M-249 AUTOMATIC RIFLE y

OVERVIEW PERIOD I 1. Weapon/Classroom Safety 2. Description and Characteristics 3. Nomenclature 4. Clearing 5. Disassembly/Assembly and Function Check 6. Inspection, Care, Cleaning and Lubrication y

OVERVIEW PERIOD I (Continued) 7. Ammunition 8. Loading and Clearing 9. Stoppages, Malfunctions, Immediate Action 10. Installing and Removing Blank Firing Adapter 11. Methods of Destruction y

STUDENT EVALUATIONS Clearing the automatic rifle Full loading the automatic rifle using belted ammunition Clearing belted ammunition from the full-load position Disassembly of the automatic rifle Assembly of the automatic rifle Function check of the automatic rifle Applying immediate action procedures y

WEAPONS SAFETY Violations of Weapon Safety Rules may result in immediate removal from the training area.

DESCRIPTION Air cooled Automatic weapon Disintegrating metallic split link belt or magazine fed Fires from the open bolt Fixed headspace Gas operated 5.56mm NATO standard ammunition

CHARACTERISTICS PERFORMANCE LENGTH 41 Inches WEIGHT 16.5 lbs.

CHARACTERISTICS RANGES MAX. EFFECTIVE RANGE Maximum Range 3,600m Maximum adjustable 1000m MAX. EFFECTIVE RANGE Point targets 600m Area targets 800m Suppression 1000m

CHARACTERISTICS RATES OF FIRE Sustained – 50 rpm Rapid – 50 rpm Cyclic – 850 rpm

EXTERNAL NOMENCLATURE

CLEARING PROCEDURES Place on fire, lock bolt to rear Safety on Return cocking handle forward Raise cover and feed mechanism and visually inspect chamber, receiver and magazine well Close cover, select fire, and ride the bolt gently forward using the cocking handle while pressing the trigger to rear Weapon remains on fire (bolt forward, weapon on fire)

5 INSPECTION POINTS

DISASSEMBLY The weapon must always be CLEARED before disassembling. The Instructor will Demonstrate.

DISASSEMBLY Remove Operating Group Remove Barrel Group Remove Gas Regulator and Collar Remove Hand-guard assembly Remove Butt stock/shoulder assembly and Trigger assembly Remove Gas Cylinder and Bipod group

DISASSEMBLY FIELD STRIP

DISASSEMBLY EIGHT MAJOR GROUPS

DISASSEMBLY INSPECTION CLEANING LUBRICATION REASSEMBLY

FUNCTION CHECK Clear Weapon Safety off, lock bolt to rear Safety on Pull trigger ( should not fire ) Check fire (a) Safety off (b) Pull trigger, ride bolt forward (c) Bolt forward, remains on fire

AMMUNITION TYPES AND USES

WEAPON LOADING Full load (open cover) Weapon to fire Lock bolt to the rear Safety on Inspect 5 safety points Ammo on tray Close cover

WEAPON LOADING

UNLOADING Unloading from a full load: Ensure safety is on Raise cover, remove ammo Inspect 5 safety points Close cover Safety off Ride bolt forward

WEAPON LOADING Magazine fed- 1. Weapon to fire 2. Lock bolt to the rear 3. Safety on 4. Inspect 5 safety points 5. Close cover 6. Insert magazine

UNLOADING Unloading from a full load: Ensure safety is on Remove magazine Raise cover Inspect 5 safety points Close cover Safety off Ride bolt forward

STOPPAGES AND MALFUNCTIONS STOPPAGE- MALFUNCTION- IMMEDIATE ACTION-

STOPPAGES AND MALFUNCTIONS IMMEDIATE ACTION Within 10 seconds Bolt to rear Round ejects -- continue

STOPPAGES AND MALFUNCTIONS Remedial – Cold Barrel Round not ejected Hold handle to rear Open cover Remove ammo Inspect/clear weapon Round in chamber Close cover Attempt to fire

STOPPAGES AND MALFUNCTIONS Remedial – Hot Barrel Remedial – Hot Barrel During combat, wait 5 seconds because of the possibility of a “hangfire” before applying remedial action. During training, wait 15 minutes before clearing a hot weapon and applying remedial action.

BLANK FIRING ADAPTER

DESTRUCTION OF WEAPON FIVE METHODS 1. Mechanical 2. Burning 3. Gunfire 4. Demolition 5. Disposal

If you do not understand anything covered during Period I, ask now! SUMMARY If you do not understand anything covered during Period I, ask now!

OVERVIEW PERIOD II Roles of the automatic rifle Characteristics of fire Range determination/Lateral distance measurement Principles of fire Engagement of visible targets Limited visibility Predetermined fires

ROLES OF THE AUTOMATIC RIFLE Support rifleman Engage intermediate distance targets Heavy volume of fire Assault weapon in close quarters or entry procedures

CHARACTERISTICS OF FIRE Trajectory Maximum ordinate Cone of fire Beaten zone Danger space Dead space

CHARACTERISTICS OF FIRE Trajectory--path of projectile Almost flat at 300 meters or less Beyond 300 meters, trajectory is curved and becomes greater as range increases

CHARACTERISTICS OF FIRE Maximum ordinate Highest point trajectory reaches from muzzle to target Occurs at 2/3 of distance between gun and target

CHARACTERISTICS OF FIRE

CHARACTERISTICS OF FIRE Cone of fire Pattern formed by several rounds in a burst, each round taking a slightly different trajectory Caused by vibration of the gun or variations in ammunition and atmospheric conditions

CHARACTERISTICS OF FIRE Beaten zone-area where cone of fire strikes the ground Changes when range to target changes Uniformly sloping or level terrain, beaten zone is long and narrow Beaten zone becomes shorter and wider as range to target increases Terrain sloping down and away, beaten zone becomes longer Terrain rising, beaten zone becomes shorter Terrain has no great effect on the width of the beaten zone

CHARACTERISTICS OF FIRE

CHARACTERISTICS OF FIRE Danger space-space between gun and target where trajectory does not rise above 1.8 meters Fired over level terrain – Danger space to 700 meters 1.8 METERS IS AVERAGE HEIGHT OF TARGET SOME AREAS BETWEEN GUN AND TARGET MAY NOT HAVE DANGER SPACE

CHARACTERISTICS OF FIRE Dead space-area that can’t be seen or covered by gun position Caused by depressions, rises, obstructions, etc. Must be covered by a different weapon position or other type of weapon ie. M203

RANGE DETERMINATION Position disclosure Required for reporting adjustment of fire

RANGE DETERMINATION METHODS – Pacing Appearance of Objects Method 100 meter unit of measure Pacing Appearance of Objects Method

PRINCIPLES OF FIRE Types of targets Point Area Linear Deep Linear with depth

PRINCIPLES OF FIRE

PRINCIPLES OF FIRE

PRINCIPLES OF FIRE

PRINCIPLES OF FIRE

PRINCIPLES OF FIRE

PRINCIPLES OF FIRE

PRINCIPLES OF FIRE

PRINCIPLES OF FIRE

If you do not understand anything covered during Period I, ask now! SUMMARY If you do not understand anything covered during Period I, ask now!

OVERVIEW PERIOD III Firing Positions Grip Aiming Trigger Manipulation Mechanical Zero Sight Adjustments Adjusted Aiming Point Firing while wearing CWDE

FIRING POSITIONS Prone position Right handed Feet spread, heels down Shoulder rest up

FIRING POSITIONS

FUNDAMENTALS Grip Right hand on grip Left hand on cover Weapon pulled into shoulder with 3rd and 4th fingers of the shooting hand

FUNDAMENTALS Aiming Sight alignment 1. Front-sight blade centered in rear sight aperture 2. Top of front-sight blade even with center of rear sight aperture

FUNDAMENTALS Aiming Sight Picture Top of front sight on center base of target Eye focus on front-sight

FUNDAMENTALS

FUNDAMENTALS Trigger Manipulation Pull trigger and release Control rounds in burst

MECHANICAL ZERO Windage Turn sight full left Count number of clicks while turning windage knob full right Back off half the number of clicks to the left

MECHANICAL ZERO Elevation Turn sight full up Count number of clicks while turning sight full down Back off half the number of clicks up

SIGHT ADJUSTMENTS Windage knob 1 click = 6 in. at 300 meters Push right / Pull left Elevation knob Push up / Pull down

CWDE Firing while wearing CWDE Weapon cant Sight alignment Barrel change

CWDE

SUMMARY ANY QUESTIONS?

LEAD EXPOSURE BRIEFING