PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-707
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 707
OCTOBER 2011
36
37
PS 707
PS 707
OCT 11
OCT 11
U
nits would be
better off never using
cleaning tanks for
their weapons, mainly
because it’s too easy
to mix up bolts when
many weapons are
run through the tanks.
If a bolt is used with
a weapon it wasn’t
headspaced for, the
receiver can rupture
during Fring.
But cleaning tanks
aren’t going away,
especially at posts that
are dealing with large
numbers of weapons
during training. Here
are a few precautions
to help your weapons
survive cleaning tanks:
W
hen Soldiers are installing optic sights on
their M16A4 rifes and M4/M4A1 carbines, they
are removing the backup iron sight (BUIS).
Bad move!
As its name states, BUIS is the backup sight
in case something goes wrong with whatever
other sight you’re using. It keeps you From
being sightless in the heat oF battle.
Plus, removing the BUIS deadlines your
weapon.
So leave the BUIS alone and keep it installed
in the rear-most slot on the mounting rail.
Install the M68 or RCO-150 sights anywhere but
that last slot. That’s strictly For the BUIS.
The TMs For the M68 and M150 sights show
the sights mounted without the BUIS. That will
be corrected in the next update to the TMs.
M16 Buttstock Picture Wrong
The picture oF hte new M16-series rife hybrid buttstock PS showed on Page 24 in PS 703
(Jun 11) was wrong. When you order the new buttstock kit, NSN 1005-01-569-6938, it will
look like the picture on WP 0021-19 in TM 9-1005-319-23&P.
•
Use a metal basket in the tank to ensure no parts disappear during cleaning.
•
When the weapons come out of the tank, they must be completely wiped clean
of solvent and allowed to completely dry. But here’s the important part:
The
weapons must then be completely lubricated before storage.
Solvent removes
every bit of lubrication from weapons. If weapons are stored without being re-
lubed, count on them being ruined by corrosion.
•
Protect yourself from solvent. It’s strong stuff. Wear goggles, rubber gloves, and
coveralls with the sleeves rolled down.
•
Remember that some weapon parts should never be dunked in solvent. Examples
are the M2 and M48 machine gun back plates, the MK 19 bolt assembly and
anything plastic. Solvent will eat up these parts. Check the operator TMs for info
on what parts to keep away from solvent.
•
Use only dry cleaning solvent Type II
(81349), MIL-PR±-680. This is the only
solvent authorized for small arms.
NSN 6850-01-474-2316 brings 55 gallons,
NSN 6850-01-474-2317 5 gallons,
NSN 6850-01-474-2319 1 gallon, and
NSN 6850-00-281-1985 4 1-gal containers.
•
Don’t clean small arms in the
same cleaning tank you use for
things like vehicle parts. They
may have contaminants that
could damage weapons.
BUIS Is Backup.
..
Leave It Alone!
Small Arms…
Use
Cleaning
Tanks with
Caution!
M16A4 Rife, M4/M4A1 Carbine…
BUIS Is Backup.
..
Leave It Alone!
hands off
my buIS,
buddy!
you gotta
leave that
installed
on me all
the time in
case those
fancy optic
sights Stop
WORKinG.
I’m the
ONLY
solvent
you can use
on small
Arms!
dude!
you just
cleaned
HmMwv
parts in
there…
…you’re
not
putting
me
in
there,
too!
OK - I’m clean now
but I neEd to be
completeLy lubed
before You store me!
no lube means
corRosiOn
…
and corrosion
ruiNS
me!
707 36-37.indd
1-2
8/26/11
3:09 PM
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