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WEAPON TROUBLE SHOOTING
Learning Goal
This lesson will familiarized the RMT
Trainees with Rifle trouble shooting particularly the malfunction and treatment of Rifles. Training Objectives
At the end of this lesson, participants will be able to:
1. Familiarize Stoppage and Malfunction of a Rifle 2. Differentiate the Immediate Action and Remedial Action 3. Identify the different kinds of Rifle Malfunction. 4. Treat the identified malfunction of Rifle. Stoppage and Malfunction A stoppage and Malfunction is a failure of an automatic or semiautomatic firearm to complete the cycle of operation. This can be caused by a number of reasons such as; unseated magazine, broken firing pin, magazine failure, primer failure, improper grip, dirty rifle and improper immediate action. Stoppage and Malfunction The firer can apply immediate or remedial action to clear the stoppage. Some stoppages cannot be cleared by immediate or remedial action and may require weapon repair to correct the problem. A complete understanding of how the weapon functions is an integral part of applying immediate action procedures. Immediate Action The immediate action drill will clear most malfunctions to include: unseated magazine, primer failure and failure to eject.
1. The shooter will recognize the malfunction when
the trigger is either “empty” or it just clicks when operated. He may also notice that the slide may be out of battery, and there may be part of a cartridge sticking out of the ejection port. Immediate Action
2. The shooter’s first action will be to “tap” the base
of the magazine to ensure that it is seated properly. 3. He will then grasp the top-rear of the slide (behind the ejection port) and “rack” it firmly to the rear and let it slam forward by itself. Immediate Action (If the shooter covers the ejection port with his hand while grasping the slide, he can cause a double feed, which can only be cleared with remedial action).
4. The shooter will then reacquire the sight picture
and attempt to fire as necessary. Immediate Action/Treatment of Rifle Immediate action involves quickly applying a possible correction to reduce a stoppage without performing trouble shooting procedures to determine the actual cause. The key word SPORTS will help the firer remember the steps in order during a live-fire exercise. Immediate Action/Treatment of Rifle
S - lap the base of the magazine to ensure it is
seated properly P - ull slide/charging handle to the most rearward position O - bserve the chamber as the next round from the magazine prepares to be loaded Immediate Action/Treatment of Rifle
R - elease the slide/charging handle
T - ap the back part of the slide/Forward assist S - queeze the trigger. Remedial Action Remedial action is the continuing effort to determine the cause for a stoppage or malfunction and to try to clear the stoppage once it has been identified. To apply the corrective steps for remedial action, first try to place the weapon on SAFE, then remove the magazine, lock the bolt to the rear, and place the weapon on safe (if not already done). Remedial Action The remedial action drill will clear malfunctions to include, double feed and failure to extract.
1. The shooter will recognize the malfunction
when the trigger is “slack” when operated. He may also notice that the slide may be out of battery. Remedial Action 2. The shooter’s first reaction will be to perform the immediate action drill. (If the malfunction is caused by a double feed or failure to extract, the immediate action drill will not clear it.) Remedial Action
3. The remedial action will begin with the shooter
locking the slide to the rear.
4. He will then strip the magazine out of the
magazine well, and cycle the slide approximately three times, vigorously. The shooter will then draw a fresh magazine from the nearest pouch and insert it firmly into the weapon. Remedial Action 3. Pull the slide back and release it.
4. The shooter will then reacquire the sight picture
and attempt to fire as necessary. Common Stoppage and Malfunction Failure to Feed, Chamber, or Lock. A malfunction can occur when loading the rifle or during the cycle of operation. Once the magazine has been loaded into the rifle, the forward movement of the bolt carrier group could lack enough force (generated by the expansion of the action spring) to feed, chamber, or lock the bolt. Probable Causes
a. Excess accumulation of dirt or fouling in and
around the bolt and bolt carrier. b. Defective magazine (dented, bulged, or a weak magazine spring). c. Improperly loaded magazine. Probable Causes d. Defective round (projectile forced back into the cartridge case, which could result in a stubbed round or the base of the previous cartridge could be separated, leaving the remainder in the chamber). e. Damaged or broken action spring. Probable Causes f. Exterior accumulation of dirt in the lower receiver extension. g. Fouled gas tube resulting in short recoil. h. A magazine resting on the ground or pushed forward could cause an improper lock. Corrective Action Applying immediate action usually corrects the malfunction. To avoid the risk of further jamming, the firer should watch for ejection of a cartridge and ensure that the upper receiver is free of any loose rounds. If immediate action fails to clear the malfunction, remedial action must be taken. Corrective Action The carrier should not be forced. If resistance is encountered, which can occur with an unserviceable round, the bolt should be locked to the rear, the magazine removed, and the malfunction cleared. For example, a bolt override is when a cartridge has wedged itself between the bolt and charging handle. Corrective Action The best way to correct this problem are the following:
1. Ensuring the charging handle is pushed forward
and locked in place. 2. Securing the rifle and pulling the bolt to the rear until the bolt seats completely into the buffer well. 3. Turning the rifle upright and allowing the overridden cartridge to fall out. Common Stoppage and Malfunction Failure to Fire Cartridge. This is a failure of a cartridge to fire despite the fact that a round has been chambered, the trigger pulled, and the sear released the hammer. This occurs when the firing pin fails to strike the primer with enough force or when the ammunition is defective. Probable Causes
Excessive carbon build up on the firing pin
is often the cause, because the full forward travel of the firing pin is restricted. A defective or worn firing pin can give the same results. Probable Causes
Inspection of the ammunition could
reveal a shallow indentation or no mark on the primer, indicating a firing pin malfunction. Cartridges that show a normal indentation on the primer, but did not fire indicate faulty ammunition. Corrective Action If the malfunction continues, the firing pin, bolt, carrier, and locking lug recesses of the barrel extension should be inspected and any accumulation of excessive carbon or fouling should be removed. The firing pin should also be inspected for damage. Corrective Action Cartridges that show a normal indentation on the primer, but failed to fire could indicate a bad ammunition lot. Those that show a complete penetration of the primer by the firing pin could also indicate failure of the cartridge to fully seat in the chamber. Common Stoppage and Malfunction Failure to Extract. A failure to extract results when the cartridge case remains in the chamber of the rifle. While the bolt and bolt carrier could move rearward only a short distance, more commonly the bolt and bolt carrier recoil fully to the rear, leaving the cartridge case in the chamber. Common Stoppage and Malfunction A live round is then forced into the base of the cartridge case as the bolt returns in the next feed cycle. This malfunction is one of the hardest to clear. Probable Cause Short recoil cycles and fouled or corroded rifle chambers are the most common causes of failures to extract. A damaged extractor or a weak or broken extractor spring can also cause this malfunction. Corrective Action The severity of a failure to extract determines the corrective action procedures. If the bolt has moved rearward far enough to strip a live round from the magazine in its forward motion, the bolt and carrier must be locked to the rear. The magazine and all loose rounds must be removed before clearing the stoppage. Corrective Action
Usually, tapping the butt of the rifle on a hard
surface causes the cartridge to fall out of the chamber. However, if the cartridge case is ruptured, it can be seized. When this occurs, a cleaning rod can be inserted into the bore from the muzzle end. Corrective Action The cartridge case can be forced from the chamber by tapping the cleaning rod against the inside base of the fired cartridge. If cleaning and inspecting the mechanism and chamber reveals no defects but failures to extract persist, the extractor and extractor spring should be replaced. If the chamber surface is damaged, the entire barrel must be replaced. Common Stoppage and Malfunction Failure to Eject. Ejection of a cartridge is an element in the cycle of functioning of the rifle, regardless of the mode of fire. A malfunction occurs when the cartridge is not ejected through the ejection port and either remains partly in the chamber or becomes jammed in the upper receiver as the bolt closes. Common Stoppage and Malfunction When the firer initially clears the rifle, the cartridge could strike an inside surface of the receiver and bounce back into the path of the bolt. Probable Cause The cartridge must extract before it can eject. Failures to eject can also be caused by a buildup of carbon or fouling on the ejector spring or extractor, or from short recoil. Short recoil is usually due to a buildup of fouling in the carrier mechanism or gas tube, which could result in many failures to include a failure to eject. Probable Cause Resistance caused by a carbon-coated or corroded chamber can impede the extraction, and then the ejection of a cartridge. Corrective Action While retraction of the charging handle usually frees the cartridge and permits removal, the charging handle must not be released until the position of the next live round is determined. Corrective Action If another live round has been sufficiently stripped from the magazine or remains in the chamber, then the magazine and all live rounds could also require removal before the charging handle can be released. Corrective Action If several malfunctions occur and are not corrected by cleaning and lubricating, the ejector spring, extractor spring, and extractor should be replaced. Other Malfunctions The following paragraphs describe some other malfunctions that can occur.
a. The bolt fails to remain in a rearward position
after the last round in the magazine is fired. Check for a bad magazine or short recoil. Other Malfunctions
b. The bolt fails to lock in the rearward
position when the bolt catch has been engaged. Check bolt catch; turn in to unit armorer. Other Malfunctions
c. The weapon fires two or more rounds when
the trigger is pulled and the selection lever is in the SEMI position. This indicates a worn sear, cam, or disconnector. Turn in to armorer to repair and replace trigger group parts as required. d. The trigger fails to pull or return after release with the selector set in a firing position. This indicates that the trigger pin has backed out of the receiver or the hammer spring is broken. Turn in to armorer to replace or repair. e. The magazine fails to lock into the magazine well. Check the magazine and magazine catch for damage. Turn in to armorer to adjust the catch; replace as required. f. Any part of the bolt carrier group fails to function. Check for incorrect assembly of components. Correctly clean and assemble the bolt carrier group, or replace damaged parts. g. The ammunition fails to feed from the magazine. Check for damaged magazine. A damaged magazine could cause repeated feeding failures and should be turned in to the armorer or exchanged. Kinds of Rifle Malfunction and Treatment (Immediate) 1. Firearm on Safety – Selector level is safe mode. Treatment: Unsafe firearm. Kinds of Rifle Malfunction and Treatment (Immediate)
2. Empty Magazine – Magazine is out of
ammunition. Treatment: Change magazine. (Release magazine, then change magazine) Kinds of Rifle Malfunction and Treatment (Immediate)
3. Failure to Feed - Magazine not fully home or not
properly inserted. Treatment: Bang and cock. (Push magazine tightly, then cock) Kinds of Rifle Malfunction and Treatment (Immediate)
4. Bolt Not Fully Homed – The ammunition is not
properly loaded on the chamber cause by weak buffer spring or improper loading of firearm Treatment: Push or Tap the forward assist button. Kinds of Rifle Malfunction and Treatment (Immediate)
5. Dud Bullet - Deflective ammunition.
Treatment: Bang and Cock. Kinds of Rifle Malfunction and Treatment (Immediate) 6. Failure to Extract – The empty shell failed to extract cause by defective ammunition or dirty gas tube. Treatment: Pull the charging handle rearward, until the empty shell ejects. Kinds of Rifle Malfunction and Treatment (Immediate) 7. Stove Pipe - The empty shell is sticking out on the chamber because it did not extract properly. Treatment: Chop outward. (Chop the empty shell outward with weak hand) Kinds of Rifle Malfunction and Treatment (Remedial) 8. Double Feed - Two rounds are on the chamber cause by the defective magazine. Treatment: Safety, release magazine, cock three times, clear obstruction, insert magazine then cock. Kinds of Pistol Malfunction and Treatment (Remedial)
9. Squib Load – Weapon fires, but create powder
burns and sparks at the ejection port, due to underload or damage ammunition. Kinds of Pistol Malfunction and Treatment (Remedial) Treatment: Stop from firing, put firearm to safe mode, release magazine, rack or cycle bolt 3 times, disassemble firearm and inspect for possible slug obstruction in the barrel, remove obstruction and reassemble firearm. Summary
1. Familiarize Stoppage and Malfunction of a
Rifle 2. Differentiate the Immediate Action and Remedial Action 3. Identify the different kinds of Rifle Malfunction. 4. Treat the identified malfunction of Rifle. Feedback End of Presentation.
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