the charging handle fully to the rear with your right hand
--Slap up on bottom of the magazine
and release it. (See fig. 3-7.)
--Pull charging handle to rear
NOTE: Do not "ride" the charging handle forward
--Observe for an ejection of the round
with the right hand. If the charging handle is eased
--Release the charging handle
forward from the open position, the bolt may fail to lock
--Tap the forward assist
If the bolt fails to go frilly forward, use the bolt closure
--Aim on target
forward assist assembly (fig. 3-1) with the heel of your
right hand. The rifle is now loaded and is ready to fire
--Squeeze the trigger again
when you place the selector lever in the automatic or
NOTE: "Apply immediate action only one time
semiautomatic position. If it is not ready to fire, make
for a given stoppage. If the weapon still fails to fire,
sure the selector lever is on SAFE.
inspect it to determine the cause of the stoppage and
After the last round has been fired, the bolt catch
take appropriate action."
holds the bolt carrier to the rear. To change the magazine
for reloading, press the magazine catch button; remove
MISFIRE AND COOK OFF
the empty magazine from the weapon.
These malfunctions rarely happen when you fire
FIRING THE RIFLE
only authorized and properly maintained ammunition in
properly maintained and operated weapons. However,
The rifle fires semiautomatically or automatically
you must understand the nature of each kind of
when you move the selector lever to the desired position.
malfunction as well as the proper preventive and
(See fig. 3-5.) With the selector lever in the
corrective procedures in order to avoid personal injury
semiautomatic position, the rifle fires one round each
or damage to your rifle. The following procedures for
time you pull the trigger. With the selector lever in the
removing chambered cartridges associated with these
automatic position, the Ml6A1 rifle continues to fire
malfunctions are given below:
until the magazine is empty or you release the trigger.
The M16A2E3, mentioned earlier, cannot fire fully
1. MISFIRE. A misfire is a complete failure to fire,
automatically, but fires in short bursts of three rounds.
NOT a delay in firing that may be caused by a faulty
When the rifle is fired in either SEMI or AUTO, the bolt
firing mechanism or a faulty element in the propelling
locks in the open position when the last round from the
charge explosive train.
magazine has been fired.
2. COOK OFF. A cook off is a functioning of any
or all of the explosive components of a cartridge
MALFUNCTION, STOPPAGE,
chambered in a hot weapon because of the heat from the
AND IMMEDIATE ACTION
continued firing of the weapon. When this happens,
attempt to remove the cartridge before 10 seconds
Malfunction is an unplanned cessation of fire. A
elapse. If a cartridge is chambered in a hot rifle and can
malfunction occurs because of a stoppage caused
neither be fired nor removed, keep your rifle trained in
by a mechanical failure of the weapon, magazine, or
a safe direction. Then allow for a minimum of 15
ammunition.
minutes to elapse before taking any further corrective
A stoppage is any interruption in the cycle of
action.
functioning caused by faulty action of the weapon or
faulty ammunition To connect this problem, you should
UNLOADING AND CLEARING
replace either the worn or broken part or the
THE RIFLE
ammunition.
Immediate action is the action you take to correct
To unload the rifle and make it safe, place the
the stoppage without analyzing the cause. Immediate
selector lever on the SAFE position (fig. 3-5); and
remove the magazine by pressing the magazine catch
action to clear a stoppage in the rifle is as follows:
3-9
