PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-599
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 599
OCTOBER 2002
PS 599
OCT 02
16
Rifles, Machine Guns…
The cold will
freeze your rifle or
machine gun in its
tracks if you ignore
cold weather PM.
Here's
hot advice
to help your weapon
fight the cold…
Use rifle bore cleaner, NSN 6850-00-224-6663, to
remove carbon, and use LAW, NSN 9150-00-292-9689,
to lube your weapons when temperatures drop below
10°F. LAW helps moving parts on most weapons slide
better in cold than CLP or LSA. The exception is the
M249 machine gun. It needs CLP in all weather.
Prevent condensation from forming inside weapons by
keeping them covered when you move from a cold place
to a warm one. That lets the weapon warm gradually.
Wait until a weapon warms to room temperature
before cleaning it. A cold weapon will sweat with con-
densation. If you clean and lube the weapon before it
quits sweating, the sweat freezes when you take it back
outside.
Hand function the
weapon every 30 minutes
to keep parts from freez-
ing solid. If parts stick,
move them slowly and
easily until they move
smoothly again. Forcing
things breaks parts.
Keep ammo dry. If necessary, wipe
ammo and the insides of magazines
before firing. That will prevent moisture
from freezing and jamming your weapon.
Never lay a hot weapon or barrel
on the snow. Set it on an MRE box
or spare barrel bag. That sudden
cold can warp the barrel.
Store weapons in a covered, wind-protected area when you're not using them. If
that's not possible, cover them with a blanket or poncho. That at least shuts out ice
and snow from the barrel, sights, and working parts.
Use LAW for cold-weather
lubing—except on M249
Function unloaded
weapon to prevent
freezing
Wipe dry magazines and
ammo before firing
Never place hot barrel on snow
You're not
freezing our
moving parts
with your cold,
Old Man!
Cold
weather PM
is keeping
us moving!
…and we're
moving
you
out of here.
Got that,
old-timer!?
599. 16-17 (C)
8/24/02
4:29 PM
Page 1
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