PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-596
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 596
JULY 2002
PS 596
JULY 02
48
Dear Editor,
As a maintenance technician, I run into National Guard and Army
Reserve units who believe their rifles, machine guns, and pistols don’t
require maintenance if they’re not fired for long periods of time. They
support their position by pointing to Para 3-3e in DA Pam 738-750,
which discusses weapons not removed from storage.
I believe this regulation does not apply to Reserve and National
Guard arms rooms and that ignoring weapons’ PMCS requirements will
result in their not being ready for action.
CW4 Anthony Cardenas
90th Regional Support Group
Ft Sam Houston, TX
Locked to Stay Locked
Dear Editor,
As contractors who work exclusively with small arms, we notice some com-
mon mistakes armorers make when lock-wiring parts. Of course, if a screw or
nut isn’t lock wired correctly, a weapon can come apart during firing.
A major problem is using the wrong wire. The lock wire you find around most
motor pools isn’t strong enough. Use the wire called out in the expendable
supplies at the back of each weapon’s TM. If none is called out, NSN 9505-
00-293-4208 brings wire that is good for most lock wiring chores.
Another mistake is not using lac-
ing pliers. Trying to lock wire a screw
with needle nose pliers won’t work.
Armorers must use the lacing pliers
in the small arms tool kit.
Another problem is not routing the
wire in the correct direction. The
wire should pull the screw clockwise
so that the screw can’t work loose.
Finally, a common mistake is leav-
ing slack in the wire. The wire should
be pulled as tight as possible. If you
leave slack, the screw can loosen.
Robert Henson
Brant Ratliff
Ft Campbell, KY
It doesn’t matter
whether you’re
active
army, reserve,
or
national guard.
all
weapons need pmcs
quarterly
-
no exceptions.
Lock wire
should pull
screw clock-
wise
Wire should
have no slack
Your tips will be the key to locking
up locking wire problems. Good job!
From the desk of the
Editor
Small Arms…
I think you
need to brush
up on your
lock wiring
technique!
You’re absolutely right, Chief. Every weapon should have the PMCS that is
spelled out in its -10 TM performed at least quarterly.
The only exception for the Reserves and National Guard is that the annual
gauging required for each active Army weapon can be done every other year as
long as no problems show up during quarterly PMCS.
This is spelled out in each weapon’s -20 TM at the beginning of the PMCS for
the armorer and at the beginning of the gauging requirements for direct support.
Ignoring these requirements means weapons can develop corrosion and
malfunctions that go undetected until the weapon is needed.
From the
desk of
the
Editor
596. 48-49 (C)
5/24/02
12:00 PM
Page 1
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