The recoil-operated M85 machine gun is designed for cupola mounting in armored vehicles. The M85 provides protection
for armored vehicle crews against enemy ground troops or low-flying aircraft. It can be fired electrically by the
solenoid, or manually, at either high or low rates. It has a short receiver assembly, fixed headspace, and a
quick-change barrel with flash suppressor. The M85 has a capability of right and left hand feed.
The M85 machine gun (left hand feed) is used on the M60, M60A1, and M60A3 tanks and M728 vehicles.
Replaced by the M240 armor machine gun in U.S. service.
Ammunition is issued in a disintegrating metallic link belt (M15A2 links).
Normal training mix: 4 M2 ball and 1 M17 tracer. Normal combat mix: 4 M8 API and 1 M20 APIT.
Click here for more information about .50 caliber ammunition.
- M1 Incendiary
- M1 Tracer
- M1A1 Blank
- M2 AP
- M2 Ball
- M2 Dummy
- M8 API
- M10 Tracer
- M17 Tracer
- M20 APIT
- M21 Tracer
- M23 Incendiary
- M33 Ball
The M20 blank firing attachment is used to provide enough back pressure to sustain continuous firing with M1A1 blanks.
When the M85 machine gun is loaded and ready to fire, DO NOT open and close the cover assembly. This will disengage
the belt feed lever and lever assembly. If the M85 machine gun is fired in this condition, only one round will fire
and the cartridge ejector and bolt assembly will be damaged.
Never change rates while firing; the M85 machine gun will be damaged.
M85.
M85, left hand feed.
M85, right hand feed.
M85 major groups and assemblies.