CODE – 04-132-959

NAME – M73

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN – USA

DATE OF MANUFACTURE – 1959

CALIBER – 7.62x51mm

OVERALL LENGTH – 95.9 cm (37.75 in)

BARREL LENGTH – 55.9 cm (22 in)

RIFLING (TYPE & TWIST) – 4 Grooves, Right-hand twist, 1 turn in 30.5 cm (12 in)

LOAD – M80 ball Spitzer-pointed full jacketed ball

BULLET DIAMETER – 7.82 mm (0.308 in)

BULLET WEIGHT – 9.66 g (149 grains)

MUZZLE VELOCITY – 865 m/s (2837 fps)

MUZZLE ENERGY – 3611 j (2663 ft/lb)

WEIGHT (EMPTY) – 12.70 kg (28 lb)

WEIGHT (LOADED) – 15.67 kg (34 lb 9 oz) loaded with 100 rds M80 ball in M13 link belt

TYPE OF MOUNT – Vehicular mount

WEIGHT OF SPARE BARREL – 2.55 kg (5 lb 10 oz)

SIGHTS – None, sights on vehicle

EFFECTIVE RANGE – 900 m (984 yards)

OPERATION – Recoil with gas booster, fires from open bolt

TYPE OF FIRE – Full automatic

RATE OF FIRE – 150 rpm

CYCLIC ROF – 500-600 rpm

FEED DEVICE – M13 flexible disintegrating link belt

FEED DEVICE WEIGHT (EMPTY) – 0.43 kg (15 oz) 100 M13 links

FEED DEVICE WEIGHT (LOADED) – 2.97 kg (6 lb 9 oz) 100 rds M80 ball in M13 link belt

BASIC AMMUNITION LOAD – 600 rounds (on board M60 battle tank)

LOAD WEIGHT – 17.82 kg (39 lb 5 oz)

MANUFACTURER – General Electric Co., Burlington, Vermont, Rock Island Arsenal, Rock Island, Illinois

STATUS – Obsolete

SERVICE – US Military