PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-689

PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly

ISSUE 689

APRIL 2010
PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-689 - Page 12 of 33
20
PS 689
APR 10
21
PS 689
APR 10
Dear Editor,
In our work on Ft Bragg’s Corps Logistics Assistance Team, we run into
armorers who are confused about how to treat the M249 machine gun’s long
(or standard) and short barrels.
They think if they use only the short barrels, it’s OK to turn in the long
barrels. Then when they prepare to turn in an M249, they get an unpleasant
surprise.
The M249 is issued with two standard barrels because those barrels
are BII (basic issue items). Units are supposed to maintain all BII for their
equipment at all times. So units that don’t have both standard barrels don’t
have the M249’s BII, which means trouble during inspections and turn-in.
Page B-2 in the M249’s TM 9-1005-201-10 (Change 2) spells this out.
The short barrel, on the other hand, is AAL (additional authorization list),
which means it’s authorized but optional–you don’t have to have the short
barrel. Page C-1 spells this out.
If you have two good barrels–a primary and a spare–for your M249
regardless of length, the weapon is considered Fully Mission Capable. But
if you don’t have both standard barrels, you will run into problems during
inspections and equipment turn-in because you must have the M249’s
full BII.
Harold Neal
David Best
Corps Logistics
Assistance Team
Ft Bragg, NC
Editor’s note:
Excellent points,
gentlemen.
S
oldiers
who
have questions
about this
should c
ontact TACOM at
DSN 793-7458,
(309) 782-7458, or email
andre.pilgrim
@us.army.mil
Don’t forget the M249 short barrel
now has its own blank Fring attachment,
Dear Half-Mast,
We are deployed in
Afghanistan where we
need all the help possible
to keep sand out of our
M16s and M4s. Is it OK
to use barrel caps in the
field? My first sergeant
doesn’t think we should
because we might have to
shoot through the caps.
SGT Z.E.
Dear Sergeant Z.E.,
It is deFnitely OK to use the barrel caps in the
Feld. They are designed to help seal out sand. It’s
perfectly OK to shoot through them if necessary.
You can order 100 barrel caps with NSN 5340-00-
880-7666.
It is not OK to leave the barrel caps on for
storage or cargo transport. The caps trap moisture
inside the weapon, which leads to corrosion.
TB 9-1000-262-DT gives ofFcial
guidance on using the caps.
Dear Half-Mast,
Are there magazine
pouches for our M14
sniper rifles? We sure
could use them.
SGT H.O.
Dear Sergeant H.O.,
You’re in luck. A magazine pouch has just become
available with NSN 1005-01-543-0995.
M14 Rifle
Magazine
Pouch
NSN
M249 Machine Gun…
The Long and Short of Barrels
M16-Series Rifle, M4/M4A1 Carbine…
OK to
Use
Barrel
Caps?
M14 Rifle
Magazine
Pouch
NSN
you can use that
short barrel all
you want, but you
better keep me
around.
hey!
there’s a lot
of
sand
blowing
around out here!
I sure wish you
had a magazine
pouch!
I do now!
the pouch just
came out.
remember, I’m
BII and shorty,
here, is aal… so
he’s
optional.
better put
on my barrel
cap!
689.20-21.indd
1-2
3/5/10
3:04:21 PM
Mr. H.N.
Mr. D.B.
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