PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-588
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 588
NOVEMBER 2001
PS 588
45
M16-Series Rifle, M4A1 Carbine.
..
Dear Editor,
As a small arms inspector, I check out many M16 rifles and M4A1
carbines. I've found a number of weapons that had firing pins with a
blunted tip and a ring cut in the pin's shaft. A firing pin in that
condition probably won't ignite the cartridge and must be replaced.
Armorers tell me the problem is that soldiers are taught in basic
training to use the firing pin to clean inside the bolt carrier.
But that's wrong! A worn bore brush and CLP should be
used to clean inside the bolt carrier, not a firing pin.
If armorers would stress this during training, they
would save their units the cost of new firing pins.
Timothy Murphy
94th Reserve Spt Cmd
Ft Devens, MA
PS 588
NOV 01
44
Small Arms.
..
Less Is Better
T
oo much lube is bad for your rifle or machine gun. If you put a heavy coat
of CLP or one of the other lubricants on moving parts—like a bolt—carbon
quickly builds up during firing. Soon, moving parts have difficulty moving.
Your lubing guide is the maintenance section in the -10 TM for the weapon.
It tells you which parts get a light coat and which get a heavy coat.
What's the difference between light and heavy? A light coat is just enough to
see. If the lube can be moved around with your finger, it's a heavy coat.
A good way to make sure you don't over-lube is to put a couple of drops on
your finger instead of the weapon. Rub your finger and thumb together to spread
the lube and then run your finger over the part.
Lubing is helpful only if you first clean your weapon. Otherwise, you're cre-
ating a mixture of lube, carbon, dirt, and metal shavings, which will do your
weapon no good.
[gurgle]
NO!
[gurgle]
…too much…
lube… I’m…
suffocating!
Now
for a
second
coat!
Put two drops
on finger
Rub on
parts
Are you listening, armorers?
Pass the word to your unit.
I’ve got
this dirt in
my sight…
could you
what
about the
excess clp
on my
NO!
NO!
Well, my
stock could
use some
polishing
[sheesh]
no!
uh…
From the desk of the
Editor
hey, li’l
buddy, my bolt
carrier’s all
gunked up.
d’you think
you could
clean it out
for me?
Listen and
listen good!
I’m
not
a
cleaning
tool.
I’m a firing
pin! That’s
what I’m for
…firing!
Nothing
else!!!
got it?
588. 44-45 (C)
9/30/01
5:21 PM
Page 1
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