for accurate fire—particularly at ranges in excess of 800 meters, where 7.62x51mm NATO tracer bullets usually burn out and are no longer visible. This is a problem for all weapons in this caliber using this tracer round. The M60 is often used with its own integrated bipod or with the M122 tripod. The M60 is considered effective up to 1,100 meters when firing at an area target and mounted on a tripod; up to 800 meters when firing at an area target using the integral bipod; up to 600 meters when firing at a point target; and up to 200 meters when firing at a moving point target.
History[]
Breaking Bad[]
Season 5[]
At some point during his drive from New Hampshire to Albuquerque, Walt contacts Lawson about buying an M60 and arranges to meet at a Denny's on the morning of Walt's 52nd birthday. ("Felina", "Live Free or Die")
After paying Lawson and reassuring him that the M60 will not be crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, Walt receives a set of car keys. In the parking lot, he finds a car with the M60, an instruction manual, and four boxes of ammunition in the trunk. ("Live Free or Die")
In the desert, Walt builds and tests a contraption consisting of an office chair, garage door motor, car battery, key fob, and a car lock while the M60 sits nearby. That night at Jack Welker's Compound, Walt triggers his contraption, which is an automated turret with the M60 that decimates the gang, killing all but Jack Welker and Todd Alquist who were then executed by Walt and Jesse respectively. Walt was also hit by a ricocheting bullet and dies from it a short time later. ("Felina")
El Camino[]
The morning after the shooting, Skinny Pete and Badger watch a news report where SAC Ramey is questioned about the use of a military-grade weapon to take down Jack Welker's Gang. The SAC confirms the use of an M60, but is unsure where Walt got it or the turret he created for the gun. ("El Camino")