M249 SQUAD AUTOMATIC WEAPON

1. 1

   Clear the weapon

   • Point weapon in safe direction. Ensure safety is on FIRE before moving bolt/operating rod assembly.
   • Pull and hold cocking handle with right hand palm up to rear, ensuring bolt locks completely to rear.
   • While holding cocking handle (no tension on bolt), place safety to SAFE.
   • Push cocking handle assembly to fully forward and locked position.
   • Push in feed cover latches, look safe direction, raise feed cover. Conduct five-point safety check: feed pawl assembly under cover, feed tray, lift feed tray and inspect chamber, check between bolt face and chamber and under bolt/operating rod assembly, check magazine well.
   • Lower feed tray and close feed cover, ensuring it locks shut.
   • Pull cocking handle to rear (palm up). Place safety to FIRE.
   • While fully depressing trigger, ease bolt forward to close and lock. Release trigger.
   GO NO
2. 2

   Disassemble the weapon into groups

   • Driving spring mechanism rod
   • Spring
   • Trigger mechanism
   • Bolt carrier
   • Bolt
   • Gas operating rod
   • Hand guard
   • Heat shield
   • Bipod legs
   • Barrel
   • Gas regulator
   • Gas regulator collar
   • Gas tube
   • Receiver with feed tray and feed cover assembly

   All parts must be placed on correct nomenclature labels. Time stops when you return to standing.

   GO NO
3. 3

   Assemble the weapon

   • Reassemble in reverse order of disassembly.
   • Ensure all parts are properly seated and secured.
   GO NO
4. 4

   Perform a functions check CRITICAL

   • Ensure safety on FIRE before moving bolt/operating rod assembly.
   • Pull and hold cocking handle (palm up) to rear — bolt locks completely to rear.
   • While holding to rear (no tension on bolt), place on SAFE and depress trigger — weapon should NOT fire.
   • While holding to rear (no tension on bolt), place on FIRE and depress trigger. Ease bolt forward to close and lock. Release trigger.

   Time stops when you return to standing with weapon on flat surface.

   GO NO

PART II: OPERATE (LOAD / FIRE / IMMEDIATE ACTION)

1. 1

   Clear the weapon

   • Point weapon in safe direction. Ensure safety on FIRE before moving bolt.
   • Pull and hold cocking handle (palm up) to rear, bolt locks to rear.
   • While holding (no tension on bolt), place safety to SAFE.
   • Push cocking handle fully forward and locked.
   • Raise feed cover — conduct five-point safety check. Lower feed tray.
   GO NO
2. 2

   Load the weapon

   • Place link belt on feed tray — first round against cartridge stop, tips of rounds pointing toward barrel.
   • Tilt weapon to right and/or hold belt in place if necessary.
   • Close feed cover. Ensure latches lock. Rounds must not move from cartridge stop.
   GO NO
3. 3

   Engage the target

   • Place weapon on FIRE and engage your target.
   GO NO
4. 4

   Take immediate action to correct malfunction CRITICAL

   • Weapon remains on shoulder while performing immediate action.
   • Pull and hold cocking handle (palm up) to rear — bolt locks to rear.
   • Observe ejection port: see if cartridge case/belt link/round ejects.
   • If nothing ejects: Place on SAFE (holding handle, no tension on bolt). Return handle forward and locked. Proceed to clear weapon.
   • If something ejects: Push cocking handle forward. Squeeze trigger and continue mission.
   • If weapon does not fire, proceed to clear the weapon.
   GO NO
5. 5

   Unload and clear the weapon

   • Point weapon in safe direction.
   • If bolt is forward: ensure safety on FIRE before moving bolt. If bolt locked to rear: ensure on SAFE and proceed to feed cover.
   • Pull and hold cocking handle (palm up) to rear. Place safety to SAFE.
   • Return cocking handle fully forward and locked.
   • Raise feed cover — conduct five-point safety check. Lower feed tray, close feed cover (locks shut).
   • Pull cocking handle to rear (palm up). Place safety to FIRE.
   • While depressing trigger, ease bolt forward to close and lock. Release trigger. Close ejection port cover.
   GO NO