PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-738
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 738
MAY 2014
42
PS 738
MAY 14
Know the BFA
Difference
G
unners now have a barrel choice for the M249 machine gun: the standard barrel
and the newer short barrel.
But when it comes to the blank Fring attachment (B±A), there is no choice. If you
Fre the standard barrel, you must use the standard barrel B±A, NSN 1005-21-912-
8997. It’s red and screws in the barrel.
If you Fre the short barrel, you must use the short barrel B±A, NSN 1005-01-537-
0491. It’s yellow and clamps on the barrel.
I
f you’ve found mistakes in the M240 machine gun’s TM 9-1005-313-10 or -23&P,
TACOM wants to know. Those TMs are about to be revised and TACOM wants to
make sure all mistakes are corrected Frst.
Mistakes include not only NSNs or part numbers that are wrong, but also missing
steps in instructions or instructions that are unclear.
To Fx these problems, submit a DA ±orm 2028 to TACOM. Go to:
If you have any problems, email the TULSA help desk:
usarmy.detroit.tacom.mbx.ilsc-tulsa@mail.mil
±illing out the online form takes only minutes and you will save armorers and
M240 gunners a lot of trouble in the future. You will receive a TACOM response to
your DA ±orm 2028.
Dear Editor,
The two-level maintenance system the Army adopted several years ago took
armorers out of the maintenance business. But many people in the Army still
haven’t gotten the word.
The two levels of maintenance now are field and sustainment. Field level
is forward support company (FSC) or base support battalion (BSB) and
sustainment is depot. So the work that used to be the responsibility of the
armorer should now be done by the FSC or BSB.
The arms room should have no bench stock. The armorer’s job is to check
weapons in and out, provide cleaning and lubing materials, and track inspections
and repairs. But, if any weapon needs to be fixed, it goes to field maintenance.
And quarterly inspections should also be done by field maintenance.
Rudy Sittig
Crew Served Weapons Team
TACOM
Armorer No Longer in Maintenance Business
Using the M249 standard barrel B±A with the short barrel increases the unlocking
velocity of the bolt when it leaves the barrel socket. This increased velocity can
damage the receiver’s inner rail, which means your M249 is Fnished.
If you’ve already Fred blanks through the short barrel with the standard barrel
B±A, your armorer needs to check the inner rail for cracks. See Page WP 0023-3-5 in
TM 9-1005-201-23&P (Apr 13) for directions.
Good news if you need the short barrel B±A. You can get it free issue by using
single code M, fund code GA, and project code IUO. That will save your unit $75.
M249 Machine Gun…
M240
Machine
Gun…
Found TM Mistakes?
TACOM Wants To Know
wait a darned
minute! that’s
not
the right NSN for
my bolt!
ShoOt, we
gotta Get this
corRected! I’ll
shOot TACoM a
2028.
Small Arms…
M249 standard barrel BFA
is
red
and screws in
M249 short barrel BFA is
yellow
and clamps on
when it comes
to firing blanks
through your
m249, there
is a
difference
between bfas.
if you don’t
pay attention
to the bfa, you
put a
serious
hurt
on your
m249.
yeah,
serious!
it all depends
on
which
of my
barrels you’re
using!
Editor’s note:
Thanks for clarifying
this, Rudy.
We’ll help get the word out.
738 42-43.indd
1-2
4/1/14
11:58 AM
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