SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS FOR SMALL ARMS

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Discuss the special precautions that must be observed when handling small arms. Identify and describe 10 safety precautions that must be applied when handling small arms.

Semiautomatic pistols in the hands of inexperienced or careless persons are largely responsible for the saying, "It's always the unloaded gun that kills." It is a fact that many accidental deaths and injuries are due to the mistaken belief that removing the magazine of a weapon is all that is necessary to unload it. Nothing could be further from the truth. To completely unload a weapon and render it safe, you must not only remove the magazine but also make certain the chamber is empty. The only way this can be done is to pull back the slide or bolt and inspect the chamber either visually or, it if is dark, by feel. All weapons must be considered loaded when the slide or bolt is forward and/or the magazine is in the weapon.

Let us review briefly some of the safety precautions that apply to the handling of all small arms:

1. Never point a weapon at anyone or anything you are not ready to destroy.

2. Unless the weapon is to be used immediately, never carry it with a round in the chamber.

3. Unless you are about to fire it, the safety of every small-arms weapon must always be in the SAFE position. Always keep your finger away from the trigger. When the safety is moved from the SAFE to FIRE position, many small arms will fire if the trigger is pressed as the safety is released.

4. Consider a gun loaded until you have opened the chamber and verified that it is empty. It is not enough to wail, afterward, "I didn't know it was loaded." The empty weapon is the dangerous one.

5. Before firing any weapon, be sure there are no obstructions in the bore.

6. Before firing any weapon, be sure the ammunition you are using is the right ammunition. For example, the M14 ammunition cannot be used in the M 16 rifle. Nor should you try to use illumination signals with shotguns, even though they look much like shotgun shells.

7. Before firing, be sure there is no grease or oil on the ammunition or in the bore or chamber. Although lead bullets may be lightly waxed or greased, there must never be any lubricant on the cartridge case.

8. Keep ammunition dry and cool. Keep it out of the direct rays of the sun. Keep ammunition clean, but do NOT polish it or use abrasives on it. Do not attempt to use dented cartridges, cartridges with loose bullets, or cartridges eaten away by corrosion.

9. Misfires and hangfires can occur with small-arms ammunition as well as with other types. On some weapons like the automatic pistol, you can recock and attempt to fire again without opening the breech. If after a couple of tries this proves unsuccessful, or if the weapon cannot be recocked without opening the bolt, wait at least 10 seconds, then open the bolt and eject the defective round. Defective small-arms ammunition should be disposed of in accordance with current regulations.

A misfire with blank cartridges may leave unburned powder deposited in the bore; always check the bore after any misfire and clean it if necessary.

WARNING

Never try to dislodge a bullet from the barrel by firing another bullet.

10. If you experience a light recoil or report, clear the weapon and check the bore for obstruction, Obstruction may indicate a partial burning of the propellant, which may not have been sufficient to force the bullet clear of the muzzle.

WARNING

DO NOT attempt to operate any small arms or pyrotechnic device until you are thoroughly trained and certified on that device. The information contained in this training manual should not be used to replace source publications or prescribed training procedures.

SMALL ARMS MAINTENANCE

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Define preventive maintenance and explain the importance of preventive maintenance for small arms. List three sources that outline preventive maintenance for small arms.

Preventive maintenance is the systematic care, inspection, and servicing of material to maintain it in a serviceable condition, prevent breakdowns, and assure operational readiness. To maintain your small arms in a state of readiness, you must service them (including lubrication) each time they are used and periodically when in stowage,

The cleaning, preservation, and care given to small arms are determining factors in their operation and shooting accuracy. You have undoubtedly heard that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. This can aptly be applied to the maintenance of all ordnance weapons and equipment. To properly maintain these weapons, you must use a system of preventive maintenance. Normally, the preventive maintenance procedures are set forth in the 3-M System's maintenance requirement cards (MRCs). TMs and FMs also provide a schedule of maintenance instructions for each weapon.

Inspections of each weapon are an important part of preventive maintenance. Inspections to see if items are in good condition, correctly assembled, secure, not worn, and adequately lubricated apply to most items in preventive maintenance procedures.