PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-675
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 675
FEBRUARY 2009
18
PS 675
FEB 09
M249
machine gunners have reported a rash of cook offs recently. A cook off occurs
when a round Fres because of a hot barrel and not because the trigger was pulled. There
are a few things you can do to cool off cook offs.
±irst, keep your M249 as
cool as possible. Don’t leave
the M249, its spare barrel, or
its ammo in direct sunlight
or on hot surfaces or shut up
in hot vehicles or buildings.
Of course, in the desert
that’s very difFcult, but you
can still keep your M249
covered as much as possible
in the Feld.
Dear Editor,
I thought your article in PS 668 (July 08) on
cleaning the M16 rifle was very good, but I believe
there is one final step that should be mentioned.
The last thing you should do when cleaning the
bore of the M16 or any of the machine guns is to
repeatedly run clean, dry patches through the barrel
until the patches come out clean. That way you’ve
made sure all oil and foreign material have been
removed from the bore.
SSG Kyle Gleason
Illinois ARNG
Change the barrel when you’re
supposed to during Fring. If you
continue Fring through the same
barrel, you not only risk a cook off
but also a ruined barrel. During
both sustained Fre (3 to 5 round
bursts, 4 to 5 seconds between
bursts, 50 rounds per minute) and
rapid Fre (8 to 10 round bursts, 2
to 3 seconds between bursts, 100
rounds per minute), change the
barrel every 200 rounds.
Clean and lube your weapon like it says in TM 9-1005-201-10. A dirty, rusty, poorly lubed
weapon will have more trouble with malfunctions that lead to cook offs than a properly
maintained weapon.
If you do have a stoppage, charge the weapon. If a round is ejected, Fre again.
If no round is ejected,
assume
you
have
a
live
round in the chamber. If the
weapon is hot (it’s Fred 200
successive rounds or more),
don’t open the cover or
remove the barrel. Point the
weapon down range, put it
on SA±E, let it cool off for 15
minutes, and then clear it. If
the M249 isn’t hot, you can
clear it immediately.
Editor’s note:
Excellent point, Sergeant. We’ll pass it on.
M249 Machine Gun…
Cool
Off Cook Offs
Small Arms…
The
Final
Cleaning Step
here are some
ways to cool off
m249 cook offs!
hey,
it’s hot
out here.
I need
some
shade.
that’s
200
rounds!
I need
a new
barrel.
ok, it’s
been 15
minutes.
I’ve cooled
off enough to
be cleared!
Run dry,
clean patches
through barrel
until all oil and
obstructions
are removed
675.18-19.indd
1-2
1/2/09
2:50:34 PM
SSG K.G.
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