PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-608
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 608
JULY 2003
PS 608
JULY 03
49
Small Arms…
Now See This:
Adjust Sights Right
R
ifles and machine guns spend too much time sitting in direct support shops
because armorers and gunners don't use the right tool to adjust the front sights.
They grab what's handy—a bullet, a nail, or a multi-purpose tool—and start
poking and turning the front sight detent or post. That's OK on the battlefield where
you're concerned with life and death. But it's not OK in a training environment.
Using the wrong tool to adjust the sight again and again on the range soon ruins the
sight. Then the weapon has to go off to support for repairs.
All of this can be avoided if every armorer and squad leader carries and uses the
correct sight adjustment tool.
There is no NSN for the M16 rifle/M4 carbine front sight tool. You have two
choices: have the tool made by support using the diagram on Page E-2 in TM 9-1005-
319-23&P or go to your local gun shop and buy the tool. Most units have found it
cheaper and easier just to buy the tool.
hold it!
use the
right
tool to adjust
your sight or
you’ll soon be
sightless!
PS 608
Armorers, make
sure your unit sees
this article. it will
save
you
trouble
and
your unit
the
cost of replacing
ruined weapons.
The bottom line is that if you want to do your M16 or M4 a favor, do everything
TM 9-1005-319-10 says to do, then
stop.
If your weapon needs more attention, tell
your armorer. He has the tools and training to either fix it or get it to support.
• Don't use stuff like oven or toilet bowl
cleaners or homemade cleaning tools on
your rifle.
• Don't take off the heat shields for cleaning.
• Don't use the bore brush on the out-
side of the weapon.
Once again,
there goes my
protective
finish.
stick to
toilets, pal.
you’ll ruin my
protective
coating!
Leave heat shields alone
These things will get your rifle or carbine wonderfully clean, but they also take
off its protective finish and ruin the barrel grooves. Soon your weapon is junk.
You’ll ruin the hand-
guards if you remove the
heat shields. That’s why
it says DO NOT REMOVE
on the heat shields.
The M240B
machine gun
sight tool
comes with
nsn 1005-01-
458-
7
004 and
costs $56.
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