PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-579

PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly

ISSUE 579

FEBRUARY 2001
PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-579 - Page 22 of 33
I
n the field, a good basic cleaning of your M16 rifle or M4A1 carbine like it
shows in TM 9-1005-319-10 is fine. You clean the bore and bolt and that will keep
your weapon firing. But when you return to your unit, do the complete cleaning.
Clean those areas that won’t stop your rifle from firing, but can make firing more
difficult if they’re not cleaned.
Charging handle:
If you don’t
clean the charging handle, eventually
you’ll have trouble charging. So, pull
out the handle from the receiver and
clean it with CLP and a cloth. Use a pipe
cleaner dipped in CLP to clean out the
handle and receiver slots.
Slip ring:
If the slip ring collects too
much dirt, you’ll have trouble putting on
or taking off the handguards. So, have a
buddy hold down the slip ring with both
hands while you work out any sand or
dirt with a dry pipe cleaner or tooth-
brush. Don’t put CLP under the slip
ring.
Lube attracts more dirt.
Don’t
forget
charging
handle
slots
Push down and
clean under slip ring
Gas tube and locking lugs:
If they get too gunked up, bolt action slows.
So,
use your chamber brush to loosen carbon around the lugs. Then clean the lugs and
clean under the gas tube with a pipe cleaner and CLP.
Clean under gas tube and…
Put CLP on sight
post and detent
…around locking lugs
Work pipe cleaner around trigger assembly
CLP helps pivot and takedown
pins move smoothly
Takedown and pivot pins:
If the pins stick,
you’ll have trouble disassembling your weapon.
So, put a stripe of CLP down each pin and work them
in and out of the receiver until they move easily.
M16-Series Rifles, M4A1 Carbine.
..
M16-Series Rifles, M4A1 Carbine.
..
PS 579
41
Front sight post:
If the
post sticks, you can’t adjust
it. That means you miss what
you’re shooting at.
So, clean
around the post with a tooth-
brush. Depress the detent and
give it a drop of CLP. Work
the detent and post up and
down
until
they
move
smoothly.
Trigger assembly:
If the inner workings of the
trigger assembly get too dirty, the trigger will bind.
The best way to clean out the assembly is to put
CLP on a pipe cleaner and gently clean out dirt
from the assembly. Don’t take apart the trigger
assembly for cleaning. That’s your support’s job.
579. 40-43 (C)
1/9/01
8:24 PM
Page 1
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