Weapons Familiarization

Airmen serve in many specialties — medical, services, finance, you name it — but every member of the Armed Forces is required to defend the nation. To do that, every Airman has to be familiar with the use and operation of the small arms rifle. In BMT you'll be issued a trainer weapon that closely simulates the parts and functions of the actual rifle you'll fire later. Becoming familiar with the trainer makes you confident on the firing range when you're competing against the standard.

This section covers safety, clearing, the rifle's characteristics and ranges, parts nomenclature, disassembly and reassembly, the cleaning routine, and preventative maintenance.

Overview

Objective: Given a trainer weapon, break down and reassemble the weapon with no more than two instructor assists.

Learning Outcomes

• Recall basic facts regarding the rules of weapon safety.
• Identify the parts nomenclature of the trainer weapon.
• Identify the characteristics of the small arms rifle.
• Demonstrate clearing barrel procedures of the trainer weapon.
• Understand how to properly carry the small arms rifle so it doesn't interfere with duties.
• Recognize the importance of inspecting the weapon during disassembly, cleaning, and reassembly.
• Demonstrate the steps to disassemble and reassemble the trainer weapon, plus the miscellaneous steps not on the Progress Check.
• Recognize the cleaning kit components, rules, and guidelines.
• Identify the basic facts about the cleaning groups of the weapon.
• Point out additional preventative maintenance and inspection.

Foundational Competencies

• Decision Making — Makes well-informed, timely decisions; uses sound judgment to weigh constraints, risks, and rewards.
• Precision — A concern for order, quality, and accuracy.
• Results Focused — A concern for working well or for competing against a standard of excellence.

Summary

• Safety
• Clearing
• Clearing Barrel Procedures
• Carrying Your Weapon
• Characteristics
• Maximum Range of Fire
• Parts Nomenclature
• Inspection
• Disassembly
• Reassembly
• Miscellaneous Steps
• Cleaning Kit
• Cleaning Rules and Guidelines
• Cleaning Groups
• Additional Preventative Maintenance
• Hearing Protection

Safety

You must follow these eight rules at all times:

1. Treat all weapons as if they are loaded.
2. Do not point the muzzle at anything you are not willing to shoot, injure, or damage.
3. Positively identify your target and know what is around and behind it.
4. Horseplay is not tolerated.
5. Do not get ahead of your instructor or anticipate instructions.
6. Handle the weapon only when told to do so.
7. Keep your finger off the trigger until your weapon is on target.
8. If you don't understand, ask questions.

Clearing

The order of inspection is safety, magazine, chamber, safety.

1. Safety — Selector lever to "SAFE" (if possible).
2. Magazine — Remove the ammunition source.
3. Chamber — Visually inspect the chamber.
4. Safety — Selector lever to "SAFE".

Clearing Barrel Procedures

• Hold your weapon at port arms behind the red line of the clearing barrel. Don't put your finger in the trigger guard.
• When directed, enter the clearing barrel zone and place the muzzle of the weapon into the clearing barrel — keep the muzzle in-line with the axis of the barrel.
• Ensure the weapon is on safe (selector lever to safe, if applicable).
• Ensure the magazine is out by depressing the magazine release. Leave the magazine well empty and physically check it.
• Lock the bolt to the rear by depressing the bolt catch with your support thumb and pulling the charging handle with your strong hand. Then return the charging handle to the forward position.
• Visually inspect the chamber and receiver to confirm there is no ammunition.
• If clear, verbally state "Clear."
• Verify the weapon is on "Safe."
• Release the bolt and close the ejection port cover.
• State "All clear, sir / ma'am," sling the rifle over your shoulder, and depart the clearing zone.

Carrying Your Weapon

Sling your weapon over either shoulder when transiting in and around the squadron area — uniformly when in formation. The muzzle points upward and the weapon is under control at all times. The weapon must not interfere with your ability to salute.

Characteristics

The small arms rifle is lightweight, gas-operated, air-cooled, magazine-fed, and shoulder-fired. It can fire in semi-automatic or burst fire (three-round bursts).

Modes of fire and rate

Maximum range of fire

• Maximum range — how far the rifle will actually fire: 3,600 meters.
• Maximum effective range — the greatest distance a shooter may be expected to hit a target using the sighting system:
  • Point target — 500 meters
  • Area target — 600 meters

Parts Nomenclature

External nomenclature is reinforced as you handle and maintain the weapon. The trainer breaks down across three labeled diagrams in this section.

Upper Receiver (Fig 14-1)

Key parts:

• Compensator — keeps the muzzle down during firing and suppresses flash, reducing your flash signature to the enemy.
• Front sight assembly ("A" frame) — houses the front sight.
• Hand guards (top and bottom) — help cool the barrel, prevent burns to the hands, and protect the gas tube.
• Slip ring (tapered) — holds the hand guards in place on the weapon.
• Carrying handle — houses the rear sight. Don't use it to carry the trainer weapon.
  • Rear sight windage knob (adjustable)
  • Rear sight (two apertures) — short range (0–200 meters, marked 0–2) and normal range (300–800 meters when flipped rearward)
  • Elevation knob
• Forward assist — ensures the bolt is fully forward and locked into battery.
• Brass deflector — deflects ejected cartridges.
• Ejection port and cover — prevents debris from entering the chamber.
• Gas tube — allows gases from burnt propellant to pass through, forcing the bolt carrier group to the rear.
• Bayonet lug — provides the bayonet attachment point.
• Front sling swivel — allows the sling to attach to the weapon.
• Charging handle

Hand Guards

Bolt Carrier Group (Fig 14-2)

The bolt carrier group includes:

• Bolt carrier
  • Firing pin
  • Firing pin retaining pin
  • Bolt cam pin
  • Bolt and gas rings
    • Extractor pin
    • Extractor
    • Ejector

Lower Receiver (Fig 14-3)

Key parts:

• Buttstock — collapsible, removable, four positions, with rear sling swivel.
• Buffer and action spring
• Magazine well
• Trigger
• Magazine release button
• Selector lever — three settings: safe, semi-automatic, and burst fire (three-round burst).
• Pistol grip
• Bolt catch and release
• Pivot pin
• Takedown pin
• Hammer — note: trainer weapons do not have a hammer.

Inspection

You should inspect your small arms rifle during disassembly, cleaning, and reassembly for:

• Broken, missing, worn, or otherwise damaged parts
• Cleanliness
• Lubrication
• Spring tension

The acronym is BMW-CLS: Broken / Missing / Worn — Clean / Lubrication / Spring tension.

If any parts are missing, worn, bent, cracked, or damaged, bring it to your instructor's attention.

Disassembly

Steps to properly disassemble the trainer weapon:

1. Clear the weapon (Safety → Magazine → Chamber → Safety).
2. Allow the bolt to go forward by pushing on the bolt catch release.
3. Separate the upper and lower receivers:
   • Push the takedown pin from left to right and pull it out from the right side. The upper and lower receivers will pivot.
   • Push the pivot pin from left to right and pull it out from the right side to fully separate.
   • Note: the takedown and pivot pins do not come completely out.
4. Remove and disassemble the bolt carrier group:
   • Pull back the charging handle and bolt carrier.
   • Remove the bolt carrier and then the charging handle.
   • Remove the firing pin retaining pin from the left side of the bolt carrier.
   • Remove the firing pin from the rear of the bolt carrier.
5. Push bolt and bolt carrier together, rotate the bolt cam pin ¼ turn (so the long edge of the bolt cam pin is parallel with the gas key), then lift out — or turn the carrier to the side, allowing the bolt cam pin to drop out.
6. Remove the bolt assembly from the carrier.
   • Do NOT remove the extractor in the squadron area. The extractor is removed only at Combat Arms Weapons Training.
7. Remove the buffer and action spring:
   • Press in the buffer.
   • Depress the retainer with the tip / end of the charging handle or firing pin and release the buffer.

Reassembly

Reassemble in reverse order of disassembly.

Tips during reassembly

• When installing the buffer and action spring, don't use your fingers or thumb — you risk getting your nail taken off by the detent. Use your palm or the side of your hand in a knifehand action.
• When installing the bolt, ensure the extractor is at the 11 o'clock position and the ejector is at the 5 o'clock position when looking at the face of the bolt. (This ensures the bolt cam pin goes in the hole of the bolt.)
• Caution: Install the bolt cam pin in the bolt carrier group. If it isn't installed on a live rifle capable of live fire, it may cause serious injury or death.
• Install the firing pin retaining pin from the left (wide, concave opening) to the right side.
• The firing pin should not fall out of the bolt carrier. Once the firing pin and retaining pin are in place, turn the bolt carrier group bolt-end up and tap it on your hand. If the firing pin falls out, it isn't assembled correctly.
• Match the butterfly wings of the charging handle with the cutouts of the upper receiver, then insert it a quarter of the way in. The charging handle will support itself in the upper receiver.
• Pull the bolt forward before inserting the charging handle and bolt carrier group into the upper receiver.
• The selector lever must be on "safe" to prevent damage to the weapon when closing the upper and lower receivers.
• Perform clearing procedures to finish.

Miscellaneous Steps

These steps are not done during the Progress Check:

• Magazine — do not disassemble the magazine in the squadron area. Disassemble only at CATM during live fire weapons training.
• Sling
• Hand guards:
  • Remove one hand guard at a time.
  • Place the butt of the stock on a hard surface with the barrel pointed up.
  • Press the slip ring down at an angle and pull one hand guard free.
  • Repeat for the second hand guard.

Cleaning Kit

The PT Supply NCOIC maintains and issues cleaning tools and supplies for the trainer weapon. Use the Rifle Cleaning Kit.

Components:

• Bore brush
• Chamber brush
• Handled section (which converts into a "T" handle), three rod sections (or cable), swab holder, and swab
• Bore, chamber, small arms cleaning brush (nylon bristle toothbrush), and pipe cleaners
• Cleaner, Lubricant, and Preservative (CLP)
  • "Lube" or "lubricant" in this section is synonymous with CLP.
  • Other lubrications may be used depending on geographic location or availability.
  • Don't mix lubricants on the same weapon. Thoroughly clean the weapon before changing from one lubricant to another.

Cleaning Rules and Guidelines

Normal care and cleaning keeps all parts functioning and helps maintain accuracy. Improper maintenance causes stoppages and malfunctions. Always clear the weapon before cleaning.

Cleaning Groups

There are four cleaning groups. Properly disassemble the trainer before cleaning the individual components.

Upper Receiver

• Attach the chamber cleaning brush to a section of the cleaning rod. Dip in CLP and insert in the chamber.
  • 5–6 plunging strokes and 3–4 360° rotations of the brush to clean the chamber.
  • Remove the brush and dry the chamber thoroughly with clean patches.
• Clean the locking lugs in the barrel extension using a nylon bristle toothbrush dipped in CLP — remove all carbon deposits.
• Clean the protruding exterior of the gas tube in the receiver with the bore brush attached to a section of the cleaning rod.
  • Top of the gas tube — clean by inserting the rod and brush in the back of the receiver.
  • Sides and bottom — clean from the bottom of the receiver.
• Lightly lubricate the bore and locking lugs in the barrel extension with CLP to prevent corrosion.
• If the hand guards are removed, lightly coat CLP on the surface of the barrel enclosed by the hand guards.
• Attach a bore brush to the cleaning rod, dip in CLP, and brush the bore thoroughly.
  • Brush from the chamber to the muzzle using straight-through strokes. Push the brush all the way through past the muzzle compensator. Continue until the bore is free of carbon and fouling.
  • Never reverse direction of the brush while it is in the bore.
• Remove the brush and dry the bore with clean patches.
• Don't try to retract the patch until it has been pushed all the way out of the muzzle compensator.
• Use caution and ensure your hand supports the cleaning rod — clean one section at a time to prevent flexing and damaging the bore.
• Clean the upper receiver with a nylon bristle toothbrush dipped in CLP until free of dirt and carbon.
• After cleaning, coat the interior surfaces with CLP. Pay particular attention to shiny surfaces that indicate friction.

Bolt Carrier Group

• Remove the bolt carrier group from the upper receiver and disassemble it.
• Thoroughly clean all parts with a patch or nylon bristle toothbrush dipped in CLP. Never use a metal brush — it will damage the surface.
• Clean the locking lugs of the bolt with a nylon bristle toothbrush and CLP. Remove all carbon and metal filings, wipe with dry patches, and lightly lubricate.
• Use a nylon bristle toothbrush dipped in CLP to scrub the extractor, removing carbon and metal filings. Clean the firing pin recess and firing pin.
• Do NOT break down the carrier to the extractor pin — that's done only at CATM.
• When the parts are dry, before reassembly, apply a coat of CLP to the bolt body, rings, and carrier key.
• When the bolt carrier group is reassembled, apply a liberal amount of CLP to all exterior surfaces, with particular emphasis on friction points (rails and cam area).
• Put one drop of CLP in the bolt cam pin track and two drops in the gas ports.

Lower Receiver

• Wipe any dirt particles from the trigger mechanism with a clean patch or nylon bristle toothbrush. Place a drop of CLP on each pin for lubrication.
• Clean the components of the lower receiver group with nylon bristle toothbrush and CLP.
• Scrub to remove all carbon residue and foreign material. Drain CLP from the lower receiver and wipe dry.

Additional Preventative Maintenance and Inspection

Take these additional preventative measures to keep your weapon in top working order:

1. Extreme climates (very hot or very cold) — perform maintenance more frequently.
2. Inspect hidden surfaces of the bolt carrier assembly, upper receiver, barrel assembly, and lower receiver for corrosion. If any is found, clean and lubricate.
3. Remove all handprints with a dry wiping rag and lubricate the area with CLP to fight corrosion.
4. Unload and check inside magazines frequently for corrosion and moisture. Wipe ammunition dry before reloading. Never brush, polish, or coat ammunition with lubricant.
5. Use a muzzle cap or other protective equipment whenever the tactical situation permits.
6. Muzzle caps are provided for each trainer weapon and must be attached during inclement weather.

Hearing Protection

Hearing is a natural threat monitor and environmental sensor — your ears are the most technologically advanced communications equipment in your body. Hearing is a 24-hour function that warns of danger and keeps you in touch with your wingman and unit. Good hearing improves survivability and lethality at war, and your relationships at work and home.

Protect your ears from noise. One unprotected exposure to high-level noise can cause permanent damage. Hearing protection devices are critical when exposed to hazardous noise.

Hazardous noise can occur both on and off duty. Common sources:

• Small arms rifle
• Jet engines
• Jackhammers
• Air compressors
• Lawn mowers
• Rock concerts

Two main types of hearing protection:

• Earplugs
• Earmuffs

Summary

No matter what career field you go into, all Airmen are required to handle a small arms rifle — especially on deployment. Getting exposed to a weapon early in your career is essential. The trainer weapon, while not capable of firing, gives you the practice and comfort you need to perform the operations of the rifle. By the time you reach the firing range, that comfort lets you focus on hitting the target rather than fighting the weapon.